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Your support makes all the difference.Cricket
JON CULLEY
It is the consequence of the sporting calendar that the arrival of autumnal shadows inevitably pushes cricket into the shadow of football. This year there is greater cause for regret in this than usual, as an absorbing and exciting race for the Britannic Assurance County Championship reaches a climax that will scarcely receive the attention it deserves.
With two rounds left, the title-holders, Warwickshire, lead by 12 points from Middlesex with Northamptonshire 11 points further behind and Lancashire another three adrift in fourth place. These are the contenders. They meet Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Worcestershire and Kent respectively in matches starting today, all at home.
With points on the board, Warwickshire are warm favourites, and justifiably. Since their epic defeat by seven runs to Northamptonshire at Edgbaston in July they have won four subsequent matches by margins of not less than 10 wickets. Already they have 17 points more than were needed to win in 1994.
Middlesex's record before the last round was still more impressive, comprising eight consecutive victories, five by an innings. But the sequence was broken last Friday when their meeting with Northamptonshire on a flat wicket at Uxbridge ended in a draw, the result neither side wanted.
It is not in Middlesex's favour that they remain at Uxbridge, where they again may be hard pressed to force a result, even though Leicestershire could be without their regular openers, Nigel Briers and Gregor MacMillan. No injuries afflict Mike Gatting's side, barring the back problems which have kept out Richard Johnson, England's newest recruit, for more than three weeks. Johnson has been advised by a specialist to take 14 days' complete rest.
If the pitch at Edgbaston bears any resemblance to that at Uxbridge, Steve Rouse, the groundsman, will be off Dermot Reeve's Christmas card list. Tim Munton is doubtful with a side strain but Reeve has recovered from a back twinge. The spinners, Ashley Giles and Neil Smith, are probable starters but Allan Donald alone may be enough to see off Derbyshire, who will lack Devon Malcolm.
The scenes of jubilation at Northampton 10 days ago, after the extraordinary victory over Nottinghamshire, look premature now. The odds are that Allan Lamb's valiant quest to land the county's first Championship in his last year as captain will end in heroic failure. But there has been more than one improbable result for Lamb's side this summer and anything is possible, especially if rain plays a part. Anil Kumble, the wrist-spinning ace up Lamb's sleeve, needs six wickets for a Championship century.
Lancashire, once fancied for the treble Warwickshire may yet win again, have only an outsider's chance and must manage now without Wasim Akram, who left Manchester for Pakistan yesterday.
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP TOP FOUR
P W L D Bat Bl Tot
Warwicks 15 12 2 1 41 56 289
Middlesex 15 11 2 2 44 57 277
Northants 15 11 2 2 41 49 266
Lancashire 15 10 3 2 46 57 263
Remaining fixtures: Warwickshire: 7 Sept Derbyshire (Edgbaston); 14 Kent (Canterbury). Middlesex: 7 Sept Leicestershire (Uxbridge); 14 Somerset (Taunton). Northamptonshire 7 Sept Worcestershire (Northampton); 14 Sussex (Hove). Lancashire: 7 Sept Kent (Old Trafford); 14 Derbyshire (Derby).
Latest odds: Warwickshire 1-5; Middlesex 100-30; Northamptonshire 40- 1; Lancashire 66-1.
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