6:15 PM ET Alex Malcolm Even prior to David Warner’s barnstorming return in the World Cup, Marcus Harris knew the two opening spots available for Australia in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston would be reduced to one. While Harris impressed in his first international summer against an outstanding India attack, he walked away without

10:16 AM ET Mohammad Isam at Lord’s Dead rubber? What dead rubber? That’s the question Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes and Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed seem to be asking on the eve of their final World Cup group game at Lord’s Net run-rate keeps Pakistan interested but if Bangladesh decide to bat first, their exit from

3:00 AM ET Paul Edwards Lancashire 337 and 247 (Vilas 85, Rimmington 4-42) drew with Durham 281 (Bancroft 77, Rimmington 52, Onions 5-93) and 194 for 6 (Bancroft 92*) This day began with Dane Vilas driving Chris Rushworth through the off side, the ball skimming across the perfect Cumbrian outfield to the spectators at the

6:50 PM ET Mark Wood admitted he “got lucky” to dismiss Kane Williamson in freakish fashion in Durham. Williamson was well set and averaging over 100 in the tournament when Ross Taylor punched a delivery from Wood down the ground only to see the bowler stick a hand out and, in attempting to stop the

3:00 AM ET Matt Roller at Taunton Somerset 408 (Hildreth 105, Abbott 6-84) and 358 for 8 dec (Ali 79, Banton 70, Abell 58) beat Hampshire 349 (Northeast 101, J Overton 5-70) and 104 (Leach 3-14) by 313 runs Somerset are used to being the hunters in the County Championship. They have regularly been in

10:21 PM ET Alex Malcolm Joe Burns will get a chance to press his case for the Ashes after being added to Australia A’s squad for the four-day leg of the England tour. Burns was not initially part of the squad that was named in April, with Australia’s selectors content for him to remain on

3:00 AM ET ECB Reporters Network Middlesex 436 for 6 dec (Malan 177*, Simpson 99*) trail Derbyshire 557 for 6 dec (du Plooy 118, Dal 92) by 121 runs Dawid Malan kept himself in Ashes contention with a batting master-class to blunt Derbyshire’s victory hopes against Middlesex at Derby. The Middlesex skipper played superbly to

Kane Williamson won’t blast away, he will try to build a little fort out in the middle © Getty Images Big picture Anyone who has been subjected to the witless betting adverts that punctuate the cricket coverage in the UK will know, subconsciously at the very least, about “smarts”. Those are the little nuggets of