Key events
Jimmy Anderson will bowl for the first time under the crooked spire this week. Lancashire’s batters are ensuring he doesn’t have it too easy (currently 28-3).
County Cricket Day
Today is County Cricket Day – a celebration of red ball cricket. As part of the festivities, you can get in for free at Hove (where Alex Davies is enjoying himself with a boundary heavy 29 not out, Warwicks 47-0); for free at Grace Road (Middx’s openers as yet resisting the Leicestershire juggernaut – 42-0)while there is live music and miscellaneous treats at Taunton (Somerset providing the jeopardy at 28-2 against Notts).
Please let me know anything I’ve missed.
Jofra Archer isn’t playing for Sussex today after his England call-up but might return – if the brains trust decide he is surplus to requirements. The same appplies to Jamie Overton and Sam Cook. Ali with the report.
I’ve had to retreat from the balcony of York cricket club pavilion media area, due to melting and screen glare.
“RIP Wayne Larkins,” writes Matthew Doherty
”Wayne scored a first class century against all other counties, centuries that were known as being Nedded.”
A list that also includes Chris Adams, Mark Ramprakash and Carl Hooper.
Northants legend Wayne Larkins dies, aged 71
An iconic figure to those who watched cricket in the 1980s, with his big curly hair and swashbuckling style, ‘Ned’ Larkins played 13 Tests and 25 ODIS for England between 1979 and 1991 – and it might have been more if he hadn’t gone on the 1982 rebel tour to South Africa and been banned for three years.
“Ned loved everyone he met and everyone loved him,” said his wife Debbie to Northants CCC. “People were drawn to his infectious energy. He lit up every room and never wanted the party to finish.
“He loved his soulmate of a wife and his precious daughters so much. He will be partying up in the sky, drinking a toast to everyone and to his own life. We are devastated but we’ll never forget his undeniably unique presence and his impact on our lives.”
There’s a lovely obituary by Andrew Radd on the Northants CCC website – where he played the majority of his career, with a late innings for Durham.
It’s a gorgeous and largely shady walk from York station to Clifton Park – though there was a poor dead bird on the path that looked as if he’d fallen from a tree (please put out some water for the wildlife)
And here come the players, YJB leads out Yorkshire in his home town. Bustle, bristle.
Division Two Table
1 Leicestershire 155
2 Derbyshire 122
3 Glamorgan 110
4 Gloucestershire 99
5 Northamptonshire 94
6 Lancashire 80
7. Middlesex 77
8 Kent 76
Division One Table
1 Nottinghamshire 127
2 Surrey 125
3 Sussex 109
4 Somerset 106
5 Warwickshire 104
6 Durham 97
7 Hampshire 96
8 Essex 85
9 Yorkshire 71
10 Worcestershire 57
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire v Worcestershire
Taunton: Somerset v Nottinghamshire
The Oval: Surrey v Durham
Hove: Sussex v Warwickshire
York: Yorkshire v Essex
DIVISION TWO
Chesterfield: Derbyshire v Lancashire
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Gloucestershire
Canterbury: Kent v Northamptonshire
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Middlesex
Preamble
Good morning! I’m chugging into York, the heat shimmering, the grass splinter-dry. We’re in for another Kookaburra round, which, in conjunction with the soaring temperatures, makes it an unfortunate time to be a seam bowler. A few consoling captain’s arms will rest on weary shoulders (GET OFF ME).
It’s cricket week down in Canterbury, while Lancashire and Yorkshire have decamped to Chesterfield and York.
Play starts around the grounds at 11am, do join us with a wet flannel and a pint of something cold.
