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[VIDEOS] English County Season (2024)

FearlessRoar

FearlessRoar

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The County Championship 2024 kicks off on Friday, April 5, as reigning champions Surrey start their campaign against Lancashire at Old Trafford​


County Championship 2024 fixtures​


The 2024 County Championship will be contested over 15 rounds, with each team playing 14 matches in total.

Friday 5 – Monday 8 April​

Derbyshire v Gloucestershire (Incora County Ground)
Durham v Hampshire (Seat Unique Riverside)
Kent v Somerset (Spitfire Ground, Canterbury)
Lancashire v Surrey (Emirates Old Trafford)
Middlesex v Glamorgan (Lord’s)
Nottinghamshire v Essex (Trent Bridge)
Sussex v Northamptonshire (1st Central County Ground)
Warwickshire v Worcestershire (Edgbaston)
Yorkshire v Leicestershire (Headingley)

Friday 12 – Monday 15 April​

Essex v Kent (The Cloud County Ground)
Glamorgan v Derbyshire (Sophia Gardens)
Gloucestershire v Yorkshire (Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol)
Hampshire v Lancashire (Utilita Bowl, Southampton)
Leicestershire v Sussex (Uptonsteel County Ground)
Northamptonshire v Middlesex (Northampton)
Nottinghamshire v Worcestershire (Trent Bridge)
Surrey v Somerset (Kia Oval)
Warwickshire v Durham (Edgbaston)

Friday 19 – Monday 22 April​

Derbyshire v Leicestershire (Incora County Ground)
Essex v Lancashire (The Cloud County Ground)
Hampshire v Warwickshire (Utilita Bowl, Southampton)
Kent v Surrey (Spitfire Ground, Canterbury)
Middlesex v Yorkshire (Lord’s)
Northamptonshire v Glamorgan (Northampton)
Somerset v Nottinghamshire (Cooper Associates County Ground)
Sussex v Gloucestershire (1st Central County Ground)
Worcestershire v Durham (Kidderminster)

Friday 26 – Monday 29 April​

Durham v Essex (Seat Unique Riverside)
Gloucestershire v Middlesex (Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol)
Leicestershire v Northamptonshire (Uptonsteel County Ground)
Surrey v Hampshire (Kia Oval)
Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire (Edgbaston)
Worcestershire v Somerset (Kidderminster)
Yorkshire v Derbyshire (Headingley)

Friday 3 – Monday 6 May​

Derbyshire v Sussex (Incora County Ground)
Lancashire v Kent (Emirates Old Trafford)
Middlesex v Leicestershire (Lord’s)
Somerset v Essex (Cooper Associates County Ground)
Yorkshire v Glamorgan (Headingley)

Friday 10 – Monday 13 May​

Glamorgan v Sussex (Sophia Gardens)
Hampshire v Durham (Utilita Bowl, Southampton)
Kent v Worcestershire (Spitfire Ground, Canterbury)
Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire (Northampton)
Nottinghamshire v Lancashire (Trent Bridge)
Surrey v Warwickshire (Kia Oval)

Friday 17 – Monday 20 May​

Derbyshire v Northamptonshire (Incora County Ground)
Essex v Warwickshire (The Cloud County Ground)
Glamorgan v Middlesex (Sophia Gardens)
Lancashire v Durham (Blackpool)
Leicestershire v Gloucestershire (Uptonsteel County Ground)
Nottinghamshire v Hampshire (Trent Bridge)
Somerset v Kent (Cooper Associates County Ground)
Surrey v Worcestershire (Kia Oval)
Sussex v Yorkshire (1st Central County Ground)

Friday 24 – Monday 27 May​

Durham v Somerset (Seat Unique Riverside)
Gloucestershire v Derbyshire (Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol)
Hampshire v Surrey (Utilita Bowl, Southampton)
Kent v Essex (Spitfire Ground, Canterbury)
Lancashire v Warwickshire (Emirates Old Trafford)
Leicestershire v Glamorgan (Uptonsteel County Ground)
Middlesex v Sussex (Lord’s)
Northamptonshire v Yorkshire (Northampton)
Worcestershire v Nottinghamshire (New Road)

Sunday 23 – Wednesday 26 June​

Essex v Durham (The Cloud County Ground)
Glamorgan v Northamptonshire (Sophia Gardens)
Kent v Lancashire (Spitfire Ground, Canterbury)
Middlesex v Derbyshire (Lord’s)
Nottinghamshire v Somerset (Trent Bridge)
Sussex v Leicestershire (1st Central County Ground)
Warwickshire v Hampshire (Edgbaston)
Worcestershire v Surrey (New Road)
Yorkshire v Gloucestershire (Scarborough)

Sunday 30 June – Wednesday 3 July​

Derbyshire v Yorkshire (Chesterfield)
Durham v Worcestershire (Seat Unique Riverside)
Gloucestershire v Glamorgan (Cheltenham)
Hampshire v Kent (Utilita Bowl, Southampton)
Lancashire v Nottinghamshire (Southport)
Leicestershire v Middlesex (Venue TBC)
Northamptonshire v Sussex (Northampton)
Somerset v Warwickshire (Cooper Associates County Ground)
Surrey v Essex (Kia Oval)

