The "dog-thrower" Graham Gooch uses to drill England batsmen has become a regular feature of the team's net sessions, and if Jonny Bairstow keeps his place for the next Test at Edgbaston, he will surely become very familiar with it.

Years ago, Somerset could call on the power of Viv Richards year after year

Ollie Rayner already had membership of one fairly exclusive club after scoring a hundred on his first-class debut in 2006; yesterday at Trent Bridge he joined another by making a century in an innings he began as nightwatchman as Middlesex avoided the follow-on against Nottinghamshire.

On another day decimated by the miserable spring weather, the dark clouds avoided Trent Bridge but the one currently following Andrew Strauss clung doggedly to its purpose.

Worcestershire are set to go on flood watch after the abandonment of their match with Nottinghamshire at rain-battered New Road yesterday.

Middlesex 188 & 21-1 Durham 238 (Durham lead by 29 runs)

Durham's captain is just one of many county pros playing the shortest form of game all over the world. He talks to Jon Culley

Derek Bridge was a man of many parts. By profession, a distinguished schoolmaster of long standing, for more than half a century, he also served the world of cricket with unswerving devotion. Here, his unstinting efforts, both on and off the field, made a most vital contribution to the game at all levels.

Surrey have signed the South African opening batsman Jacques Rudolph for the start of the domestic season.

Until the dramatic turn of events at the Old Bailey yesterday, match-rigging was something that was perpetrated by people from other countries. Perception and reality changed as soon as Mervyn Westfield admitted in court to taking bribes to bowl badly.

Until the dramatic turn of events at the Old Bailey yesterday, match-rigging was something that was perpetrated by people from other countries. Perception and reality changed as soon as Mervyn Westfield admitted taking bribes to bowl badly.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen will remain a Surrey player for the remainder of his international career, it was announced today.

Beyoncé? Not a patch on Monty Panesar. The American pop star apparently attracted a decent-ish crowd down to Somerset at the weekend but England's erstwhile slow left-armer is equally capable of starring at a much-loved festival. Today Sussex take on Warwickshire in the County Championship at Arundel and the event will, in its own way, be just as uplifting as Glastonbury. More uplifting, actually, given the likely absence of enormous muddy puddles masquerading as pathways.