County cricket: Abell defies Hampshire’s fiery Baker to keep Somerset on high – as it happened

Former captain struck second hiscentury of season to light flames in West Country hearts while Warwickshire beat Essex

Three in the over for Barker! Charlie Allison, bowled by one that may have kept a bit low. Essex 16 for three...

​Early wickets in sunny Brumbados, Keith Barker striking first ball from the Pavilion End as Dean Elgar is trapped lbw offering no shot. In comes Tall Paul to join Sam Cook, who spared him the hassle last night but has since squirted Barker’s third ball of the day to cover. That’s Barker’s 700th career wicket across formats. Essex 16 for two (need another 190) and an inauspicious start.

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Hampshire v Somerset, Warwickshire v Essex, and more: county cricket – as it happened

Hampshire were frustrated by Somerset’s wagging tail, while Ethan Bamber and Keith Barker kept Warwickshire in the hunt at Edgbaston

At Southampton, Kyle Abbott is hustling with admirable vigour. Baker still running in from the other end, elbows horizontally churning. Rew (85) and Abell (41) have now put on a hundred for the fourth wicket. Somerset 175-3, 63 behind.

And three for Jimmy Anderson, two in an over, old teammate Will Williams lbw and Henry Brookes caught. Gloucestershire all out 136, and I predict a couple of days of toil in the field.

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Lancashire to put matches behind paywall; Rew sparkles for Somerset on rain-hit day – as it happened

James Rew’s unbeaten 77 helped put Somerset in a strong position after bowling out Hampshire for 238, while Jamie Porter made inroads for Essex at Egbaston before the weather intervened

Bad news for Lancs at Bristol, where Ajeet Singh Dale seems to have done something nasty to his hamstring and has limped off. A real shame on his return to his old club. Glos 8-0.

A fascinating piece by Emma John, with a mention of Benny Howell of Hants, Glos and more.

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Ben Stokes plays down talk of McCullum disagreement but plans ‘different’ path to success

  • Stokes: ‘Agreeing on every single thing, that’s impossible’

  • Pair will ‘work together in a slightly different way’

Ben Stokes has moved to play down suggestions of a disagreement between himself and Brendon McCullum, insisting he and the England head coach remain aligned despite an Ashes defeat that, at times, suggested otherwise.

In a video released by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Tuesday, the England Test captain stressed that he and McCullum agreeing with each other all the time would be “unhealthy”. They continue to share the same overall vision for the team, he added, but things will look “different” this summer.

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