Key events

5m ago Saif Zaib reaches his century
50m ago Hermann posts a fifty
2h ago Jofra Archer nets session underway
3h ago Scores at lunchtime
3h ago Lancashire win the toss and elect to bowl
4h ago Early lunch called at Blackpool
4h ago Play scheduled to begin at 1.10 at Grace Road
4h ago Kane Williamson announces retirement
5h ago Kent rest Zak Crawley
5h ago Robin Smith memorial service stream available
5h ago Fixtures for today
5h ago Opening remarks

Gosh, Jordan Cox is seizing his opportunity in the spotlight. He moves to 77 not out from 66 deliveries, then quickly advances to 81 from 61 as he drives Ben Green off the back foot over extra cover for four. Essex reach 132-2 following a shaky beginning.

Zaib posts a century

A maiden hundred of the campaign for Zaib, who displayed such fluent form last season and appears to have rediscovered some of that rhythm here. He stands at 106 not out from 117 balls in Northants 249-3. McSweeney remains unbeaten on 83, aided by 13 extras conceded by Gloucestershire bowlers.

What unfolds at Scarborough? Sunshine prevails as Manav Suthar, on loan to Warwickshire for these June Championship fixtures, enters his seventh over and dismisses a charging Sam Whiteman, stumped by Al Davies for 55. Will Luxton stays not out on 89. Yorkshire reach 209-2, then 209-3 when Wharton is superbly caught by a diving Davies for 9.

News from Dhaka where Australia suffer their first ODI series defeat to Bangladesh, going 0-2 down after the second match with one to play. Bangladesh secure their fourth successive bilateral ODI series win, having also overcome New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies.

Switch to Hove where a strong breeze catches Tom Haines shirt as he removes Glamorgan eighth batsman Mason Crane, caught at slip for 17. Hat-trick hero Tom Norton joins Chris Cooke at the crease. Glamorgan sit at a subdued 141-8. Norton survives a close edge that falls short of slip.

Eighteen-year-old T Rew claims his first Championship fifty, striking Pennington for four with flair. The milestone arrives from 94 balls as brother James applauds enthusiastically from the balcony.

Hermann reaches fifty

Thomas Rew (43) receives advice from Hermann after a loose drive at Mohammad Ali. Moments later Ali tumbles forward in his follow-through. Hermann secures his opening fifty for Somerset.

Attention turns to the Trent Bridge stream. It may not lift James Rew spirits to observe his younger brother Thomas advance into the forties. Jordan Hermann, whose straight drive inadvertently ran out Rew senior, cuts with conviction to reach 46. Somerset stand at 118-3.

Northants press forward briskly under sunshine at Wantage Road. Saif Zaib approaches his first Championship century of the season while McSweeney moves to 44. Northants reach 174-3 versus Gloucestershire.

Sam Northeast, who looked set for a substantial score at Blackpool, is bowled for 10. Balderson delivers the blow with a fine delivery that clips the top of off stump. Kent are 24-2.

Further updates from Hove: Archer, Atkinson and Robinson work with England fast-bowling coach Troy Cooley. On the field Glamorgan advance to 106-5, Henry Crocombe claiming two wickets including Ben Kellaway for 33.

Action at Grace Road where Essex endure a difficult start, Dean Elgar and Paul Walter both dismissed by Ben Green. Jordan Cox, recently selected for the Test squad, enters and promptly drives Green for four with an apparently straightforward stroke.

Additional reports from the Hove nets where Gus Atkinson and Ollie Robinson also bowl.

Kent first innings begins predictably even without Zak Crawley as Finch is caught off Jimmy Anderson. Kent are 13-1.

Latest on Jofra from James Martin: now bowling at full pace.

Hello Tanya, writes Tim Maitland. Watching Yorkshire at Scarborough via YouTube from Hong Kong has proved an unusual experience this morning your time, evening ours. Particularly when a serious debate on generous chip portions was interrupted by an advertisement for a Cantonese travel agency.

The Yorkshire and Cantonese dialects share a comparable tone, reminiscent of chewing broken glass, along with a shared dark humour. One can reliably elicit a smile locally by replying to enquiries about wellbeing with the Cantonese phrase I am not dead yet. Cheerful people.

Jofra Archer nets session

Ali reports that his brother James is at Hove and notes Jofra bowling in the nets at lunch ahead of his Test return. He began steadily but is now increasing speed. Caution to cricketers, CC Live has observers everywhere.

Lunchtime scores

Division One

Grace Road: Leicestershire v Essex rain, no play yet today

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Somerset 63-3

Hove: Sussex v Glamorgan 91-4

Scarborough: Yorkshire 118-1 v Warwickshire

Division Two

Chester-le-Street: Durham 75-2 v Derbyshire

Blackpool: Lancashire v Kent rain, no play before lunch

Northampton: Northamptonshire 125-3 v Gloucestershire

New Road: Worcestershire v Middlesex 62-1

Lancashire win the toss and bowl

The Blackpool drainage system proves its worth despite doubts.

Northants accelerate against Gloucestershire with Zaib, 47 from 44 balls, eyeing a fifty before lunch when members of the 1976 Gillette Cup winning team gather.

Level scores at Chester-le-Street with Lees and McKinney dismissed yet Rhodes and Bedingham rebuilding. Both Durham and Derbyshire field a bowler named Potts. Durham 74-2.

Middlesex progress slowly at New Road, 62-1.

