Kieran Powell hit a second consecutive century and Alzarri Joseph took 6 for 31 as Leeward Islands completed a big win, while Kent registered a five-wicket win over Trinidad & Tobago

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2017Kieran Powell’s return to the West Indies professional circuit following a brief attempt at playing Major League Baseball continued to pay off for Leeward Islands. Powell struck a career-best 135, which was followed by fast bowler Alzarri Joseph’s 6 for 31 as they completed a 184-run victory over Windward Islands at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. It was Powell’s second List A century in the span of three days – and overall.Powell put on 97 for the opening wicket with Montcin Hodge (54) after losing the toss. He then dominated a 75-run stand for the second wicket with Jermaine Otto (21) before Windward captain Liam Sebastien (3-42) inflicted a mini-collapse. The offspinner took three wickets in consecutive overs as Leewards fell from 172 for 1 to 189 for 4. But his offspinning counterpart, Rahkeem Cornwall, then combined with Powell for a fifth-wicket stand of 99 from 91, and eventually took them to 333 for 6 with an unbeaten 70 off 58 balls.Windward could not establish a base to chase the score down as Joseph took two wickets each in consecutive overs, reducing them to 12 for 4. Darren Sammy (33), Kyle Mayers (45) and Shane Shillingford (27) made contributions from the lower-middle order, but were the only batsmen who got into double figures as Windward Islands folded for 149 at the start of the 29th over, with Joseph completing his maiden List A five-for to pick up the Player-of-the-Match award.A career-best 4 for 51 from medium-pacer Ivan Thomas helped Kent bowl out Trinidad & Tobago for 191, before a couple of half-century stands help them chase down the target with 95 balls to spare at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.T&T’s openers Evin Lewis and Kyle Hope put on 38 after they were put in, but were soon reduced to 43 for 3 as Darren Stevens (2-39) dismissed Kjorn Ottley and Jason Mohammed for ducks. Hope scored 43 off 83 as he steadied the innings with a 45-run stand with Roshon Primus, before the latter put on 65 with Nicholas Alexis (28). However, his dismissal for 60 brought another collapse – they fell from 153 for 4 to 157 for 8, with Thomas taking two of those wickets. A late alliance between Imran Khan (16) and Ravi Rampaul (13) took T&T to 191.Kent’s chase was led by Sean Dickson’s 56 and his opening stand of 85 with Daniel Bell-Drummond. Sam Northeast (31) then put on 66 with Stevens (43) to take them to 170 for 2, before Rampaul (3-46) took three wickets to reduce them to 176 for 5. The collapse was inconsequential as Alex Blake’s unbeaten 22 off 12 balls took them across the line with five wickets in hand.

