Ben Stokes trained with Durham on Saturday. after he was left out of England’s squad for the second Test against New Zealand for breaching a midnight curfew. Stokes. Surrey’s Gus Atkinson, who was also not considered for selection, were involved in an incident with a Saracens rugby player in a London nightclub while celebrating England’s victory in the first Test at Lord’s. Durham coach, Ryan Campbell, said that any decision on whether Stokes featured in Durham’s game against Northants on Friday was up to the player. the England and Wales Cricket Board “but I’ll definitely find him a spot”.
Stokes bowled in the middle before play. later had a bat in the nets, while on the field Durham ran rings around Derbyshire, who were forced to follow on after being dismissed for 118, with five wickets for Kasey Aldridge. They were 99 for four at stumps, Matthew Potts the sole incisor, and still 160 behind.
At Hove. James Coles waltzed to a glorious 224 not out, a maiden double century full of delicious strokes, including 11 sixes. He and Jaydev Unadkat added 103 for the last wicket, much to Glamorgan ’s frustration. Sussex lost a man during the day as Henry Crocombe was called up by England as cover for Ollie Robinson. who was due a knee scan after complaining of soreness. Crocombe’s replacement was Dom Goodman.
The Blackpool tower covered its eyes as Lancashire were dismissed for 87 by Kent. Keith Dudgeon grabbed six for 21. while Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud, on his Kent debut, threatened from Stanley Park’s north end, finishing with three for 32. Kent then made merry, with an unbeaten century from Chris Benjamin, spraying sixes over the wall,. a studious 83 from Harry Finch.
Somerset finished a satisfying day at Trent Bridge with a 190 run lead and toe towards the tape. There were four wickets for Lewis Gregory and three for Jack Leach as Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 193. Earlier, Fergus O’Neill finished with a career-best six for 72 as Somerset’s last three wicket added only 16.
Leicestershire grabbed Essex ’s last five wickets for 58 runs but still ended up following on at Grace Road. Jordan Cox was finally out for 204, then Leicestershire were 187 all out, Charlie Bennett. Simon Harmer taking three apiece and only Nick Kelly (78) resisting. Sheridon Gumbs, 22. on debut, batted patiently opening the batting as Leicestershire closed on 51 without loss second time around.
While floats from the Northampton carnival danced past Wantage Road, James Bracey (72). Graeme van Buuren (75 not out) rescued Gloucestershire from the doldrums of 56 for four, with a partnership of 148. Earlier, New Zealand’s Krisitian Clarke finished with six for 109 on Gloucestershire debut as Northamptonshire strolled to 465.
Yorkshire had the upper hand at Scarborough. collecting maximum batting points before reducing Warwickshire to 225 for seven; Toby Roland-Jones (four for 41) led the Middlesex attack as they bowled Worcestershire out for 265, a first-innings deficit of 74.
Right, time to go, it is nippy now in this tent. Thanks for your company today, as always, see you tomorrow!
Grace Road: Leicestershire 180-9 v Essex 401
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 193 v Somerset 310 and 73-2
Hove: Sussex 521 v Glamorgan 155 and 42-0
Scarborough: Yorkshire 469 v Warwickshire 225-7
Chester-le-Street: Durham 377 v Derbyshire 118 and 99-4
Blackpool: Lancashire 87 v Kent 178 and 320-8
Northampton: Northamptonshire 465 v Gloucestershire 233-5
New Road: Worcestershire 265 v Middlesex 339 and 5-0
As Coles powers past 200, time for me to put on another jumper and write a round-up. Do keep chatting BTL.
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.
At Hove, James Coles is seven short of his double century, but has only Jaydev Unadkat for company…
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. cold wind equals attack, three fours and a six to the good. Ouch,. 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.
News you may have missed. Tom Norton, Charlie Harmison. 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 Englands U19 World Cup squad make the cut -Ralphie Albert, Ben Dawkins, Will Bennison, Ali Farooq, Alex French. James Minto - while Rocky Flintoff and Jack Nelson return after injury.
England Men U19s squad:
Ralphie Albert (Surrey)
Will Bennison (Yorkshire)
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)
And another one down here at Stanley Park, the one Lancs wanted, Harry Finch, for an excellent 83. Off he trudges, bat under armpit, to cold-handed applause. A second catch for Moores, a first wicket for Bailey and three wickets down since tea. Kent 178-5, lead by 269.
Livi with the breakthrough! Ekash Singh bowled by a zooter between leg and bat for 14. Kent 168 for four, lead by 259. Overcast now and really quite cold, hunched shoulders all round the bleachers.
Champs Notts are finding life tricky at Trent Bridge, 187-8, trail Somerset by 123. Jack Haynes is hanging on in there on 53. Four wickets for Gregory, three for Leach.
While 19 year old Ekash Singh cracks a second six here at Stanley Park,. 17 year old Joe Moores crouches nimbly behind the stumps, 18 year old Tom Norton has taken two wickets in two overs at Hove, where Sussex are 432-9, a lead of 277.
