BCCI floats tender for series-title sponsor

The BCCI has retained a base price of Rs 2 crore (approx. $320,000) per international match while inviting bids for a series-title sponsor for all the major matches played in India, in place of Bharti Airtel, the telecommunication company that decided not to renew its contract for the same.

The board decided to float a tender for the period beginning October 1 to March 31, 2014, which includes at least 13 international matches. The winning bidder, though, will then get the first right to extend the agreement till March 31, 2018.

After Bharti Airtel decided not to extend their contract, the BCCI's marketing committee, which was presided over by president N Srinivasan in the absence of its chairman Farooq Abdullah, finalised the invitation to tender (ITT) document. The ITT will be available to "only corporate entities with a turnover of Rs 100 crore, for performance deposit of Rs 3 crore" at Rs 2 lakh. The bids will be opened in the presence of all the bidders on October 3.

While the media statement issued by BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel didn't specify the base price, a summary of the ITT document that was finalised at the meeting, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, recommended "to have the same base price of Rs 2 crore as the tender done in 2010".

While barring agents from representing corporate houses, the BCCI decided to allow consortia bids. "It is recommended that the consortia is allowed to bid for the title sponsor with consortia members nominating the title sponsor and other associate sponsor during the time of the bid," the marketing committee suggested.

Besides being awarded the title sponsorship of all the senior domestic tournaments barring the Challenger Trophy, which will be played in September, and the domestic Twenty20, the winning bidder will also be able to avail 28 other rights. Some of the prominent ones include: "Integration into the event logo and the use of all official marks; right to put up to 12 advertising boards of standard size (approx. 3ft x 20ft) in the stadium at all matches and the right to nominate the positioning of these 12 boards; exclusive branding on the stumps; and non-exclusive branding on the BCCI's website".

The marketing committee also took into consideration the current title sponsorship deals of Cricket South Africa, Cricket Australia and the ECB. It noted that CA awards Test sponsorship for $2.4mn and ODI sponsorship for $0.8mn, the ECB awards Tests for $1.07mn and ODIs and T20s for $0.25mn, and CSA's sponsorship is priced at $0.45mn per Test, $0.5mn per ODI and $0.3mn per T20.

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I'm standing for elections - Srinivasan

N Srinivasan has said he will stand for re-election as BCCI president at the Indian board's annual general meeting, to be held in Chennai on September 29. The announcement is not a surprise but his success, a foregone conclusion a few months ago, is now hostage to several legal and judicial issues that are beyond his control and may crystallise formal opposition to him.

Under BCCI rules, any presidential candidate has to be nominated by two associations from the incumbent's home zone - south zone in Srinivasan's case, and that is where the focus is shifting.

As Srinivasan left the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Thursday after attending a meeting of the board's marketing committee, he was asked if the other members from south zone were standing besides him. His response was succinct: "I am going to stand," he said, before taking a dig at the media for speculating on the numbers game in the event of an election.

While Srinivasan has made his candidature public, it cannot be ascertained at this point if the murmurs within the board opposing Srinivasan's stubbornness to hold on to the chair will turn into a credible organised lobby sufficient to match Srinivasan both in terms of stature and power. The early runner seems to be Shashank Manohar, Srinivasan's predecessor, a lawyer with a no-nonsense yet low-profile attitude.

Manohar hasn't yet made any concrete or public move towards returning to job he left in 2011 but it is believed that efforts are on to persuade him to contest against Srinivasan. One official privy to the developments told ESPNcricinfo that Manohar has shown interest but he is still gauging his support, especially from the south zone.

Manohar, who hails from the central zone, will need a proposer and a seconder from the south zone - most of whose members are staunch Srinivasan loyalists. It is believed that the anti-Srinivasan lobby - comprising senior politicians in New Delhi who are also part of the BCCI top brass - has been exerting political pressure on the Goa Cricket Association to shift its allegiance from Srinivasan.

The same lobby is also working on the Andhra Cricket Association to be the other member needed to set up a candidate. "Our stand is still undecided. We will discuss with our member units and then decide, since there is no hurry as such," an ACA official said on Thursday.

Both sides also have an eye on two important legal developments that could impact the election. One involves the IPL fixing case, in relation to which Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested in May. Mumbai Police is expected to file its chargesheet any day and the gravity of the charges against Meiyappan could play a part.

