Libby hits 150 as Worcestershire enjoy their batting practise against Essex. I heard someone say the pitch was much flatter than usual at Chelmsford -wouldn’t have thought that was a deliberate policy… Barnard still there too 124 not out and an enormous partnership of 221.
11:16
A bit or argy-bargy at Old Trafford between batsman and fielders which the umpire bats away in a come-on-lads-its-Sunday-morning kind of way. The sun is out but it is still freezing. A bit of movement for Danny Lamb from the pavilion end, where the union jack is flying at half mast.
11:04
Has and Slater are at the crease at Trent Bridge. I feel like early season is Hass’s best time of year – think that double century at Lord’s in a pre-season friendly in 2019. Notts need 396 or, more realistically, to bat all day.
Updated
09:29
Preamble
Good morning from Old Trafford! I’ve made a unilateral decision not to cross the Pennines today as it took me until bedtime to warm up and I’m dubious about dampness on the Headingley outfield. So apologies to those Glamorgan fans who were hoping for an eye-witness as they bowl Yorkshire out cheaply at tea time this afternoon. I’m just a southern softee.
In Manchester, the sun is out. When I walked the dog this morning, the woodpecker was chipping away at his trunk, the blue tits were singing from the bottom of their little throats but the ground was slushy underfoot. However, the drainage at Old Trafford is good and they’ll start on time – with Sussex looking likely to bat towards a draw.
Round the counties: Somerset, or, in one my favourite BTL monikers, the Ciderbastards, have fought back at Lord’s, Worcestershire are frustrating Essex at a flat Chelmsford, Mason Crane has Leicestershire on the rack, Ben Foakes has rescued Surrey from an attack of the batting-vapours, Notts have got a fight on their hands thanks to Bedingham. Vasconcelos’s hundred has saved the day for Northants, while Hannon-Dalby has put Warwickshire in an excellent position against Derbyshire.