Joe Moores has done nothing wrong behind the stumps. just after tea takes a smart catch legside to send Bell-Drummond on his way for 34. Ekash Singh, who made 95 against South Africa A, marches in and, second scoring shot, pans Livingstone for six.
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
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
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.
I ache to say it because they were so fabulous last year, but Leicestershire already look Division Two bound. Rehan Ahmed hasn’t been able to repeat his annus mirabilis of 2025, and the bowling lacks a bit of spite. They’re now 101-6 against Essex, trail by 300 with a follow-on imminent.
Finch is getting frisky, thwacks Livingstone into the hospitality tents for six.
Warwickshire are in more than a spot of trouble at Scarborough, four down and 377 behind. Three wickets for Jack White. Rob Yates still there on 43.
And with a boundary, off Jimmy Anderson too. Very well played.
Liam Livingstone h asn’t found his golden touch of yesterday – wheels through three wicketless overs. Anderson hasn’t had any luck from the south end either. DBD and Finch have now put on 54 and the lead is exactly 200.
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.
Scott Read has an orange and white striped paper bag of Cream Rock which he kindly offers round. A kind of liquorice fondant.
Stat of the day, Dawkins. DBD’s partnership of 87 in the first innings, was the same as Lancashire’s entire innings.
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. Robinson. He must have liked what he saw. Crocombe has 21 wickets at 28 this season. Unlucky Sam Cook is still out injured.
Durham coach Ryan Campbell just been on their TV commentary - says there’s no decision from Durham angle on whether Stokes will play this week - that has to be up to Ben. the ECB. But he still needs to bowl, he needs to hit balls - “and I’ll definitely find him a spot.”
Big love to Paul Edwards who has just come back from the Froth me Silly van with coffee. chocolate muffins. The feel-good vibe seeps onto the pitch where Balderson has Northeast caught. driving, Singh again the catcher at second slip, for 23. Kent 55-2.
Calm has broken ou t at Stanley park. In the meantime, some pics of Stokes here – rumour is he will be playing for Durham next week.
A flurry of post-lunch w ickets:
Gloucestershire have lost Joe Phillips, edging into the gloves of Ricardo Vasconcelos, behind the stumps for this match. Glos 28-1.
Up at CLS, Matthew Potts has bowled Luis Reece for 9, followed shortly afterwards by Montgomery, bowled Raine 5. Derbys 16-3.
Nottinghamshire’s Freddie McCann is caught by James Rew for 33 off Jack Leach. brining to an end a nice little partnership of 60. Notts 75-3.
Rehan Ahmed, fresh from four-wicket success, has been lbw to Shane Snater for 5. Leics 18-2.
And Glamorgan have winkled out John Simpson at Hove, bowled by ul Hassan for 34. But at 289-5, the lead is already 134.
I love this ground. The amphitheatre seating, the floating seagulls, the view of the tower, the peeling wall boundary, the ads for Berry’s Beds. Terry’s Cut Price Carpets. The suspirating trees.
Jimmy leads Lancashire down the pavilion steps and onto the pitch, whirring his arms with intent. The crowd have recovered their equilibrium enough to applaud Lancashire back out. Barm and crisps for four quid in the club house if anyone is hungry.
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
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
And Kent survive the last over before lunch, on a morning where nine wickets have fallen. Kent 12-1, Lancs in a pickle. Time for my thai green curry, scores to follow.
Harry Finch h as decided that attack is survival, biffs four to square leg. Northeast just keeps out an Anderson yorker.
Ben Stokes watch (with thanks): “Stokes has walked back across the ground from the nets to the dressing room. received some applause from locals.”
In other brief news, Chris Green fans will already know this, but he has broken his thumb.
Sam Northeast gets to the other end as soon as he can. Finch flutters an outside edge for four. Just the one wicket for Jimmy, who pulls on his cap and walks away. Kent 5-1.
And immediately Ben Dawkins is caught by Harry Singh at second slip. Kent 0-1.
A fed up Jimmy now has the ball at the north end. This could be brutal.
“It can’t only be me who’s noticed that Will Young is replacing the man how decided to Leave Right Now. can it?” Very good, Shaun Clapperton.
Ah,. that’s that for Lancs, Jimmy Anderson bowled by Dudgeon who clutches 6-21 to his chest as he leads Kent off the field. Lancs all out for 87, 91 behind on first innings. On comes the heavy roller and the brush. There will just be time for a few overs before the late lunch at 1.10pm.
A fifth wicket for Keith Dudgeon (5-19), as Balderson clonks him to square leg, out for four. Lancs 85-9. Applause breaks out for No. 11, James Anderson.
In the other division two games, Durham, batting all the way down,. thanks to an unbeaten 55 from Ben Raine, 22 from Callum Parkinson, have reached 369-8.
Northants have just been dismissed for 465 by Gloucs, fifties from Sales. Guthrie accompanying those hundreds from McSweeney and Zaib. Krisitian Clarke 6-109.