Srinivasan himself has already been chargesheeted - in his capacity as managing director of India Cements - in a corruption case involving a top political leader from Andhra Pradesh. If he is arrested in this case - and it is not impossible, given the high-level political machinations at work - then the board might agree to replace him as the BCCI president, even though the issue has nothing to do with cricket. "If that happens, we will have to find a new face," a Srinivasan confidant conceded.

It is these uncertainties that the Cricket Association of Bihar has sought to tap into through a public appeal to the BCCI members. The CAB - which is not a part of the BCCI - had filed the petition in Bombay High Court against the constitution of the IPL probe commission and on Tuesday made a "sincere appeal" to BCCI members to reject Srinivasan's candidature. "He continues to be in a 'step aside' situation as president," the appeal said. "The BCCI cannot afford to have a president who will be in a permanent state of 'step aside' and not be involved in its day-to-day affairs."

Despite all this, Srinivasan remains the most powerful person in the board and the man to beat in the elections. He has the support of many member associations but, as the BCCI AGM draws closer, the equation within the board could yet change dramatically.

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'Please don't make this about me' - Cook

What the key figures in Durham's success said about their season:

On Geoff Cook's heart attack midway through the season:

"Please don't go making this all about me, will you?" - Geoff Cook, head coach

"There were about 10 of us went into the hospital and saw Geoff. We all came out and the surgeons told us that it was looking ominous: because that was the kind of language they were using. It was devastating for everybody that went in. So for him to pull through was a miracle in itself. And then for Durham to win the title three times in six years - many good players don't win it at all - a lot of it has to go down to Geoff Cook." - Paul Collingwood, captain

"We did it for Geoff. We were shocked when we heard what had happened. We sat down, we talked about it and we took those thoughts on to the field with us. We were doing it for him." - Paul Stokes, emerging England allrounder.

"The club didn't seem right when Geoff wasn't here. We were missing someone that IS this club, really. So we did this for Geoff Cook. We knew the type of cricket he wanted us to play and a lot of this success is down to him." - Graham Onions, Durham and England fast bowler.

"Geoff knows his body better than I do. He says he felt ready to come back so we welcomed him back. He's very driven. So you do worry if the pressures of this type of role are healthy, but you can't stand in his way." - David Harker, CEO.

On north-eastern pride:

"You talk about team spirit and sometimes you have to do a little bit to try and manufacture it. But this year we found ourselves with the majority coming through the academy so they've already got a lot of Durham in their blood. They've gelled brilliantly and supported each other." - Geoff Cook.

"It's been unbelievably satisfying. Something happens that just keeps testing us and somehow we keep showing the resolve. I don't know what it is. I don't know if we can bottle it. It seems to be inside the north-east people. They just want to fight. And these youngsters have just fought all year, through adversity, whether it be financial situations or Geoff Cook's illness. People have grown. Seeing the youngsters blossom has been absolutely wonderful." - Paul Collingwood.

"I don't like to talk about it too much, because it came seem arrogant or parochial, but I believe there is something special. There is a sense of camaraderie; there is a sense of belonging to something that extends beyond the 11 guys in the dressing room. There is a sense of roots and pride. Culture is a consistent pattern of behaviour over time and these guys have grown up together, they know each other and they are comfortable with each other, they have similar background so there is a cohesion here that helps fuel team spirit." - David Harker.

On Paul Collingwood's captaincy:

"Phil Mustard took that job on when no-one wanted it and the last thing I want to do is criticise him. But there is no denying the team weren't performing like we wanted. Colly is the largest single difference in that time zone. In so far as there is a magic bullet, that was it. I was delighted he came back and gave it a go. Credit to him for continuing to endure those long journeys." - Dave Harker.

"What have I provided? Hopefully a little bit of calmness. I just go about my business. I'm not going to blow my own trumpet. I've always been a believer that bowlers win you big tournaments. For only one team this year to come to the Riverside and got a batting bonus point; that's a ridiculous stat, and that shows how powerful we are in the bowling department." - Paul Collingwood.

On cutting your cloth:

"I'm sure a lot of this team wouldn't be playing first-class cricket if we weren't a first-class county. That was the whole raison d'être: too many players had been lost to the first-class game. There are a couple of guys involved this year who won't be next year, but young guys are coming through. Our budget for next year will be about £1.2m compared to £1.9m when we went over the salary cap. That puts us about mid-table in the spending. We can't be top of everything." - David Harker.

