65/7

We'll be stuffed if Barry Galance makes the final cut of the Champions Trophy squad.

There were one or two interesting results in the University games.

Never mind that, my desk is now overlooked by a greater-than-life-size poster of Michael effin' Clarke...

Right, well, bugger that for a game of soldiers. Back to the IPL....

Still, as long as there are loads of tweets about them being a #strongunit

Caused a fair bit of amusement yesterday at OT.



As for us... Either the pitch is a good old-fashioned OT pancake job or we bowled very, very poorly. Worcestershire weren't interested in scoring runs either, which made for a dull day.

No mention of the current score from Headingley?!

Was just about to. If the plan was to have a few days against lower league opposition to get some runs under the belts, it's backfired spectacularly.

Well you got a bit more out of it in the end...

Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid did, at least.

Bowled alright against Durham. 0/1 chasing....

57-3? Ouch.

Lancs did well yesterday to get Kent 216-8 after losing the toss. Another seemingly slow and dull wicket, mind, with Kent crawling along at 2.25 an over. Not been the best advert for county cricket. Still, weather dependent here's hoping we can force a result this time.

Kent 244 all out, Lancs 22-1 at the interval in reply.

Methinks Dizzy saying "we need to have a good chat about our batting" is this year's '#strongunit', i.e. ubiquitous and deeply irritating.

Well, not sure where that last day performance came from.

Suffice to say even this early in the season you can see how screwed we are going to be without Root.

Speaking of which, both Root and Bairstow will miss next week's Championship game against Somerset to go play in a meaningless friendly for England Lions against New Zealand. Thanks, ECB.

Tidy stuff this morning from Liam Plunkett. Only going at 4.3 per over rather than his usual six.

Can someone give the OT groundstaff a lesson on how to produce a result wicket? Thanks in advance.

New claim to fame - getting kicked off the pitch at OT pre-Lancs AGM by Mike Watkinson.

Which will there be more of by the end of the season; Phil Jaques runs or Phil Jaques run-outs?

Depends how much time he spends batting with Root. Boy's turning into the new Boycott in more ways than one.

Nice of Derby to completely capitulate to give us a win from a game that was nailed on for a draw from ball one.

If you ignore Lancashire's batting I had a lovely day in Colwyn Bay yesterday.

We won't get promoted.

To be expected from relegation certainties!!!

Although on that track it should never have happened....

No, it shouldn't.

Durham chased down 180 from 25 overs against Notts as well. There's value in trying to force these wins.

Have to accrue points early because I really do fear for Yorkshire when England come a calling!!!