Had you not added "by us" in there I would have seen your Darren Powell and raised you Tino "accuracy of a firehose" Best...

No no no no no!!

Tino has been like a re-incarnation of Malcolm Marshall in comparison to the Dazzler!

31 wickets v 13 wickets in all competitions in favour of Tino at much better averages too. Add in the fact that Tino at least looks like he can be ar+ed most of the time and you've clearly trumped us in the "past-it Windies" bowlers stakes.

Was Powell first choice as Lancs overseas player for this year?

Latest scores............

Durham: Yet to bat
Lancashire: 130-5 (45.5 overs)

Essex: 182-3 (47.5 overs)
Yorkshire: Yet to bat

Warwickshire: 96-4 (31.0 overs)
Nottinghamshire: Yet to bat

Lancs need a decent knock from Chanderpaul to pull them out the mire and Notts fielding a very strong bowling unit with Broad & Swann back to join Sidebottom & Adams. Looking at the weather forecast any team pushing for a win will probably need to do it in 2 1/2 days.

Latest scores at lunch on Day 3.............

Durham: 58-4 (21.3 overs)
Lancashire: 344 (101.3 overs)
Delayed
Rain stopped play

Essex: 399 (116.5 overs)
Yorkshire: 314-9 (107.5 overs)
Lunch

Warwickshire: 313 & 36-7 (16.2 overs)


Nottinghamshire: 389 (105.4 overs)
In Play

Stuart Broad has 7-22 off 9 overs.

. Don't think there's a cat in hell's chance that his skipper will pull him out of the attack whilst the 10-for is still on!



Lancs could do with it drying up as if they can force Durham to follow on they've got half a sniff at sneaking the win. If they don't it looks like a stonewall draw which will give Notts a huge lift. Yorks-Essex also looking like a draw so potentailly a pivotal 48 hours in the title race.

Still five sessions to play at Chelmsford, although there is a 30 percent chance of rain tomorrow according to the Met Office which means a contrived declaration might be needed to force a result either way in that game.

No more bonus points up for grabs though, so nothing to stop the two sides getting their heads together maybe over tea to talk about targets etc.

Essex set Yorkshire 369 to win in two and a half sessions - how very generous...

The other two games look like drifting into draws, just bonus points to play for in the Durham-Lancs game and Somerset running short of time to declare and bowl Kent out.

Could turn out to be a decent round of matches for both Yorks and Lancs in terms of picking up points on the opposition.

The Chase is on for Yorkshire, there have been some great finishes this year going for us and against us, will be listening closely for the next hour or so

At least Yorkshire are going for the win, unlike Lancashire who have settled for yet another freaking draw. No wonder we're unbeaten for over 12 months when we don't even try and set or chase testing targets. Not happy!!

We fell 33 short, great to see us having a go.

Hopefully Notts and Lancashire won't pick up too many points as we sit out the next round of games, then Notts come to Headingley which could be pivotal.

Glad to see no-one has mentioned last nights 20/20 quarter final. Let's stick to the proper cricket.

The Essex v Lancs game was a cracker, best 20/20 for a while and actually showed how well the format can work.

[url=http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/469486.htmlStuart Regan to leave Yorkshire[/url, they have obviously been doing a lot right in the last couple of years so hopefully this won't jeopardise things too much, the fact they are waiting at least six months before deciding if he needs replacing in the role worries me a little.

So Notts walloped by Somerset in one of their games in hand, it brings Somerset right into the race though.

Lancs looking good for at least a draw at Hampshire so it's not been too bad a week for us.

After a good start Lancs are drawing too many games to be in the title race this season.

Bresnan is in the England squad again, so he won't be available to play for us in the crucial game with Notts starting tomorrow - even though he's highly unlikely to figure in the test.

Ajmal Shahzad is available though.

He'd best get his pads on.

The Yorkshire top order was due a fail in the first-class game and it's come today.

89-5 having won the toss and opted to bat.

I'm a bit shocked we batted given the cloudy conditions, 136-6 now.

Quote ="Money Mayweather"Ricki Clarke surley? '" Not sure why you're laughing. The Test averages of McGrath & Clarke are fairly similar: www.cricinfo.com/england/content ... 11724.html

Quote ="Money Mayweather"Ricki Clarke surley? '" Not sure why you're laughing. The Test averages of McGrath & Clarke are fairly similar: www.cricinfo.com/england/content ... 11724.html

We're getting absolutely caned, Notts are 497/6 in reply to our paltry 178.

I probably won't be needing my Friday off work that I'd booked anticipating a tight battle!

Yorks close on day 3 272/2. 90+ runs behind.

Five down, still 40 behind and the last of the recognised batsmen at the crease.

Where's the bloody rain when you need it?

Bucketing down now, shame.

Opening batsmen required. Apply to:

Mike Watkinson
LCCC
OLd Trafford
M16 0RA.

Now if it were Lancashire needing 113 runs with 8 wickets in hand in a day...that day would be filled with rain, but its certain to be sunny and batter friendly tomorrow.

Not that I'm bitter/paranoid or anything...