There was a to-and-fro scrap at Trent Bridge, the difference being Nottinghamshire’s 20-year-old England Lion Freddie McCann, who hit a wonderful century, already his third in the Championship.Kyle Abbott collected five wickets for the 43rd time in his career – it could have been more but Hampshire dropped five catches.The 2024 champions had a difficult day at Edgbaston.Tom Latham, who only arrived in Birmingham on Tuesday after recovering from a broken hand, frolicked to an unbeaten 139 on his Warwickshire debut.Alex Davies had set the mood, playing wantonly at the Surrey attack, slapping a couple of early sixes, until he was bowled by a full toss from Dan Lawrence.

Surrey, shorn of Jamie Smith and Ollie Pope by England, picked Jason Roy for the first time in five years.It was a memorable day for off-spinner Jack Carson, who celebrated a maiden first-class century at a sunny Hove.It was an intelligent rescue act after Sussex, sitting pretty at 80 for nought, promptly lost six for eight as Tom Taylor (five for 56) ran riot.The last-wicket stand of 73 was particularly galling for Worcestershire.James Wharton’s careful innings of 63 not out just about knitted Yorkshire together on a day when they lost nine for 108 on a two-faced Chelmsford pitch.

Matt Critchley collected four for 49.Essex then lost their opening pair and the nightwatchman before the close.Glamorgan, boosted by news that Marnus Labuschagne would be returning for two games (and a sixth season) later this month, had a good day against Kent at Canterbury, where a north wind confused the seasons.Young specs-wearing Asa Tribe was bowled by Matt Parkinson six runs short of a first Championship century, Ben Kellaway was unbeaten on 91.A ding-dong unrolled at the County Ground, where Northamptonshire were reduced to 67 for six before the last four batters added 171 – much to Lancashire’s frustration.

Lewis McManus cooked up a half century and was well supported by Liam Guthrie and the tail.Lancashire lost both George Bell and Josh Bohannon for nought, but yet another fifty from Marcus Harris smoothed the waters.That’s all from us on day when international politics moved firmly onto cricket’s territory.Thanks for your company, have a lovely evening.DIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex 27-3 v Yorkshire 216Trent Bridge: Notts 333 v Hampshire 2-0Hove: Sussex 284 v Worcestershire 7-0Edgbaston: Warwickshire 364-4 v SurreyDIVISION TWOCanterbury: Kent v Glamorgan 389-7County Ground: Northamptonshire 238 v Lancashire 110-3James Wharton has played one of his most responsible innings for Yorkshire, but his 63 not out from 141 balls, batting at no 3, has not spared Yorkshire: they have been dismissed for 216 on a docile Chelmsford surface and look well behind the game.

A spectator in the crowd embarked after a liquid lunch on the task of naming his favourite 20 Essex pubs; I left him to it after 10, feeling thirsty,Perhaps Jonny Bairstow will feel like visiting a few of them,Wharton’s innings never felt more onerous than when facing Simon Harmer - he took two singles off him all day,In a match between second and third bottom, Essex appear to hold a sizeable advantage,I’d better turn my attention to Friday’s early deadlines but as Sussex and Yorkshire see how long they can extend their last wicket-partnerships, do stay and chat BTL.

It’s a scrap at Trent Bridge: Notts have just lost their sixth wicket, Lyndon James for 33, bowled by Liam Dawson.But 20-year old Freddie McCann is holding things together, 86 not out.Notts 233-6 against Hampshire.He joins Marcus Harris and Cameron Green with centuries on county debut this season.And against the champions too.

Warwickshire 285-4.A change of heart from the PCB as the diplomatic situation deteriorates.Six sixes in an over for Rishi.It’s a T20, against Staffordshire, but still a button worth polishing.Rishi Patel just hit six 6s in an over for Leicestershire in a T20 against Staffordshire.

I don't know why this match is being played but it is and Leicestershire are 235-3 off 14,pic,twitter,com/jbcNkbuNkvAs could have been foretold, Lancashire’s reply is not going that well on the interesting surface at the County Ground,Bell and Bohannon both gone for ducks.

Keaton Jennings is taking his frustration out on the bowlers, 22 off 21 balls.Lancs 32-2.Dom Bess, whose experimental slot opening the batting seems to have come to an end, is the fourth lbw victim of Yorkshire’s short innings.Yorks 170-7.For anyone called Baz looking for a spinner who can bat:Two cracking boundaries from Carson in the 56th over.

💥 [195-8] pic.twitter.com/za3pnKSXELDIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex v Yorkshire 149-5Trent Bridge: Notts 187-5 v HampshireHove: Sussex 199-8 v WorcestershireEdgbaston: Warwickshire 251-3 v SurreyDIVISION TWOCanterbury: Kent v Glamorgan 266-4County Ground: Northamptonshire 238 v LancashireNorthants bowled out for 238 (Balderson 4-55), Guthrie last man out for 43.Tea there, at Chelmsford and Headingley.Scores to follow.

What is happening round the grounds on a soporific afternoon? In Division Two:Northants have recovered from 67 for six to 219 for nine against Lancs,An energetic run-a-ball 36 from Guthrie and 22 extras boosting the scores,Glamorgan are still galloping into the Canterbury breeze, 230-4: Ingram and Kellaway the men in,A couple of wickets for Kashif,Hoppsy writes in:No mood enhancer for Jonny Bairstow.

