Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Durham’s game at home to Sussex ended in an inevitable draw, with all life seemingly sucked out of the occasion by a slow track and an Australian ball I feel is not best suited to County Championship cricket.

Sussex were on 322-6 and leading by 356 when the draw was agreed at 16:50 BST. By then Danial Ibrahim had faced 315 balls for his 121 not out. And while he will remember this game for a long time to come, I don't think many others will.

Durham take 13 points from the game and Sussex 14.

There are three more rounds of matches with this Kookaburra ball this year. Only one side has managed a win this week and that’s about the norm when it is used.

Why ask Championship players to use it, when 99% of them won't be in Australia this winter anyway? And while the Test side is in action at the same time? It's a head scratcher.

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Danial Ibrahim hits an unbeaten 121 as Sussex bat out the final day to draw with Durham.

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Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Unmitigated levels of excitement may break out as the new ball has just been taken in CLS.

The old one has been unceremoniously booted off the field. And good riddance to it. It's been utterly dull today. Credit to the batters, who have not lost a wicket, but this is enough to get cricket done away with.

The Kookaburra gives the bowlers about a 15-over window when it's new and that's about it. 20 overs if lucky. And if it gets wet you've had it.

I hope this experiment is abandoned next year, when we have whatever structure to the county season they decide. Sadly there's still three rounds of games to go with it this season.

Ben Raine had a big appeal for LBW against Danial Ibrahim (75) with the first delivery of the new ball, but it was not given. John Simpson has 63. Batting has been extremely straightforward though, on a slow, flat track.

Not sure what will come first? A wicket, or me falling asleep!

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Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

It's been an attritional first hour, with only 21 runs scored. That includes just two boundaries.

Matty Potts and Ben Raine have really put some pressure on Sussex though. And Danial Ibrahim has survived two bigs appeals for LBW, both from Potts. Both looked good shouts, but each time umpire Peter Hartley said "no".

Ibrahim has faced 139 balls for his 32. He's been tanacious and it's a great learning process for the 20-year-old. John Simpson has 25 from 63.

But, crucially, no wickets have fallen on day four so far.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

It was a disappointing day yesterday, with four stoppages in the afternoon caused by a mix of rain and bad light. In all 34 overs were lost.

So, the game has not had the opportunity to progress the way we were hoping it would, particularly after nine wickets fell in 33 overs from Monday night to Tuesday lunchtime.

If we are to see anything other than a draw, then Sussex are going to have to come out and play some attacking shots this morning to try to set up some kind of run chase later. Or Durham's bowlers are really going to have to be on the money from the off.

The light is not too bad at the moment and the radar doesn't look too bad either, so hopefully we get a full day in.

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