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Feb-2017A substantial reduction of potential earning from the ICC’s central revenue is only part of the concern for the BCCI, which fears that a fundamental change in the principle of income distribution could lead to further shrinkages for all the cricket boards, with the Indian board taking bigger cuts.While attention has been focused on the reduction in revenue for the BCCI – from $570 million in the Big Three model to an estimated $255 million now – it has emerged that even this figure, and indeed the potential revenue for every board, could be subject to change because a new variable has been added to the distribution model – the ICC’s own costs are now flexible.Previously, the ICC’s projected revenue – pegged at $2.5 billion – was the only variable in the earlier model in which all the costs, including the payout to the member boards, were fixed. The ICC was granted a budget of $870 million – $550 million for staging events, $250 million as administrative costs, and $70 million for a Test fund – and the member boards received fixed percentages of the total revenue. But in the latest model, which has hiked the ICC’s costs by $160 million – $60 million of which is for a contingency fund – the boards will be granted a percentage of the surplus.”Since it is based on surplus, there is an uncertainty of earning,” a person closely involved with the earlier model told ESPNcricinfo. “If the ICC decided to spend more on admin or events or increase the contingency fund, it will further reduce the share of the member boards.”The BCCI now fears it stands to lose about $330 million after its share from the ICC’s revenue pool was reduced in the revised distribution model for the 2015-2023 period, which was passed in principle at the ICC Board meeting in Dubai. If the ICC schedules two extra world events during the period – and negotiations to do so are reportedly underway – the BCCI’s estimated fall in revenue could be as much as $400 million.The ICC, however, pegged the BCCI’s drop in revenue at only $200 million for the 2015-2023 period. Apart from the two organisations disagreeing over the principle of reducing the BCCI’s share, there is also a significant divergence between how the BCCI calculated its revenue under the Big Three model, and how the ICC calculated it before further cutting the BCCI’s share under the new distribution model.The ICC estimated the BCCI’s original share according to the Big Three model to be $450-455 million – and not $570 million – because it had raised its costs by $160 million, thereby reducing the share of the revenue that was available for distribution to the member boards. The BCCI was unhappy with what it considered to be an arbitrary increase in ICC costs, which were upped by the working group responsible for cutting the BCCI’s share in the new distribution model.The ICC working group led by its chairman Shashank Manohar arrived at an increase of $160 million in costs because it said event expenses had gone up by $50 million, central ICC revenues had also gone up by $50 million, and $60 million had been allotted as a reserve and contingency fund. The rise in costs was then readjusted down to $90 million, after doing away with the expense of $70 million for the ICC Test fund.Another key decision taken by Manohar’s working group was to remove the contribution cost borne by the ICC, which had been introduced in the Big Three model. The ICC was to pay ‘contribution costs’ to Full Members from its gross revenue through a graded percentage share. The contribution cost paid to a country was arrived at via four parameters: the revenue contributed by the country to the ICC, its historical ICC membership, its on-field performance over the past 20 years in men’s and women’s competitions, and its domestic development performance.According to the Big Three model, India’s “value contribution” for the 2007-2015 period was over 80%, while that of other Full Members ranged from 0.1% to 5%. So for a projected revenue of $2.5 billion the BCCI, under the Big Three model, would earn close to $570 million from the ICC, which included a distribution cost amount of $63 million given to all Full Members.The BCCI’s argument is that there needs to be a cap on the ICC’s expenses, otherwise the surplus of ICC revenue left for distribution among boards could reduce in the future. Due to the present increase in the estimate of the ICC’s expenses, the distribution costs received from the ICC by every Full Member has dropped from $63 million to $52 million.The BCCI has been the most vocal opponent of this revision.After Manohar became the independent ICC chairman in early 2016, he said he wanted the ICC revenue distribution to be fair and equitable for all the Full Members. In the first version of the new distribution model, after factoring in the $90 million increase in ICC costs, the BCCI’s share fell to $440-445 million from the estimated $570-million in the Big Three model. In percentage terms, it went from 22.76% to 17.8 %.The ECB’s revenue fell from $172 million to between $145-150 million and CA’s projected $130 million was revised to between $110-115 million. The other seven Full Members would also have seen cuts, ranging from US$1-10 million, when compared to the original model.

Haseeb Hameed will miss MCC’s season curtain-raising fixture against the Champion County, Middlesex, next month, to undergo a sinus operation

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Feb-2017Haseeb Hameed will miss MCC’s season curtain-raising fixture against the Champion County, Middlesex, next month, to undergo a sinus operation.Hameed, who made a strong impression in three Test appearances for England against India last year, before leaving the tour early with a broken finger, is currently in Sri Lanka with the England Lions squad.His intention is to play in the second four-day game against Sri Lanka A, which starts in Dambulla on Friday, then head home for surgery.

MCC squad for Champion County match

Alex Lees (Yorkshire), Tom Alsop (Hampshire), Sam Northeast (Kent, captain), Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire, England), Joe Clarke (Worcestershire), Ben Cox (Worcestershire), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Matt Coles (Kent), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire, England), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Jack Leach (Somerset)

“It’s something I’ve needed to do for a while, and this is a good time to do it,” said Hameed. “It’s disappointing to miss the chance to play for the MCC against Middlesex, because it was an honour to be selected. But by having the operation in early March, I will be fit for the start of the season with Lancashire.”Hameed has been replaced in the MCC squad by Alex Lees, the Yorkshire opener, who will be joined by his county team-mate Liam Plunkett following the withdrawal of their fellow Yorkshireman, Matt Fisher, who suffered a groin injury when captaining England Under-19s in India earlier this month.John Stephenson, MCC’s Head of Cricket, said: “Of course it is a shame that Haseeb and Matt have had to withdraw from the squad, but we have two excellent replacements in Liam and Alex who will add experience and firepower. Our team is full of exciting young English cricketers and I am really looking forward to seeing them in what should be a very competitive and engaging match.”

