Welcome To October

Lancashire 78 all out 

v Warwickshire 518 all out 

Lancashire 171 for 6 

Close on Day 3 

Bob Willis Trophy Final 

Thursday 30 September 2021.

Played at Lord's 

That'll be the last day of County Cricket I'll be attending in 2021. Thought I'd fucking get it in before October. I'd missed all the action on the earlier days. Lanky gone double quick. After being 12 for 6 at one bit. The Bears piling it on. 133 for 1. 243 for 2. 340 for 3. 425 for 5. Lanky batting in October. The Bears batting in July.

Will Rhodes was eighth gone at 469. He'd made 156 in six an' half hours. Lancashire were at least making a better fist of it on Day Three. Wrapping it up and putting some partnerships together. But late wickets have left it horror show. Four left, 269 to make Warwickshire bat again.

We'll never really know the impact of winning that Toss & putting Lancashire in. The first morning looks awful in the scorebook. But then Warks have made loads. What I will absolutely guarantee is that we shouldn't be playing 4 or 5 day cricket this time of year.

By all means shoehorn Tests, ODIs, the T20 Blast and The Hundred into the height of Summer. Meaning that one County Competition has to be the Best Of The Rest. This year, that was the County 50 Overs. But, we just have to have four day cricket in June, July & August. I saw a very interesting idea floated on CricInfo. Play TWO County 3 or 4 day competitions every season. Firstly, a Pushed To The Margins (but at least you've got your players from The Hundred) County Championship in April May & September (as now). AND a Best Of The Rest Strength In Depth 3 or 4 day competition during the height of Summer when The Hundred is on. Outgrounds where necessary. Take cricket to the people. Re-energise. Boutique Cricket.

The Lord's Pavilion is, at the best of times, a bewildering warren of doors, corridors & staircases. Overlain with incomprehensible rules about where you're allowed to go with a beer. But, the Covid bubble caper has raised it to a whole new level. Screens effectively create new corridors for the players. And half of the Long Room is velvet roped off. I didn't dare ask whether I might use one of those seats.

"But, have they taken care of business Phil?"

I hear you ask.

"Yes, Sister"

The Long Room Bar, The Bowlers Bar, and The Members Bar are all up & fully functioning. Just don't ask me to tell you how to fucking get to them.

The cask offering was Marston's Pedigree & Ringwood Razor Back.

But, as it was our last day at Lord's for a while, the Carrier Bag Firm naturally went #CRICKETCANS.

Electric Bear Brewing Co, Shimmer Down, pale ale at 4.1%

Polly's Brew Co, Moonwrecker, pale ale at 5%

Both of those were superb. I'll give the award to the Polly's. Lots of Orange Juice in the smell. But the taste gets into tobacco bitterness very quickly.

But, the Shimmer Down was deffo the Best Of The Rest.

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