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[Sam]

Just thought I'd open a thread for discussion on this! Personally mostly interested in the promotion battle going on in D2 between Essex, Worcestershire (who are already up, but fighting for top spot) and Hants!

[Stuey]

Should Worcester even be going up with Ajmal being banned? He won the game for them against Essex at the start of the season taking 13 wickets. It has without question impacted the promotion race.

[Sam]

Personally feel when you look at the teams on paper Essex and Hampshire are the two most deserving however a situation where they both get promoted is now out of the question and I think Worcestershire will end up doing a Northants next season. The reason they're so high is predominantly due to Ajmal and Mitchell, believe they didn't lose a game while Ajmal was here and he took a huge amount of wickets, but there's nothing you can do about that now I guess.

[Sam]

Just heard that at the Middlesex v Lancs game David Capel is there on behalf of the ECB deciding whether the teams (Lancashire now I guess) are allowed to declare or not within the rules  .

[Bats_Entertainment]

To deprive the other team bonus points? I can't see it coming to that.

[Sam]

To deprive the other team bonus points? I can't see it coming to that.

Could quite easily come down to the few bonus points in the case that Lancashire win. If they're for example 300 for 8 late on tomorrow evening they may consider declaring guaranteeing they stay up as long as they win, a lot less risky than going for the 350? Would be interesting as to whether that would be justifiable!

[Alvaro]

It would never happen BE...

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/405598.html

[Sam]

It would never happen BE...

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/405598.html

In reference to a declaration or a punishment?

It's not quite on the same level as those mentioned in the article in my opinion and is a bit more discrete. Remember it happening a couple of times before in recent years in CC although it less noticeable events therefore not bringing any repercussions.

[Alvaro]

Cynical declarations. I'd say if it happened in this game you wouldn't need to be Miss Marple to smell a rat.

[Sam]

Cynical declarations. I'd say if it happened in this game you wouldn't need to be Miss Marple to smell a rat.

Depends though, with time taken out of the game it could quite easily be justifiable as 'needing to win the game and needing the time to do that', especially if they could conveniently do it overnight. Although it looks very suspicious it wouldn't be a shock if it happened in any game.

Thanks for the article however, very interesting read.

[Manormanic]

I think the difference if LAncashire were to do this - and a difference in thir faour - is that they are the only potential beneficiaries. 

[farnham_quins_2]

Cheering on Glamorgan to beat Hampshire so Essex can go up!

Looked like Hampshire were in trouble early on but recovered. Great start by Essex though. Just need Glamorgan to battle out the draw.
I think that would be enough as long as Essex win...

[plumb111]

Essex must make the 300 mark and with a Tail that doesn't tend to wag 25 runs is seeming a mile away at the minute. Come on the Eagles and Jesse Ryder

[Sam]

11 more for Essex to force Hants to need a win, presuming they win .

Afraid I'm on the opposite side to you guys, bit dissapointing the situation as Essex are my 2nd team.

[plumb111]

Glamorgan are crumbling its not looking good