Upper cutting to third man.Must have been the call of the delicious leak and potato soup they’ve just served up in the press box.Well played.Jamie Smith apart, it’s been slow going round the grounds.Notts are plugging away but Durham have only lost two wickets this morning – 165-5, trail by 36.

Worcestershire are standing firm – Finch the only man out, D’Oliveira nearing his hundred, Worcs 330-6.A wicket each for Fernando and Yates at Edgbaston, but Sussex’s lead is 268 with five wickets left.And Zafar Gohar and Holden not yet bewitched by Bailey’s offspin at Lord’s.Middx 384-8.This is a more interesting interview with an England women’s player – Danni Wyatt-Hodge to Nick Friend at The Cricketer.

It’s behind a paywall, but this is a flavour.“Commentators and the media are allowed to say whatever they want, but we didn’t lose the Ashes because of our fitness.There is more to it than that.For instance, the Aussies dive so much better than we do.Technically, their diving is very good – 90 per cent of their fielders are very good at diving, and that is something that I feel we can get much better at.

“But we all work very hard on our individual goals; for me, I’m 34 soon but want to get fitter and fitter, faster and faster.I’m lifting heavier weights than I ever have done, but that is ultimately going to hold me in good stead and prolong my career.I hope everyone else has the same mindset as myself; it is only going to show on the pitch if we’re not putting in the hard work.”Jamie Smith has no truck with Surrey’s temporary wobble (Burns and Pope out within an over) and has shimmied six boundaries in his 28 not out.Surrey 75-2.

Good to have Paul back to whisper sweet nothings: apparently this is Bailey’s first fiver-fer since July 2023 – the 16th of his career and his sixth against Middlesex.Lancashire’s need for Anderson Philip being illustrated here at Lord’s.He is still stranded in the Caribbean with visa issues but Lancs hope he will arrive in time for next week’s match against Northants – and as I type that a cement-footed Davies is caught at backward point off Tom Bailey – who duly plops a fifth into his man bag.Middx 357-8 lead by 258.Harry Brook takes the poisoned/golden chalice from a dogeared Jos Buttler, who stepped down after the Champions Trophy dog’s dinner.

Brook, England’s white ball vice-captain for the last year, also led England in the ODI series against Australia last September,He’s played 26 ODIs, making 816 runs at 34,00, and 44 IT20s, and was a member of the team that won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2022,His first test will be a home ODI and IT20 series against the West Indies this summer,“It’s a real honour to be named England’s white-ball captain.

” he said.“Ever since I was a kid playing cricket at Burley in Wharfedale, I dreamed of representing Yorkshire, playing for England, and maybe one day leading the team.To now be given that chance means a great deal to me.“I want to thank my family and coaches who’ve supported me every step of the way.Their belief in me has made all the difference and I wouldn’t be in this position without them.

“There’s so much talent in this country, and I’m looking forward to getting started, moving us forward, and working towards winning series, World Cups and major events.There was high praise from Rob Key:“I’m delighted that Harry Brook has accepted the role as England’s white-ball captain across both formats.He’s been part of our succession planning for some time, albeit this opportunity has come slightly earlier than expected.“Harry is not only an outstanding cricketer, but also has an excellent cricketing brain and a clear vision for both teams that will help drive us towards winning more series, World Cups and major global tournaments.”Kasey Aldridge has winkled out Adam Finch at Taunton, Dolly still there on 76.

Worcs 297-6 and playing for the lunchbreak.Holden has just passed 150 here at Lord’s, where batting doesn’t look outrageously difficult.Burns and Sibley have settled in for the long haul at Chelmsford – 38-0, 179 behind.Simon Harmer is in the middle of over number two of 723.A fair scattering of fans have made their way to Lord’s, sunny seats up in the lower tier of the grandstand.

Three slips, and still a nip in the air as they’re blowing on their hands between deliveries,Holden in no hurry to make 150,An interesting interview with Sophie Ecclestone here, on Alex Hartley, the England captaincy “I’m not sure now is the right time” and more,And a wicket, to the first ball of the day! I must admit I wasn’t watching, hadn’t even noticed the players coming out from the silent seclusion of the Lord’s media box, but replays show Brookes pushing forward like a toddler at his parent’s bedroom door,Tom Bailey gently celebrates.