Niroshan Dickwella picked up an injury on Sunday and had trouble holding the bat on Monday

Andrew Fidel Fernando27-Mar-2017Wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella has been ruled out of the ongoing ODI series against Bangladesh after suffering a hairline fracture in his left hand.Dickwella had sustained the injury on Sunday, at training. Though it was originally thought to be a minor injury, he had had trouble gripping his bat on Monday. Subsequent X-rays then confirmed the fracture.Team manager Asanka Gurusinha said that while the injury was “minor” it may take “a couple of weeks” to fully heal, which also puts Dickwella in doubt for the T20 internationals that follow the ODIs. Dickwella had also been unavailable for the first ODI of the series, thanks to the suspension he picked up for dissent, during the T20 series in Australia.Though it is a batsman that exits the squad, Sri Lanka have called up offspinner Dilruwan Perera, and strengthened the seam battery through the inclusion of Nuwan Kulasekara and Nuwan Pradeep as well. Those changes are likely a reflection of the outcome of Saturday’s match, in which Sri Lanka’s attack was ineffective – especially at the death overs – as Bangladesh scored 324 in their 90-run win.Kulasekara had played in Sri Lanka’s 0-5 ODI defeat in South Africa in January and February, but had had mixed results in that series. He has 195 ODI wickets, however, and will be the most experienced bowler in the squad by a distance.

Gloucestershire picked up their first Specsavers County Championship victory of the season by beating Leicestershire by an innings and six runs at The Brightside Ground in Bristol

ECB Reporters Network16-Apr-2017
ScorecardIt was a memorable match for Liam Norwell•Getty Images

Gloucestershire picked up their first Specsavers County Championship victory of the season by beating Leicestershire by an innings and six runs at The Brightside Ground in Bristol.Having scored 466 for 8 declared in their first innings, Phil Mustard’s side bowled out Leicestershire twice, inside two days, with Liam Norwell returning match-winning figures of 10 for 99.The win will certainly go some way towards softening the blow of last week’s heavy defeat at the hands of Kent. For Leicestershire, however, there is little or no consolation. That’s two chastening defeats in as many games.Resuming on 165 for 6 on day three, the visitors soon found themselves in trouble at the hands of Norwell, who bowled very well indeed from the Ashley Down End. The Dorset-born seamer sent back Clint McKay in the first over of the day to celebrate his 200th first-class wicket.To their credit, Ned Eckersley and Richard Jones proved what was capable with an ounce of application and a genuine appetite for the fight, as they added 89 for the eighth wicket. Unfortunately, for the visitors, it was never likely to be enough to help the Foxes avoid the follow on and subsequently, another disappointing loss.Eckersley led the way with 88 off 103 balls, having passed 50 off 66 deliveries. However, when he departed, bowled by Norwell, at 255 for 8, Leicestershire were still well short of their initial target of saving the follow on.Gavin Griffiths became Norwell’s fifth victim of the innings, four runs later, and with Colin Ackermann unable to bat after retiring hurt on day two, their innings came to a close on 259 for 9.Unfortunately for Leicestershire, whose second innings progressed to 6 for 0 at lunch, the afternoon session was every bit a disappointing. And it was that man Norwell who was once again responsible.Bowling in tandem with David Payne, Norwell ripped the heart out of Leicestershire’s top and middle order. After Payne had kicked off the session by having Paul Horton caught by wicketkeeper Mustard for 6, Norwell sent back Harry Dearden, Neil Dexter and Mark Pettini during a seven-over spell that saw him return the impressive figures of 3 for 19.When Payne added his second wicket, that of Mark Cosgrove at 51 for 5, the game looked as though it would be all over by tea.Thankfully, for Leicestershire, Eckersley knuckled down to the task in hand and added 86 with Ben Raine for the sixth wicket. Having helped himself to a first half century of the summer in the first innings, Eckersley was unbeaten on 53 at tea, having passed 50 off as many balls, with eight fours. The pair had looked in little trouble until Raine carelessly ran himself out for 42.McKay’s cameo – 29 off 39 deliveries – once again held up Gloucestershire. However, when Norwell had the Australian caught in the slips by George Hankins, shortly after tea, the end was nigh.Mustard picked up a wonderful catch to send back Richard Jones in Payne’s next over and though Eckersley batted beautifully for 85, he finally holed out to Jack Taylor on the point boundary off the bowling of Norwell. A fitting end for the bowler who deservedly received a standing ovation from those who saw it.

