seems a big con to me - at least county cricketers playing test cricket used to to go back for the occasional county game between tests

I hope the counties are well compensated for the loss of the england players ?

at Essex CCC - we used to lose the likes of Goochie,Fletcher & JK Lever etc etc but they always managed to turn out for county games through the season

Different world now though ain't it. And can anyone really argue that England's position in the world game in unrelated to central contracting? They're pretty well remunerated from those central contracts. I wouldn't care to guess what counties cough up.

Batsmen seem to play for their counties a lot more than bowlers.When Jimmy Anderson isn't playing for England he never plays for Lancs as he needs to rest inbetween test matches.The only time bowlers play for counties these days is if they're coming back from an injury.

Well looks like we're doing our best to join the list of those who have been relegated the year after winning the Championship.

Embrace it. Happens to the best of us.

last season was a fluke anyway !

Oh, ABD.... A t20 masterclass by the South African genius. 59* off 23 balls, a Stick Cricket-esque strike rate of 256. Put on 122 with Dilshan in 50 balls.

Gooch is full-time with England now. Much good as it did this winter. Mind, Gooch was rubbish against spin as well. Should have got Graham Thorpe in instead

wash your mouth out man !!!

Goochy was just brill.....Englands highest run scorer etc etc

Graham Thorpe - yes, quite agree - he would do an equally good job

would love to mate but I haven't been to the uk since about 2006 (dads funeral) but I do miss the sporting events - although a native of Norfolk (the Edrich family & Parfitt fame) the closest First Class County was Essex and the pitch at Chelsmford used to be pretty decent - however,the occasional game at Southend was usually a farce ! I once saw about 25 wickets fall in one day on that track - Trevor Bailey was apoplectic !!!
Chelmsford is easy to get to nowadays with the multi storey carpark just opposite which makes life a lot easier

pity about the team though.....

I guess your location kinda gave that away, really.

I know the feeling about the team. Whilst Lancs had a lovely habit of winning trophies when I was a kid, in the ten years I've been a member there's been precious little to shout about apart from last season. It's almost comforting this year that things seem to be back to normal!

Apparently it's dry at Canterbury. Ain't holding my breath for play, but even if it does go ahead, we'll have played both games against Kent before April is out. Mental.