It would seem not.
Indeed, this year’s Championship may eventually become known as the Devon Loch season as just as a frontrunner has emerged so they have stumbled with the finishing post almost in sight.
At the time, Durham’s victory over Lancashire at the end of June had a decisive look about it with the northernmost county seemingly set to secure its third title in four seasons. Since then though, things have fallen apart with three losses and one draw in their last four matches. Indeed, with Durham having slipped to third in the table and the two counties ahead of them – Lancashire and Warwickshire – having played a game less, last week’s defeat at Trent Bridge seemed to have ended their hopes for good.
Lancashire have not won the title outright since 1934, but this team - whose sum is much greater than its parts - looked set to end 77 years of hurt. Unfortunately, Durham’s travails have presaged the Red Rose county’s own tale of woe, which has seen them win only one of their last four games. Their troubles reached a new nadir yesterday with a ten wicket defeat to Worcestershire, which saw them shot out for a lowly 80 in their second innings to lose in just a day and a half. Their batting always had a brittle look about it and so it has transpired as they have now been bowled out for less than 200 seven times in their last 12 championship innings. This is not the form of champions.
Whilst Durham and Lancashire stumbled, Somerset who had hitherto looked out of the title race roared back into contention with wins over Durham, Worcestershire and Sussex. But just as wise sages nodded that Somerset had timed their run perfectly, so the weather (against Notts last week), injury (to Marcus Trescothick and Nick Compton) and England call-ups (Craig Kieswetter and Jos Buttler) have stymied their hopes. With Hampshire fully in control of proceedings at Taunton in the current round of matches, the recent perennial bridesmaids of English cricket seem destined to miss out on the nuptials once again.
The fourth and final title challenger Warwickshire have had the good fortune to have played Yorkshire in their last two matches and the sense to have recruited Shivnarine Chanderpaul on a short-term contract. A demoralising defeat to Hampshire a fortnight ago where they were bowled out for 98 in their second innings seemed to suggest that Warwickshire lacked the quality required to be champions. But a spirited performance at Headingley last week with a weakened side built around Chanderpaul’s 193 got them back on track, and another hundred from the West Indian in the return match this week has put Warwickshire firmly in control and set for another victory. Chanderpaul has previous as far as the Championship is concerned: he was with Durham on the day the title was secured in 2008 and 2009 – at this rate he could be running in the mascot derby should Warwickshire reach the T20 Final Day next summer.
If Warwickshire do win over the next two days, then the Championship would be theirs to lose, but the way this season has gone don’t be surprised if they stumble too like Durham and Lancashire. If they do, Durham who look set to defeat Sussex at Hove will be right back in the running, but – and look away now Yorkshire lovers – we still retain (vain?) hope that Lancashire will recover somehow and lift that elusive trophy once again.
Where next?
Brigitte Bardot is the support act to Lancashire in our debut column for All Out Cricket
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Enjoyed the article...been a rollercoaster last week or two with each challenger faltering in turn. Hopefully Yorkshire can knock over Warwickshire to blow it wider open still!
Posted by: JF | Friday, September 02, 2011 at 18:07