County cricket: Cook garnishes Essex’s delicious day against Kent

Jul 07, 2023

Good morning and welcome back! This is the penultimate round before we break for August, with much still up in the air in the 2023 chase for the title. The skies are questioning over Manchester this morning, and much of the country, but I think we’ll have enough to run along with. The Met office verdict:

“Residual rain will clear from central and eastern England to leave a day of sunshine and showers. Showers will be most frequent and heaviest across central and eastern areas.”

Lots to look forward to with Essex, fresh from victory against Lancashire, taking on grotty-round-the gills-Kent; an all-London clash at Lord’s; Northants entertaining big-scoring Somerset; and two big beasts clashes – Notts and Hants at Trent Bridge and Warwicks and Lancs at Edgbaston.

In Division Two: Durham prepare to eat up Derbyshire at The County Ground; Leicestershire move to their outground at Oakham school, and Yorkshire entertain Sussex at Headingley. The Cheltenham festival starts tomorrow, with Glamorgan the visitors.