Thursday 22 – Sunday 25 August​

Derbyshire v Glamorgan (Incora County Ground)
Durham v Nottinghamshire (Seat Unique Riverside)
Gloucestershire v Leicestershire (Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol)
Hampshire v Essex (Utilita Bowl, Southampton)
Middlesex v Northamptonshire (Venue TBC)
Surrey v Lancashire (Kia Oval)
Warwickshire v Somerset (Edgbaston)
Worcestershire v Kent (New Road)
Yorkshire v Sussex (Scarborough)

Thursday 29 August – Sunday 1 September​

Essex v Worcestershire (The Cloud County Ground)
Glamorgan v Leicestershire (Sophia Gardens)
Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire (Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol)
Lancashire v Hampshire (Emirates Old Trafford)
Nottinghamshire v Surrey (Trent Bridge)
Somerset v Durham (Cooper Associates County Ground)
Sussex v Derbyshire (1st Central County Ground)
Warwickshire v Kent (Edgbaston)
Yorkshire v Middlesex (Headingley)

Monday 9 – Thursday 12 September​

Durham v Lancashire (Seat Unique Riverside)
Essex v Nottinghamshire (The Cloud County Ground)
Kent v Hampshire (Spitfire Ground, Canterbury)
Leicestershire v Yorkshire (Uptonsteel County Ground)
Middlesex v Gloucestershire (Lord’s)
Northamptonshire v Derbyshire (Northampton)
Somerset v Surrey (Cooper Associates County Ground)
Sussex v Glamorgan (1st Central County Ground)
Worcestershire v Warwickshire (New Road)

Tuesday 17 – Friday 20 September​

Derbyshire v Middlesex (Incora County Ground)
Glamorgan v Yorkshire (Sophia Gardens)
Gloucestershire v Sussex (Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol)
Hampshire v Worcestershire (Utilita Bowl, Southampton)
Kent v Nottinghamshire (Spitfire Ground, Canterbury)
Lancashire v Somerset (Emirates Old Trafford)
Northamptonshire v Leicestershire (Northampton)
Surrey v Durham (Kia Oval)
Warwickshire v Essex (Edgbaston)

Thursday 26 – Sunday 29 September​

Durham v Kent (Seat Unique Riverside)
Essex v Surrey (The Cloud County Ground)
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire (Sophia Gardens)
Leicestershire v Derbyshire (Uptonsteel County Ground)
Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire (Trent Bridge)
Somerset v Hampshire (Cooper Associates County Ground)
Sussex v Middlesex (1st Central County Ground)
Worcestershire v Lancashire (New Road)
Yorkshire v Northamptonshire (Headingley)

www.ecb.co.uk

County Championship 2024 fixtures

<i>The 2024 County Championship will be contested over 15 rounds, with each team playing 14 matches in total.</i>
www.ecb.co.uk www.ecb.co.uk

Which side do you believe has the stronger lineup and will come out as the winner of the County Championship 2024?
 
FearlessRoar said:

Friday 5 – Monday 8 April​

Derbyshire v Gloucestershire (Incora County Ground)
Durham v Hampshire (Seat Unique Riverside)
Kent v Somerset (Spitfire Ground, Canterbury)
Lancashire v Surrey (Emirates Old Trafford)
Middlesex v Glamorgan (Lord’s)
Nottinghamshire v Essex (Trent Bridge)
Sussex v Northamptonshire (1st Central County Ground)
Warwickshire v Worcestershire (Edgbaston)
Yorkshire v Leicestershire (Headingley)
Click to expand...

Derbyshire v Gloucestershire (Incora County Ground)

Play abandoned due to rain.
 
County Championship Division Two (2024) Toss update:


Derbyshire vs Gloucestershire, 1st Match:

Day 1: Stumps: No play due to rain


Middlesex vs Glamorgan, 2nd Match

Middlesex have won the toss and have opted to field


Sussex vs Northamptonshire, 3rd Match

Day 1: Toss delayed due to wet outfield


Yorkshire vs Leicestershire, 4th Match

Day 1: Toss delayed due to wet outfield
 
County Championship Division One (2024) Toss update:


Durham vs Hampshire, 1st Match

Day 1: Toss delayed due to wet outfield


Kent vs Somerset, 2nd Match

Day 1: Toss delayed due to rain


Lancashire vs Surrey, 3rd Match

Day 1: Toss delayed due to wet outfield


Warwickshire vs Worcestershire, 5th Match

Warwickshire won the toss and opted to bowl first
 
Score Updates

Worcestershire
271/4
(82)

Warwickshire
Yet to bat
1st Innings
 
Derbyshire vs Gloucestershire, 1st Match at Derby, County Division 2:

The umpires are at The County Ground and are inspecting the pitch.

The match officials will make the final decision on the prospects of play which will be communicated on our official channels.
 
Durham vs Hampshire, 1st Match at Chester-le-Street, County DIV1

Day 2 has been abandoned due to the wet conditions in Chester le Street.
 
Things at the end of Today's play

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The umpires have deemed that conditions are not fit for play. The match between Durham and Hampshire has been abandoned.
 
Last edited:
Fixtures of County Games Starting today:

County Championship Division Two 2024:

Glamorgan vs Derbyshire, 5th Match

Gloucestershire vs Yorkshire, 6th Match

Leicestershire vs Sussex, 7th Match

Northamptonshire vs Middlesex, 8th Match


County Championship Division One 2024

Essex vs Kent, 6th Match

Hampshire vs Lancashire, 7th Match

Nottinghamshire vs Worcestershire, 8th Match

Surrey vs Somerset, 9th Match

Warwickshire vs Durham, 10th Match
 
Tom Hartley – the only England spinner to play all five Tests in India earlier this year – has been left out of the Lancashire XI for the second County Championship match of the season.
 
