Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureDay one round-upJames WallaceOn the day their chairman, Rod Bransgrove, announced he was stepping back from the role after more than 23 years at the helm, Hampshire fell to 120 all out against Essex at the Ageas Bowl. James Vince’s bowlers pegged back Tom Westley’s side in the afternoon to leave the visitors on 145 for six.England fans would have no doubt rolled their eyes at the sunny scene on display at Old Trafford yesterday morning where Lancashire chased leather during a partnership of 207 runs for Northamptonshire’s Emilio Gay and Luke Procter. Gay eventually fell for 144 as Northants secured only their second and third batting points of the season by scoring 302 for five.The Overton twins duking it out at Taunton provided the box-office moment of the day in the shires. In this fixture last year Craig was forced to retire hurt after being clocked on the helmet by a bouncer from his younger sibling. That thought was surely not far from the senior Overton’s mind as he strode out with Somerset struggling on 140 for seven in bright sunshine. Four balls later he was back in the hutch after Jamie had sent down a searing delivery that kissed his glove and ended up in Ben Foakes’s mitts behind the stumps. Surrey closed on 138 for four in response to Somerset’s total of 170.On a bonkers day in Birmingham 22 wickets fell in total on green Edgbaston pitch. Both sides found batting difficult but Middlesex were well on top by the close – a battling 53 from Ryan Higgins saw them reply to Warwickshire’s 60 all out with 199. Ethan Bamber added another wicket to his five for 20 in the first innings as the home side closed on 53 for two, 86 runs adrift.Nottinghamshire cruised to 275 for five against Kent, Ben Slater falling for exactly 100 at the top of the order and Glamorgan rattled along to 408 for six against beleaguered Derbyshire. Afternoon rain and hailstones meant a truncated day in Scarborough, Durham’s Matt Potts striking with two late lbw dismissals to leave Yorkshire 148 for two at stumps after just 38 overs of possible play.Updated at 20.02 BSTSwooping back in after filing my copy, how are we doing? Decent day’s graft that eh? And the cricket wasn’t bad either (BuddumTish).Round up of the day incoming…Thanks to Fewer Owls for the below Statsanomoly sent into my inbox:“Afternoon Mr Wallace, all 4 Warwickshire bowlers concede 49 runs…” and with that he he flies off, a knowing hoot disappearing into the ether.After wrestling an over-tired toddler into bed I’m now well and truly done for the day. Thanks for your company and see you same time, same place on the morrow. Goodnight.Updated at 20.30 BSTJust popping back to honk my 20 wickets at Edgbaston horn! Honk!Poor Finley Bean – as soon as play resumed in Scarborough he finds himself out LBW and has to head back to the changing rooms where he has sat in his pads all afternoon. Matt Potts the man to get the breakthrough for Durham. Yorkshire 113-1.As I reach for my pad and quill to write up for the tomorrow’s paper I can see Foakes has fallen in Taunton to leave Surrey 95-4 and Middlesex are nine down! We’re sure to see 20 wickets fall in the day at Edgbaston.Right, must write up. Back later, look after the place for me won’t you? And do tick along below the line.Updated at 17.47 BSTThe game at Edgbaston is rollocking along – Middlesex 148-7, a lead of 91.Well batted Northants! (and how often can you say that? Forgive me, Wantage Roaders)Northants’ highest first-innings score of the season is brought up along with the 200 partnership for Emilio Gay and Luke Procter. Gah Cursed him! (Forgive me, Wantage Roaders pt 2) Procter falls LBW for 75. Northants now 266-4 and the partnership was 207 runs. Lancashire looked desperate for that wicket.“Afternoon James.” Back atcha Simon McMahon.“After the carry-on in Manchester over the weekend, the picture of the North Marine Road pavilion at the top of the blog is making me a bit weepy…”Hmm yes, well it is slightly Yorkshire propaganda as it is in fact raining in Scarborough and has been all afternoon.Shot x four! Jamie Smith has just rattled off four consecutive boundaries off Craig Overton who snatches his cap at the end of the over and looks like a man who is about to combust with anger. “He might need a blow” says Peter Trego on commentary… he’s only bowled one over! Next over and Overton is certain he has sweet revenge on Smith but a feather of an inside edge save the Surrey man from falling LBW. Simmer down.It’s raining at Trent Bridge but the rains have yet to arrive in Derbyshire. It’s been tough going for the home side as they stuck Glamorgan in only to see Colin Ingram and Zain Ul Hassan pile on a second wicket stand of 193 - a county record for the Welsh side against Derbyshire. A couple of wickets have eased feelings of remorse at the Incora (good title for a novel?) Sam Northeast has come and gone for 13 but Ingram is still there on 128 off 189 balls. Glamorgan 258-3.