County cricket: Middlesex v Surrey, Essex v Kent and more – live | County Championship

We’re underway again at Headingley, but no great joy for Sussex who have lost Carter for 2, the third Sussex player to fall in single figures. Ibrahim, who became the Championship’s youngest half-centurion at Headingley in June 2021, joins Alsop (20). Sussex 46-4.

Rather against all the odds, Leicestershire have managed to hold onto Rehan Ahmed and Rishi Patel.

Gubbins and Vince, butchers of longstanding quality, in at Trent Bridge after Holland and Middleton were both out for ducks. Hampshire 41-2.

Daryl Mitchell stands between Lancashire and a Lancs-up – currently 116-5, Salt adn Bell out in single figures. Two for Hannon-Dalby. Lancs 120-5.

I don’t know what was in the Oakham lunch boxes, but Worcestershire have taken a pretty tumble after lunch: Roderick, Haynes, Hose and D’Oliveira all back in the dressing-room. Mulder 3-27.

Fifty for Rory Burns!

Lunchtime scores

We’re back with Duke’s this morning, but not much success for the bowlers round the grounds – much though they complained about the Kookaburra. But I think the Kookaburra typically went soft around 30 overs – so perhaps we’ll see the difference after lunch. Incidentally, soapy-palmed Essex have dropped another.

Potts, unlucky not to have played a part in the Ashes, biding his time till Broad and Anderson finally hang up their boots, makes a breakthrough at The County Ground. Derby 61-2.

A wicket for Ed Barnard at Edgbaston, with the ballsy Bohannon gone for 33. Lancs 66-2.

If you are feeling more internationally inclined, Geoff has the latest from Old Trafford:

At Headingley they’re taking lunch at 12.50, and sending out the umpires to sniff around at 1.10.

In Division Two: rain.

Sussex, 24-3, rescued from Fisher, holed up at Headingley, Worcestershire, 48-1, lost Libby for 24, (Scriven) just before the fat drops started falling at Oakham School. And Derbyshire are 53-1 against Division Two’s runaway leaders Durham. Brooke Guest looking typically at home, 26 off 36 balls.

A great read on the women’s Ashes:

A stroll round the Division One grounds with an hour of play gone:

Simon Harmer is already bowling at Chelmsford, where Essex are 38-3, a run-out following that two-in-two for Sam Cook.

At Lord’s, Surrey have lost Sibley for 3, to Ryan Higgins, but the out-of-sorts Burns remains, unbeaten on 15. Surrey 30-1.

Somerset are 48-1 at Northants, Lammonby caught for 3. James Rew, favourite in the race for 1000 runs, still two wickets away from having a bat.

Jennings and Bohannon plugging away at Edgbaston, Bohannon rather more quickly, Lancashire 35-1.

And no play yet at Trent Bridge.

Nice work by Leicestershire – hope some schools broke up early and the team get lots of eager beavers.

A wicketless morning for Leicestershire’s bowlers so far. Worcestershire, who will lose Pat Brown to Derbyshire at the end of the season – won over by more red-ball opportunities -, as well as Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington to Notts, are 36-0.

As noted BTL, very strange goings-on at Lancashire with Rob Jones, who made an excellent century at Blackpool, albeit in a (just) losing cause, seemingly punished for moving to Worcestershire for more game time by being removed from the first team for the rest of the season.

The statement from Mark Chilton seemed to have three totally unconnected paragraphs:

“Ultimately, Rob has decided that he believes he will get more opportunity across all formats to progress his career at Worcestershire and while we are disappointed to lose him, we respect his decision.

“We have taken the decision that Rob won’t feature in our First Team plans for the rest of this season – as we focus on players who will be at the club next season and beyond. Discussions are ongoing between Lancashire and Worcestershire as to what the remainder of Rob’s season entails.

“Rob has been an extremely popular member of the dressing room and has always given 100% for the Red Rose. We thank him for his services and wish him all the best with his new chapter at New Road.”

But at the same time Danny Lamb, who will move to Sussex at the end of the season, is playing against Warwickshire. Confused shrug. And at Edgbaston, Lancs are 24-1 after being inserted by Warwickshire.

Hat-trick ball for Matthew Fisher too, at Headingley. Tricky morning for the creche, 18-3. Clark, Haines and Coles back in the playroom.

Sam Cook on a hat-trick: Muyeye and Denly in his pocket. Kent 28-2.

Division Two table

Another drop at Chelmsford – Critchley this time lets one through his fingers. Kent 18-0, having a much-needed helping hand.

Quite a change in the Div One race, from what seemed early season like a Surrey smash n grab. Essex on a roll, four in a row, and Warwickshire well in the chase with a game in hand.

Division One table

Update from Trent Bridge: pitch inspection at noon.

Harmer, who uncharacteristically dropped one (or two?) at Blackpool, lets one slip past . Kent 9-0.

Rain at Trent Bridge where Nottinghamshire are in desperately seeking victory – no Championship wins since May – but we’re rolling elsewhere, with everyone’s wickets still intact (as I write…)

All change please, all change:

Some transfer news:

Fixtures

Preamble