County Championship 2026

[Arthur Crabtree]

No bowling for Rehan yet.

[Durhamfootman]

century for Emilio Gay

I assume that's the first century of the season

Secures an England call up.

that assumes England would notice. My guess is the only interest they'll take in the game will be to check how many runs Crawley scores

[Arthur Crabtree]

Would be ironic if a low score for his county got Crawley axed from the England side. Given his ordinary county record didn't stop him getting called up in the first place.

And surely a ton wouldn't wipe out his underwhelming international record when Key and co. don't have any regard for county performances...

But still, if it keeps ZC in the side...

[Durhamfootman]

4 tons on day 1, thus far, with at least 3 others closing in on theirs

Glammy will be wishing the rain had kept going today

[Durhamfootman]

big recovery from Surrey, once all the England boys were out

65-6 to 284-7

Foakes joins the day 1 ton up club...... but too slow, probably. 102 off 178. I'm sure we can all agree that getting out for 30 off 25 would have been much better, especially as he can only keep better than anyone else

Critchley taken off for light on 97. I'll bet he was thrilled at that

[Arthur Crabtree]

Jamie Smith has a better strike rate, which is what matters. It'll look better on a 15 second highlights package.

[Arthur Crabtree]

After all, as that housing expert from Reform said, everyone gets out in the end right?

Early wicket for Roach v Kent.

[Durhamfootman]

Potts gets Crawley lbw

Foakes running out of partners. He's always had trouble managing the tail... noted for it.... especially by England........ 65-6 to 328-9

[Durhamfootman]

and then Foakes throws it away 22 runs away from an extra batting point.... there really is no hope for him

meanwhile Ingram and Kellaway have worked hard to steady the ship after Yorks exploded out of the blocks. 65 run partnership 93-4

[Durhamfootman]

128 for Foakes and he could only manage 1 six...... pathetic!

[The Professor]

Derbyshire had a massive day against Worcestershire. Scoring nearly 400 runs for the loss of only four wickets over 96 overs is a perfect foundation.

[Durhamfootman]

amid all the excitement, I'd missed county cricket's first ever injury substitution.... Tom Westley, retired hurt, replaced by Noah Thain

I had wondered if subs had to be like to like, but Essex have replaced a top order batter with an allrounder, so I guess not

That means Westley will not be able to feature against Yorks next week

edit: it does have to be a like for like replacement, according to crapinfo, so Thain will not be allowed to bowl in this game

[Durhamfootman]

but Thain can bat in the first innings, seemingly, coming back on later in the innings to resume Westley's curtailed innings

the medical staff determined that Westley's finger injury (rapped on the glove) was serious enough to prevent him taking any further part in the game. The match referee determined that Westley would have been unlikely to bowl (he occasionally does), hence the restriction on Thain.... although I'll bet you that Essex will have protested that he was always planning to bowl in this game.... bet you

[Durhamfootman]

The match referee determined that Westley would have been unlikely to bowl (he occasionally does), hence the restriction on Thain.

which is interesting when I think about it. What happens if a bowler is replaced with a batting allrounder? Bowlers will certainly to have to bat as well as bowl and so there is potential there for a team needing to bat long in the final innings to claim a number 11 bowler has injured his shoulder late in the third innings of a game

maybe the match ref will determine that the batting allrounder will not be allowed to bat very well

In Durham's match with Somerset last year, Codi Yusuf had to be replaced for concussion and it was determined that he could not be replaced by Paul Coughlin who was classed as an allrounder (even though he hadn't scored a run in about 3 years) and so he had to be replaced with a half fit 20 year old who happened to be in the building at the time.... so I guess that is what will happen for a bowler injury

[Durhamfootman]

That means Westley will not be able to feature against Yorks next week

Somerset, of course, not Yorks..... it's always Somerset who benefit