Durham coasted to their first Specsavers County Championship win of the season when they made light work of reaching a target of 157 in 43 overs against Glamorgan at Chester-le-Street

ECB Reporters Network22-Jun-2017
ScorecardDurham coasted to their first Specsavers County Championship win of the season when they made light work of reaching a target of 157 in 43 overs against Glamorgan at Chester-le-Street.After making only one half-century in his 13 previous championship innings, Stephen Cook led the way to the nine-wicket win with an unbeaten 89 from 78 balls in his final appearance before linking up with the South Africa Test squad next week.Cameron Steel also went for his shots from the outset and survived three difficult chances in making 51 off 58 balls as Durham got home with 18.3 overs to spare. Cook worked the ball into leg-side spaces before cutting Marchant de Lange to the rope as he scored 34 of the 54 runs that came up in the first ten overs.With their seamers making no impression, Glamorgan turned to Andrew Salter’s off spin and Cook drove him wide of mid-off for his sixth four to reach 50 off 49 balls. Two similar strokes for his eighth and ninth fours brought the winning runs.Only 28 were needed when Salter persuaded Steel to chip a catch to deep mid-off, allowing Jack Burnham to assist in completing the task with an unbeaten 14.After resuming on 92 for 2, Glamorgan were dismissed for 263 in their second innings, with Colin Ingram left unbeaten on 70, made off 137 balls with seven fours and a pulled six.Barry McCarthy finished with 4 for 65 after briefly coming under fire from nightwatchman Lukas Carey.After conceding 16 runs in 11 overs, McCarthy went for 26 in two, which included a six over long-on.But when he needed one for his second half-century in successive games, Carey got carried away and had his stumps splattered by an inswinger from Chris Rushworth.Three wickets had gone down for five runs in three overs when McCarthy pinned Aneurin Donald lbw with a shooter and had David Lloyd well caught at second slip by Ryan Pringle off an edged drive.Ingram survived a difficult chance to Steel at cover off McCarthy, but was otherwise untroubled and was kept company for 16 overs after lunch by Tom Cullen on his championship debut.But after making 13 he shouldered arms and lost his off stump to a Rushworth inswinger in the sixth over of the new ball.Marchant de Lange threatened to take it away from Durham in a ninth-wicket stand of 40 in six overs. But Rushworth clung on to a return catch from a fierce drive then, three overs later, Michael Hogan played across the line and was bowled off his pads by McCarthy.

Nat Sciver struck her second century of an increasingly formidable World Cup campaign, as England’s women marched into the semi-finals with victory against New Zealand at Derby

The Report by Andrew Miller12-Jul-2017England 284 for 9 (Sciver 129, Beaumont 93, Kerr 4-51) beat New Zealand 209 (Bates 44, Perkins 43*, Hartley 3-43) by 75 runs