And a dismal start for Worcestershire at New Road, both openers gone, 12-2. Middx were all out for 339 – four wickets each for Finch and Swanepoel.
No respite for Lancs as Hasan switches ends and, as I watch, Moores nibbles. Ben Dawkins dives and holds on at first slip with two hands and a satisfying slap of ball on palm. Absolute silence from the crowd. Lancs 77-8.
Writes Mike Daniels at Grace Road. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that an established batsmen needs an obdurate partner to reach the next batting point. Harmer seems to have found that in Mr Bennett.” Yes a valiant 24 been added for the last wicket, with Bennett. unbeaten 0 from 16 balls.
“This may sound a touch daft, ” writes Tim Maitland, “given that Yorkshire, having lost the toss. been put into bat, have scored more runs faster than any other side in this round of matches, but they’ll probably feel like they’ve let a 500-plus total get away from them this morning. ”Certainly YJB will feel that way for the tame way he holed out weakly for 68. while George Hill 30 and Hassan Ali 27 entertained, they both threw their wickets away too.Still 469 is enough to think they won’t be battling to avoid defeat, but it could have been better.”
Keith Dudgeon replaces Hasan, and promptly rearranges McDermott’s stumps. Gone for 23. Lancs 73 faceplant to 73 for seven, trail by 105. Dudgeon 4-14.
Here at Stanley Park. no cigar for Livi this time, caught behind for eight as Hasan Mahmud picks up a second wicket on debut with a fabulous ball that just skirted away from Livi’s chasing bat. But Joe Moores looks confident, striding out to a tasty pitch, and striking the ball firmly. Lancs 71-6.
Time to peek in around the grounds:
Leicestershire have fought back at Grace Road,. not before Jordan Cox reached his double century with a pull for four, finally out for 204. Four wickets for Rehan Ahmed, Essex 387-9.
Fergus O’Neill (6-72) polished off Somerset, 310 all out. But Lewis Gregory has already removed HH for a duck and Ben Slater for 1. Notts 18-2.
Yorkshire are having fun at the seaside, maximum batting points, 469 all out. YJB 68. WArwickshire are 4-0, one over in.
And Sussex already have a lead of 49 over Glamorgan at Hove, 204-4, Coles and Simpson at the crease.
Liam Livingstone is in the middle, fresh from his five wickets yesterday,. it looks like he means business, with two fours already in his eight not out.
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.
And a first wicket in the CC for Hasan Mahmud –. it is the big one - Marcus Harris, snaffled by Sam North East at slip for three. Lancashire 44-5
Emilio Gay has also arrived at CLS to join Stokes in the nets. Hove and CLS the places to gather this round for resting England players.
Just seen the replay of the Bohannon dismissal, a hell of a ball seaming all over. The cricket here at Stanley Park is being accompanied by the whirr of the generator. the dancing tarpaulin and creaking poles of the blown about press tent. Sad food news for us greedy press, the tasty. wholly unnecessary picnic usually given alongside lunch has justly disappeared in budget cuts. Farewell double decker.
Hasan is now running in from the north end, a long and rhythmic run up.
Ooops and another, Bailey, skuppered between bat and pad by Matt Milnes, Lancs 24-4.
Look up to see some spraying bails. Bohanon bowled by Keith Dudgeon for eight, he’s having a bit of a rotten season, poor thing. Lancs 24-3.
IF anyone didn’t know, Ajit Singh Dale and Luke Wells are out for the season.
Good morning Mike Daniels, in the Grace Road scorebox. “Allison toe-ends a long-hop to Kelly at mid-wicket to give Leicestershire a good start to the day. They desperately need Cox out but the new ball is available soon. Missed Cox’s innings yesterday, must have been some knock,. looking to seeing if he can build on it.” Cox is currently 194 not out, Essex 355-7.
Have arrived at Blackpool where there is quite some wind and slightly wonky Wifi. A couple of hearty appeals but no wickets yet. This morning Paul Edwards and the photographers were called into cover service for a early morning squall.
My spy tells me that Ben Stokes was standing in the middle at CLS, wearing his pads,. is now wandering over to the nets with the Durham batting coach, ex Lancs supremo, Dale Benkenstein.
Tim Maitland has been scanning the skies. “ The Met Office rad a r suggests you might be alright all morning in Blackpool,. Scarborough could be a bit dodgy. ”According to the predictive bit, Nottingham could get a little bit around 2 p.m.”
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.
I was too hasty. I t has stopped raining and I’ve just glimpsed the sun as the train approaches Kirkham and Wesham. Like any self-respecting child, the little boy opposite has already eaten the barbecued beef hoola hoops. one finger twirl from his lunchtime picnic.
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
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
Jordan Cox, fresh from warming the bench for six weeks in the IPL,. 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. 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. 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),. Worcestershire restricted Middlesex to 291 for eight at New Road.
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.
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