He has been lbw to Jamie Porter in the midst of a Yorkshire afternoon collapse.He made two from six balls and might have supposed a think inside edge.As he walked back into the dressing room, the sirens outside the ground might be a coincidence.This appears to be a flat, if slow, pitch, but Yorkshire batters keep being hit on the back leg.James Wharton has bedded in for a soporific 29 not out and Yorkshire will hope his hard work pays off.

The Grace Road scorebox writes:“Leics playing two T20 games against Staffordshire today but I’m keeping more than one eye on The Bears’ progress against Surrey.Hope Rob Yates goes on to get his ton and make it a big one, he can take a lot from Tom Latham this season.”Which nudges me to check the score from Edgbaston, where Yates has just been caught off Tom Lawes for 86.(We won’t blame you Mike.) Latham has 47 in his first outing for Warwickshire.

Warwicks 189-2.Damn! Asa Tribe is bowled by Parky M six runs short of a first Championship century.Glamorgan 193-4.Tribe is a rare cricketing glasses wearer – the inclusive club includes Jack Leach, Devon Malcom, Paul Allot, David Steele Daniel Vettori and Imam-ul-Haq.Hudson-Prentice leaps whilst simultaneously giving catching practice to the keeper.

He holds his bat horizontally behind his back and shuffles away head down.Sussex 126-7.Enter Ollie Robinson, for a biff?The dog kindly brings me a sock.I don’t know if it is a subliminal message about Northants who are now 174 for eight, McManus (38 not out) and the tail responsible for dragging them towards 200.A tasty effort for the new-look Lancs attack: three wickets for Balderson and Phillip and two for Williams.

No overs for Tom Hartley yet,Rob Yates (77 not out) at Edgbaston as Surrey take a hell of a beating,Warwicks 170-1,Adam Lyth (58 not out) against Essex,Yorks 107-1.

Tom Haines (53) before Sussex suffered a major malfunction against Worcs.Sussex 112-6.Asa Tribe (77 not out) as Glamorgan have a good heave-ho against injury-hit Kent.Glamorgan 171-3At the County Ground, Williams and Balderson drop a catch off each other’s bowling – nice of them to keep it fair – so it is up to Anderson Philllip to make the breakthrough, Hurst holding onto Calvin Harrison – who likes playing Lancashire – for 29.Northants 127-7.

A lovely full ground at Hove, the wind tickling the mature trees round the ground.Tom Taylor, shirt well tucked into his shirt like a year 7, has five wickets in his trousers.Sussex survive his 12th over: 97-6.And another! Tom Taylor 5-20, Simpson bowled for five.Sussex 88-6.

Paul Farbrace spontaneously combusts,Who spilt tea on Sussex’s first hour and a half? From 80-0 to 81 for five now Tom Haines (53) has followed the procession back to the dressing room,Tom Taylor 4-16,I love Dan Lawrence’s reaction to this:Rather embarrassing way to get out…,🏏pic.

twitter.com/4NhFOiGJZPHoppsy at Chelmsford:It’s taken as read that spin bowling in England is appallingly served by the fact that half the Championship fixtures are over by the beginning of June.Not so this season.Months of dry weather have made spin bowling a necessity.Simon Harmer and Jack Leach have bowled more overs than anybody in the country.

Harmer was introduced as early as the 12th over by Essex and has bowled unbroken until lunch.So far this season he has not quite shown his potency of old.Is his stock bowling role dulling his edge? He is wicketless so far but had Adam Lyth dropped at long off on 36 - a challenging, diving chance for Tom Westley - since when Lyth has switched from carefree adventurer to studious student of the defensive push: Yorkshire 80 for 1 at lunch.DIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex v Yorkshire 80-1Trent Bridge: Notts 82-4 v HampshireHove: Sussex 81-4 v WorcestershireEdgbaston: Warwickshire 121-1 v SurreyDIVISION TWOCanterbury: Kent v Glamorgan 128-1County Ground: Northamptonshire 98-6 v LancashireA flurry of late wickets – Notts now four down, Sussex three.Lunch round the sun-baked grounds.

Joe Clarke, whose season has not yet flourished, is sent on his way lbw by Kyle Abbott,Notts 74-3,In Division Two, Glamorgan are sailing along at four an over against Kent after losing ul Hassan early,Glamorgan 89-1The Northants scorecard has a sparce appearance,Vasconcelos (39) apart, the rest of the scores read: 0,7, 8,9,0.

Three wickets for Balderson, two for Phillip.Northants 76-6.With an hour and a half gone:After being dropped twice, Hampshire finally take a catch, Ben Slater slouches off for 31, and HH follows later in Fuller’s over for 25.Notts 63-2.Yorkshire have just lost Fin Bean for 31, to Shane Snater at Chelmsford.

Harmer has already bowled six overs.Yorks 71-1.Haines and Hughes are flaying Worcestershire to all parts, Sussex 74-0.Alex Davies throws the plough at a full toss from Dan Lawrence after a blazing 45, Tom Latham starts his summer in the middle.Warwicks 89-1 against Surrey