"It has been a really hard six months. It is hard to comprehend the amount of travel that you do or the workloads you face. But when you stick together as a side it's amazing what you can achieve. It is the last year of my contract, so it will soon be time to find ways to keep improving this side. I am not happy just winning it once. I want to do it again." - Paul Collingwood.

"You don't want to pick one title win from another. The first one was very special, we had a team of very talented cricketers. This one's from the other end of the spectrum. They rely a lot on discipline and team-work without having any really outstanding players." - Geoff Cook.

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Former BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele dies

Jaywant Lele, the former BCCI secretary, has died of a heart attack in Baroda on Thursday. Lele was the board secretary when the match-fixing scandal broke out in 2000.

Lele was gearing up for a return to cricket administration in the forthcoming Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) elections. Lele lost his post as BCCI secretary to Niranjan Shah during the 2001 elections.

A former engineer with Sarabhai Chemicals, Lele became the honorary secretary of the BCA in 1969. In 2003, he was expelled from the BCA, alongwith two other administrators, for alleged financial irregularities and administrative lapses.

Lele was also a qualified umpire.

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Solanki's masterclass comes too late

Surrey 400 for 5 (Solanki 162, Davies 103, Amla 77) v Warwickshire
Scorecard

Days like these have been rare for Surrey this season, which goes a long way, of course, to explaining why they are on the brink of relegation. Vikram Solanki's second hundred for Surrey is the first in the Championship by any of the county's batsmen since Ricky Ponting's 169 against Nottinghamshire at The Oval in July.

Unless Rory Burns or Steven Davies has an exceptionally good match at Derby next week, when Surrey's return to Division Two will almost certainly be confirmed, Solanki is likely to be the only batsman close to 1,000 first-class runs.

His brilliant 162, of which 106 runs came in boundaries, confirmed, even at 37, that the ability to play a high-class innings is still with him. Amid all the criticisms aimed in Surrey's direction in the analysis of their current state, his signing did not escape attention. It was was by some commentators to represent the wrong approach, a player close to the end of his career signed on a expensive contract, barring the way, it was supposed, of some home-grown talent with much more cricket ahead of him.

"People are entirely entitled to their opinion," he said. "I pride myself at trying to work as hard as I can at my game and trying to do my best for the team I'm involved with. I've thoroughly enjoyed being part of the group and I hope they have enjoyed having me around."

It was an answer typical of Solanki's natural modesty and diplomacy. Indeed, asked if his form was close to his best, he suggested he could have done better, drawing attention instead to occasions when he disappointed himself.

"I'm pleased with the way I played today," he said. "I've worked hard in the last two weeks in particular to make sure I'm moving well enough and I was pretty pleased with the way I moved today.

"I'd like to hope that the ability is still there to deliver runs at this level but I would have dearly liked to have made far more runs than I have, and it is not for the lack of trying.

"I recall a number of occasions when a partnership at a particular time would have been just what we needed and I missed an opportunity. So while I'm happy with how I've played today, and while there were another couple of knocks I was quite pleased with, I look back at some of those other games with disappointment."

He cannot be the only one reflecting with similar frustration. Surrey's collective batting malaise has been such that before this match they had not managed maximum batting points once. Indeed, in the last two dismal defeats against Middlesex and Somerset they did not take any at all.

"That says it all about our season," Solanki added. "There is no question that we are very disappointed with the way we have played in Championship cricket, although we can be proud of the fact that we played well in the Twenty20 and only fell at the last hurdle, in the final."

In a manner of speaking, Surrey's failure to turn the season around is vindication for Chris Adams, who was sacked in June. Under Adams, who was team director, Surrey were promoted in 2011, when they also won the CB40, but the tragedy of Tom Maynard blighted the 2012 season and Adams was sent on his way after completing five years at the helm, along with first-team coach Ian Salisbury. Fearful even then that they would go down, Surrey's chief executive Richard Gould - the son of a football manager - announced that the club "had decided it was time to make a change in order to progress further."

