Richard Gibson reports from Nottinghamshire v Middlesex
The actual weather had defied the forecast here at Trent Bridge and so, despite lengthy periods of gloom, only four scheduled overs have been lost to date. Nottinghamshire have played well in challenging conditions with Brendan Taylor imperious at times. The former Zimbabwe captain has three Championship hundreds to his name and was jinxed before I wrote the end of this sentence - James Franklin has just bowled him for 77, an inswinger negotiating a path past a lazy waft to leg. Notts 145-3.
Richard Gibson sends another report from Trent Bridge
Brendan Taylor has become only the fourth batsman after Jonny Bairstow, Luke Wright and James Hildreth to pass 700 runs in Division One, combatting difficult batting conditions to hit an unbeaten 45 in Nottinghamshire’s 80-2. The casualties in their response to Middlesex’s 374: Alex Hales, who chopped a delivery from James Harris into his stumps, and Michael Lumb to a feathered edge off James Franklin.
Meanwhile, at Edgbaston, Warwickshire have avoided the follow-on. No mean feat that given that they lost five wickets with the score on 35 and were 37-9 at one point. But Rikki Clarke got them to the magic total of 64 with a glut of boundaries. Incidentally, Yorkshire posted 261 in a match between the sides back in 1963, then dismissed their hosts for 35, and went on to win by an innings and 171 runs.
Some bad news for Lancashire supporters...
Lancashire captain Tom Smith has been ruled out for the remainder of the season through injury, the club have announced. The 29-year-old all-rounder is to undergo an operation on the back problem which has limited him to just one County Championship match in 2015 and he will play no further part this term.
Cricket director and head coach Ashley Giles said: “This is a huge blow for Tom and for the club. As club captain, Tom remains a very important part of the team and our season, and we look forward to him being able to start the journey to play after the operation.”
Smith, who succeeded Glen Chapple as captain in February, added: “It is frustrating that I won’t be able to play again this season, but I will be in good hands with the medical staff at the club. I would like to thank everybody at the club for their support and I would like to wish the lads all the best for the rest of the season.”
Smith was named as Lancashire’s player of the year in 2014 after taking 54 wickets and scoring 773 runs, although he was not able to save the club from relegation from Division One.
Richard Gibson reports - and crowdsources motorway facts
Drat, and double drat here. The forecast rain has come early - just six balls into Nottinghamshire’s reply, in fact - so Middlesex have been denied the opportunity to push this game on. Tim Murtagh sent down one over under the floodlights before the drizzle set in.
Earlier, he and Toby Roland-Jones struck 26 of the 34 runs added for the final two wickets. Dawid Malan’s red inker was therefore worth 182 in a score of 374 all out.
As an aside, does anyone happen to know the longest stretch of motorway in the UK without a section of roadworks? I cannot remember one longer than about five miles. It took two and a half hours from Leeds to Nottingham this morning. Not a great start to a week in which I am also scheduled to take in the delights of Cardiff and Chester-le-Street.
Updated
Richard Gibson reports
James Harris’ excellent innings of 73 at Trent Bridge was terminated in comprehensive fashion by Brett Hutton, who speared a full delivery through a defensive prod to uproot middle stump. That dismissal came after Harris edged short of the slips off Luke Wood at the other end. Hutton, looking more impressive as his spell from the Radcliffe Road end developed, then had Toby Roland-Jones leg before padding up in his nest over to leave Middlesex 356-9 and Dawid Malan’s career best up to an undefeated 179.
In other news, Lancashire captain Tom Smith is out for the season after surgery was deemed necessary to repair his long-term back injury.
Here’a Gary Naylor’s weekly roundup of all things county cricket...
Richard Rae sends his first report of the day
Green pitches, and the various hues thereof, are very much the subject of discussion at Grace Road this morning. Result pitches are all very well, but an awful lot can depend on winning the toss. On the other hand, the forecast for the next three days isn’t great, and the cricket that has been played has been eventful. A few early wickets for the Leicestershire seamers this morning, and it’s still very much game on Grace Road, but it can’t do too much for the confidence of young batsmen like Aadil Ali, who is making his debut for the Foxes in this game. A very assured young man he is though, so it could be the Foxes have unearthed another gem ...no doubt Notts will be watching ...
Morning all
Today we have Richard Gibson at Trent Bridge for Nottinghamshire v Middlesex and Richard Rae at Grace Road for Leicestershire v Kent. Here are their reports from yesterday:
Nottinghamshire v Middlesex
Notts rue sloppy fielding as Dawid Malan hits 159 for Middlesex
Nottinghamshire’s profligacy in the field wrecked what was shaping up to be an impressive start to Peter Moores’ coaching consultancy at Trent Bridge. It was with a view to improving their County Championship cricket that the two-time England coach Moores was drafted in on a three-month deal – it is understood a permanent position under the club’s director of cricket Mick Newell will be considered in September should all parties be amenable. On this evidence work is required on fielding.
Leicestershire v Kent
Matt Coles bowls Kent into commanding position
Deciding whether to bat or bowl first is not always a straightforward decision for a captain, but it is when the pitch is hard to distinguish from the outfield, and Sam Northeast was rewarded for calling correctly as his bottom-of-the-table Kent side bowled out their opponents for just 159.
Enjoy the cricket