Essex's Paul Walter will be replaced by Charlie Allison in the field due to a toe injury sustained whilst batting against Kent
 
FearlessRoar said:
After over five hours at the crease, Alex Davies has finally been dismissed at Edgbaston. He scored 256 (311) against Durham

https://twitter.com/x/status/1778873944688271370
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Here’s how he stacks up on Warwickshire’s all-time scores list:

501* - Brian Lara, 1994
315 - Mark Wagh, 2001
305* - Frank Foster, 1914
303* - Nick Knight, 2004
277* - Roger Twose, 1994
268* - Sep Kinneir, 1911
262* - Ian Bell, 2004
256 - Alex Davies, 2024
 

County Championship Division ONE End of Day 2 Scores Update​


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County Championship Division TWO End of Day 2 Scores Update​


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Has anyone seen the comical scores in the County Championship so far ?!

Nobody can buy a wicket. They've switched to the Kookaburra ball and already quite a few bowlers have been found out.
 
Middlesex's Nathan Fernandes brings up his maiden first-class century on debut off 208 balls in the first innings against Northamptonshire. What a knock it has been by the 19-year-old
 
Surrey closed in on victory over Somerset despite half-centuries from Lewis Goldsworthy and Tom Lammonby on day three of the County Championship game at the Kia Oval.

Dan Lawrence was the surprise hero with the ball, taking 3-45 after being given the new ball alongside Jordan Clark in a three-over pre-lunch mini-session.

Goldsworthy made 58 and Lammonby 51 to add to his day one century but at stumps Somerset were only 61 runs ahead at 204-6.

Surrey earlier reached 428 in their first innings after resuming already 73 runs to the good at 358-6.

Sometime England batter Lawrence had Sean Dickson caught behind before getting off the mark and also accounted for Matt Renshaw, lbw sweeping for 16.

After a 58-run third wicket stand between Lammonby and Goldsworthy, the leg-spin of Cameron Steel provided further breakthroughs in a lengthy spell either side of tea.

First he had Lammonby lbw as he propped forward defensively and then Tom Banton, on 11, top-edged a cut to lob up a comfortable catch to Lawrence at backward point. Steel took 2-53 from his 21 overs.

Source: BBC
 
A memorable partnership between Ollie Price and James Bracey. Their 199 stand was the highest for the fifth wicket for Gloucestershire v Yorkshire in Bristol
 
FearlessRoar said:
Warwickshire vs Durham, 10th Match at Birmingham, County DIV1

https://twitter.com/x/status/1779902411852664946
Click to expand...

Matthew Potts scores career best 149* guiding Durham to safety over Warwickshire​


Durham’s resilience was rewarded with a draw on their return to Vitality County Championship Division One after their game against Warwickshire drifted to stalemate at Edgbaston, as Matthew Potts scored a career best 149* and guided Durham to safety.

Warwickshire began the final day scenting victory as the newly-promoted side, following on, resumed on 12 for two, still 169 behind. But stubborn batting, led by a maiden century from nightwatchman Matthew Potts (149 not out, 254 balls), along with weather interference, sentenced the match to a draw. The visitors closed on 293 for six.

Having conceded 698 for three in a bruising re-entry to the top flight, Durham take a lot of credit for battling to a draw, earned principally by their first innings 517, the third highest score ever by a team which then had to follow on.

Ultimately, both bowling attacks were nullified by a combination of placid pitch and Kookaburra ball. Both sides were further hampered by the loss of a key man through injury, Warwickshire’s Chris Rushworth suffering a calf niggle and Durham’s Scott Boland a sore heel.

If Warwickshire were to force a result on the final day, they needed to strike early but overnight pair Potts and Colin Ackermann, little troubled on a pitch which did not deteriorate, stretched their partnership another 100 minutes into the morning session.

The third-wicket pair added 79 in 30 overs before Ackermann (22, 100 balls) played back to Yates and a sharply turning ball knocked out his middle stump. Yates has good reason to remember this match having scored a superb 191 (25 fours, five sixes) and taken a nifty catch and seven wickets including a career-best four for 137.

Potts will also long recall this game. He lifted Danny Briggs straight for six on his way to a 97-ball half-century and advanced smoothly to his maiden ton. David Bedingham settled alongside him as the pair added 50 in 56 balls before Bedingham (35, 41 balls) departed in anguish after donating a maiden first class wicket to Jake Bethell when he hoiked a long hop to deep mid-wicket.

That left Durham four down and still 25 behind with 50 overs left in the match but the weather, which had already dabbled in drizzle, hail, sleet, simooms, sunshine and bitterly cold winds during the day, switched on a burst of heavy rain.

That interruption ended all hope of a positive result. All that remained was for Potts and Ollie Robinson (52, 52 balls) to enjoy some sedate batting practice during which the former became the first player in the history of cricket to reach his maiden century with a three in Birmingham on a Monday.

Day 3 – Warwickshire 698/3 declared lead Durham 517/10 & 12/2 by 169 runs

Durham unfurled a dogged rearguard action against Warwickshire on the third day of their Vitality County Championship fixture at Edgbaston – but need to deliver another one tomorrow.

Facing a mammoth target of 549 to avoid the follow on, Scott Borthwick’s side were bowled out for 517. Alex Lees (145, 240 balls), Ben Raine (93, 125), Graham Clark (76, 179), Ollie Robinson (60, 91) and Matty Potts (44, 40) all dug deep but Warwickshire’s depleted attack kept paring away, led by a career-best four for 137 by off-spinner Rob Yates.

