Voll Blau

Sussex are missing the same number of players as us (Archer, Robinson, Mill, Coles, Alsop), aren't they? And the likelihood of one of those (Archer) playing would have been slim to nil if he was available anyway.

I think families have forgotten about this thing that was a bit of a novelty at first but fails to inspire long-term loyalty because it happens for 3 weeks in a 52-week year, isn't based around concepts of geographical identity that English people are familiar with, and has a high turnover of players every year.

Much anticipated friendly between Bristol City and Willem II tomorrow.

Red Stripe at the Three Crowns in Barrow. Now on a Northern Monk Fruit Twist IPA at home. Very refreshing.

The Essex keeper has played in all of their 2nds' T20s this year, including one which he skippered and another in which he scored 92 batting at three, plus some SEC games - so they clearly rate him a bit better than just the only club keeper in their county who happened to be available on Wednesday. Think we need to stop fretting about who our oppo are and just enjoy the confidence our lot are playing with (Friday aside). As others have pointed out, we've also lost some of our best players this year. We seem to be rising to the challenge of coping without them on current form.

Iyer, Rahane and Shaw deciding to play in this, when they could be doing other things, is a good vote of confidence in a tournament that the governing body organising it would gladly let rot away into a glorified 2s competition. Iyer has back-to-back fifties in the semi and final of this year's IPL. He could easily be off raking it in in whichever Mickey Mouse comp is going on around the world right now.

The ECB's official highlights package for our final win was beyond abysmal. I've no time for Sky but I'm glad their fill coverage is there for posterity. The revival of outgrounds is great, as you say. Also the number of high profile overseas playing in it, mixing with up and coming English youngsters. Heard a tongue-in-cheek conspiracy theory that the BCCI are getting various Indian players involved to undermine the hundred. Thoughts @StanSP?

Was at Derby yesterday and Grace Road last Wednesday. Best crowds I've seen at either for ages for a non-T20. I think people are realising that if they want their counties to survive, they need to support this tournament. The decent weather and summer holidays will help a bit too, mind!

You're not showing both sides of the coin though. You're showing a fact against an unverified, speculative, anonymous comment. We all need to be dealing in facts right now. Our country would be miles better off if people did that just a little bit more.

That's not showing both sides. That's showing publicly-available birth registration data vs an anonymous, unverified Facebook comment. You can't give equal weight to both. Can we all just stop the speculation? I promise you all that everything will come out when it gets to trial. If the ridiculous amount of prejudicial information doing the rounds in the public domain continues, there's every chance his lawyer could argue he can't get a fair trial and collapse the case.

Is there any part of you in the slightest that might consider stopping sharing just any random shit you find online? Having just looked into it, the "source" of this info looks dodgy to say the least.

Because the scum out there tonight have no respect. "Off to a vigil for three murdered little girls, best get a crate in and wrap myself in a St George." Vermin.

Presumably just taking Friday as a blip then. He'd be useful to have in for bowling ability as much as anything, when Trevaskis is still recovering from injury.

I agree. But any journalist making an application to the court on that basis would still have a strong case that identification *could* potentially prevent wider public disorder.

Police have no choice. It's the law. I think there's a strong chance the defendant will be named as soon as he appears in court. Any judge with half a brain would see it's in the public interest to identify him so the absolute vermin out tonight will leave the poor people of Southport to grieve in peace.

Yvette Cooper is there this morning and Starmer's going up today.

A few on this thread ought to be ashamed of themselves too. They should try sparing a thought for the victims instead of instantly turning their deaths into a political football.

In the same boat. Had a career that I thought had numbed me to most of the evil shit that goes on in the world, but stuff like this hits differently now I'm a dad. Southport's such a lovely place for children too. We're hoping to take our daughter for her first day at the beach there soon. Grim beyond words.

I'll take this point of view seriously if we ever start winning regularly in the Caribbean.

Bottle of Cairngorm Trade Winds golden ale. I'm a sucker for owt with elderflower in it. Must get up to the Highlands one day.

Was a fvcking brilliant listen on the drive home after a stressful day at work last week.

I've found The Moorings alright at lunchtimes, if a little pricey for what you get. Three Crowns food always smells great. Shame they sacked off opening during the day.

Think it was after the two-day Test finished on a Friday, so Gough and Vaughan were available? Got my Kookaburra Bubble signed by both that day.

They must be seething. Always enjoy a good yellow and green WBA away number.

Yep. Top straight through to a home semi and the others playing off to ne their opponent.