Philander to Jennings this series. 23 balls, 2 runs, 3 dismissals.

Yeah there's a few pubs few mins walk from the station. Slug and lettuce, crown, aptly cricketers, horn and trumpet. They'll do for now. The last time I was in Worcester the old man brought me to watch Lancs around the time rovers won the prem and Lancs were wining trophies left right and centre. Must have been a semi in the b&h or Natwest and Wasim hit about 70 off maybe 60 but in the days where if you dare go a run a ball you were a slogger. Then it seemed as though most fans in the ground were Lancs fans. I wonder what happened to them (us) all. No chance of play.

Lancs vs Worcestershire at New Road tonight. We've all taken the day off work, a 4 and a half hour train journey costing an arm and a leg, hotel, for what looks like pretty much watching a rope being dragged round the outfield. God bless the British weather in July

I've got one of those mike jackman compete history books. According to which the Oozehead ground was near st Silas off preston new road. Pleasington cricket ground nearby the Butlers Arms inn (not familiar with it).

I know Ballance has flopped in his most recent stint for England, in his last 10 matches he's averaged 20 ish compared to his first 10 games averaging 60 ish. But in the county championship this season he's been an absolute beast averaging 101. Second only to the awesome Sangakkara who's got nearly 1100 runs already. Hameed couldn't have been picked. It's even questionable whether Lancashire should pick him on current form. I'm sure he'll come good again but for the time being he's well down the pecking order. I think the man who should feel the most aggrieved is Stoneman. Averages 60 in cc, his a 144* yesterday in rl cup final. Very much in form.

Both Vilas and McLaren are South African so kolpak players so technically chiv is the overseas player. Davies is the keeper and a Darwen lad. Livi looks a very decent one day player but both young and early days. He holds some sort of local league 50 over record for a 350. Although he had an iffy T20 debut other day dropping one and then unremarkable with the bat attempting and missing far too many ramp shots. Re Hameed it's a head scratcher. In the county championship alone his scores have been 38* 18 10 9 0 7 0 0 45 47. So an average of 19 which isn't great. Plus he wasn't exactly breaking pots in the RL cup either. Don't watch a great deal of live county championship with work but I've seen most of his wickets on those replay things on twitter/website and in a lot of dismissals he's caught flashing at balls. He rarely seemed to get out like that last season. So I just wonder whether someone from lancs or more likely England got into his ear and said you need to score quicker. In which case may have forced him into a style he's neither comfortable with or capable of playing. Just a theory but it's not unprecedented just like when the England setup tried to change Jimmy's action leading to his wilderness years.

Next up Warwickshire away in first day/night county championship game presumably practice run for test one. The lions play again Thursday and Livingstone and Mahmood called up so both unavailable for next week. Once Jimmy goes to test side was hoping Mahmood would get a run of games. If not it will be tom "crowd better bring your crash hat" bailey. I also wish we were playing Warwickshire in normal conditions and not this day/night affair. They're on their knees but a change of environment and loss of players worries me a bit.

Lancashire's season has been that of fight backs from dreadful starts to the point they find themselves 2nd place. (Wouldn't crack open the champers just yet as after 7 games last season we were top and only avoided relegation curtesy of other results). Vs Essex drew but found themselves 160/6. Fought back and had Lancs enforced the follow on could/should have won. A big knock from Davies. Vs Surrey 1st innings 65/5 fought back to draw. Chiv/Clark tons. Vs Somerset 1st innings 109 all out. Well behind massive 2nd innings Davies/livi tons won the game. Vs Yarkshite 1st innings 68/4 fought back for a draw. Chiv/mclaren big knocks. Vs Yarkshite. I went to Day 1 headingley in the am-raining, overcast, on a pitch known to swing in said conditions we had the right to put them into bat but went for the toss "won" stick ourselves in 123 all out. Totally thrashed. Vs Middlesex at southport skittled them. But 74/4 fight back from mclaren. We won their first defeat in nearly 18 months. Great result to say they stuffed Yorkshire other day. Vs Hampshire they put on nearly 400. Lancs found themselves 69/3 so not as bad as normal. Start of day 3 120 ish behind 5 wickets down by the end of the day 200 ahead with them 4 or 5 down. Won. 244 from vilas a record for a Lancs no 6. In the RL cup dreadful start losing 3 games. Did quite well after that but the damage was done and failed to make the quarters In general Hameed woefully out of touch most recently a 0 and 1 for lions which was billed as a fight between him stoneman, Jennings and Gubbins for places in the test side (all others got big scores). Livi/Davies/Clark look to be decent batsmen and saqib Mahmood is highly thought of as a bowler but most consistent performers have been the overseas lads

Were the Venkys in attendance? Or is EiiR the only person of sufficient profile to get them to visit their baby. If they were, never would elton's song the bitch is back have been so apt.

