Essex underlined their Vitality County Championship title credentials as seamer Sam Cook spearheaded a comprehensive 254-run win over Nottinghamshire.

Cook took six for 14 to go with his first-innings hat-trick as the home side were bowled out for just 80 in their second innings. He finished with match figures of 10 for 73.

Strike partner Jamie Porter took three for 43 as Joe Clarke top-scored with a modest 19.

However, Essex face an anxious wait to see if they will suffer a points deduction after opener Feroze Khushi’s bat failed an on-field dimensions check during their second innings.

Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond both hit centuries as Kent survived a mid-morning scare to earn a draw with Somerset at Canterbury.

Kent were in trouble on 10 for two and again at 70 for three, but a partnership of 222 for the fourth wicket took the sting out of the contest and they closed on 290 for four declared.

Warwickshire and Worcestershire drew after bad weather ruined an intriguing game at Edgbaston.

Worcestershire were frustratingly denied a chance to press for victory on their return to Division One after a wet outfield prevented play before lunch.

In the sliver of play that was possible on the final day, they took their overnight score from 237 for two to 295 for three – a lead of 322.

The match between Lancashire and Surrey ended in a draw after no play was possible on the final day at Emirates Old Trafford.

The outfield remained too wet after heavy overnight rain and a morning shower, with umpires carrying out three inspections before finally pulling the plug at 2.15pm.

Durham and Hampshire also had to settle for a draw after rain prevented any play at Chester-le-Street.

After the opening three days at Seat Unique Riverside had been washed out, there had seemed a possibility of play on day four, but captains Scott Borthwick and James Vince shook hands on a draw following a midday inspection.

In Division Two, England star Harry Brook hit a stunning final-day 100 not out in his first competitive innings since December as Yorkshire and Leicestershire had to settle for an opening-round draw at Headingley.

Brook arrived at the crease four balls into day four of this weather-ravaged fixture, overnight rain and a wet outfield once again delaying the start of play.

Brook smashed 14 fours and two sixes in 69 balls, Yorkshire declaring immediately on 264 for six just before tea in order to improve a slow over rate from the first innings.

They did this successfully as spinners Dan Moriarty and Adam Lyth raced through 7.2 overs before the rain arrived at 4pm with Leicestershire on 26 without loss in their second innings. No more play was possible, with Yorkshire taking 12 points and Leicestershire 13.

Middlesex all-rounder Ryan Higgins recorded his highest first-class score of 221 as his side’s opener against Glamorgan at Lord’s drifted to an inevitable draw.

Higgins’ epic effort, which contained 21 fours and two sixes, was his first double-hundred and featured a ninth-wicket partnership of 114 with Tom Helm, who also posted a career-best 64. A share of the spoils had always seemed virtually guaranteed on a batting-friendly pitch where only 15 wickets fell in the course of four days.

Lewis McManus’ determined resistance and bad light frustrated Sussex’s bid to pull off an unlikely victory over Northamptonshire on a gripping final day at Hove.

McManus (13 not out) batted for an hour as four partners came and went and Northants lurched to 170 for nine before umpires decided it was too gloomy even for spin with the visitors ahead by 63.

The start of the new season at Derby ended in anti-climax and frustration when the match between Derbyshire and Gloucestershire was abandoned without a ball bowled due to bad weather.

Bad light and determined resistance by Lewis McManus frustrated Sussex's bid to pull off an unlikely victory over Northamptonshire on Monday's fourth and final day at Hove.

McManus batted for an hour as four partners came and went and Northants crawled  to 170-9 before the umpires called an end to proceedings with Northants ahead by 63.

The loss of more than 100 overs eventually proved decisive but Sussex will have drawn a lot of encouragement after making most of the running, especially on the last two days. They took 15 points and Northants 13.

Having established a first-innings lead of 107, they reduced Northants to 57 for 4. Skipper Luke Procter (41) settled the nerves before left-arm spinner James Coles revived Sussex hopes with three of the four wickets that fell in 7.1 overs after tea that left them 152 for 8.

McManus and Ben Sanderson resisted for eight overs until the light improved sufficiently to enable Sussex skipper John Simpson to bring back his quicks Jayden Seales and Ollie Robinson for two overs each.

Robinson responded with an unplayable yorker to uproot Sanderson's middle stump, a fitting way to celebrate his 400th first-class wicket. Spinners Coles and Jack Carson returned but the light didn't improve and the players shook hands shortly after 6pm.

Sussex had declared their first innings on 478 for 9 after adding 127 in 20 overs to collect maximum batting points. Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Danny Lamb extended their seventh wicket stand to 99 from just 14.1 overs with Lamb contributing 41 before Chris Tremain held an excellent low catch at midwicket off Sanderson.

Hudson-Prentice, who made nine Championship fifties last season, demonstrated his effectiveness again with 73 from 60 balls and it took a clever piece of bowling by Tremain to remove him when he held one back and Hudson-Prentice drove to long-on.

Even the normally frugal Sanderson suffered when Carson hit him for three sixes in a lively 61 from 53 balls. Aiming to clear midwicket again he was bowled to give left-arm spinner Zaib his fourth wicket.

Robinson and Seales plundered 30 runs from ten balls before the declaration left Northants with four overs before lunch which they couldn't negotiate unscathed as Seales produced a lovely away-swinger which Justin Broad edged to third slip.

Sussex gained further encouragement with three wickets in ten overs after lunch. Emilio Gay (20) lost his off stump to give Seales his sixth wicket of the match and Karun Nair edged Robinson to third slip with Coles taking a superb catch low to his left.

