County cricket: Surrey v Warwickshire, Notts v Lancashire and more – live | County Championship

And a nice little insight on Jimmy Anderson from Lancs coach Dale Benkenstein:

“I feel I’ve played a small part in Jimmy’s story as I was a professional at Burnley when he was just coming up as a 14-year-old, so I’ve known him for a long time.

“I don’t think anyone expects any of your youngsters to be the best in history as Jimmy has been, but you can see he has some talent. He also had a stubborn mindset, he was very determined.

“A lot went into working with the talent he had, but obviously he was able to pull it all together.”

“Going out at Lord’s will be a good way to finish. I would expect someone of his stature to have that choice and I can’t think of a better place to leave than Lord’s, apart from perhaps Emirates Old Trafford, but Lord’s will be a fitting end to an amazing career.

“He wants to get his boots on before the Test match and that’s not until July so we’re looking at him playing for Lancashire previously. There are several four-day games that come in the middle of the Blast. Whether he wants to play in one or both, we’ll wait and see, but he’ll let us know.

“If he feels he still wants to keep playing after this last Test match then we’d be over the moon to have him, but we’ll find out if he doesn’t. He’s had more than his fair share of overs and blood in his boots, but if he feels he still wants to contribute and play for Lancs, we’d love to have him.

“And if he does decide he’s done playing county cricket before the Lord’s Test, then his last game at Emirates Old Trafford will be a huge event, that’s for sure.”

It was Haseeb Hameed lthe night after his first century as Nott captain (against his old club, Lancashire).

“I felt pretty good out there, I was happy with my rhythm today. You always try to contribute when you go out there and it’s not something I’ve really focused on, but it’s nice to get that first hundred as captain.

“Last season was a bit disappointing but I guess it’s top-class batting but I feel good, it was nice to spend a bit more time in the middle and hopefully things look up from here.”

Fascinating column by Mark Ramprakash on Anderson’s retirement and how Ramprakash himself decided it was time to leave: “I needed someone whose opinion I valued to tell me it was time to call it quits. For me, it was Justin Langer, and hearing his words was such a relief.”

You’ve probably all read this yesterday (and thanks to Jim for his excellent work), but in case you haven’t: (it’s quite beautiful).

On a day when all the tales in the county went to someone who didn’t even play, Jimmy Anderson Lancashire teammate Saqib Mahmood returned after 12 months on the sidelines to start making a case that he could step into the hole in Anderson’s form in England.

Mahmood, whose absence was caused by a stress fracture, looked thin and dangerous when he took his first bowling steps of the season and did not have to wait long for his first wicket of the campaign. NottinghamshireBen Slater from the fielder fumbles a length ball outside the off stump and sees an edge fly into the safe hands of George Bell at third slip.
George Balderson then popped up to take three more wickets as the visitors set about defending their first innings total of 331. Hasib Hamed proved a thorn in the side as he made 137 from 246 balls against his former county to kept things simmering at Trent Bridge.

On a sleepy south coast, Hampshire made Durham I’m working hard. Tom Prest scored his second first-class century as his side made 503. Alex Lees and David Bedingham set out to score, Lees left lbw to a flailing Liam Dawson delivery, but Bedingham finished unbeaten on 35, with nightwatchman Matthew Potts for company.

It had an even stiffer collar Kent in Canterbury. Jason Holder and Matthew Waite are making centuries as Worcestershire posted a nosebleed 618 for seven declared. Holder went to his ton with a flurry of sixes, on reaching the milestone he poignantly tapped the badge next to his heart bearing the number 33, that of his former team-mate Josh Baker. Holder then raised his bat to his teammates in what looks set to be his final innings for the club during this stint. In reply, Zac Crowley fell for a scratchy six, under the edge of a leg ball from Joe Leach that was well hit by wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick. Kent ends the day on 111 or two, a massive 507 to go.

Surreythe engine room purred toward the Oval. Jamie Smith stroked Warwickshire‘s bowlers around South London to finish unbeaten on 98, his side 16 behind but with four wickets in hand.

In the second division, SussexPlayer Jaden Seals took three wickets in the West Indies bowling morning session GlamorganBilly Root with a boisterous delivery that nicked back to hit the top of the stumps and send the bails skyward like a pair of oddball eyebrows. The Welsh side fought back and then dominated. From 41 for four they finished at 411 for nine with a handsome lead of 133 runs thanks to centuries from Kieran Carlson and Colin Ingram.

Marchant de Lange picked up five for 42 to disperse Northamptonshire for 171 on Wantage Road. Cameron Bancroft and Ben Charlesworth galloped to 77 not out at the end which meant Gloucestershire were 315 runs clear.

Division one

Southampton: Hampshire 503 v Durham 146-3

Canterbury: Kent 111-2 v Worcestershire 618-7 Dec

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 279-7 v Lancashire 331

The Oval: Surrey 327-6 v Warwickshire 343

Second division

Sofia Gardens: Glamorgan 411-9 vs Sussex 278

County Grounds: Northants 171 v Gloucestershire 409 and 77-0

Good morning! It’s day three, round six, and within two days not a single match has been out of the rain or thrown into the bush. Things, my friends, are looking up! Not so much for Northants and Glamorgan who are definitely looking down while things look pretty risky for Durham and Kent too.