Countdown to the start of the 2017 season

[Summer of '77]

Originally Posted by CDogg16

What is the maximum amount of times two counties can play each other across all formats this season? Will be interesting to see how many teams don't play each other at all. Could be quite a few.

I know Kent face Sussex five times - 2 x CC, 1 x RLC, 2 x T20. I think that's the maximum any two teams can meet in the preordained fixtures so, add on two potential knockout ties and that'd be seven.

[Arachibutyrophobic]

Originally Posted by Summer of '77

I know Kent face Sussex five times - 2 x CC, 1 x RLC, 2 x T20. I think that's the maximum any two teams can meet in the preordained fixtures so, add on two potential knockout ties and that'd be seven.

Notts have Derbyshire and Leicestershire both 5 times. Hopefully it will just be for the one season.

[paulsre]

I noticed that Sky are referring to the Royal London Cup games on June 13 as "play-offs" and while cricinfo's fixtures call them "quarter-finals" there are only 2 matches slated - also only 2 matches slated in the fixture list that was in the Cricket Paper in November.

Has there been a change therefore that in fact it is a play-off, presumably between the 2nd and 3rd teams in the groups, with the winners going straight on to the semis?

[Arachibutyrophobic]

Originally Posted by paulsre

I noticed that Sky are referring to the Royal London Cup games on June 13 as "play-offs" and while cricinfo's fixtures call them "quarter-finals" there are only 2 matches slated - also only 2 matches slated in the fixture list that was in the Cricket Paper in November.

Has there been a change therefore that in fact it is a play-off, presumably between the 2nd and 3rd teams in the groups, with the winners going straight on to the semis?

Did you ever find the answer to that? I've searched and can't any info on the competition format anywhere.

edit. The BBC also only lists 2 quarter finals as well. I have no idea how you search the new ECB site for fixtures beyond the next handful.

[Supersax]

Here's the explanation:

The knockout stages have changed this season, with only the top three from each group qualifying. The winners will progress straight to the semi finals on June 16 and 17, in which they will enjoy home advantage. Their opposition will be determined by two play-offs on June 13 between the teams finishing second and third in each group – second in the North Group at home to third in the South, and vice versa.

https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/144361

[Arachibutyrophobic]

Originally Posted by Supersax

Here's the explanation:

The knockout stages have changed this season, with only the top three from each group qualifying. The winners will progress straight to the semi finals on June 16 and 17, in which they will enjoy home advantage. Their opposition will be determined by two play-offs on June 13 between the teams finishing second and third in each group – second in the North Group at home to third in the South, and vice versa.

https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/144361

Thanks for that. I quite like the idea of making real advantages for finishing higher.

I bet Notts finish 4th.

[Supersax]

Originally Posted by Arachibutyrophobic

Thanks for that. I quite like the idea of making real advantages for finishing higher.

I bet Notts finish 4th.

Yeah, probably after being top with a couple of matches to go...

[Notts Exile]

Or they'll finish top in the T20 by a country mile where the play offs don't happen and lose a home quarter final, again.

[paulsre]

Some big milestones passed:

Cricket season begins this month.

Less than 4 weeks to the start (3 weeks and six days).

Less than 30 days to the start (27 days).

Obviously not so many years ago, on March 28 cricket fans would have been saying "just a few weeks to go" and many players would still be working at the town hall or something.

Several records will come under threat or be simply broken by default - earliest date for first-class cricket, first time a domestic first-class match has been completed in March, plus records such as earliest century of the season, which currently stands on March 31.

[paulsre]

It may become generally cold around the middle of the month, with more in the way of frosts and perhaps snow, especially in the north, before turning milder later.



Source: UK Outlook for Friday 17 Mar 2017 to Friday 31 Mar 2017, http://www.metoffice.gov.uk

[HHSussex]

Originally Posted by paulsre

It may become generally cold around the middle of the month, with more in the way of frosts and perhaps snow, especially in the north, before turning milder later.



Source: UK Outlook for Friday 17 Mar 2017 to Friday 31 Mar 2017, http://www.metoffice.gov.uk

And then again it may not.....

[paulsre]

Towards the end of March there is a degree of uncertainty, but there is some evidence in favour of a more settled spell of weather. This could bring drier-than-average conditions, with temperatures probably around average for late March, however the confidence for this set-up is low.

Source: Met Office 30-day forecast.

[oldandfat]

We will definitely have a unseasonably warm and dry April, May & June - but the wettest July on record.
The first two weeks of 2018 will be glorious, but nobody will notice because the Football World Cup is on.

T20 Blast is such a good idea.

[paulsre]

UK Outlook for Wednesday 22 Mar 2017 to Wednesday 5 Apr 2017:

There are currently signals for the end of March and into early April to see some kind of blocked pattern for the UK weather. This means there are signs for generally drier than average conditions and more settled weather than normal across the country.

Source: Met Office

[paulsre]

Here's an article about the countdown:

http://www.alloutcricket.com/feature...xture-fixation

[CDogg16]

Is the North vs South match the official start of the season?

[paulsre]

Originally Posted by CDogg16

Is the North vs South match the official start of the season?

I certainly wouldn't count it as such at all, though it's part of some sort of prelude I suppose. I would count all the matches in the UAE as being "other matches" abroad. Certainly the statisticians don't count any of it as part of the season, using "First Class Averages in England" as the definition.

[1000yardstare]

How many years counties spent in the divisions
(including where the counties will be next season)
(CC wins in that time in brackets)

Division 1

16 - Lancs (1)
15 - Yorks (3) Warks (2)
14 - Somerset
13 - Sussex (3), Surrey (2), Notts (2), Hants
12 - Durham (3)
11 - Middx (1)
10 - Kent
7 - Worcs
5 - Essex (1)
4 - Leics
3 - Northants
2 - Derbys, Glam, Gloucs

Division 2

17 - Gloucs, Glam, Derbys
16 - N'hants
15 - Leics
14 - Essex,
12 - Worcs
9 - Kent
8 - Middx
7 - Durham
6 - Surrey, Notts, Hants, Sussex
5 - Somerset
4 - Yorks, Warks
3 - Lancs

[WeAreKent]

It's winning games wot counts - and boosts confidence and so tends to become habit-forming. So a table of games won in 2017 across all three tournaments (incluiding knock-out stages of the white ball comps):-

1 Notts 25

2. Essex 22

3. Worcs 18

4. Norrthants 16
Surrey 16
Yorks 16

7. Glam 15
Somerset 15
Sussex 15

10. Lancs 14
Hants 14

12. Derbys 13
Warwicks 13

14. Kent 11
Leics 11

16. Durham 10
Glos 10
Middx 10