England began to augment their lead in gloomy conditions at Trent Bridge, before the early loss of Andrew Strauss. They were batting again after Umar Gul added 35 runs to take Pakistan to 182.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has welcomed the nomination of Alan Isaac, the current chairman of New Zealand Cricket, for the position of vice-president of the International Cricket Council

James Anderson eventually had plenty to celebrate on his 28th birthday thanks to a five-wicket haul which put England firmly in control of the opening npower Test against Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

Jimmy Adams and Sean Ervine made valuable half-centuries as Hampshire gained the upper hand at the Rose Bowl, where Lancashire are seeking to remain the championship's only unbeaten team.

Essex continued to suffer at Canterbury where Kent, having posted an impressive 420, reduced the visitors to 194 for six by stumps on day two. By then, opener Mark Pettini was 80 not out.

A career-best 184 from Chris Nash and some hostile bowling from Corey Collymore and Yasir Arafat put Sussex in sight of their sixth win of the season, against Leicestershire at Grace Road.

Samit Patel and Chris Read shared an unbroken stand of 148 to keep second-placed Notts afloat on day two of their LV= County Championship Division One encounter against Somerset at Taunton.

Northamptonshire succumbed to their lowest LV= County Championship total of the season before Lee Daggett wrecked Worcestershire's second innings thanks to four wickets with the new ball.

Craig Kieswetter made 73 - his first LV= County Championship half-century of the season - as Somerset amassed 517 against Nottinghamshire, for whom Samit Patel replied with 92 not out.

A five-wicket burst in the space of 26 balls by fast bowler Toby Roland-Jones followed Dawid Malan’s third championship century of the summer to help Middlesex towards maximum points at Lord's.

Pitch inspector David Hughes will take no action despite 15 wickets falling on the opening day of the tussle between Second Division promotion hopefuls Gloucestershire and Glamorgan at Cheltenham.

England, led by James Anderson, harnessed hostile conditions at Trent Bridge to take a vice-like grip on the first npower Test. At 147 for nine by stumps, Pakistan were eight adrift of the follow-on.

Nottinghamshire were frustrated in their efforts to rein in LV= County Championship Division One leaders Yorkshire as Somerset claimed maximum batting points at Taunton, reaching 423 for six.

James Hildreth hit a season’s best 142 - his fourth LV= County Championship century of the campaign - to put Somerset in a strong position on the opening day against Notts at Taunton.

Injury-hit Essex suffered a day of leather-chasing as Kent recovered from an indifferent start to post an impressive first-day total of 360 for six in the LV= County Championship Division One clash.

Gloucestershire Gladiators inflicted a first Clydesdale Bank 40 defeat of the season on Yorkshire Carnegie with a 65-run victory in the opening game of the Cheltenham Festival.

Worcestershire exploited Northamptonshire’s recent uncertainty by recovering to post 287 on the opening day of their LV= County Championship Division Two clash at New Road.

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul saved Lancashire from embarrassment with an innings of 118 at the Rose Bowl, the 54th first-class century of a distinguished career.

Surrey were left to regret batting first in conditions where the ball moved alarmingly through the air as Tim Murtagh bagged a five-wicket haul in this LV= County Championship Division Two clash at Lord’s.

Eoin Morgan reflected on the greatest achievement of his career after recording his maiden Test ton at only the third attempt. The Irishman's unbeaten 125 was key to England's dominance at Trent Bridge.