ScorecardNat Sciver struck her second century of an increasingly formidable World Cup campaign, as England’s women marched into the semi-finals with a 75-run victory over New Zealand at Derby. With Tammy Beaumont falling short of a century of her own, England’s fourth-wicket pair added 170 in 27 overs to rescue the team from a top-order wobble, before their slow bowlers snuffed out a reply that flickered briefly, Alex Hartley starring with 3 for 43.For Sciver, the 2017 World Cup is turning into a personal coming of age. She brought up her hundred from 92 balls – the same number, in fact, from which she had made 137 against Pakistan at Leicester last week. But if that performance had been an exhibition of raw power, then this was a step-up in class against one of the cannier attacks in the world game.Her staple scoring shot was the panned four through midwicket whenever New Zealand erred in length, but she showcased her deft touch with a pair of inverted-stance ramps over the keeper’s head, as well as a ludicrously skilful flick between her own legs as she closed the face on a Holly Huddleston yorker to steal a brace of runs to fine leg.She had arrived at the crease with her side in a fair amount of bother. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, England shipped three prime wickets in the first 14 overs, as Lauren Winfield, Sarah Taylor and Heather Knight came and went cheaply.Amy Satterthwaite, playing in her 100th ODI, intercepted a fierce cut from Winfield to give Lea Tahuhu the first breakthrough, before Taylor chipped a sharp return catch back to Leigh Kasperek for 8. Heather Knight, the captain, then played round her front pad to give Suzie Bates, her opposite number, a wicket in her second over, and at 52 for 3, there was plenty work to be done.England’s middle order, however, are not easily cowed at present, and Sciver and Beaumont soon set about re-establishing their team’s credentials. Beaumont, who has really hit her stride in the past week of competition, picked up where she had left off with her 148 against South Africa and her vital 49 against Australia.After a cautious start, in which she made just two runs from her first 14 balls, she sprang into action with a volley of boundaries, including three in five balls from Tahuhu, to be promisingly placed on 23 from 27 balls when her match-turning stand with Sciver got underway.By degrees, the pair set about upping the ante, with Sciver providing the aggression in the early stages of their stand before Beaumont picked up the pace as the prospect of her second hundred loomed. She nailed the only six of the innings, a massive wallop through the line and over wide long-on off Tahuhu, but fell for 93 in pursuit of a second, as she got underneath a lofted drive against Amelia Kerr’s legspin and holed out to mid-off.New Zealand’s twin legspinners would prove to be a vital source of control as England’s innings rather dribbled away after Beaumont’s departure, and the final scorecard had an oddly lopsided look to it, with no-one other than the big two making more than 11. Kerr herself claimed 4 for 51, including three in six balls as England’s tail found no means to counter her wiles.England’s total of 284 for 9 was, nevertheless, a hefty one, and New Zealand’s challenge was made all the tougher when Rachel Priest was bowled in the second over for 12, choosing the wrong ball to attack from Anya Shrubsole having already claimed boundaries from three of her previous four deliveries.After that brief flurry, England’s new-ball bowlers turned the screw, with just four scoring shots coming from the next 28 balls of New Zealand’s innings. To their credit, Bates and Satterthwaite made a virtue of their time at the crease, lifting the tempo thereafter with regular boundaries in a second-wicket stand of 75. But, with her fifty in sight, Bates was beaten by Hartley’s left-arm spin and left stranded as Taylor whipped off the bails for 44.It was the second Antipodean captain that Hartley had bagged in as many matches, after her key dismissal of Meg Lanning against Australia, and it was once again the turning point of the chase, especially as Satterthwaite followed three overs later, popping a return catch off the leading edge to Laura Marsh for 35.Sophie Devine, New Zealand’s big hitter in the middle order, was hampered with the bat after damaging her side while fielding, and soon holed out to Shrubsole for 10 to give Hartley her second wicket. Then, when Knight brought herself on to bowl in the 30th over, she struck with her second ball as Katey Martin missed a slog for 21.Erin Bermingham briefly sparkled after surviving a bit of a shocking drop from Katherine Brunt in the covers, but Brunt atoned in the deep three overs later to send her on her way for 19. The remainder of the match was an extended net for both sets of players, not least for Katie Perkins, who struck the ball cleanly to finish on 43 not out.Two wickets fell either side of the final drinks break, as Gunn bowled Kasperek before Kerr was run out without facing a ball, but after Shrubsole had bowled Tahuhu for 11, it was left to Hartley to wrap up the win with 20 balls left unused.Bates later admitted that New Zealand could have tried shuffling their bowling around differently, in a bid to stop Sciver and Beaumont. “I thought they batted outstanding,” she said. “Perhaps a few bowling changes, we could have tried a few different things. We brought the legspinners on, and they have been crucial for us in the tournament, but that didn’t work out and we were chasing the game a little bit. The way we did bring it back near the end, I was pleased to keep them under 290. On a wicket like that you think you can chase it if someone in your top order gets a big score and that wasn’t to be today.”

