"She's hard as nails, actually, which maybe you wouldn't think from the outside looking in, but she's a real tough cookie." 💬

Constant rain breaks dampen box office clash | ✍️ Siddharth Thakur

"With the greatest respect to the ODI format, but now for the main event. This series was neither particularly memorable nor totally useless. But here comes the real quiz" | @nickhowson.bsky.social

Ben Aitchison became the first player to take five wickets and score a century for Derbyshire in the same match at Lord's on day two against Middlesex. County Championship Division Two roundup ⬇️

> Somerset put Sussex to the sword > Jamie Porter spares Essex embarrassment with the bat > Hampshire hang on against Nottinghamshire County Championship Division One roundup ⬇️

New Zealand secured a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern-assisted 17-run victory over England to square the three-match series in Cardiff.

6⃣ Durham off the bottom with win over Somerset 💯 Yorkshire lose to Warwikshire despite Jess Jonassen's heroics One Day Cup roundup ⤵️

Homegrown foundations propel Glamorgan back into relevance | 🖊️ @georgedobell.bsky.social

"Surrey are so watchable because they very much live and die by the sword. Just occasionally, however, for a team to win games consistently, some responsibility needs to be taken" | ✍️ @oscarress.bsky.social

🌬️Swing from Grace Johnson ✋Paige Scholfield's one-handed catch 🗣️An appeal mishap The Kia Oval Talking Points from Surrey's win over Lancashire...

The prodigal son returns to capture two big fish | ✍️ Siddharth Thakur

Tom Banton, the England batter, shared an 181-run stand with Thomas Rew in a Second XI T20 game against Worcestershire.

Wiaan Mulder has reiterated his desire to return to Essex later this season, but has yet to speak to the relevant decision-makers.

"He's doing all right. So I think he'll ice it all tonight and see if he comes back tomorrow."

"Batting with Sam Northeast was amazing, and to put up a record partnership was really pleasing."

"One thing that you know is that Ben Stokes is all about is putting a Durham shirt on and giving his all." 💬

➖ Outstanding Sanderson to the fore ➖ Lategan and Waite inspire Worcestershire

No one has bowled more overs in the country this season than Ben Aitchison. A fine effort from someone who took an unconventional, tough route into the pro game and then spent two whole years on the sidelines with a back injury. Five-fer at Lord's today:

Opening round belongs to a collection of seasoned campaigners | ✍️ Siddharth Thakur

How the Middle East crisis, a young upstart and a suffering England captain collided on the County Championship's return to Beckenham | ✍️ @nickhowson.bsky.social

📈 Tom Abell continues fine form 4⃣ Fergus O'Neill piles more pressure on Hampshire County Championship Division One roundup ⤵️

"In circumstances in which only two other men in the top nine reached double-figures, it was a classy innings from the 22-year-old" Ben Kellaway shrugs off Lions snub to battle Glamorgan back into the game | ✍️ @georgedobell.bsky.social

"Leicestershire, who may rue a failure to capitalise, can revel in making more than 300 when asked to bat first on a pitch with assistance, while the home side will point to their recovery from Weatherald and Budinger's scintillating stand as a reason for positivity" | 🖊️ @oscarress.bsky.social

The Blaze stretched their lead to nine after overcoming second-placed Hampshire by three wickets in the Women's One Day Cup clash at Trent Bridge.

Down tools and stick a podcast on... 🎧 WATCH → youtu.be/I7AEqAdQOA8 LISTEN → tinyurl.com/TCCCP

England Under-19s will host Pakistan in a multi-format series this summer.

Ben McKinney and Asa Tribe look set to open the batting for England Lions against South Africa A later this month.

"You ultimately need to understand what it takes" 💬 How Marcus North can be a successful England selector | @nickhowson.bsky.social

"I've got a good relationship with the guys I'm trying to play ahead of, but also with the whole coaching staff and the rest of the boys." Beau Webster: Ashes goals, "healthy" Cameron Green competition and matching Garry Sobers | ✍️ @melindafarrell.bsky.social

"We see him as hopefully being a Tim Bresnan sort of cricketer." Tom Norton is a product of Abergavenny, the same club as Mark Wallace, Glamorgan's director of cricket, and a graduate of an academy that has undergone significant restructuring | @nickfriend.bsky.social

"These circumstances are never ideal, but bringing someone in with George's skillset at such short notice comes as a real boost."

Hampshire have signed South African allrounder Delano Potgieter as an overseas player.

Derbyshire have opted to replace spin with pace after having to change their T20 overseas player plans.

"In the English system we can sometimes coach natural confidence out of people. So, it's important that he never loses that."

Surrey Women will have their captain back in domestic action on Saturday, with Kira Chathli released from England's ODI squad.

Leicestershire have tied down their promotion-winning coaching team to contract extensions.

On this episode ⤵️ 🏏 Marcus North's arrival as national selector. 🏏 Beth Barrett-Wild's ECB departure. 🏏 @melindafarrell.bsky.social and @nickfriend.bsky.social discuss the role of county cricket in the selection of England's Test squad. WATCH → youtu.be/I7AEqAdQOA8

"She's one of the best in the business at what she does." It took retirement and, then, teaching to find contentment, but Sarah Taylor - England Men's fielding lead for the New Zealand Tests - has become a highly regarded coach | @nickfriend.bsky.social

Surrey confirm use of money from The Hundred sales | @nickfriend.bsky.social

"I've been drifting a little bit and not being 100 per cent invested, which is no way to play cricket." ✍️ @oscarress.bsky.social speaks to Hampshire allrounder Liam Dawson, who has called time on his red-ball career. READ HERE → tinyurl.com/4ttyxnmy

"Many of my fellow Pakistan players have represented the club and have spoken highly of both the environment and the quality of players within the squad."

➖ Sweet stuff for Hampshire ➖ Pavely's form continues ➖ Five in a row for The Blaze

"But the addition of a de facto T20, or a game of a similar length, wouldn't have been a bad thing" | ✍️ @nickhowson.bsky.social

England have confirmed that Emilio Gay will open the batting in the Test series against New Zealand | @georgedobell.bsky.social

Ben Stokes could be used as an opening bowler for England in the Test series against New Zealand | @georgedobell.bsky.social

"When you look at his record, he is one of the few bowlers right up there statistically in all the bowlers globally of all time." 💬 Rob Key has lavished praise on Ollie Robinson following his England Test recall | @georgedobell.bsky.social

Marcus North's exit from Durham is a "massive miss", but David Bedingham believes his exit won't derail the club | @nickhowson.bsky.social

"One of the best in the business." Sarah Taylor makes history with England Men's appointment | @georgedobell.bsky.social

"I think it's called a breakout year." Francesca Sweet: Trials, life balance and a whirlwind journey to professional cricket | @oscarress.bsky.social

"It's nice for my name to be back in that team." Shoaib Bashir hails "massive factor" as England show faith | @sharmojourno.bsky.social