Key events
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Essex rain, no play yet today
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Somerset 63-3
Hove: Sussex v Glamorgan 91-4
Scarborough: Yorkshire 118-1 v Warwickshire
Division Two
Chester-le-Street: Durham 75-2 v Derbyshire
Blackpool: Lancashire v Kent rain, no play before lunch
Northampton: Northamptonshire 125-3 v Gloucestershire
New Road: Worcestershire v Middlesex 62-1
Lancashire have won the toss and will bowl
And the Blackpool drainage defies the doubters.
Northants are racing along against Gloucestershire, with Zaib, 47 off 44, in sight of a fifty before lunch – when members of the 1976 Gilette Cup winning side will gather together
Even stevens at CLS, with Lees and McKinney both out, but Rhodes and Bedingham rebuilding. Just to be confusing both Durham and Derby are fielding a bowler called Potts. Durham 74-2.
And Middlesex are crawling along at New Road, 62-1.
In the intriguing game at Hove, Glamorgan were four down for 43, but Ben Kellaway (30) and Sean Dickson (14) are rebuilding.
And in the other Division One match, Warwickshire are having a tough morning at Scarborough, where Yorkshire have raced to 102-1, with an unbeaten fifty for Will Luxton.
Time to trip around the grounds:
Rotten news for James Rew, who was run out for 10 in the most unlucky circumstances, as Pennington got a finger tip on a straight drive from Hermann. Josh Thomas and Lewis Goldsworthy also out, Somerset 53-3 against Notts.
More on Williamson.
Nice to see two consecutive boundaries from Saif Zaib (14), who after a fabulous 2025 hasn’t quite found his mojo this summer. Northants 59-3.
Williamson’s retirement comes with NZ due to play two Tests at home against India this autumn followed by a four-Test tour of Australia.
Early lunch at Blackpool
Where it is raining again and I can see quite a large puddle forming.
Play due to start at 1.10 at GraceRoad
After an early lunch and if it doesn’t start raining again.
Kane Williamson retires
New Zealand’s greatest ever batsman has announced his immediate retirement from international cricket, just one Test into a three-Test series of England.
“I’ve thought about it for a while, but over the last few days it’s become clear now is the right time,” he said.
“I’ve always felt a strong drive and hunger for international cricket, and I take pride in knowing I’ve given it my all in every match I’ve played for New Zealand.
“Continuing with anything less wouldn’t be right and I feel fortunate to step away on my own terms.
“I leave feeling optimistic about where this group is heading. There’s a huge amount of talent, and a real desire to do something special with this New Zealand team.
“It’s a team I love, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been part of it for so long. It will continue to be dear to my heart.”
Williamson is New Zealand’s leading scorer in all forms of cricket, with 19,346 runs, including 48 centuries and six double centuries, though he retired from international T20s last winter.
In his 110 Tests, he averages 54.06, with 9,515 runs, all done in the most stylish yet low key style.
Williamson also led New Zealand to the “barest of margins” 2019 World Cup final, the 2021 T20 World Cup final and the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021, which New Zealand won. He can now retire to his beloved surf board and coffee.
Head coach Rob Walter said Williamson would “remain embedded in its DNA”.
“Anyone who’s had the privilege of working with Kane understands he is a very special player and person.”
“His numbers and batting skills speak for themselves, but it’s what he means to this Black Caps team, as well as world cricket – that will be his legacy.
“His impact on the culture and standards of this team will remain embedded in its DNA.
“Kane’s always put the team first and although we’re disappointed to see him go, we’re happy to know he’s content and at peace with his decision.
“An incredible player, awesome teammate, a wonderful leader and a fantastic ambassador for our sport.”
A handsome pull for four by Harrison off the suntanned Clarke, is followed by an edge just short of the slip cordon. The wobbly camera adds an extra sea-sick action for those yearning for a cross-channel ferry.
Clarke has a second at Northants (Northants 28-2), and Will Williams is making the ball sing too. I can’t see the clouds on the livestream but I suspect they are many and nefarious.
There’s about to be an inspection at Blackpool with the weather looking a little more perky
Ignore me, they’re on at Trent Bridge. Early wickets at Northampton, where New Zealand’s Krisitan Clarke, signed on a two-match contract with Glos, has bowled Vasconcelos for 2; and Hove, where Sean Hunt has got rid of Zain ul Hassan.
Delays at Grace Road, Trent Bridge and Blackpool, but all up and running otherwise.
Shoaib Bashir though is playing for Derbyshire up at CLS, and ex Derbyshire bowler Duanne Olivier for Durham, but no sign yet of Ben Stokes.
Kent rest Zak Crawley
After a torrid spring with Kent, and losing his England place, Crawley has stepped away from CC cricket for the next two matches, despite the temptations of the Blackpool pitch
A Kent statement read: “This period will allow him to recharge so he can fully commit and give his all for the remainder of the season, with his immediate focus shifting to T20 cricket through to the end of the Vitality Blast.”
Live stream of Robin Smith’s memorial service
Those who would like to watch the service at Winchester Cathedral in memory of Smith, forever square cutting fast bowlers with joy and abandon, and who died aged 62 in December, can join the link here at 2pm.
And an early email lands from Tim Maitland.
“I can’t shower you with the statistics, because I’ve got to get one of my dogs to the vet, but before we dive into the rest of the County Championship matches, we need to talk about the Oval.
”If Lord’s producing a two-day pitch that got spread over four by the weather is on one end of the scale, then firmly sat right on the outer limit of the opposite end of the spectrum of undesirable is that green sward in SE11.
”Surrey’s County Championship challenge is dying on their inability to squeeze more than one victory out of the roads they’ve been playing on in Kennington (and yes they might have been denied victory against Hampshire by the weather, but then I would counter with Leicestershire 691 all out against THAT Surrey boling line-up).
”Which makes next week’s Test match at said venue a perfect case of the immovable object meeting the irresistible force. It’s like Godzilla vs King Kong. The Oval’s refusal to deliver results except under extreme duress against modern cricket’s rebuttal of all we have learned about the longest form of the game.”
Interesting! I absolutely get your point though actually thought it was quite a spicy pitch last week, it was only Lawrence, who played so outstandingly, who really had the mastery of it. I know Lee Fortis has said how the lack of rain in the south east this spring has made it very difficult this year.
And a naughty-boy alcohol ban lies in wait for the rest. Though I’m slightly surprised that they don’t mostly keep off the sauce during a Test series anyway.
The ever humane Emma John throws some persepective on the Ben Stokes saga.
I was going to head to Blackpool to watch Liam Livingstone’s first Championship game since 2021 and Joe Moore’s CC debut behind the stumps, but I’ve put it off for an hour or so thanks to an early rain update from Paul Edwards and a sad photograph of the covers from Ken Grime. Both are bravely sitting things out in a soggy tent. So no play there for a while, and probably not till after lunch.
Today’s fixtures
Division One
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Essex
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Somerset
Hove: Sussex v Glamorgan
Scarborough: Yorkshire v Warwickshire
Division Two
Chester-le-Street: Durham v Derbyshire
Blackpool: Lancashire v Kent
Northampton: Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire
New Road: Worcestershire v Middlesex
Preamble
Hello again, so soon! After the soggy Dan Lawrence show at The Oval, we’re once more back into the full swing of Championship cricket – though the rain may yet disrupt the best of plans. This is the first of two June games before things go into storage once more until August. So revel in it while you can. Play starts at 11am around grounds, but bring a cagoul.
