Surrey have closed the day on 255 for four against Essex at Chelmsford. The runaway leaders of Division One will be pleased with that considering how difficult batting was in the morning, with England hopeful Rory Burns the standout batsman as he battled his way to 90 from 217 balls to take his tally for the season to 1,051 Championship runs. Ollie Pope may have been retained in England’s squad for this week’s fifth Test against India at The Oval but, having been cleared to play the first two days here, he was out for just 21. Peter Siddle, the Australian who also bowled Burns, was the bowler who had Pope caught at second slip as he produced a carbon copy of the loose shot outside off stump that did for him in his last Test innings at Trent Bridge last month.
At stumps, Ben Foakes and Will Jacks had an unbroken stand of 22 and Surrey will hope the fifth-wicket pair can build on that come the morning.
Taunton has seen some action on a first day that suggests perhaps Somerset, the only side who can realistically deny Surrey a first title since 2002, were keen for a positive result against strugglers Lancashire. The hosts are likely to get one in their favour as well after dismissing Lancs for 99 and, thanks in large part to an unbeaten 64 from Lewis Gregory, establishing a 93-run first-innings lead. At one stage, they were 104 for eight in their reply but Gregory’s heroics from No 7 has tipped the contest firmly in their favour.
Yorkshire will believe they can still get something out of their game against Notts at Trent Bridge but they will need to bat well in their first innings as the hosts approached the close on 332 for seven. It was some comeback for the visitors given Notts had been 182 without loss at one stage.
Worcestershire, meanwhile, were 68 for four in reply to fellow strugglers Hampshire’s first-innings 191 before bad light brought a premature end to play at New Road.
On the field at Chelmsford, Surrey have lost a fourth wicket, with Ollie Pope, included in England’s squad for the fifth Test against India, falling for 21 after slashing Peter Siddle to second slip. Not a great shot from the youngster but Surrey, on 245 for four, are still in control of this contest.
A last-wicket stand between Lewis Gregory and Jack Leach that currently stands at 55 is taking Somerset towards a 100-run lead against Lancashire at Taunton. Ben Duckett made 80 on his Notts debut, Yorkshire reducing their hosts to 321 for six at Trent Bridge thanks in part to two wickets from former England bowler Tim Bresnan.
Worcestershire, meanwhile, were 68 for four in reply to fellow strugglers Hampshire’s first-innings 191 before bad light stopped play at New Road.
Just an update on the Alastair Cook contract situation. Essex have confirmed to the Guardian that he has signed a three-year deal to play on in county cricket after his international retirement at the end of the current Test series against India at The Oval.
The contract has been signed off by Essex chief executive Derek Bowden today but the club are waiting until the morning to officially announce it. It means Cook will carry on playing until he is 36 and he’s likely to explain why when he speaks to the national media at The Oval tomorrow morning. It is quite some coup for Essex to have England’s all-time leading runscorer and cricket’s all-round nice guy committing to them long-term considering he could have quit the game entirely or, in theory, moved to another county.
Essex have taken the new ball at Chelmsford, with Peter Siddle and Jamie Porter looking for the fourth Surrey wicket. The visitors, currently clear at the top of the table, are 223 for three, with Ollie Pope, playing just the first two days of this match before joining up with England for the final Test against India, on 18 and Ben Foakes, England’s reserve keeper last winter, on 11.
Somerset are nine down in the wicket-fest at Taunton and currently have a handy 52-run lead over Lancashire, who they skittled for 99 earlier in the day. Ben Duckett is 62 not out in his first match for Notts, who are 292 for four against struggling Yorkshire at Trent Bridge while Worcestershire are 48 for three having already bowled out Hampshire for 191.
Surrey have 200 on the board at Chelmsford but have lost their third wicket, Dean Elgar bowled for 75 by spinner Simon Harmer. It’s still advantage the leaders you’d think but the reigning champions are showing some fight.
That’s a characteristic Lancashire are showing plenty of too having overcome the shock of being skittled for 99 at Taunton by reducing Somerset to 119 for eight in reply. With relegation a realistic possibility for the visitors, this could be a thrilling game.
Yorkshire are also in danger of the drop but are being frustrated by a Notts side at Trent Bridge who have reached 263 for three. Meanwhile, bottom-of-the-table Worcestershire look like being involved in a close game as well after they find themselves 35 for two after bowling out fellow strugglers Hampshire for 191 at New Road.
In the other three games, Hampshire have been dismissed for 191 at Worcestershire, with the seamer Ed Barnard taking six for 50.
Yorkshire have finally made some headway at Trent Bridge, where Nottinghamshire go into tea on 217 for three after a 182-run first-wicket stand between Kraigg Brathwaite and Ben Slater, who made 109. Ben Duckett, playing his first match after moving from Northants, is currently 24 not out.
Meanwhile, we’ve had 15 wickets before tea at Taunton, where Somerset are 77 for five in reply to Lancashire’s 99 all out.
Surrey are in complete control of their match against Essex at Chelmsford, the leaders reaching tea on 174 for one. Rory Burns remains unbeaten on 86 from 211 balls and after overcoming a difficult start, when the ball was moving all over the place, the opener looks well set to bringing up his fourth century of the season. Having also passed 1,000 Championship runs during this innings, Burns is rightly being touted for an England call-up this winter. The fact he’s turned it on in front of the selector James Taylor certainly hasn’t harmed his claims to replace the retiring Alastair Cook when England head to Sri Lanka next month.
