Tea Report: Nottinghamshire 201 v Lancashire 113 & 180-6 (65 overs)

Lunch on the second day (Lancashire won toss)

The news that Chris Read's England prospects are not consigned to history after all will not go down well among Nottinghamshire supporters, much as they feel their wicketkeeper's talents have been undervalued by the national selectors, particularly during Duncan Fletcher's reign as coach.

Read's form with the bat has been a feature of the county's bright start to their post-promotion season, while his glovework rarely fails to impress. And such is his pride in his work behind the stumps that when he does make an error - and it is not very often - he tends to make sure it is soon forgotten.

Today has been a case in point. Since putting Paul Horton down this morning, when the Lancashire opener had scored 28 of his 27 runs, Read has been given five chances and taken every one, including a couple of superb efforts to snare Garry Keedy and Mal Loye.

Given that he has also slipped readily into the role of captain following Stephen Fleming's departure, the last thing Read's admirers in these parts want is to see him follow Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad into the England side.

And if the renewed interest in Read was not enough, the England selectors are keeping close tabs too on Charlie Shreck, the tall fast bowler who has shared the new ball with Darren Pattinson in this match.

Shreck has taken three of the four wickets to fall in the afternoon session as Lancashire staggered to 180-6 at tea, a lead of 91.

Pitch liaison officer Tony Pigott has been on the field during tea, taking another close look at the pitch. It has not behaved badly today, although the bounce has still been variable, Pattinson getting bounce from the pavilion end but the odd ball keeping low from the Radcliffe Road end.