Alec Stewart has been in charge on a temporary basis ever since, with no sign yet of a permanent successor to Adams. If there was much wrong about what he was doing, his removal has clearly not proved to be the solution. How different might the season have been, one can speculate, had Graeme Smith not suffered his season-ending injury after only two matches as captain, denying Adams the experience and stature on the field he hoped would bring unity and purpose to an undeniably talented group of players.

Their performance so far in this match, against the side that won the title last year, only underlines the point. Hashim Amla's 77 might be seen as counting for little, in that he has appeared only as a desperate last throw of the dice, but Davies showed his quality too with his second hundred of the season. Thanks to his partnership with Solanki, which added 182 in 40.3 overs, the 400 was reached in the 98th over.

Solanki's 162, which began with Surrey 18 for 2 in the 11th over, ended in the 93rd, when he attempted to guide a ball from Chris Woakes towards the third-man boundary and instead deflected it into his stumps via a bottom edge. He had hit 25 fours and one six, over long-off, against the spinner, Jeetan Patel.

Davies, similarly displaying a touch of class not revealed often enough this year, completed his second hundred of the season before pulling a ball from Maurice Chambers to the midwicket boundary, where Ateeq Javid took the catch. Amla had become a third victim of the innings for Keith Barker when he drove loosely amid the general desire for quick runs and was caught at slip.

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Durham prove upstoppable

Durham 256 (Collingwood 88*, Mustard 77, Adams 4-69) and 7 for 0 need 62 more runs to beat Nottinghamshire 78 and 246 (Mullaney 72, Hussey 57, Onions 3-50, Stokes 3-55)
Scorecard

A potent bowling attack and a strong team spirit developed through shared goals and experiences has taken Durham to the brink of a third County Championship title.

When the weather allows, Durham will resume on the third day of the match against Nottinghamshire requiring only 62 more runs for victory.

They might have won in two days. The option of claiming an extra half-hour was discussed at the end of day two, before Durham, in consultation with the umpires, decided there was no need to hurry their second innings run chase of just 69. The weather forecast suggests that rain may prevent play until late in day three, but there is no reason to think it will do anything more than delay the inevitable.

Any chance that Durham may be penalised for a poor pitch were scotched when Jack Birkenshaw, the ECB's pitch liaison officer, left at lunch time having declared himself satisfied.

It was the right decision. The manner in which Paul Collingwood, the Durham captain, helped add 49 runs for Durham's final two wickets and reached his own highest score of the season suggested that, with proper care and attention, this pitch was demanding but not unfair. Nottinghamshire's lowly first innings total owed as much to batsmen who were unwilling or unable to graft for their runs as it did the conditions.

Most of all, it owed rather a lot to some mature and skilful bowling. Graham Onions, in particular, is a desperately tough proposition on such surfaces. His pace is no longer quite as sharp as it once was, but it is brisk and, allied to his remarkable consistency - it is doubtful than anyone in county cricket demands a batsman play a shot so often - is the ability to move the ball both ways in the air and off the pitch. It is a wonderful package of skills and, while it is surplus to demands for England, it is a precious asset for Durham. Averaging six wickets per game, he would, if he played a whole season - and he has missed only one game through a finger injury - come very close to 100 wickets.

Nottinghamshire produced more fight second time around. Steven Mullaney, badly dropped on 14 and 59, generally showed the technique and discipline to prosper in such conditions, while David Hussey also prospered against the softer ball and support bowlers.

But the fact that Andre Adams was caught at deep point, Luke Fletcher at mid-off and Samit Patel attempting a lavish drive underlines the impression that Nottinghamshire's batsmen simply lack the stomach for the fight. It will not do to excuse their recklessness with 'that is the way we play' any more than it will excuse rash driving in fog. Sometimes you have to work for your runs and, too often, Nottinghamshire bat as if they can't be bothered. They may escape relegation this year, but it will be an issue again next year unless they sharpen up significantly.

Nottinghamshire's faults should not deflect from Durham's success. Ben Stokes, who had to leave the pitch twice to have a hole drilled in a toe nail to release pressure in it, bowled with pace and Chris Rushworth, something of an unsung hero, produced beauty that nipped back to punish James Taylor for a lack of balance and a shot aimed across the line. Michael Lumb was beaten by a beauty that nipped back and Chris Read by one that nipped away.

