The first County Championship half-century of an Ashes summer was scored, appropriately, by an Australian, pipping another to the mark by moments. Ed Cowan, the man likely to open the batting for Michael Clarke's team in the first Test at Trent Bridge in July, marked his first appearance on that ground for Nottinghamshire by passing 50 in the 20th over against Middlesex, an over ahead of George Bailey, Australia's Twenty20 captain, on his Hampshire debut against Leicestershire at the Ageas Bowl. Bailey fell seven runs short of a debut century.

A piece of public art which cost more than £300,000 to build five years ago is to be demolished.

Sussex have their sights on knocking Warwickshire off the top of the First Division table after Monty Panesar added second-innings figures of six for 77 to go with Wednesday's career-best seven for 60 as Somerset were bowled out for 195.

The First Division leaders Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire continue to make their case as principal contenders for the County Championship.

If one-dayer even gets underway the all-rounder likely to get nod over Tredwell

Graeme Swann will miss England's final two matches in the NatWest Series against Australia to rest the sore elbow in his bowling arm.

England were deprived last night of the opportunity to become the world's top ranked one-day side, when their match against Australia in Birmingham was called off because of rain. Although they are 2-0 ahead in the series they had to win all five scheduled matches if they were to head the International Cricket Council ratings for the first time.

Derbyshire put a significant dent in Lancashire's hopes of qualifying for the Twenty20 quarter-finals by claiming a three-wicket win with seven balls to spare at Old Trafford yesterday.

Despite the difficulties of playing in gale-force winds – strong enough at one point to dislodge a boundary board and send it careering towards the middle – Luke Wells scored his second century of the season against Surrey at Horsham to empower an impressive recovery by Sussex.

Every bowler has a favourite opponent, but when he refers to his "bunny" it is usually one individual batsman he is talking about. In the case of Andre Adams, the Nottinghamshire seam and swing specialist, he could almost apply the term to the whole Lancashire team.

Steven Finn did his prospects of an England recall for the third Test at Edgbaston this week no harm by taking three wickets as Middlesex defeated Sussex at Lord's to claim their third Championship win of the summer.

Police have confirmed that a body found in a river is that of missing schoolboy Ian Bell.

Nottinghamshire established themselves as the early leaders in the County Championship, completing a second victory in as many matches as both Surrey and Somerset fell short in their attempts to do likewise.

English cricketers were last night granted a three-month amnesty to report corruption in the game. The offer was made by the England and Wales Cricket Board after the former Essex fast bowler Mervyn Westfield pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe to bowl badly during a match in 2009.