English Domestic Season 2026

[Molehill]

This must be the closest CC in years, the top 8 within 18 points of each other.

 

[Yeoman]

As noted above, the 8 points for a draw is ridiculous, but most teams are quite close on wins and losses too.

It's not so much the draw = half a win differential on its own, it's that ratio in conjunction with bonus points. If a side gets 6 bonus points then the ratio of win points to draw points is 1.57:1 which is probably too low.

I would question whether we still need bonus points in an era of four day cricket. They had more meaning in the three day era with restrictions on the first innings.

 

[Molehill]

It's not so much the draw = half a win differential on its own, it's that ratio in conjunction with bonus points. If a side gets 6 bonus points then the ratio of win points to draw points is 1.57:1 which is probably too low.

I would question whether we still need bonus points in an era of four day cricket. They had more meaning in the three day era with restrictions on the first innings.

I think you still need batting bonus points, or you risk someone like Sibley just settling in for 2 days with no need to score at any particular rate. No one wants to see that.

I'd go 6 for the draw. In football, the draw points would essentially be 5.33 compared to the win.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

I think you still need batting bonus points, or you risk someone like Sibley just settling in for 2 days with no need to score at any particular rate. No one wants to see that.

I'd go 6 for the draw. In football, the draw points would essentially be 5.33 compared to the win.

I think bonus points in a game like cricket in which one draw can be very different from another draw (not to mention one in which the elements can play such a role) are necessary, I think getting the maximum 3 bowling bonus points for getting 9 wickets within 110 overs is a bit generous though

 

[mackembhoy]

It's not so much the draw = half a win differential on its own, it's that ratio in conjunction with bonus points. If a side gets 6 bonus points then the ratio of win points to draw points is 1.57:1 which is probably too low.

I would question whether we still need bonus points in an era of four day cricket. They had more meaning in the three day era with restrictions on the first innings.

The problem with removing bonus points is what if your a side that's been behind the game and the weather saves you.

Then your rewarded with 8 points whilst the other side could have battered you and gets the same.

 

[Nas207]

bonus points are fine, they just need to reward wins more. Surrey have 1 win from 8 games but are only 13 points behind essex who have 4 wins from 8.

 

[Blenkinsop]

In some leagues there used to be "winning draws" and "losing draws" which carried different numbers of points. Wonder if that might be another option. Hard to come up with a completely uncontroversial way to calculate them though.

 

[chris.hinton]

In some leagues there used to be "winning draws" and "losing draws" which carried different numbers of points. Wonder if that might be another option. Hard to come up with a completely uncontroversial way to calculate them though.

This would be better to calculate for the County Championship

 

[Third_Man]

In some leagues there used to be "winning draws" and "losing draws" which carried different numbers of points. Wonder if that might be another option. Hard to come up with a completely uncontroversial way to calculate them though.

Something like the old pools panel, assuming most of us in the uk can remember those days, could sit in judgement!

 

[Yeoman]

In some leagues there used to be "winning draws" and "losing draws" which carried different numbers of points. Wonder if that might be another option. Hard to come up with a completely uncontroversial way to calculate them though.

Points were given for first innings lead under quite a few points systems up until the 1970s.

You could have something like 6 points for a win, 3 for a draw with first innings lead and 2 for a draw without first innings lead.

 

[Blenkinsop]

Stokes in the Durham squad for the CC match vs Northants tomorrow. Should be interesting.

 

[Third_Man]

Blast wildcards announced today. These players no longer available for their counties in the ODC:

(Northants) Ben Sanderson, Saif Zaib, James Sales
(Hants) Eddie Jack, Manny Lumsden
(Glamorgan) Kiran Carlson, Sean Dickson
(Middlesex) Seb Morgan, Tom Helm
(Surrey) Jordan Clark
(Notts) Dillon Pennington
(Durham) Ben Raine
(Yorkshire) Matty Revis
(Sussex) Henry Crocombe
(Worcester) Adam Finch
(Essex) Charlie Allison

Worst 4 counties affected: Surrey lose 17 players, Somerset, Hampshire and Notts next up with 8.

In a sign of the times Lancashire have 5 extra players available compared with last year: Anderson, Jennings, Hurst, Stanley and Flintoff.

 

[Blenkinsop]

(Northants) Ben Sanderson, Saif Zaib, James Sales

I'll be livid if any of them get crocked playing in a pointless franchise tournament when we really need to get promoted from Div 2.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Kent needs to pick up their pace. 69 runs in a session without a wicket seems too low. Middlesex unlucky not to pick up a wicket though.

 

[slowfinger]

What is it about Atkinson that since his England debut he's turned into a monster of a bowler? Looks completley international standard now a la Kemar Roach but you wouldn't have always thought that about him before his debut

 

[Molehill]

Every team in the First Division chose to bat, and every one of them is probably now regretting it. Mind you, not as bad as Durham's decision to bowl.

 

[zaremba]

I'm rather happier about the score from Hove than from the Oval...

What a crazy season this could end up being for Sussex

 

[Pothas]

I think Hampshire are very much done.

 

[chris.hinton]

I think Hampshire are very much done.

Cant believe how poor they are

 

[Pothas]

They have lost most of their good players over the last couple of years so it is not a huge surprise. There are some exciting young players but so far those ones that are a bit older have just not developed at all.

Kyle Abbott isn't done though.