Surrey v Middlesex, Essex v Warwicks and more: county cricket – live!

An unusual moment here at the Oval: Rory Burns, dipping to complete a run, careered straight into John Simpson, the Middlesex wicketkeeper, who was coming to the stumps to complete a potential run-out, with a full-on, battering-ram, helmet-first smash. I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to be on the end of that, but Simpson seems fine, as indeed does Burns. The helmet, though, is unable to play on and a replacement is called for.

The first wicket of the day has fallen, and it sounds like a real mess. Tom Lammonby is averaging 12 this season, with four ducks in 11 innings.

Gloucestershire Cricket🏏
(@Gloscricket)

WICKET!!

A first wicket in front of the Gloucestershire crowd and its a direct hit run out from Ian Cockbain and Tom Lammonby is out for 3 🙌

Somerset 4/1 🏏

Watch Live 👉 https://t.co/NacJYSuYsT#GoGlos 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/i8Cf1S0Jxb

May 20, 2021

No wickets to tell you about, but Murtagh’s opening over here was a cracker, featuring a very uncomfortable Rory Burns, a couple of very decent lbw shouts but no raised fingers.

BONG! The clock strikers 11. Tim Murtagh has the ball in his hand here and is ready to go. Action!

Middlesex have won the toss here and will bowl. Other toss-winners around the country are Worcestershire, Northamptonshire, Durham and Gloucestershire, who will all also have a bowl, and Warwickshire, who will bat. The toss at Kent v Glamorgan has been delayed because of a waterlogged outfield.

Well then. I’m at the Oval and so are other people! As I type this, shortly after 10am, there are 32 civilians already in their seats, watching the players go through their warm-ups, and more are arriving in a steady trickle. This is already a good day. Plus, the voice of Mike Atherton is leaking through the flimsy wall separating me from Sky’s commentary box next door, and I’m finding it strangely reassuring.

The skies are steely grey, clouds thick but not terribly dark. Forecasters reckon we will probably make it through the day undampened. Still a good day.

Here’s the state of play in the County Championship. Points per game might be more useful than an overall points tally, so I’ve thrown that in as well, gratis:

Group One

Essex P6 76pts PPG12.67
Durham P5 73pts PPG14.6
Nottinghamshire P5 73pts PPG14.6
Worcestershire P6 67pts PPG11.17
Derbyshire P5 41pts PPG8.2

Today’s fixtures:
Derbyshire v Durham (Derby)
Essex v Warwickshire (Chelmford)
Nottinghamshire v Worcestershire (Trent Bridge)

Group Two

Gloucestershire P5 95pts PPG19
Somerset P6 91pts PPG15.17
Hampshire P6 82pts PPG13.67
Surrey P6 68pts PPG11.33
Middlesex P6 44pts PPG7.33
Leicestershire P5 40pts PPG8

Today’s fixtures:
Gloucestershire v Somerset (Bristol)
Surrey v Middlesex (The Oval)

Group Three

Yorkshire P6 98pts PPG16.33
Lancashire P5 93pts PPG18.6
Glamorgan P6 69pts PPG11.5
Northamptonshire P5 68pts PPG13.6
Sussex P6 64pts PPG10.67
Kent P6 49pts PPG8.17

Today’s fixtures:
Kent v Glamorgan (Canterbury)
Northamptonshire v Lancashire (Northampton)

Right then, down to business. As always, please do get in touch if something at all interesting happens in a game you’re watching. If you’re actually at a game today, let me know how you’re finding it. Feel free to send me photos of your views. Here’s mine, and welcome!