Good morning from a Northern train heading to Blackpool north. The further west I go, the wetter it gets, soggy elderflower and scowling pylons staring through the train window. Still, hope springs eternal. Play might start at 11am at Stanley Park and around the country, do join us.
After England's stonking victory last night in the tournament opener, there are four more World Cup games today. West Indies v New Zealand, Australia v South Africa, India v Afghanistan and Scotland v Ireland. Tim de Lisle is watching things unfurl at Old Trafford.
Friday's Round-Up
Jordan Cox, fresh from warming the bench for six weeks in the IPL, and buoyed by an England call-up, clunked, thumped and chunked an unbeaten 184 against Leicestershire at Grace Road. Essex's Cox, who reached his century off just 73 balls, got there with a monstrous six right out of the ground. Matt Critchley was bowled just before stumps for 97, nightwatch Jamie Porter following soon afterwards.
Meanwhile Liam Livingstone, playing in his first Championship game for Lancashire since 2021, collected five wickets for 20 runs in 46 balls at Blackpool with a heady mix of leg and off-spin as Kent slipped down the stairs and landed with a thump. They collapsed from 111 for two to 178 all out after being asked to bat on a damp pitch. Lancashire's Joe Moores, just 17, took a catch and a neat stumping on his first-class debut.
Glamorgan had an unhappy first day at Hove, whistled out for 155, with four wickets for Sussex's Indian left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat under heavy skies – all 10 batters out caught. Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson and a rapid Jofra Archer were all spotted bowling in the nets under the close eye of England fast-bowling supremo Troy Cooley.
Jordan Hermann, in good touch after a century against the Lions for South Africa A, was the linchpin of Somerset's innings with 106 at Trent Bridge. But he was the unwitting cause of James Rew's dismissal, a stinging straight drive deflected by Dillon Pennington's fingertip into the stumps when Rew was backing up. But it was a good day for one member of the Rew family, younger brother Thomas, 18, who cantered to 68 in just his second Championship appearance. Notts fought back with the new ball.
Derbyshire's man of the moment Ben Aitchison grabbed four wickets against Durham at Chester-le-Street, where England selector Marcus North was also spotted. Shoaib Bashir, released by England, bowled 11 overs.
Will Luxton galloped to a maiden Championship century for Yorkshire against Warwickshire at Scarborough; Northamptonshire's Saif Zaib refound his touch with a lovely 142 against Gloucestershire, helped by Nathan McSweeney (117), and Worcestershire restricted Middlesex to 291 for eight at New Road.
Key Events
200 for James Coles!
Coles sprints an energetic two to reach 198, risks Undakat playing out two balls of the over, then next over drives Kellaway for four through point to reach his maiden double hundred – 10 ding-dong sixes, 18 fours. Takes off his helmet, bumps gloves with the steady Undakat and is applauded up and around the ground.
Jennings Hit in the Face
All shrivelling to a close at CLS. “It's cold and grey here now. Derbys already three down - all to Potts.” Derbys 44-3 following on. Here Chris Benjamin has decided that cloud cover and cold wind equals attack, three fours and a six to the good. Ouch, and to make Lancashire's day worse, Keaton Jennings has been hit fielding in the gully, the ball bouncing off the grass into his face as he dives to stop it. He crouches on the ground for a few minutes and is walked off the field by the physios.
England U19 Squad
News you may have missed. Tom Norton, Charlie Harmison and Harry Wallace are the three uncapped players called up for England's U19 squad for the three match ODI series against South Africa U19s, starting June 30. Six of the players who were a part of England's U19 World Cup squad make the cut - Ralphie Albert, Ben Dawkins, Will Bennison, Ali Farooq, Alex French and James Minto - while Rocky Flintoff and Jack Nelson return after injury.
England Men U19s squad: Ralphie Albert (Surrey), Will Bennison (Yorkshire), Ben Dawkins (Kent), Ali Farooq (Leicestershire), Rocky Flintoff (Lancashire), Alex French (Surrey), Charlie Harmison (Durham), Byron Hatton-Lowe (Nottinghamshire), James Minto (Durham), Tom Norton (Glamorgan), Jack Nelson (Middlesex), Harry Wallace (Glamorgan).
Tea-Time Scores
Division One: Grace Road: Leicestershire 104-6 v Essex 401; Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 171-6 v Somerset 310; Hove: Sussex 407-7 v Glamorgan 155; Scarborough: Yorkshire 469 v Warwickshire 123-4.
Division Two: Chester-le-Street: Durham 377 v Derbyshire 118; Blackpool: Lancashire 87 v Kent 178 and 143-2; Northampton: Northamptonshire 465 v Gloucestershire 118-4; New Road: Worcestershire 151-5 v Middlesex 339.
Derbyshire 118 All Out, Follow-On at Durham
Thirty nine overs left today, which is ten more than Derbyshire managed the first time around. Five wickets for Aldridge, three for Raine. Only Caleb Jewell made it into the twenties.
Fifty for Harry Finch
And with a boundary, off Jimmy Anderson too. Very well played.
A Hundred for James Coles
A first hundred of the season for James Coles, who made all those headlines in the Hundred auction pre season. Gets it straight down the ground for a handsome four. Sussex 343-6. Off the pitch, Crocombe has been hauled off to ECB HQ to be fitted up with his tracksuit, to be replaced in the Sussex dressing room by Dom Goodman.
Henry Crocombe Called into the Test Squad as Cover for Ollie Robinson
Interesting news from the ECB. Young uncapped Sussex seamer Henry Crocombe has been called into the Test squad as cover for Ollie Robinson. Robinson “experienced knee soreness after a training session yesterday and is set to undergo a precautionary scan today.” At Grace Road, in the very first match of the season, there was a floating seam bowling scout watching Crocombe and Robinson. He must have liked what he saw. Crocombe has 21 wickets at 28 this season. Unlucky Sam Cook is still out injured.
Lunchtime Scores
Division One: Grace Road: Leicestershire 6-1 v Essex 401; Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 50-2 v Somerset 310; Hove: Sussex 259-4 v Glamorgan 155; Scarborough: Yorkshire 469 v Warwickshire 27-1.
Division Two: Chester-le-Street: Durham 377 v Derbyshire 6-1; Blackpool: Lancashire 87 v Kent 178 and 12-1; Northampton: Northamptonshire 465 v Gloucestershire 15-0; New Road: Worcestershire 18-2 v Middlesex 339.
New Zealand Call Up Will Young to Replace Kane Williamson
New Zealand batter Will Young has been drafted into the New Zealand Test squad to replace Kane Williamson, who surprised everyone with his retirement yesterday. Young will arrive in London on Sunday and join the squad ahead of the Oval Test.
Stokes Spotted at Chester le Street
My spy tells me that Ben Stokes was standing in the middle at CLS, wearing his pads, and is now wandering over to the nets with the Durham batting coach, ex Lancs supremo, Dale Benkenstein.
Scores on the Doors
Division One: Grace Road: Leicestershire v Essex 342-5; Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Somerset 295-7; Hove: Sussex 136-2 v Glamorgan 155; Scarborough: Yorkshire 386-6 v Warwickshire.
Division Two: Chester-le-Street: Durham 302-7 v Derbyshire; Blackpool: Lancashire 17-2 v Kent 178; Northampton: Northamptonshire 380-7 v Gloucestershire; New Road: Worcestershire v Middlesex 291-8.