Trailing on first innings by 181, Durham closed day three on 12 for two and need to bat out day four to prevent Warwickshire’s second-highest ever total – 698 for three – being rewarded with victory.

That should be achievable by the visitors on a pitch which has yielded up just 15 wickets in three days. The two first innings together contained 10 individual three-figure scores – four with the bat and six with the ball.

After Durham resumed on the third morning on 178 for three, the pattern of batting control immediately resumed with little suggestion that the pitch was breaking up. Lees and Robinson took their partnership to 99, the former reaching his 24th first class century from 185 balls and reached 10,000 first-class runs in the process. Robinson flicked Olly Hannon-Dalby over mid-wicket for six on his way to an 82-ball half-century but then skied Danny Briggs to extra cover.

With Chris Rushworth off the field undergoing treatment for a calf niggle, the new ball went into the unaccustomed hands of Will Rhodes and the former captain soon nipped it inside a Lees drive to hit off-stump. When Brydon Carse ladled Ed Barnard carelessly to long leg, Durham were 331 for six, still 217 from that follow on figure, but Clark and Raine steadied the ship, and took valuable time out of the game, with a stand of 122 in 33 overs.

Yates turned one sharply past Clark’s attempted paddle to leg to win an lbw decision, but Raine continue to prosper on territory he has enjoyed before. Six years ago, as a Leicestershire player in a Blast fixture at Edgbaston, he smashed 113 of which 108 came in fours and sixes. This time he struck five sixes and eight fours but then left the door ajar for Warwickshire when he was bowled behind his legs by Yates.

That was Yates’ first three-for in first class cricket. Three balls later he had a four-for after taking a smart low return catch from Callum Parkinson. When Potts skied Dan Mousley to that man Yates at deep mid-wicket, Durham were still 32 short of the follow on so had ten overs batting second time around.

It took only five balls for Hannon-Dalby to dislodge one of the potentially biggest obstacles to a Warwickshire win when he lured first innings century-maker Alex Lees into a loose drive which he edged to wicketkeeper Michael Burgess. The last word of the day fell to the remarkable Yates who had Borthwick caught behind to add a fifth wicket to his 191 runs in the match so far.

Day 2 – Warwickshire 698/3declared lead Durham 178/3 by 520

Warwickshire piled up the second-highest total in their history to put Durham under pressure in their Vitality County Championship Division One tussle at Edgbaston.

The home side, led by Alex Davies’ maiden double-century, amassed a mammoth 698 for three declared to leave Durham needing 549 even to avoid the follow on.

The visitors closed the second day on 178 for three with Alex Lees (94 not out, 171 balls) leading the resistance but with a huge amount of work still to do to dig his side out of trouble.

A combination of placid pitch, Kookaburra ball, short boundary and injury-affected and rusty bowling attacks has delivered batting heaven in Birmingham. Warwickshire captain Davies took most advantage to amass 256, his maiden double century, from 311 balls while Rob Yates (a glittering 191 on the first day), Will Rhodes (178 not out from 234 balls) and Dan Mousley (an unbeaten 55 from 53) also filled their boots.

It has proved a bracing return to Division One for newly-promoted Durham whose scheduled opening game, at home to Hampshire, last week, was washed out without a ball bowled. Callum Parkinson, on his debut, harvested the most expensive analysis by a Durham bowler in first class cricket – two for 206 – while three of his team-mates also conceded more than 100 runs.

Warwickshire resumed on the second morning on 490 for one and spent the morning milking a resigned-looking Durham attack which was without Scott Boland. The Australian overseas signing bowled just 13 overs on the first day and didn’t return on day 2, sensibly spared the ordeal of flogging himself further in such gruelling conditions.

Former Lancashire opener Davies advanced implacably onwards and it was a surprise when, after 445 minutes at the crease in which he struck 28 fours and three sixes, he was beaten in forward defence and bowled by Parkinson.

The spinner then made it two wickets in three balls when he produced a beauty to bowl Ed Barnard, but the theme of batting domination was soon restored. Mousley hoisted his third ball into the crowd at the City End for six and settled in alongside the relentless Rhodes to add an unbroken 132 in 22 overs before the declaration arrived half an hour into the afternoon session.

The pitch continued to offer the bowlers little but, after Durham eased to 42 without loss, Warwickshire’s seamers manage to prise two superb deliveries from it in nine balls. Scott Borthwick edged a brute of a lifter from Olly Hannon Dalby behind and Colin Ackermann nicked a perfectly-shaped outswinger from Craig Miles.

Lees and David Bedingham knuckled down to add 94 in 25 overs before off-spinner Yates, given his longest spell in first class cricket so far, had Bedingham (49, 70) caught at short mid-wicket. Lees’ concentration remained absolute (he closed the day on 9,998 first class runs) and, with Ollie Robinson, saw out the last 16 overs of the day but Durham are still in the foothills of the mountain they have to climb.

Day 1 – Warwickshire 490/1

Durham endured a day of torment on their return to Vitality County Championship Division One as Warwickshire piled up 490 for one on the opening day at Edgbaston.

The visitors chose to bowl but were pummelled by openers Rob Yates (191, 205 balls) and Alex Davies (226 not out, 274 balls) who added 343, the second-highest championship opening stand for Warwickshire.