South Africa dismantled West Indies for the second-lowest total in their history and sixth lowest in the tournament’s en route a crushing 10-wicket win, their second in three games

The Report by Firdose Moonda02-Jul-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDane van Niekerk capped off a spectacular bowling display for South Africa•Getty Images

South Africa dismantled West Indies for the second-lowest total in their history and sixth lowest in the tournament’s en route a crushing 10-wicket win, their second in three games, in 140 minutes. Less than a third of the overs in the game were bowled as South Africa completed their chase of 50 in 6.2 overs. A third successive loss left West Indies, runners-up of the 2013 edition, closer to elimination.Dane van Niekerk, the South Africa captain, became the only bowler in cricket history to take four wickets in an international without conceding a run, but the damage was done earlier. Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail reduced West Indies to 5 for 16, with only one batsman – Chedean Nation – getting into double digits.South Africa had warned of something like this in the warm-up match against West Indies ten days ago. Then, South Africa plucked their opposition for 63 and neither Ismail nor Kapp was among the wicket-takers. Here in Leicester, on a green-tinged top, they made up for that.Ismail made two breakthroughs. She got the ball to nip back into the right-hand batsmen at pace, trapped Hayley Matthews lbw and took out Stafanie Taylor’s off stump. She should have had debutant Reniece Boyce caught at third man in her next over but the chance was put down. Instead, it was Kapp who got rid of the newcomer in an over of mayhem, which effectively ended the contest.In the eighth over, Boyce popped a leading edge back to Kapp off the first ball, Kyshona Knight was struck on the front pad in line with middle stump off the second delivery, and Deandra Dottin’s leg stump went cartwheeling off the fifth. West Indies had half their batsmen back in the changeroom without even 20 runs on the board.South Africa’s change bowlers Ayabonga Khaka and Moseline Daniels kept the pressure on and conceded only 14 runs in the nine overs they bowled, which included four maiden overs before Dane van Niekerk brought herself on for a first taste of spin. Melissa Aguilliera, who had battled 37 balls for just three, tried to take her on but missed the sweep and was bowled. Shanel Daley also mistimed her aggression and top-edged a swing off van Niekerk to short-fine leg before Kapp was brought back on to finish things off.She added a fourth to her haul when she bowled Afy Fletcher to finish with career-best figures but van Niekerk put the icing on the performance. Nation, who had managed to find the boundary five times in her innings, ran out of patience and chipped a catch to short midwicket before young Qiana Joseph, just 16 years old and in her first game, missed a sweep. Kapp and van Niekerk finished with the two best bowling figures by South African women in a World Cup game.It did not seem things could get any worse for West Indies but they did in the field. In the third over of the South African innings, they dropped both openers off successive balls. Lizelle Lee was put down by Taylor and Laura Wolvaardt by Anisa Mohammed and both made full use of their lifelines. South Africa raced home in 38 balls to completely demoralise a West Indian side who have lost all three of their matches so far.

Barisal Bulls won’t be part of the 2017 Bangladesh Premier League season after they were ousted for not meeting the financial terms and conditions set by the BCB

Mohammad Isam09-Aug-2017This year’s Bangladesh Premier League will be without Barisal Bulls after the governing council ousted them for not paying the tournament fees. The tournament will now have seven teams.”At a meeting today, we decided that Barisal Bulls will not be participating in the 2017 BPL,” governing council chairman Afzalur Rahman Sinha said. “They didn’t meet the BPL’s financial terms and conditions.”The Barisal franchise, co-owned by Axiom Technologies and BCB director MA Awwal Chowdhury, finished last in 2016. ESPNcricinfo understands that one of the owners was reluctant to run the team this year due to financial difficulties.Sinha said the Barisal players, including their icon player, were likely to be in the draft next month.

