Window Cleaner

Has he really gained the same level that he had before the major injury? I don't really remember, some players don't you know. Look at JRod, he'll not be the same player again.

None too keen on the Chinese people huh..

Nope, didn't happen.

I'd definite give Holland more time, looked handy at the end of the season, Alsop obviously has potential but letting him open probably isn't doing him any favours. We definitely need to finish with these O/1 and 15/2 situations. Get in at least one stick in the mud opener and we'll not be a bad side at all. You know the Boycott/Cook sort of bloke, takes all morning to make 30 but he's still there at lunch, wearing down the bowlers.

Feel free to post news about new openers.

Don't know that we've got away with much this season apart from the September blip, we've been quite well placed all season apart from these last 2 games. Obviously our lack of 2 serious openers for these games (and the wash-out at Uxbridge) has been detrimental to us. When you're always 2 down after a couple of overs and your 3 and 4 are facing charged up seamers with a new ball you're in trouble. Adams has been pretty useless of late , Weatherly didn't really do much and Alsop isn't an opening bat.

Yay, batted out the day. Middlesex down. Need 2 new openers for next season. Roussow at 3, Vince at 4.

Berg obviously felt Abbott should do his share. Holland has been a real pillar here, should get his cap for what he's done today if he doesn't already have it.

What a lot of nervous nellies you all are . We're creeping onwards, mind you must have been hard for Vince to last all those overs for 30.

Holding up but some bad light would be excessively handy.

Come on rain, let's be having you.

Getting regally mugged by a number 8 and a number 10. Never siimple with Hants is it, same as Saints really, must be something they put in the water.

Tougher going this afternoon, doesn't seem to be anything much helpful in the wicket. Still Somerset won't win and Middx might even lose. Just need to slog it out for a draw.

Not Topley, the other bloke from Radio Essex, a regal pain in the bum that bloke.

Well I never, with Essex at 40 for 6 our score yesterday looks better than respectable. And to think those archibiased Essex commentators on Solent thought they'd done a fantastic job to get us out for less than "par for this pitch 300" . Solent need to get guest commentators to knock off the bias a bit, it's most annoying.

Another poor start that we really didn't need today. Then again with Adams and a neophyte opening the batting what can you expect really.

And Sandro Ramirez looks distinctly average to be honest, can see him being back wherever he came from in a short time. Koeman has obviously bought more midfielders than he needs and Sigurdsson just isn't performing for the time being. Looks like a total waste of money so far. They need to get some of their long term injured back into action. Bolasie for instance.

Not at all bad, in fact quite promising.

​We could lose this still, high unlikely though. Batting is much too weak, all that rain looks as if it might have done us a good turn.

Then I have confused myself. Didn't some other team win the Championship because they had the last day slog that was permitted in the rules of the time and we had nothing at all? Seem to remember being in Honiton at the time, although why I'd be there stumps me completely. Still I spent time in strange places in the 70s so it's entirely possible.

You're probably right, I'm still traumatised by Worcestershire stealing the County Championship from us in '74 when our game against Yorks got totally rained off and they had a shady 1 day slog game on the 3rd day and got 10 points.

Looking like another wash-out today. Hope we'll not regret the lack of bonus points from this match.

Play started, Strange side that Hants have put out. Hope they know what they're doing. No Dawson, Vince or Bailey it would seem. The BBC has Holland keeping wicket, don't think that's right though.

No play today at Uxbridge, wet outfield. Annoying really because all the other D1 matches have started on time,

they must have had one of the toughest starts ever though. City, Chelsea,Spurs and I think it's Utd either this week or next isn't it? That said I just don't see the point of Klaesen though, doesn't look anywhere near the level required for the PL, same as Clasie I suppose. His instance with Martina in nearly all games is most surprising, thought he'd just signed him as a cheap cover player really.