“That’s 3 ducks out of 5 goes for Rory Burns now. Is he following Sir Chef into farming?” says Wiven2 below the line.Boggis, Bunce and Burns I hear you ask? This feels a long time ago now…Is COverton fired up from that brief brotherly encounter? He removes Rory Burns! Early strike for Somerset in Taunton.Here’s the Overton v Overton moment from a bit earlier. Jamie came out the victor this time…Tea-time (ish) Scores:LV= COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP - DIVISION ONEHampshire 120 all out v Essex 17-3Lancashire v Northants 186-3Nottinghamshire cruising on 190-4 v KentSomerset 170 all out v Surrey 0-0 (early tea)Warwickshire All Out 60 (!) v Middlesex 77-5 in responseLV= COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP - DIVISION TWODerbyshire v Glamorgan 211-1Yorkshire v Durham 113-0 at Scarborough (Rain stopped play)Updated at 15.41 BSTSomerset ALL OUT for 170. Tom Lawes finishes with 4-41 for Surrey and the players take tea. Sounds good. Off to brew up. Back soon.PS. This made me chuckle:Updated at 15.26 BSTBack on in Brum and Middlesex pass fifty. They’ve done well to only lose the four wickets, Warwickshire were nine down at this point. It does not, repeat not, look nice for batting.Elsewhere, Northants are battling hard against Lancs at Old Trafford. Luke Procter and Emilio Gay have put on a 100 partnership off 195 balls. Gay is the main aggressor and has 81 and Procter has 35. Northants 169-3.Updated at 15.22 BSTEssex lose their first in response to Hants’ 120, Nick Brown cleaned up by Mo Abbas. Essex 9-1 as Captain Westley strides out to join SirAl in the middle.100 and out for Ben Slater! Notts’ opener goes to a patient hundred off 150 balls but then perishes straight after. Gah! Nottinghamshire 173-4 against Kent. Mullaney and Moores new to the crease.And breathe. Rain (and light) stops play at Edgbaston. Middlesex are 48-4 and won’t mind a bit of time to re-group in the dressing room. Umpires Hassan Adnan and Rob Bailey were as twitchy as two tabard-ed dinnerladies in a mizzly northern playground for a good ten minutes before finally leading the players off in the murk.Kohler-Cadmore chops on to Tom Lawes to depart for 59. Here comes Craig Overton who pulls a single off the last ball of Lawes’ over to be on strike to face his brother Jamie. Helmet’s flew all over the show last time this occurred. “This will be Box Office” says Peter Trego on the Somerset stream. Barbie/Overtonheimer. Sorry.GODDIM! Jamie slams one down into the middle of the pitch and it takes his bro’s glove on the way into Ben Foakes’. Slightly muted celebration but the Cane and Able award for Sibling Rivalry goes to Jamie Overton. Somerset 145-8.Updated at 14.52 BSTHampshire ALL OUT for 120! Mohammad Abbas reverse swept Simon Harmer for four but then got excited and tried to smear the wily tweaker over the top and was duly caught. That’s yer lot for Hants.Essex will be pleased with their work after sticking the home side in. Harmer chalked up 3-26 and hat tip to Jamie Porter who finishes up with 5-37.Tom Kohler-Cadmore brings up his FIFTY off 85 balls with a clip into the leg side. Somerset have needed him here and he’s doing job. Shot! TKC has just played a delicious on-drive off Tom Lawes that skims away over the baize-like outfield for four runs. GONE! Kasey Aldridge wafts at Jamie Overton and is well caught by Tom Latham at second slip – Somerset 138-6.Updated at 16.24 BSTColin Ingram has hit 12 fours in his 76* for Glamorgan in Derby. He’s still there with Zain ul Hasan who is going along more sedately on 43 off 122 balls.Still off for inclement weather at Scarbs – Yorkshire untroubled so far on 113-0.Middlesex lose another! 15 wickets in the day so far at Edgbaston. Max Holden had looked in good touch, peeling off a boundary and playing himself in on the testing surface but he’s fallen now to Mir Hamza who has a brace to his name to match Hannon-Dalby. Benny Hill cricket in Brum.Updated at 14.42 BST‘Arry Brook has been speaking t’BBC about t’Ashes. (I’m northern so I’m allowed to do this)“Vic Marks and Scyld Berry on comms at Taunton, some serious experience there” mentions ‘LongHop’. The sun is out in Somerset and the light mid-summer breeze is rippling the flags on the minster. Pour me a ginger beer and let me luxuriate for a minute.How good do these look too?Updated at 14.19 BSTJames Rew has fallen at Taunton. A loose cross-batted swipe at Jordan Clark results in a top edge and is comfortably taken by Ben Foakes. Somerset 115-5 as it stands, Kohler-Cadmore still there on 47*.Updated at 14.22 BST“I find myself inexplicably drawn to this list: Shortest First Class Matches” writes Reading Old Boy in the comments BTL.Hampshire are doing their best to err get on with things too. They’ve lost eight wickets and just have Mo Abbas to come. Jamie Porter sitting pretty with figures of 5-36.Hail in Scarborough! Just to add to the English seaside holiday vibe. Only a shower by the looks of it and an inspection at 2pm.Updated at 14.01 BSTThe players emerge after lunch and there’s more fun and games at Edgbaston as Middlesex wobble to 11-3! Stoneman, Robson and Eskinazi all back in the hutch. Oliver Hannon-Dalby has his dander up and is enjoying the green-hued surface. Nearly a unnecessary run-out too – stand by your wicket alerts!More moving and shaking in the County transfer market – Matt Parkinson to Kent permanently as of November and will be with them for the One Day Cup in a few weeks’ time too.