In the compelling contest at Hove Glamorgan were 43-4 but Ben Kellaway (30) and Sean Dickson (14) rebuild the innings.

In the remaining Division One fixture Warwickshire face a challenging morning at Scarborough where Yorkshire race to 102-1 with an unbeaten fifty for Will Luxton.

Time to tour the grounds.

Unfortunate for James Rew who is run out for 10 in awkward fashion as Pennington gets a fingertip to a straight drive from Hermann. Josh Thomas and Lewis Goldsworthy also fall. Somerset 53-3 against Nottinghamshire.

Further details on Williamson.

Two successive boundaries from Saif Zaib (14) who after an outstanding 2025 has yet to fully regain his form this summer. Northants 59-3.

Williamson retirement arrives as New Zealand prepare for two home Tests against India this autumn followed by a four-Test tour of Australia.

Early lunch at Blackpool

Rain returns and a sizable puddle develops on the outfield.

Play due at 1.10 at Grace Road

Following an early lunch provided further rain holds off.

Kane Williamson retires

New Zealand finest batsman has declared his immediate retirement from international cricket just one Test into a three-match series against England.

I have considered this for some time but over recent days it became evident that now is the appropriate moment he said.

I have always maintained a strong drive and appetite for international cricket and I take pride in having given my utmost in every match played for New Zealand.

Continuing with anything less would not be appropriate and I feel fortunate to depart on my own terms.

I leave optimistic about the direction of this group. There exists considerable talent and genuine ambition to achieve something notable with this New Zealand side.

It is a team I cherish and I feel immensely privileged to have contributed for so long. It will remain close to my heart.

Williamson is New Zealand leading run scorer across all formats with 19,346 runs including 48 centuries and six double centuries though he retired from international T20 cricket last winter.

In 110 Tests he averages 54.06 with 9,515 runs achieved in his characteristically elegant yet understated manner.

Williamson also guided New Zealand to the 2019 World Cup final the 2021 T20 World Cup final and the inaugural World Test Championship title in 2021. He can now retire to his cherished surfboard and coffee.

Head coach Rob Walter stated Williamson would remain integral to the team ethos.

Anyone privileged to work with Kane recognises he is an exceptional player and individual.

His statistics and batting ability speak for themselves yet it is his significance to this Black Caps side as well as world cricket that forms his legacy.

His influence on the culture and standards of this team will endure within its fabric.

Kane has consistently prioritised the team and although we regret his departure we are pleased he is satisfied and at ease with his choice.

An outstanding player a fine teammate a superb leader and an excellent ambassador for our sport.

A fine pull for four by Harrison off the sun-tanned Clarke is followed by an edge that falls short of the slip cordon. The unsteady camera provides additional motion for those missing a cross-channel voyage.

Clarke claims a second wicket at Northants (Northants 28-2) and Will Williams also makes the ball move sharply. Clouds are not visible on the stream yet many are likely present.

An inspection is imminent at Blackpool as conditions improve slightly.

Correction they are playing at Trent Bridge. Early wickets at Northampton where New Zealand Kristian Clarke on a two-match contract with Gloucestershire bowls Vasconcelos for 2 and at Hove where Sean Hunt dismisses Zain ul Hassan.

Delays at Grace Road Trent Bridge and Blackpool yet all other venues are underway.

Shoaib Bashir plays for Derbyshire at Chester-le-Street and former Derbyshire bowler Duanne Olivier represents Durham though Ben Stokes has yet to appear.

Kent rest Zak Crawley

Following a difficult spring with Kent and the loss of his England place Crawley steps away from Championship cricket for the next two matches despite the appeal of the Blackpool surface.

A Kent statement noted This period will allow him to recharge so he can fully commit and give his all for the remainder of the season with his immediate focus shifting to T20 cricket through to the end of the Vitality Blast.

Robin Smith memorial service stream

Those wishing to view the service at Winchester Cathedral in memory of Smith who delighted in square-cutting fast bowlers with joy and who passed away aged 62 in December may join the link at 2pm.

An early email arrives from Tim Maitland.

I cannot provide statistics as I must take one of my dogs to the vet but before exploring the remaining County Championship matches we must discuss the Oval.

If Lord producing a two-day pitch extended to four by weather represents one extreme then the green surface at SE11 sits at the opposite undesirable limit.

Surrey County Championship challenge suffers from their inability to secure more than one victory on the flat pitches at Kennington (and while they may have been denied victory against Hampshire by weather Leicestershire 691 all out against that Surrey attack must be considered).

This makes next week Test match at the venue a classic case of immovable object versus irresistible force. It resembles Godzilla versus King Kong. The Oval refusal to produce results except under extreme pressure meets modern cricket rebuttal of all we have learned about the longest format.

Interesting. I understand your perspective though I found the pitch reasonably lively last week where only Lawrence who batted outstandingly truly mastered it. Lee Fortis has noted how the lack of rain in the south east this spring has created difficulties this year.

A ban on alcohol for misbehaving players awaits the remainder. It is somewhat surprising they do not largely abstain during a Test series anyway.

The ever compassionate Emma John offers perspective on the Ben Stokes situation.

I planned to visit Blackpool to watch Liam Livingstone first Championship appearance since 2021 and Joe Moore Championship debut behind the stumps yet I delayed for an hour following an early rain report from Paul Edwards and a photograph of the covers from Ken Grime. Both sit patiently in a damp tent. No play there for some time and likely not until after lunch.