The Cricketer provides all the team news and weather forecasts as the group stage of the red-ball domestic competition continues into its fourth round
Where: Emirates Riverside, Chester-Le-Street.
When: Saturday, August 22 – Tuesday, August 25
Lowdown: Two sides with very different red-ball form as Durham, bottom of the North Group, host a Derbyshire side that sits top. Derbyshire have past 300 in every game this season. Last week, they responded well to David Malan’s maiden first-class double century in a game that eventually fell victim to the weather. Centuries from Wayne Madsen - against Leicestershire - and Du Plooy - in a three wicket win against Nottinghamshire – have seen Derbyshire bat their way into commanding position on numerous occasions this season.
The opposite is true, however, for Durham, who are yet to past 300 in the Bob Willis Trophy – although, they declared on 291 for 8 against Leicestershire after some declaration bowling in attempt to force a result last week.
Concerningly, Durham have been already been skittled for 110 and 103 in opening defeats to Yorkshire and Lancashire, picking up just two batting points in their opening three games. However, the side skippered by Ned Eckersley can take some positives from the draw against Leicestershire, even in a game marred by bad weather. David Bedingham’s 96 a sign that fortunes might be changing for a Durham side without a red ball win this season.
One to watch: Alex Lees has been an essential part of a batting line-up that has often yielded disappointing results this season. The ex-Yorkshire player followed a first game century with fifties in the second and third round of red-ball matches. It’s as impressive as it is concerning that Lees has scored over a quarter of Durham’s 950 red ball runs this season.
Team news: Luis Reece and Fynn Hudson-Prentice return from injury for Derbyshire, who hand new signing Brooke Guest a place in the squad for the first time.
Weather: Light rain showers will threaten throughout but overcast conditions should dominate at Chester-Le-Street.
Tickets: The match is played behind closed doors.
Prediction: Draw.
Where: Fischer County Ground, Leicester.
When: Saturday, August 22 – Tuesday, August 25
Lowdown: Colin Ackermann scored 62 to take his season tally to 262 runs, before rain led to Leicestershire’s match against Durham being abandoned. An interesting watch saw both captains do everything to force a result, but even with a forfeited second innings and some declaration bowling, the two sides could only play out another rain-afflicted draw.
Nottinghamshire are still without a red-ball win in two years but showed signs in a rain-affected draw against Lancashire that this wretched run might be close to an end. Centuries from Ben Duckett and Ben Slater, who returned from spell loan at Leicestershire, were the highlights of a draw with Lancashire. Nottinghamshire also impressed with the ball as they bowled out Lancashire or just 173 – Tom Barber, Zak Chappell and Peter Trego taking three wickets apiece.
One to watch: Incredibly, Ben Slater has scored two centuries this season against Lancashire: one for Leicestershire and one for Nottinghamshire. Now, he returns to face the club he was loaned to for the first two rounds of the Bob Willis Trophy.
Team news: Nottinghamshire have named a 12-man squad for the game at Grace Road.
Tickets: The match is played behind closed doors.
Weather: Threat of light rain throughout is a concern, but the Fischer County Ground should see overcast conditions dominate this weekend.
Prediction: Nottinghamshire.
James Fuller claimed a hat-trick against Surrey at Arundel
Where: Emerald Headingley, Leeds
When: Saturday, August 22 – Tuesday, August 25
Lowdown: Early Bob Willis Trophy favourites Lancashire had the rain to thank after being saved from likely defeat at Trent Bridge. Responding to Nottinghamshire 472, Lancashire were bowled out for 173 before the match was abandoned with Lancashire 120 without loss in their second innings.
Yorkshire started with two wins from two before rain forced a draw in their third game. Impressive bowling has been key to Yorkshire’s success; they’ve bowled Notts out for 97 and Durham for 103 already this season. The side skippered by Steven Patterson remain unbeaten and will want to get one over their county neighbours this weekend.
