The John Player League featuring Essex v Hampshire
Today's top teams are very much in the running for the major prize, and this match could mean as much as £1,500 between first and second place to the losers.
With the all-round ability of Keith Boyce , and the batting strength of Keith Fletcher and Brian Ed meades , Essex are a formidable team indeed, but Hampshire, in the shape of Barry Richards and Andy Roberts have players of equal calibre, and this could well prove the match of the season.
PETER WALKER introduces the programme which includes news of today's other matches: Kent v Surrey
Middlesex v Warwickshire
Northamptonshire v Derbyshire Somerset v Glamorgan Worcestershire v Sussex
Yorkshire v Gloucestershire
Commentators at Chelmsford JOHN ARLOTT and JIM LAKER
' As a player he always had a keen eye for his opponents' weaknesses and he retains it now, so that his examination and exposition of technique is as good as that of any broadcaster. He was, too, a profound tactician as is apparent in his interpretation of any phase of a match ...'
JOHN ARLOTT writing about JIM LAKER in Armchair Cricket.
Television presentation
JOHNNIE WATHERSTON and HUW JONM