That’s the second nightwatchman gone.Middx 288-7.Is this working?Despite yesterday’s four early results (wins for Kent, Hampshire, Leicestershire and DERBYSHIRE) there are still some thrillers bubbling about – here at Lord’s, where things are pretty even after Max Holden’s century, and at Chelmsford, where Surrey following-on was not on my bingo card on Friday morning.Elsewhere, Worcestershire look cooked; and draws seem likely at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge.Lovely to sit next to Paul Edwards for the first game of the season.

He’s in good form:The bard of Birkdale @edwardscricket is worth the subscription to the Cricketer alone.His match reports at Lord's this week are wonderful."But MCC is changing.The club is positively bear-hugging diversity, and the range of merchandise on sale in the shop behind the pavilion…In the end, Brian Charles Lara could rest easy, his record first-class score of 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994 was not surpassed by Somerset’s Tom Banton.Resuming on 344 and with his county’s highest score freshly minted in his back pocket, Banton threw the blade at everything Worcestershire sent down on the third morning, a nick behind off the left-arm wrist‑spinner Tom Hinley the final act of an innings of 371.

Not bad for a player who admitted to “hating” cricket during times of paucity in recent years.Banton will now be on England’s radar in both red and white ball formats.Fifties from Adam Hose and Brett D’Oliveira delayed a three-day defeat for the Pears but they seem sure to go mouldy on day four, trailing by 236 runs with half their second innings wickets lost.Ben Foakes was left stranded on 92 not out after scrapping for Surrey against Essex’s well-rounded bowling attack at Chelmsford.The champions had the ignominy of following on in the first round of their title defence but Foakes’s rearguard has given them a chance of escaping back to south London with a draw, providing they can last out the day tomorrow.

Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth gave Hampshire a scare with a second‑innings century that didn’t contain a boundary in its first 123 deliveries, but a target of 148 runs wasn’t enough – Ben Brown’s side prospering over Jonny Bairstow’s by five wickets in Southampton.Sussex’s Ollie Robinson looked to be getting back to his miserly best with the ball against Warwickshire but it was the 24-year-old off‑spinner Jack Carson who did the most damage at Edgbaston, picking up four wickets as the south coast side set up a lead of 200 runs and counting heading into the final day.Durham and Nottinghamshire are still duking it out at Trent Bridge, the home side with an 87‑run lead and seven second‑innings wickets to winkle.In Division Two, Northamptonshire went down with a whimper at Wantage Road, dismissed for 114 in their second innings as Kent beat them by 145 runs.Leicestershire did the same to Glamorgan by dint of 10 wickets while Lancashire and Middlesex are locked in battle at Lord’s.

Derbyshire got their season off to a winning start with a nine-wicket victory against Gloucestershire.Coach Mickey Arthur paid tribute to the work his players have done “in those cold dark days in the middle of January” adding that his team have “worked unbelievably hard and cricket looks after people who work hard.” In Taunton, 177 miles away, a spent and sated Banton would likely agree.DIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex 582-6 dec v Surrey 365 & 9-0 – Surrey trail by 208 runsSouthampton: RESULT: Hampshire 249 & 148-5- BEAT Yorkshire 121 and 275 Hampshire win by 5 wicketsTrent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 579-9 v Durham 378 & 114-3 - Durham trail by 87 runsTaunton: Somerset 670-7 dec v Worcestershire 154 & 280-5 Worcs trail by 236 runsEdgbaston: Warwickshire 454 v Sussex 528 & 126-3 – Sussex lead by 200 runsDIVISION TWOThe County Ground: RESULT Derbyshire 391 & 93-1 BEAT Gloucestershire 222 and 259 – Derbyshire win by nine wicketsSophia Gardens: RESULT Glamorgan 229 & 248 LOST to Leicestershire 427 & 53-0 Leicestershire win by 10 wicketsLord’s: Middlesex 260 & 286-6 v Lancashire 359 – Middlesex lead by 189 runsWantage Road: RESULT: Northamptonshire 143 114 v LOST to Kent 231 and 171 – Kent win by 145 runsGood morning from a sunkissed Lord’s where we’re in for what the BBC’s Scott Read has described as a “knicker gripper.” Huge thanks to Jim for CCliving yesterday so excellently, even if he couldn’t guide Tom Banton through to a quadruple ton.

I’m going to find some coffee, so plump up the cushions and settle down for a final day’s yarn.