One to Watch: A fifty against Nottinghamshire has been the highlight of Adam Lyth’s season so far. But the former England man will take confidence from the century he scored in the warm-up match against Lancashire earlier this summer.
Team News: Yorkshire will be without David Malan, David Willey and Jonny Bairstow who were both included in England’s T20 squad for their series against Pakistan, while Gary Ballance remains sidelined by illness. Likewise, Lancashire will be without Liam Livingstone, who is in England’s T20 bio-bubble, and Matthew Parkinson who continues to step up his recovery from an ankle problem with some second XI action this week.
Tickets: The match is played behind closed doors.
Weather: Sunny spells dominate, but light rain throughout may see both sides trying everything to force a result at Headingley.
Prediction: Draw.
Where: The County Ground, Northampton.
When: Saturday August 22 – Tuesday August 25
Lockdown: Both sides will see this as an opportunity to record their first wins of the red-ball season as fifth play sixth in the Central Group. Glamorgan have struggled without captain Colin Ingram, who has remained in South Africa due to the travel restrictions imposed due the coronavirus.
Last week, Glamorgan struggled on a green Sophia Garden surface. All out for 116 in their second innings, they showed slight improvement in their second attempt as they muscled their way to 197 for 8 before rain brought the game to a premature close.
Last week, Graham Wagg finished the pick of Glamorgan bowlers with figures of 3 for 38. For Northamptonshire, last week saw their batsmen struggle as they were bowled out for 212 and 184 in a 78-run defeat to Worcestershire. They’ll be hoping to see some improvements after already being skittled for 67, 154, 142 in their first two games. That said, Northants are one of few sides to have passed 500 this year, declaring on 507 for 6 in their opening round draw with Warwickshire.
One to watch: At the County Ground, Nathan Buck took seven wickets across Worcestershire’s two innings. The Northants seamer will look to continue a good run of form that has seen him take nine wickets in his last two matches.
Team news: Callum Taylor could make his first-class debut for Glamorgan, while veteran seamer Michael Hogan returns and Joe Cooke is also included.
Tickets: Match played behind closed doors.
Weather: A sunny start will make way for mostly overcast conditions that could feature some showers on days three and four.
Prediction: Draw.
Laurie Evans has signed a two-year deal with Surrey
Where: Taunton
When: Saturday August 22 – Tuesday August 25
Lowdown: Last week, a fine partnership between Jamie Overton and Steven Davies added 180 runs for the ninth wicket. Their centuries were not enough to force a victory as rain left in-form Somerset two wickets short of making it three consecutive wins in a draw with Warwickshire.
Gloucestershire, meanwhile, have picked up one win in three – a round two victory against Warwickshire. Last week, their bowlers made the most of a green pitch in Wales – David Payne was the pick of the bunch, with eight wickets in the match.
One to watch: Jamie Overton is certainly making his mark before his Surrey move. At Edgbaston, his century was the icing on top of an impressive Somerset display with both bat and ball. He will be looking to add to the 14 wickets he has already taken this season – and he might also fancy himself a bit further up the order.
Team news: Lewis Gregory and Tom Banton are both absent for Somerset on England T20 duty, while George Bartlett returns following a concussion. Youngster Lewis Goldsworthy is also included. Gloucestershire have named an unchanged squad from their draw with Glamorgan.
Weather: A sunny opening could make way for patchy spells of rain that look set to intermittently disrupt the final couple of days at Taunton.
Tickets: Match played behind closed doors.
Prediction: Somerset.
Where: Blackfinch New Road, Worcester
Lowdown: Warwickshire are still searching for their first win in the Bob Willis Trophy, but they come up against a Worcestershire side unbeaten with the red ball this season.
Last, week Warwickshire had the rain to thank as they struggled to just about draw with Somerset. They were bowled out for 121, before scrapping to 140 for 8 in reply to Somerset’s 413 for 9 when the final day’s play was abandoned.
For Worcestershire, last week saw Tom Fell’s first red-ball century for five years. He showed a welcome return to form in a 78-run win against Northamptonshire.