There are some remarkable and revealing statistics associated with Durham's success. For example:

• Durham have conceded only one batting bonus point at home all season at home. Warwickshire were the opposition.
• The highest opening partnership against Durham in the Championship all season is just 47.
• Since the end of 2008, when Ian Blackwell joined the club from Somerset, Durham have utilised just two new players from any nation that have not developed through their own academy system: Ruel Brathwaite and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Neither are with the club now.
• Since Paul Collingwood took over captaincy and, presuming that Durham complete victory over Nottinghamshire, they will have won 14 Championship matches out of 21 and five in succession.
• Six of their 10 victories this season (presuming this game is won and bearing in mind there is one game remaining at Hove) have come at home, meaning they have also won four out of seven away from home.

  What do such statistics tell us?

  They tell us that Durham possess a remarkably good attack, that they have relied upon home-grown talent - the only man in the current side who did not develop through the club's own academy system (or similar) is Will Smith, and he attended developed through what is now known as the Durham MCCU scheme - and that, since Collingwood took the helm, they have been united into a team worth more than the sum of its parts.

  While it is true that Durham may have made a virtue out of necessity - they did try to bring in new players ahead of this season, but lacked the finance to do so - they key point is that they did make a virtue of it. Other sides might have wilted.

  What such stats cannot show is the true value of shared experiences. As just about the entire team developed through the county's system, they have all known the head coach and former academy director, Geoff Cook, since boyhood and owe much of their success to his ability to recognise their talents and his support of them.

  So when he experienced a serious heart attack in June, it shocked this tightly-knit squad. Knowing how much this club means to him, the team came together, discussed how they could help and used the experience to inspire them to redouble their efforts in tribute and in the knowledge it is what he would have wanted. When Stokes, at 22 developing into a senior player in this side, spoke at the end of play, his words had the ring of truth than no amount of press officers could ever supply.

  "We did if for Geoff," Stokes said. "We were shocked when we heard what had happened. We sat down, we talked about it and we took those thoughts on to the field with us. We were doing it for him."

  Kolpak signings, overseas players and big-name additions from other counties all have their place. But time and again the game shows us that there is no substitute for 11 good men playing with one purpose, with shared experiences and values, delighting in each other's successes and in the knowledge of their role and responsibilities. There is much to admire in Durham's success and much from which other sides could learn.

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Yorkshire now eyeing second solace

Yorkshire 210 (Gale 66, Williamson 52) and 4 for 0 lead Middlesex 128 (Sidebottom 4-27) by 86 runs
Scorecard

With the correct mindset, if the Championship is lost, Yorkshire and Middlesex are still engaged in a worthwhile, cut-and-thrust contest for second place. It is worth a few bob and Yorkshire, in particular, need every penny they can lay their hands on.

Yorkshire are well placed to achieve it as well after despatching Middlesex in clinical fashion, claiming an 82-run lead on first innings after removing Middlesex's last seven wickets for 42 in only 13.5 overs. If a dire forecast proves accurate, there will not be much progress on the third day. But perhaps there is no need for brawn sandwiches at tea time quite yet.

It is not entirely true that no-one remembers runners-up. At least it offers the chance to grumble inconsequentially: "We came second that year," and come up with a plausible excuse or two, something you can't really do if you finish third. But it is largely true.

It was impossible to watch events unfold at Headingley without reflecting on the fact that 90 miles to the north, in Chester-le-Street, Durham were closing in on their third title in six years, a title which both of these counties had at one point of the season imagined might be theirs.

In May, Middlesex had momentum, a strong seam attack and a redoubtable pair of open batsmen in Chris Rogers and Sam Robson making light of weaknesses elsewhere. In midsummer it was Yorkshire, 10-1 outsiders at the start of the season, who felt that a first Championship for 12 years was in range. But ever since Durham outplayed Yorkshire three at Scarborough three weeks ago, their hold has been unshiftable. It would need a miracle to change that now.

Around Headingley, words of praise for Durham's captain Paul Collingwood, a former England regular who chose to end his days back in county cricket, and do much good as a result, are commonly heard.

Seam bowlers dominated affairs at Headingley, just as they were doing at Chester-le-Street, revelling in a spicy, mid-September pitch, a blessed relief for the fast bowlers' union after a long, hot summer. Of the 20 wickets to fall so far, 16 have fallen to catches to wicketkeeper or slips. On the second day alone, there were ten wicketkeeper catches. There have been club practice sessions that don't produce as many catching opportunities as that.