Yates took advantage with a stylish innings which included 25 fours and five sixes, while captain Davies posted an iron-willed maiden double-century with 25 fours and three sixes. In first class cricket, Durham have conceded only five partnerships of 300-plus – three of them by Warwickshire.

This latest instalment of woe arrived despite the presence in the bowling attack of three debutants – Scott Boland, Callum Parkinson and Colin Ackermann. They ended the day with a combined one for 220.

Durham’s decision to bowl appeared strange, bearing in mind the Kookaburra and the good batting pitch for the first game of the season at Edgbaston last week, and Yates and Davies duly rattled up 50 in 57 balls.

Boland ended the Australian season in good form with 16 wickets in his last two games for Victoria but endured a joyless entry to county cricket. His first ball went for four and so did four others in his first three overs. Thirteen fours arrived in the first 12 overs as Davies raced to his 50 in 57 balls and Yates to his in 58.

They alternated in taking the initiative. Davies was first to his century (102 balls) but after Yates passed his ton (118), he accelerated. Successive sixes off Brydon Carse over the very short boundary took him in front of his partner and he struck Ackermann gloriously for 16 in three balls just before tea before perishing in pursuit of another six when Alex Lees held a swirling catch at long off.

Yates left the field to a standing ovation and the spectators were soon back on their feet in acclaim for Davies’ maiden double century (249 balls). Never mind the propitious conditions, it was an innings of immense discipline and concentration from the captain and he has power to add tomorrow. In company with Will Rhodes (60 not out, 100 balls) he milked the melancholy Durham attack for 147 in the last 34 overs of the day.

Matthew Potts scores career best 149* guiding Durham to safety over Warwickshire - Durham Cricket

www.durhamcricket.co.uk www.durhamcricket.co.uk
 
FearlessRoar said:

Hampshire vs Lancashire, 7th Match at Southampton, County DIV1​


https://twitter.com/x/status/1779902440071905633
Click to expand...
MATCH REPORT: Hampshire clash ends in draw

Nick Gubbins batted out the final day to make sure Hampshire and Lancashire drew their Vitality County Championship fixture at the Utilita Bowl – and maintained the visitors’ unbeaten record on the ground.​


Gubbins added an unbeaten 69 to his first innings 50 in a four-and-a-half-hour vigil to nullify any threat of a Hampshire collapse and a result – with James Vince and Tom Prest equally stubborn in their resistance.

Lancashire picked up one extra point to Hampshire’s 12, with both sides shaking off their rain-affected openers with more shared points.

It did however extend the Red Roses’ record of not losing a first-class away match at Hampshire to 35 years – with the last home success coming at Portsmouth in 1989.

Any hopes of Lancashire forcing a result by blowing away Hampshire quickly were kyboshed by no play possible in the morning due to a rain shower which left the run-ups temporarily unusable.

In all 24 overs were lost from the day before the visitors set about hoping to add the final eight wickets to avoid the otherwise inevitable draw in strong winds.

George Bell had spoken the previous evening about how excited he has been for fielding at short leg to Lyon, despite being in the firing line for the angle the ball is turning.

He got his wish to share a line on the scorecard with the legendary Australian spinner when nightwatchman Kyle Abbott clipped the 16th ball of the day to the 21-year-old under the helmet.

Any chance of the hosts collapsing from that point ended with Gubbins and James Vince occupying the crease for the next two hours – and in Gubbins’ case, beyond.

Lyon, who had claimed three first-inning wickets in 38 overs, tried everything to spark a flurry of wickets with the Kookaburra ball.

He teased Vince with different flights – tempting the Hampshire skipper to almost hole out of long on – he flirted with front pads and he created his own rough at either end of the pitch so he could have a patch to aim at wherever he was bowling.

His battle with Vince also saw the batted bottom edge a sweep, which trickled past his stumps.
Finally, Lyon made an unlikely turn towards BazBall for inspiration when he tried the trick of switching the bails. It turns out that specific magic can only be conjured by Stuart Broad.

More Lancashire tricks of a 7-2 leg-side field and Tom Bailey bowling spin to the left-handed Gubbins and his usual pace to the right-handed Vince, also didn’t produce returns.

Vince and Gubbins were steadfast in their 66-run partnership to showcase their large amount of Championship experience.

Both had scored half-centuries in the first innings, although Vince failed to reach the landmark in the second dig as Lyon pinned his lbw to dismiss him in both innings.

Gubbins scored twin centuries the last time Lancashire came to the Utilita Bowl in 2019. He half-replicated that with twin half-centuries, this time coming in 135 balls.

Tom Prest, another first-innings fifty-maker, simply continued where Vince left off – although was unafraid to plonk half-trackers over the ropes for six to end up unbeaten on 45.

The inevitable handshakes came at 16:50 BST, after a short rain delay, to signal the draw.

cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk

MATCH REPORT: Hampshire clash ends in draw

cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk
 
FearlessRoar said:
It's unfortunate that the spell of rain ruined it as the sun's back out now. Still, it was a good start to Division 1 though.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1779867847746806020
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NO RESULT POSSIBLE AS WEATHER FORCES WORCS DRAW​


A wet and blustery fourth day brought a premature conclusion to Nottinghamshire's Vitality County Championship contest with Worcestershire.

Heavy downpours coupled with strong gusts of wind prevented any play from getting underway on the fourth and final day of the match, umpires abandoning the match at just after 2.30pm with the forecast in West Bridgford continuing to look bleak.

In their second innings, Notts ended day three on 151/7, 191 runs ahead of their visitors.