One to watch: Last week, Worcestershire’s Josh Tongue took a three wickets in both innings; he has 12 in two matches now.
Team news: Dan Mousley, George Garrett, Liam Banks and Ryan Sidebottom are all added to Warwickshire’s squad, with Matt Lamb missing through injury.
Tickets: Match is played behind closed doors.
Weather: Sunny spells will occasionally break through what will be mostly overcast conditions at New Road. Light showers look set to frustrate on day three.
Prediction: Worcestershire.
Darren Stevens took his 800th career wicket last time out
Where: Arundel
When: Saturday August 22 – Tuesday August 25th
Lowdown: Essex have a 100 per cent record after three games but will face a tougher challenge from a Hampshire side that comprehensively brushed Surrey aside at Arundel last week.
One to Watch: Simon Harmer’s form with the ball is certainly something to keep an eye on. The Essex off-spinner has taken 28 wickets so far – 47 per cent of all of Essex’s wickets in first three games of The Bob Willis Trophy.
Team news: For Hampshire, Ajeet Dale and Ryan Stevenson return after injury, though Keith Barker and Liam Dawson miss out through injury and James Vince remains unavailable while he awaits the birth of his second child.
Tickets: Match is played behind closed doors.
Weather: A sunny start sees cloudy and light showers dominate on the final day’s play.
Prediction: Essex.
Where: Radlett Cricket Club, Radlett
When: Saturday August 22 – Tuesday August 25
Lowdown: Middlesex have seen a win, a draw and a loss in their opening three games. Last week, rain impacted their pursuit of victory in a game they eventual drew with Kent.
In Canterbury, Robbie White fell just one short of maiden first-class century as both Robson and Holden made half centuries in their second innings.
Miguel Cummins was the pick of the Middlesex bowlers taking 5 for 62 as Kent made just 191 in their first innings. For Sussex, their batting must improve if have any chance against Middlesex.
They’ve posted reached 200 just twice in three matches – they have their bowlers to thank for their opening-round victory over Hampshire. Since then, Sussex have lost to both Kent and Essex with only Phil Salt passing 50 in their most recent red ball match.
One to Watch: Ollie Robinson has only played once in the Bob Willis Trophy this season; he took eight wickets on that occasion against Hampshire. He’s back now to face Middlesex, against whom he took 24 wickets in two games last year.
Team news: After being released from England’s bio-bubble, Robinson will be available to play for Sussex. Eighteen-year-old Henry Crocombe is rested, while George Garton – so impressive last time out against Essex – misses out with a hamstring strain. Blake Cullen replaces Steven Finn in Middlesex’s squad, while Toby Roland-Jones also misses out through injury. Nick Gubbins and Tim Murtagh both return.
Tickets: Match is played behind closed doors.
Weather: Overcast conditions throughout, with a small chance of rain on the final day.
Prediction: Draw
Where: Kia Oval
When: Saturday August 22 – Tuesday August 25
Lowdown: Kent’s batsmen will be hoping to cash in against a Surrey side who have been on a wretched run of red-ball form in the Bob Willis Trophy, having been depleted by injury and England call-ups.
One to watch: Wicketless on his county return, Morne Morkel will look to bounce back against a Kent side impacted by the loss of those involved in the England set-up.
Team News: Surrey’s Jason Roy, Reece Topley and Kent’s Joe Denly and Sam Billings will all be unavailable for county selection after making England’s T20 squad for the series against Pakistan. There is some positive news for Surrey as, after being released from England’s bio-bubble, Ben Foakes is available for selection. Gus Atkinson is rested, while Worcestershire loanee Adam Finch is back after missing last week’s game through injury. For Kent, Jordan Cox is back after serving his period of self-isolation.
Tickets: Match is played behind closed doors.
Weather: A sunny start will fade to cloudy conditions and potentially spells of rain on the final day of play.
Prediction: Kent
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