✍️ We're delighted to announce that Matt Parkinson will join Kent for the this year, ahead of his permanent move in November— Kent Cricket () July 25, 2023Updated at 13.41 BSTLUNCH: Latest ScoresLV= COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP - DIVISION ONEHampshire are 79-6 v EssexLancashire have Northants 74-3Nottinghamshire cruising on 116-1 v KentSomerset spluttering on 85-4 v SurreyWarwickshire All Out 60 (!) v Middlesex 9-1 in responseLV= COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP - DIVISION TWODerbyshire v Glamorgan, the visitors are 107-1Yorkshire v Durham 113-0 at ScarboroughRight, time for a snack and a stretch of the legs. See you shortly for the afternoon session.Updated at 13.38 BSTThe clock ticks round to 1pm – who knows where the time goes? Lunchtime scores on the doors incoming…Ooof. Warwickshire bowled out for 60!Here is that Simon Harmer snaffle:Hampshire in the mire at 72-5.Wickets, wickets, everywhere… and not a drop to drink. Granted the second bit of that is because I need to put the kettle on. There’s been a real flurry in the W column this morning apart from at Scarborough where Durham are yet to lose one.James Vince has perished at Hampshire and Simon Harmer has just pulled off a stonking slip catch to get rid of Ben Brown!Surrey are scything through the Cidermen. Somerset’s top four batter’s have been sent on their way with the young tyro James Rew arriving at the crease to join Tom Kohler-Cadmore with a rescue job needed. Somerset 69-4. The scene at Old Trafford is far removed from the gun metal grey we saw over the weekend. Light cloud and bursts of hazy sunshine as Paul Allott gently intones on LancsTV. The Red Rose will be relatively happy… HANG ABOUT – Sam Whiteman has just come charging down the wicket to Jack Morley, played a massive yahoo and connected only with a great big ball of fresh air. He’s emphatically stumped by Phil Salt – the middle stump uprooted in the process. Northants are 59-3. “Like a bull in a china shop” drawls Allott, and he’s not wrong.Has Hameed has fallen for 18 at Trent Bridge – Joey Evison pinning him LBW to give Kent their first scalp. Notts 73-1.Glamorgan are going relatively serenely against Derbyshire, 71-1 with the loss of skipper David Lloyd the only fly in the ointment this morning.The subplot of this game is clearly the clash of the beige titans – Derbyshire Oatcake v Welsh err Welsh cake? I’m PLUMPing for the former due to regional allegiance and I won’t be taking any further questions at this time. Thank you.Updated at 12.28 BSTYou can have a listen to Rod Bransgrove talk about his retirement to Radio Solent here:🗣️ ''Maybe now I can come and watch cricket and enjoy it for what it is''Rod Bransgrove talks to Kevan James after announcing that he'll step down from his role as chairman at #hantscricket | #bbccricket 🔊 Listen here ⬇️— BBC Radio Solent Sport () July 25, 2023
Warwickshire are eight down! Bamber gets another clean bowled, Barnard the latest man to fall. The good news for the home side is they might get a go on this wicket soon too. There’s movement, pace, bounce and a zip off the Edgbaston wicket.Liquid Vince:Middlesex have another! Bamber scuds one through Michael Burgess to go to 4-14 from his six overs. The ball almost went under the bat, shooting along and disturbing the poles before Burgess was through his shot. Warwickshire are 36-7!Slow and steady so far at Trent Bridge under leaden skies. Bit of nibble. Hameed has rocketed along to 5 off 31 after nearly an hour. Proper criggit.Gloomy skies above Trent Bridge slowly lifting but it's the usual tough early examination from the seamers.Haseeb Hameed giving hope to out-of-touch club players everywhere with 19 balls on 0 before nudging his first run. Kent will know this is a massive session or two for them— James Coyne () July 25, 2023
Wilson does Scarbados… He’ll be a bit twitchy as Yorkshire have made serene progress against Durham so far. 48-0 with Adam Lyth and Finley Bean going well under hazy skies. Enough blue sky to make a pair of sailor’s trousers as my ma might say.Carnage at Edgbaston! Middlesex have reduced Warwickshire to 26-6! La La La La LA Ethan Bamber (!) has popped up with three wickets to match the trio of scalps for Roland-Jones. Bamber has just clean bowled Dan Mousley and Jacob Bethell. Take a look below. Some serious lift from Toby Roland-Jones and Bamber scuttling through the home side’s defences. The pitch looks greener than a goblin’s tummy doesn’t it? A bit of loose driving at play too, mind.NEWS: Rod Bransgrove to retire as Chair of HampshireAn end of an era at the Ageas. A statement from the club has the below quotes from the man himself:
Being chair of Hampshire has been a huge honour and one of the greatest experiences of my life.