With the addition of three bowling and three batting bonus points from the first innings, Notts take a total of 14 points from the fixture - Worcestershire taking 13.

The Green and Golds now turn their attention to Somerset, making the trip down to Taunton for their first away fixture of the new season on Friday 19 April (11am start).

NCCC News : No result possible as weather forces Worcs draw

Trent Bridge home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
www.trentbridge.co.uk www.trentbridge.co.uk
 
FearlessRoar said:
Glamorgan vs Derbyshire, 5th Match at Cardiff, County DIV2

RESULT: The players shake hands and the match is drawn.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1779903409933435033
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Reece and Guest ensure draw at Sophia Gardens​


The Vitality County Championship match between Glamorgan and Derbyshire finished as a draw as a superb stand between Luis Reece and Brooke Guest guided Derbyshire to safety.

Derbyshire had an improbable target of 401 to chase on the final day with a Glamorgan victory more likely when play resumed in Cardiff with the visitors 40 for 1.

The early wickets of David Lloyd and Wayne Madsen gave Glamorgan some early hope but those were the last wickets to fall in the match as batting became increasingly straightforward on this pitch.

Reece finished on 91 not out with Guest also undefeated on 72 with Derbyshire finishing their second innings on 225 for 3.

Play began 15 mins late thanks to overnight rain with Glamorgan needing nine wickets and Derbyshire requiring another 361 runs to claim victory. Early wickets would be important for Glamorgan given that this pitch has been hard to start on and then got easier as you adjusted to its slow nature.

Derbyshire lost the first wicket of the day having added just three runs to their overnight total when former Glamorgan player David Lloyd was run out by a sharp throw from Mason Crane for 24.

A 34-run stand between Luis Reece and Wayne Madsen settled some of those nerves that may have been caused in the Derbyshire ranks before James Harris bowled Madsen for 25. That left Derbyshire at 79 for 3 and in danger.

From there an excellent and assured partnership of 146 between Reece and Guest took the visitors to the lunch break and then to the close of play. Both players took a while to get started but batted with increasing confidence as the day progressed.

A heavy shower during the interval kept the players from the field and took more overs out of a game that already looked to be heading towards a draw after promising an entertaining finish on the first two days of this match.

Crane had enjoyed the turning pitch in the first innings of this match but as the ball began to behave less erratically in the second innings he struggled for wickets and control. His final figures of none for 91 saw him going a 5.35 runs an over.

Another brief shower took the players off the field on the stroke to tea and when they resumed we were left with the unlikely equation for victory of either 212 runs from 34 overs or seven wickets on a pitch that was flattening out as the match progressed.

The pick of the Glamorgan bowlers was Harris who finished with figures of 2 for 21, and while he struggled to generate chances he was once again very difficult to score off.

During the evening session, both Reece and Guest looked untroubled by the Glamorgan bowling attack as it became apparent that the game was heading towards a draw. Both teams claim 11 points from this match with Derbyshire hosting Leicestershire on Friday.

David Lloyd, Derbyshire captain, said: “I was obviously delighted to make my debut. Personally, I thought I’d started well at first and then just disappointed I didn’t go on and get a big score, which I think is what we needed to get a result on the wicket which was quite tricky the first couple of days.

“The lads have been spot on, their work ethic and commitment they put in was superb really and the way that Guest and Reece played today was outstanding.

“We were umming and ahhing at the toss what to do at the toss to get the best out of the conditions of that first morning. I think we did well to limit them to what they got. Obviously, the difficulty is getting a decent enough lead to put real pressure on them.”

cricket.derbyshireccc.com

Reece and Guest ensure draw at Sophia Gardens - Derbyshire County Cricket Club

cricket.derbyshireccc.com cricket.derbyshireccc.com
 
FearlessRoar said:
Leics vs Sussex, 7th Match at Leicester, County DIV2

https://twitter.com/x/status/1779842436325413056
Click to expand...
MATCH REPORT

Leicestershire vs Sussex: Final Day Abandoned​


Frequent heavy showers killed off any prospect of a positive result from Sussex’s visit to Leicestershire in the Vitality County Championship, meaning no play was possible at all on the final scheduled day of their Division Two clash.

Skipper John Simpson’s maiden double century had put Sussex in a strong position on day three, which ended with Leicestershire 270 in arrears at 86 for one in their second innings after Sussex had declared at 694 for nine just after tea, a lead of 356 on first innings.

But after a saturated outfield delayed the start on day four, the combination of more showers and the safety issues raised by trying to remove the covering sheets in winds gusting to gale force gave umpires James Middlebrook and Paul Pollard little option but to abandon the match as a draw shortly before 1pm.

It means both sides have two draws from two matches so far, with Sussex the more frustrated, having seen a winning position come to nothing against Northamptonshire at Hove last week, with weather again having the last word.

Sussex take 14 points from this match, giving them 29 from two, with Leicestershire taking 12 to swell their early-season total to 25.

Leicestershire vs Sussex: Final Day Abandoned | Sussex Cricket

Leicestershire vs Sussex: Match Report - Day Four AbandonedFrequent heavy showers killed off any prospect of a positive result from Sussex’s visit to Leicestershire in the Vitality County Championship, meaning no play was possible at all on the final scheduled day of their Division Two clash.
sussexcricket.co.uk sussexcricket.co.uk
 
Northamptonshire 552-6
Middlesex 553-2

Match Drawn :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

Rawalpindi curators eat your heart out.
 