The figure of 15,000 was in the LET but it's hardly reliable as they also reported it as Friday.

So no sorry seems to be the hardest word to say. Well only fitting Elton doesn't sing it for one night when the Venkys have failed to say it in 7 yrs.

4th world title shot must be last chance saloon for Groves if he doesn't win surely. As for Brook's fight I've just been watching this Spence on YouTube he definitely looks a slick operator Brook will be up against it and could very well lose his IBF belt. (Although I'll add the caveat going off a highlights reel I could probably make myself look half decent).

Perhaps predictably Lancs found themselves 39/3. Worth remembering also that this is yorkshire's second choice bowling attack. They're missing plunkett, Deirdre and Willey. Sidebottam and brooks haven't played this summer before this game. After a great season for lancs last season Hameed is starting to worry me. Averages 14 this season in county championship with last 4 innings of 0 7 0 0. He's miles off where he needs to be if has England aspirations this summer. After his series in India I thought he was nailed on to open with Cook but currently with my England hat on I wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole for the saffas and windies series. Even with my Lancs hat on I'd be tempted to stick him in the 2nd xi to get his confidence up and time at the crease. Problem is he's the only orthodox opener at the club.

I'm not sure what Lancashire's plan has been here. Yes losing jimmy was unfortunate but even before a ball had been bowled playing 2 spinners suggested we prepared a pitch that would be turning sideways (arguably our spinners not capable of that anyway) and seamers would play 2nd fiddle anyway. Not a hint of it. So 1 injury, 2 passengers and part timers in the bowling attack results in 425/8 and counting. We can't afford a Lancashire classic today losing 6 wickets early. Losing to a decimated Yorkshire, effectively within three days, would be hard to play down. Rain helped us yesterday mind you. Longer this goes on more chance of losing

Lancashire have been hopeless at 50 over cricket for about a decade now. Longer. But when balance and handcombe were in I thought 350 was on the cards and even more humiliating than I expect it will ultimately turn out

Ah so basically WBA was vacant not Klitschko's to lose as such. I also gather Joshua is also the IBO champion (must confess I didn't even know there was an IBO). So he's now the IBF, WBA and IBO champion. Wilder is WBC and Parker is WBO. Then there's that bizarre ring magazine title which Fury still has for some reason. My old man in his head only recognises one belt. Can't remember which one but the WBA rings a bell. No idea why but there was probably only one belt when he was a kid therefore any subsequent heavyweight belt is irrelevant to him like winning the ldv vans or charity shield. An extreme view point perhaps but I do think with all that lot there's far too many titles.

How was the atmosphere? Sounded good on TV. Went to Froch vs Groves which was decent but Saturday seemed another level but as a spectacle it wasn't great as we just watched the big screen the entire time pretty much didn't even glance over at the ring. Maybe someone on here knows but I can't fathom how Joshua was already IBF champion fighting Klitschko who lost all his belts vs Fury and hasn't fought since but Joshua now seems to be WBA champion as well. How's that happen?

Agreed. Regardless of how the fight turned out I thoroughly enjoyed the buildup to this. Both real men who were totally respectful and still put on one hell of a fight. That said some of my mates were saying before the fight they missed the other type of build up. But fear not when Fury/Bellew/Haye et al next step into the ring we'll no doubt be back to the usual stuff like the coroner better bring a shovel for when I've finished with you and once I've smashed your face in I'll eat your children guff. Followed by best mates after the fight.

Joshua did so well to get through end of round 5-7, settle himself, then to come out swinging in the 11th. Fair old cut above Klitschko's eye by the end. I bet Vitali got some Nam esque flashbacks from his Lewis fight seeing that. I think wilder will be looking on and seeing pound signs fighting over here and take confidence from the fact he's been put down and was hurt.

Outstanding

What a fight

Oh dear. Not going to plan. Defo not the same Klitschko that turned up vs Tyson Fury.

What a result from where they were

If Lancs win this will be would be some comeback.

Seems to suggest we've prepared a green wicket, presumably for jimmy. Only Lancashire could prepare a green wicket for jimmy knowing full well the oppo reserve the right to bowl first. Result 42/6. Plus no shiv