Ed Barnard starred with four wickets on an excitable but brief day of action at Trent Bridge

David Hopps at Trent Bridge05-Sep-20171:37

County Championship Round-up: Barnard gives Worcs the edge

Nottinghamshire 188 for 9 (Barnard 4-66) v Worcestershire

ScorecardTwo limited-overs trophies safely gathered in, it was time for Nottinghamshire to return to the gentler rhythms of the County Championship. Ah yes, the dutiful seeing-off of the new ball, the careful perusal of each bowler until every variation had been logged, the chance for spectators to chew upon the clue for seven across and contemplate the latest news from North Korea.Except Championship cricket at Trent Bridge is rarely like that. At one point Notts were for 127 for 6 in the 28th over, the ball as excitable as a week-old puppy, the top six batsmen all suffering the batting equivalent of wee up the trouser leg. Last week, Notts traded runs for wickets with Northants, who were third until they were well beaten. This week it is the turn of Worcestershire, who lie second. There has barely been time to read the news at all. No bad thing.No English ground looks more beautiful in the rain, with the floodlights blazing, than Trent Bridge, but by the time the weather worsened for the final time at 5pm, with Notts 188 for 9, it was time to accept the inevitable with honours about even. To steal 47.5 overs from a day like this was a fair effort.Such is county life on a bedraggled day like this that Ed Barnard, an archetypal English seamer, making strides at 21, had four wickets – removing Jake Libby, Cheteshwar Pujara, Samit Patel and Riki Wessels in the space of 25 balls – while Ravi Ashwin, the Indian spinner brought over to England with considerable fanfare, did not even get a bowl.Ashwin took 8 for 162 to guide Worcestershire to victory against Gloucestershire on his debut last week, but his most valuable experience here, ahead of India’s tour next summer, might well be to bat twice on a seaming deck.Barnard maintained an attacking length and was rewarded for it. His first four overs disappeared for 24, Notts well placed at 79 for 1 in the 19th over, but then the wickets came thick and fast. Jake Libby fell to a combo catch – wicketkeeper Ben Cox knocking the ball on to second slip – Cox held on to dismiss Pujara then took a beauty, low to his right, to silence Samit Patel. Riki Wessels made nought, sitting back to one that kept a little low. Barnard also threw out Brett Hutton late in the day, Hutton had got off the mark the previous ball – his 26th – as he was almost solely responsible for slowing the rate to four an over.The first session was so high-risk, so full of threat and counter-threat that the story should properly have been told in front of a TV camera by Ri Chun-hee, the patriotic North Korean newsreader. She began her career, incidentally, back in 1971 when Mike Smedley and Brian Bolus were mastering the art of the scurried leg-bye at Trent Bridge and North Korea was actually talking about unification with the South. More sober, safer times.Nottinghamshire are marking the retirement of their own supreme leader here, an altogether more popular figure. This is their last home Championship match of the season, the last time that Chris Read will be seen at Trent Bridge. For 20 years, he has graced the game as one of the most quicksilver glovemen around, including 15 Tests – a figure that would have been far higher if the batting qualities that ultimately brought him more than 16,000 first-class runs at 37.18 had been apparent a little earlier.Read’s elan has brought joy to so many Trent Bridge days. He has been nimble behind the stumps and a counter-attacker with the bat around No 7 in the great wicketkeeping tradition. As was observed by Michael Henderson, from , who was on hand to pen a leisurely valediction, while Read has played for Nottinghamshire, the entire ground, bar the chimney-potted old pavilion, has changed around him. The pavilion is also due for a revamp, although Read will not be around to see it. The game has changed too.Read surpassed Thomas Oates for most victims by a Notts wicketkeeper last month. After the last of his Tests, against Australia in Sydney 10 years ago, England preferred to treat him like Captain Lawrence Oates, presuming that he may be gone some time. In England terms, so he has been, but quite properly he walked out to a standing ovation. England should have made better use of him, but in the pubs of Worksop and Newark people will talk fondly of his skills well into their dotage.