Fantastic or worst decision ever?​

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

England’s Rob Key backs Kookaburra ball for full-time use in county cricket​


The early-season trial of the Kookaburra ball in the County Championship has been hailed as a success by Rob Key, with the England men’s team director keen to make it a permanent fixture throughout the domestic first-class summer.

Speaking after the second round of fixtures to use the Kookaburra, Key shared his view that using a less bowler-friendly ball than the traditional Dukes had brought out the requisite skills for Test cricket by increasing the volume of spin bowling, rewarding seamers who have extra pace, and allowing batters to go big when set.

“I think it’s been fantastic,” said Key. “You see what four-day cricket is meant to be. I’ve watched quite a bit this week and seen some bloody good cricket. I would use the Kookaburra all the time. English cricket would be much better off for it.”

All nine matches in the second round ended in draws for only the third time in history, it should be noted, while Essex beating Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in their opening fixture remains the one positive result from the 18 so far. The Kookaburra, which has a less prominent seam and goes softer earlier, has clearly been a significant factor.

Indeed, while batting averages have been higher in April in recent years, it has been a veritable feast to start the 2024 season, with 44.49 runs per wicket the highest figure in a month since September 1938. Ten scores of 150 or more were made in round two – a record for a single set of championship fixtures starting on the same day. Across the four Kookaburra rounds in the past two years there have been 39.54 runs scored per wicket, compared with 31.79 in 12 Dukes ball rounds in 2023.

Key said: “The weather has got in the way at times and seven of those nine matches [in round two] could have seen a result. But county cricket is meant to go four days. This week has shown it’s rewarding the right type of players. Cricket is about watching pace bowlers, spinners and really good batting. Four days is about the journey.”

After the move was recommended in 2022 by Andrew Strauss’s high performance review, this is the second season to have the Kookaburra deployed. Two rounds last year have increased to four this summer, with the Kookaburra returning for rounds 12 and 13 in September. Key pushed for half of the season but, despite agreement at a meeting of director’s of cricket, the counties came back with a compromise.

The deployment of spin has increased. Slow bowlers sent down 37% of deliveries in the first two rounds, compared with 17% in the equivalent rounds last year. Key has noted early success for wrist-spinners among them, with Mason Crane, Calvin Harrison, Matt Critchley and Cameron Steel in the wickets. Surrey, the defending champions, have already taken more wickets with spin (18) than the whole of last season (17).

Kasey Aldridge, with eight wickets at the Oval for Lancashire, and Zaman Akhter, with six for Gloucestershire against Yorkshire, including Joe Root and Harry Brook, were among the seamers to catch Key’s eye in the latest round, having “run in with a bit of pace”. The England team director noted Sam Cook’s 10-wicket match for Essex at Trent Bridge, a welcome namecheck for a player who has 199 championship wickets at 16.84 since 2019.

“The pitches are slow this time of year but watching medium pacers is a waste of time,” said Key. “Teams need to find quicker bowlers or ones who will force a wicket. You can’t just keep running up bowling at 75mph. And in terms of those guys who are not express, you really work out who can bowl. Sam Cook, that was seriously impressive what he did.”

It has been particularly hard going for Middlesex, who have shipped 1,203 runs for just 11 wickets in two matches. At Edgbaston, where the groundsman, Gary Barwell, says he produced the same pitch in terms of grass and rolling as round two last year, a couple of England hopefuls in Matt Potts (none for 106 from 23 overs) and Brydon Carse (none for 128 from 19) struggled as Warwickshire racked up 698 for three declared against Durham.

Key said: “That looked a turgid [slow] pitch but [Potts and Carse] are much better equipped for international cricket than if they bowled on English snakepits with a Dukes ball moving all over the place. The best bowlers come from the flattest pitches.

“ Why do we think in India their batters come into the Test side averaging 70 [in the Ranji Trophy]? Do you think they’re playing with a little nibbly Dukes ball where it’s doing all sorts? What do we want to be? I want us to be the best team in the world for a generation; this will be one way to do that.”

Potts, who underlined the difference by shutting down the Edgbaston match with an unbeaten 149 as nightwatchman, said he had no issues with further use of the Kookaburra but did make the point that spring conditions, chiefly moist outfields, negate one of the skills the Australian ball will teach bowlers: reverse swing.

With a number of critics among the counties, not least Surrey’s director of cricket, Alec Stewart, Key’s desire to have the Kookaburra used all season – something he does not think should affect the use of the Dukes in home Tests – may be tricky to get across the line. To make the switch permanent will require a consensus among the counties and signoff from the England and Wales Cricket Board’s professional game committee.

www.theguardian.com

England’s Rob Key backs Kookaburra ball for full-time use in county cricket

The early season trial of the Kookaburra ball in the County Championship has been hailed as a success by Rob Key
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
County cricket: All nine matches end in draws for only third time in history

The last time every match ended in draws was in September 2019, and before that in September 1994

Guardian
 
Key thinks that the change in ball with prepare England for bowling overseas.

However, on these results they won't be able to bowl sides out at home either.
 

