LBTufty

Looks like it -

Good ol' IPL again; the Keshav Maharaj deal with the Foxes fell through in February after CSA imposed "workload constraints" on him. Two months later and he's signing for Mumbai Indians as a replacement for the injured Santner.

What's happened to Singh, he's not even getting a game for the 2nd XI? Ben Mike is back, which is good to see, and playing in a team that includes Budinger and Trevaskis.

Roman Walker turning out for Shropshire CCC against Cumbria in the NCCA Trophy today. Finished with 2-50 off his 9 overs. Interestingly, he joined them 11 days ago at the same time as Joe Johnson - son of another former Fox, Zimbabwean star Neil Johnson.

Speaking with my Aussie hat on, great to see Weatherald and Marcus Harris in some kind of personal duel to see who'll score the most CC runs before the break for the Blast. Stokes must be doing his nut

Can't begrudge him and the club agreeing the move, would be a kick in the nuts if DC leave him warming the bench for most of his time in India. Interesting how they messed around with Rehan's entry visa on his last visit but after answering the IPL Bat Signal, they're now rolling out the red carpet - talk about double standards!!

Still could be worse, Wednesday are on minus 3 after 43!

After struggling to buy a run, an ominous 85 from Next Big Thing (TM) Asa Tribe against Notts today.

If he's still around, has his spikes and we can rustle up some kit, we might concoct an accidental concussion to sub Hull out of the second innings? (only joking)

Yep, all my fault

Interesting that we have two players currently at the crease - Patel and Eskinazi - with significant, identical career-best scores (179). Fingers crossed, that coincidence will disappear some time this morning.

Weatherald was interviewed at The Oval yesterday by cricket journalist Adam Collin for The Final Word podcast (Spotify, Apple et.al.). Episode summary is below and also available as a video via YouTube. Interesting watch/listen. "Season 20, Episode 3: We find the Australian Test opener at The Oval, where he’s set to play for Leicestershire against Surrey in the county championship – a gig he only found out he had a couple of weeks ago. It’s emblematic of the 31-year-old’s fascinating and unconventional career so far, which has taken the left-hander far and wide from his Northern Territory home, all in pursuit of his Test dream. Now realised, the Ashes-winning opener has been backed in with a national contract, endorsed as the man to walk out with Travis Head across a 12 month period as exciting and demanding as they come for the Australians, starting back where Jake grew up in the Top End in August. He’s quickly become one of the most popular figures in the team for his willingness to share so much of himself with the public, and he’s another top guest."

Good performance by the Under 18s in their opening friendly today, chasing down Notts' 286 with 21 balls to spare and the loss of only four wickets. Will Macdonald 72* (64) and Arun Kalsi 55 (73) both went past 50 with good contributions from Usman Minhas, Academy Batter of the Year Ronak Rajeshekar and Joshua Parsons.

Sussex must be wondering if this shower are genuinely better than the fella that less than 2 years ago, took Ollie Robinson for 43 in one over on the way to cracking 243 in only 127 balls against them.

Moonlighting as an Editor

FFS, every time Rae blows smoke up one of our batsmen's backside, they're cleaned up!

Not so good now with Rae stiffing up Rehan

Rehan goes to town on his T20 World Cup debut, 2-28 with the ball including Ravindra with his very first delivery and then storming to victory at the end in a partnership of 44 off 16 balls with Jacks; Rehan going dot, six, one, four, one, six, one

One of my earliest childhood memories from the 70s was watching Kevin Keegan come crashing off his bike competing in Duperststs

Van Beek's over now up on the BBC Sport site

Such a shame for LVB this morning. Got a first baller with the bat and then with Pakistan 119/7 needing 29 runs from 12 balls to win in the T20 World Cup opener, he bowls a series of in-the-slot pies that their no.8 tucks into for 24 runs. Second ball was dropped by O'Dowd at long-off. Pakistan close it out next over. Ouch.

Very much a tweaker, who took back-to-back five fors for the 2nd XI in June

The Fixture release dates are now confirmed: Vitality Blast → 25 November County Championship and One Day Cup → 28 November

Quick mention of ex-Fox John Maunders on Cricinfo today, who's carving out a successful career as a coach. He worked closely with potential next-big-thing from down under (Hugh Weibgen) over the summer; here's a snippet. "Weibgen did not quite escape the spotlight entirely during an English summer where he played for Sunbury Cricket Club in the Surrey Premier League. It's hard to go unnoticed when you pile up 1307 runs at 72.61, with five centuries, striking at 105.92 for the summer. But he also made waves on social media when England quick Gus Atkinson was sent back to the Surrey League to get some overs in coming back from injury ahead of a Test return against India. Video quickly circulated of Weibgen driving him for four down the ground with ease on his way to one of his five centuries. Weibgen credits Sunbury coach John Maunders, former Middlesex and Leicestershire batter, with his development across the season. "He was brilliant for me," Weibgen said. "I lived with a really good family that was just 100 metres from the club. Each day I walked over and got to work with the coach. I also learned to balance things out a bit more, have some fun."

Budinger Patel Ahmed Eskinazi Hill Handscomb Holland Cox B Green Scriven Maharaj Next cabs: Davey, Hull, Trevaskis, Tattersall, Mike, A Green