When I took on the role, I set out with three clear objectives; to create teams which could compete in all formats, develop the new stadium into an established international ground, and to build a business which would safeguard the future of the Hampshire Cricket long into the future. Over the last two decades and more, we have achieved all of this and so much more.“I am so proud of all the players and coaches who have entertained and inspired us all during my tenure. As with every sports team, there have been low points and disappointments, but these are far outweighed by our successes - the three T20 titles, four victorious appearances in Lord’s finals and the dawn of the Vipers, who have dominated women’s cricket over the last seven years.“Off the field, my dream has long been to host an Ashes Test at our fabulous venue and, with confirmation from the ECB that this will now happen in 2027, I believe my work within the sport is nearing its completion.“Our Club has a long and rich history; I am honoured to have played a part in its story and look forward to attending as a supporter for many years to come.”Rod Bransgrove has announced that he will be stepping down from his role as chairman of Hampshire Cricket at the end of the year. Since 2000, Bransgrove has overseen the most successful spell in the club’s 160-year history and will be replaced by Nick Pike.📰 Full story 🔽— Hampshire Cricket () July 25, 2023
A flick around the grounds to catch Tom Lammonby pocketed for just 8 runs by Surrey’s Dan Worrall. First blood at Taunton to the visitors.Surrey are sans their other Antipodean seamer as Sean Abbot has been pulled from the side by Cricket Australia suggesting they have him in mind for the Oval Test match. Watch this space. Glamorgan’s Michael Neser in the running too no doubt.I’ll have what Toby Roland-Jones is having… he’s picked up two Warwickshire wickets in his first over! Alex Davies nicked behind and Will Rhodes cleaned up. Crikey.☝️ | ROLAND-JONES HAS TWO IN THE OVERThe perfect start for Toby Roland-Jones as he starts with two wickets at Edgbaston!Alex Davies and Will Rhodes gone in the second over...📺 https://t.co/r6Un1xv7xyWAR 8/2MATCH CENTRE ⬇️ | #OneMiddlesex— Middlesex Cricket () July 25, 2023
Fair to say that the Jack Haynes news has got plenty of you ticking:Here’s Peter Moores on the signing:
Jack is already a good player though it his hunger to move his game forward that really excites me,” the Notts head coach said. “He has already gained valuable experience in red and white ball cricket, which gives him a great platform to build on going forward”
As a top-order batter in all formats he will strengthen our batting unit as well as adding healthy competition. We pride ourselves in helping players fulfil their potential and we have already seen many of our players move their games forwards at Trent Bridge.
We pride ourselves as a coaching team in creating opportunities for all our players to keep improving, knowing that as they improve, so do Notts. Helping players develop is one of the most exciting parts of coaching in my opinion.”
No Comment:Scarborough hosting Yorkshire v Durham over the next few days and I have it on good authority the place is looking pretty as a picture.As I head into the kitchen to fire up the toaster and brew something strong why not let Gary Naylor bring you up to speed:PreambleJames WallaceHello and welcome to the Guardian’s County Cricket Blog. After the weekend washout resulted in soggy handshakes for some and just snuck in results for others we are heading gently towards the business end of the season with everything to play for. There’s seven games to get stuck into over the next few days and the forecast, in the main, is far less volatile.Jim Wallace here with you today as Tanya has a much deserved break, as ever do get in touch with your thoughts and theories (go gentle with me, yeh?) and get involved below the line. Play will start around the shires at 11am, I’ll be back shortly to bring you toss, goss and teams.Here are the fixtures:LV= COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP - DIVISION ONEHampshire v EssexLancashire v NorthantsNottinghamshire v KentSomerset v SurreyWarwickshire v MiddlesexLV= COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP - DIVISION TWODerbyshire v GlamorganYorkshire v Durham