Yorkshire vs Middlesex, 10th Match at London, County DIV2​

Day 1 - Middlesex chose to field
 

Gloucs vs Sussex, 12th Match at Brighton, County DIV2​

Day 1 - Sussex chose to field
 

Leics vs Derbyshire, 9th Match at Derby, County DIV2​

Day 1 - Derbyshire chose to field
 

Notts vs Somerset, 14th Match at Taunton, County DIV1​

Day 1 - Notts chose to bat
 

Warwickshire vs Hampshire, 12th Match at Southampton, County DIV1​

Day 1 - Warwickshire chose to bat
 

‘We have a superior product’: Dukes maker invites Rob Key for talks over ball​


The maker of Dukes balls has entered the debate on the trial use of the Kookaburra ball in county cricket and invited Rob Key, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s managing director of men’s cricket, to talk to him about the type of ball he wants to see.

Dilip Jajodia, the managing director of British Cricket Balls Ltd which has owned the Dukes imprint since 1987, was responding to a story in the Guardian this week in which Key hailed the trial use of the Kookaburra in the County Championship and called for it to be used permanently.

“I can’t speak for the inner thoughts of Rob Key,” said Jajodia. “He’s entitled to his opinions obviously. I’d be very happy to have a discussion with him about what he would like. If he wants a machine-made ball, we can absolutely do that.”

In the first two rounds of the county season bowlers have used the machine-made Kookaburra instead of the usual handmade Dukes. With its slighter seam and propensity to go softer earlier, the Kookaburra provides less assistance to bowlers and has contributed to bat dominating ball.

“I think it’s been fantastic,” Key had said of the initial stages of the Kookaburra experiment, which was first proposed by Andrew Strauss’s high performance review in 2022 with a view to better prepare bowlers for the rigours of Test cricket overseas. “I would use the Kookaburra all the time. English cricket would be much better off for it.”

But Jajodia cautioned about any plans to expand the use of the Kookaburra. “You have to be careful about making snap decisions, the ECB will have to weigh up the pros and cons,” he said.

“We’ve seen with the white ball that it doesn’t really swing, so that craft goes out of the game. The Dukes red ball does swing and it often then reverse-swings. Bowlers like Jimmy Anderson can harness these skills. You have to be careful giving all that up to pursue success overseas.”

Dukes came under criticism in the seasons directly after the Covid-19 pandemic because their balls were deemed to be softer than usual and therefore going out of shape a lot quicker than they previously had. Stuart Broad went as far as to call the 2022 batch of Dukes balls “rubbish”, a quote that stung Jajodia and his small workforce at their factory in Walthamstow. The irony of softer balls now seemingly being desirable is not lost on him.

“We had a bit of trouble with our production processes during Covid and then had complaints that the balls were going soft and out of shape, now apparently the ball going soft is actually a virtue! It’s a bit confusing for us as the manufacturer.

“It’s not like bowlers don’t get chance to use the other [Kookaburra] ball – they dominate white ball cricket. The Kookaburra is almost universally used in white ball cricket.”

Jajodia stressed that no two cricket balls are the same – “No two cows are the same you see” – and that the process of making them by hand is a labour of love. “They are made from a natural, raw material. It is a skilled and artisanal process to make one by hand. You can only make about three or four in a whole day.

“I feel that our job is to produce a consistent product that plays well in all conditions and doesn’t overly favour bowler or batter. It’s about always trying to keep a balance.”

Jajodia said he is in touch with the ECB regularly and happy to discuss what could be required to take English cricket forward. “We’ll be here and we’ll keep working away, keep going,” he said.

“I think there’s no doubt that we have a superior product. I’ll issue the same challenge to anybody. You bring your ball at any price, anywhere, anytime, any test. I’m ready.”

www.theguardian.com

‘We have a superior product’: Dukes maker invites Rob Key for talks over ball

The maker of Dukes balls has entered the debate on the trial use of the Kookaburra ball in county cricket and the ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket to talk about the type of ball he wants to see
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
FearlessRoar said:

Gloucs vs Sussex, 12th Match at Brighton, County DIV2​

Day 1 - Sussex chose to field
Click to expand...
Play was due to resume at 2pm following a rain shower at lunch however the rain has started falling again and the covers are going back on.
 

County Championship Division ONE End of Day 2 Scores Update (20-04-2024)​


1W6dyq9.png
 

Middlesex consider leaving Lord's Cricket Ground after 160 years​


Middlesex are considering moving from Lord's to a newly developed cricket venue in London.

The county is a tenant at the MCC-owned Lord's, where Middlesex have played since being founded in 1864.

But moves to bring in new investment have included talks about a new home.

"We have had - and continue to have - conversations with several groups of potential investors [about a new venue]," said chief executive Andrew Cornish.

"London also actually needs another elite cricket facility," he added.

He told The Times that if any move came to fruition, Middlesex may still continue to play some home games at the famous cricket stadium that has been their home for 160 years.

"If you look at the Harlequins model, they play most of their games at the Stoop, but for big games go to Twickenham.

"When Arsenal women go to the Emirates they fill it out, but most of the time they're not playing there. There's definitely a model there to be considered."

"Things [potential sites] do become available and there are a couple of potential opportunities now," he added.

"There are a lot of people looking at cricket as an investment opportunity right now. Our global reach is enormous."

In September, Middlesex were sanctioned by the England & Wales Cricket Board for breaches of its financial regulations, following an investigation into funds provided to the Middlesex Cricket Board (MCB) and Middlesex County Cricket Club.

www.bbc.com

Middlesex consider leaving Lord's after 160 years

Middlesex are considering moving from Lord's to a newly developed venue in London as part of talks with potential new investors.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
went down to lords on friday, bit frustrating with the weather but got to see shan, root and brook bat, for a little while lol. would be sad to see Middlesex level lords, its good to have it busy often during the season.
 
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