John Simpson and Jonny Bairstow both finished with six catches apiece, with Bairstow's Yorkshire half-dozen only one below the record set by his father, 'Bluey', against Derbyshire in 1982. Bairstow tweeted his delight last month after discovering one of his dad's England tour bags in the loft. The connections remain, discovered through a son's developing career.

But the keepers' catches have, by and large, been routine, a support act for the bowlers. What Tim Murtagh and Corey Collymore achieved for Middlesex, Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Patterson replicated for Yorkshire. Bowlers' run-up marks sunk menacingly into the lush, green outfield, tracks which insisted they would prove irresistable.

Patterson can rarely have looked more threatening for Yorkshire. Years dropped off Sidebottom with every over, Jack Brooks' low catch at long leg to dismiss the last man, Ollie Rayner, left him with 4 for 27. Sidebottom, who is involved in contractual negotiations with Yorkshire, is launching his cricket academy this week, in conjunction with his father, Arnie, and both can teach a lot about bloody-minded persistence on the hard days and how not to waste the opportunity when conditions are in your favour.

Until Yorkshire's bowlers quickened the pace of the game, Headingley was a maudlin place to be. There was little prospect that the Emley Moor transmitter, visible these days from the top of the new pavilion, would be broadcasting news of victory to the good folk beneath before the week was out. Only the diehards remained, spattered by the showers that studded the first two sessions.

Yorkshire began the second day at 109 for 3, but never threatened to achieve the sort of total to haul in the catch of batting bonus points they needed. But they could point to the match's singular batting performance, that of Kane Williamson, who battled gamely for four-and-a-quarter hours for 52 before he became one of two wickets for Middlesex's debutant Tom Helm, a tall, gangling pace bowler and England Under-19, who certainly looked worth an end-of-season chance.

Williamson was signed up in late season by Yorkshire to help win a Championship. He has not managed that, but after a duck on debut he has made fifty in every completed innings. This one was as demanding as any.

Williamson is as immersed in long-form cricket as Eoin Morgan, not required by Middlesex for this match, seems divorced from it. It would have broadened Morgan's cricketing education to contend with conditions like this, a reminder of the game in all its forms, but if the yearning does not seem to be there, whether it to Alex Hales at Nottinghamshire or Morgan at Middlesex, it is understandable if a county's interest begins to wear thin.

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Hadlee elected in NZC board of directors

Former Test cricketers Richard Hadlee, Martin Snedden and Geoff Allott have been elected in the New Zealand Cricket board of directors. The three were among eight new directors voted in by delegates representing all Major Associations and District Associations in a general meeting in Auckland.

The other five members included in the new board of directors were Greg Barclay, Neil Craig, Liz Dawson, Stuart Heal and Don Mackinnon, all of whom have experience in sport and corporate administration and governance. Barclay, Heal and Mackinnon, who are also current NZC directors, were relected. The three former cricketers also have extensive experience in administration of the sport.

Heal, the current chair of the audit and financial risk committee, will act as interim chairman of the board till a permanent chairman is elected at the first board meeting on October 23.

The vote was an outcome of the new NZC constitution that was approved in July.

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Rain pushes Surrey closer to drop

Surrey 59 for 2 v Warwickshire
Scorecard

Surrey's chance of staying Division One may have been slim anyway but they could do without the abrupt arrival of autumn keeping them confined to the dressing room for all but the first hour and a quarter of the first day of their match against Warwickshire.

Umpires Richard Kettleborough and David Millns gave proceedings e as long as possible to be considered worthy of resuscitation but with the city centre tower blocks shrouded in mist and the puddles on the outfield fighting a losing battle against persistent heavy drizzle they called it off a short while after the scheduled tea interval.

At least Surrey had the beginnings of a partnership to provide modest encouragement after Warwickshire had won the toss and put them in. They will resume with Hashim Amla and Vikram Solanki together, the third wicket pair having added 41 for the third wicket.

Keith Barker, the left-armer with one England Lions appearance whose lack of more substantial international recognition remains a mystery, bowled beautifully to take two early wickets, removing 18-year-old Dominic Sibley and opening partner Rory Burns, both leg-before to full, swinging deliveries.

