Cricket: Simmons' double century rewrites record books: Leicetsershire opener steals fellow Trinidadian's thunder

At least one Trinidadian broke a host of batting records in the Midlands yesterday.

While Brian Lara was practising his fielding and bowling skills at Edgbaston, Phil Simmons was compiling a career-best 247 not out in his first Championship innings for Leicestershire against a Northamptonshire side still awaiting Curtly Ambrose's arrival.

Simmons, who has replaced Winston Benjamin at Grace Road, hit the highest score ever by a batsman on his debut in the Championship, as well as becoming the first Leicestershire player to score a double century on his debut.

He starts the second day needing just six runs to beat the county's individual scoring record of 252, set by Samuel Coe - also against Northamptonshire - 80 years ago. The Test opener faced 314 balls throughout the day, and hit 32 fours and four sixes. He gave just one chance, when he had reached 215.

Simmons shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 241 with the wicketkeeper, Paul Nixon, (105 not out from 170 balls), which leaves them needing 22 more runs to set up another county record today.

Yesterday Simmons reached his century off 150 balls with 19 fours, went to 200 off 263 balls having hit another 10 fours and two sixes, and in addition to his partnership with Nixon shared a third-wicket stand of 130 runs with James Whitaker.

Jimmy Adams was another West Indian in prime form, taking an unbeaten 117 in four and a quarter hours off Oxford University at the Parks in Nottinghamshire's 252 for 8.

The Roses match at Old Trafford might not have been a Championship game, but that will not devalue Nick Speak's 105 in Lancashire's 279 for 6.