Under a heavily overcast sky and with the floodlights on from the outset, conditions were far from easy and Barker continued to test the batsmen, controlling the swing skillfully. Even with Boyd Rankin rested, after his return from England duty, and with Chris Wright still injured, the availability of Chris Woakes and loan signing Maurice Chambers gave Surrey a fearsome attack to contend with on such a grim morning.

Yet Amla, who bagged a pair during Surrey's woeful and critical defeat against Somerset last week, brought his experience to bear this time, as did Solanki. Both batsmen left the ball judiciously and were beginning to look relatively settled when the weather closed in. With the floodlights casting obvious shadows, and therefore clearly taking over from natural light, it seemed only a matter of time before the umpires would have to call a halt. Yet both batsmen unleashed handsome boundaries, Amla driving Barker to long-off, Solanki despatching Chambers through extra cover, so they were clearly seeing the ball well enough. Rain, though, was only just behind.

Some 29 points adrift of safety going into the penultimate round, Surrey are pretty much doomed. Warwickshire, defending their title unsuccessfully, look nothing of the sort, with a 27-point cushion between themselves and next-to-bottom Derbyshire, who have only one match remaining, although they could in theory still be caught by Surrey.

That possibility will be removed in short order if they take maximum bowling bonus points and dismiss Surrey for fewer than 350 runs.

Warwickshire again had Jamie Atkinson, the former Durham UCCE wicketkeeper, behind the stumps, with both Tim Ambrose and his stand-in, Peter Mckay, both injured. The 23-year-old Atkinson, now based in Hong Kong but who has been playing for Dorridge in the Birmingham League, is on a two-match contract.

He is the 24th player Warwickshire have used in their Championship programme, which is four more than were needed last season, and the eighth to have appeared in only one or two fixtures, which is an illustration of the inability to pick a settled side that has dogged director of cricket, Dougie Brown, in his first season in charge.

Brown believes no county has had to contend with as many injuries as Warwickshire and feels those able to make it on to the field deserve recognition for keeping the side clear of the bottom three. "We have not put our best team in the field once and in the circumstances we have done really well to be as competitive as we have been," he said.

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Goodwin, Wright frustrate Essex

Glamorgan 103 for 2 (Goodwin 48*, Wright 44*) v Essex
Scorecard

Essex were frustrated by the weather and Glamorgan's third-wicket pair as they went in search of a victory at Chelmsford to keep alive their hopes of winning promotion.

After winning the toss, Essex got off to the best possible start by removing the openers inside three overs but Murray Goodwin and Ben Wright put together an unbroken stand of 96 which helped carry Glamorgan to 103 from 42 overs when play ended prematurely because of rain.

Veteran seamer David Masters was responsible for Glamorgan's early woes, striking with the third delivery of the match when Gareth Rees shouldered arms and was bowled by a delivery that nipped back sharply. Then in his next over, Will Bragg miscued to Ravi Bopara with only 7 on the board to leave Glamorgan looking in serious trouble, particularly as leading batsman Jim Allenby was being rested ahead of Saturday's Yorkshire Bank 40 final with Nottinghamshire at Lord's.

But the experienced Goodwin, now on his 41st year, and 25 year-old Wright were to revive the innings with a determined partnership. Although they experienced a few anxious moments on a pitch and in conditions that did not make batting an easy task, they gradually gained the initiative.

Early on, a few streaky shots dropped wide of fielders but as they gained the upper hand, the batsmen were helped by bowling that left much to be desired.

Masters was the exception because as usual, he dropped on an immaculate line and length which meant that few risks could be taken against him. But the rest of his colleagues were guilty of sending down too many wayward deliveries. Too often batsmen were able to let the ball go by without playing a stroke, something which must have left Essex skipper James Foster frustrated.

After a full morning's session, the clouds gathered during the lunch interval after which only four overs were bowled before rain sent the players scurrying to the pavilion. At that point, Goodwin and Wright had moved into the 30s and Glamorgan had reached 85 for 2 after 34 overs.

An early tea was taken but when play did eventually resume at 4pm, only a further eight overs of play were possible before more persistent rain put paid to the day's play with both batsmen within sight of their respective half-centuries. Goodwin will resume on 48 while Wright goes into action again with 44 to his name.

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