George Bartlett drove off spinner Carson onto the roof of the South Stand only to perish two balls later before a stand of 73 between Procter and Rob Keogh steered Northants into calmer waters, for a while at least.

Coles added to his three first-innings wickets with three more after tea. Zaib was well caught at slip trying to guide the ball to third man; Keogh was lbw to a quicker ball for a well-made 55; and Michael Finan taken at second slip on the drive. Carson sparked the collapse when he went around the wicket to have Procter leg before as he aimed through midwicket.

Robinson finished with 2 for 19 from ten overs in three spells and bowled at a good pace throughout. He will have been pleased to get through 32 overs in what was only his second first-class match since July 2023.

Full Scores: Northamptonshire 371 (Luke Procter 92, Karun Nair 57, Jayden Seales 4-86) and 170 for 9 (Rob Keogh 55) drew with Sussex 478 for 9 declared (Tom Haines 133, James Coles 78, Fynn Hudson-Prentice 73, Jack Carson 61, Saif Zaib 4-84)

Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) have announced a T20 ‘A’ Team tour as part of their respective ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 preparations.

This historic series will be the first time a West Indies team has toured Nepal and will consist of five (5) T20 matches, all of which will be played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket commented, "this A-team tour is another indication of the importance we are placing on A-team cricket and a significant phase in our preparations for the T20 World Cup. It gives us a final opportunity to see many of the contenders for a place in the squad who are not participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Even for those players who do not make the final World Cup squad they will be a part of the reserve pool. A hallmark of the 2016 T20 World Cup campaign was the ability of reserve players to come in and have an immediate impact so we must be ready for all eventualities. We also relish the opportunity to take the West Indies brand to Nepal for the first time, as cricket continues to grow in popularity there.”

CAN Secretary, Paras Khadka, stated, “we are humbled and excited with the prospect of the West Indies ‘A’ team touring Nepal. This marks a significant moment in our cricketing history as we embrace this wonderful opportunity bestowed upon us, which will help us prepare significantly for the T20 World Cup and beyond.  This historic tour to Nepal, a young cricketing nation slowly finding its pathway in the world of cricket, will excite our passionate fans. Our heartfelt gratitude towards CWI for their support and belief in Nepal cricket and for continuing to help grow the game all over the world. We hope this will ignite more future tours and bilateral cricketing tie-ups between us and other top cricketing nations, as we march forward with great enthusiasm and appreciation.”

The only time West Indies have played Nepal in International cricket was a One Day International at the Harare Sports Club, during the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in 2023, with the West Indies winning by 101 runs.

Co-Hosts, West Indies are in Group C in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and will face Papua New Guinea, Uganda, New Zealand, and Afghanistan, whilst Nepal is in Group D and will face the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Bangladesh.

West Indies ‘A’ Tour to Nepal Schedule

All matches to be played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground (TU) in Kirtipur, Nepal.  All matches start at 1.00 pm (local time)

Saturday 27 April - 1st ‘A’ Team T20, Nepal v West Indies ‘A’ at TU at 1:00 pm

Sunday 28 April - 2nd ‘A’ Team T20, Nepal v West Indies ‘A’ at TU at 1:00 pm

Wednesday 1 May - 3rd ‘A’ Team T20, Nepal v West Indies ‘A’ at TU at 1:00 pm

Thursday 2 May - 4th ‘A’ Team T20, Nepal v West Indies ‘A’ at TU at 1:00 pm

Saturday 4 May - 5th ‘A’ Team T20, Nepal v West Indies ‘A’ at TU at 1:00 pm

Paul Downton ended a torrid 14-month tenure as managing director of England cricket when he was sacked on this day in 2015.

The former Test wicketkeeper was judged to have the right mix of on-field experience and business savvy from his time in the city, but was overwhelmed by events during his turbulent reign.

Taking over from Hugh Morris, he picked up the aftermath of the brutal 2013/14 Ashes whitewash and immediately took ownership of the decision to ex-communicate star batter Kevin Pietersen, whose own relationship with the squad had fallen into disrepair.

The ECB was later forced to apologise for breaching a settlement agreement with Pietersen following comments made by Downton to BBC’s Test Match Special.

Downton’s judgement was questioned when he reappointed Peter Moores for a second stint in charge of the team despite his previous failure in the role, hailing him as the “best coach of his generation” and “the future of English cricket”.

Although Moores narrowly outlasted him, a dire performance at the 2015 World Cup reflected badly on both men.

New ECB chief executive Tom Harrison made the call to oust Downton while the Test team were on tour in the West Indies, declaring: “Paul is a man of great integrity. Today has been a very tough day for the ECB and we’ve made a tough decision on a highly respected member of staff.

“Today is about the future of cricket. Today is about where this organisation is set to go over the next four to five years.”

The brief for Downton’s job was tightened and rebranded, attracting a more current figure in the shape of recent Test captain Andrew Strauss. With a renewed emphasis on elite performance, he replaced Moores with Trevor Bayliss and set the groundwork for England’s World Cup triumph in 2019.

Downton’s career in administration would get a second chapter, though, returning as director of cricket at his former county, Kent.

His time at Canterbury proved more productive, overseeing promotion to Division One of the County Championship in his first year and subsequent titles in the T20 and 50-over formats. He retired at the end of the 2023 campaign amid plentiful praise for his work.

Kashif Ali hit a second century of the match as Worcestershire dominated day three of their Vitality County Championship Division One clash with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Kashif surpassed his stylish first-innings knock of 110 with a superb 133 from just 128 balls to help his side amass 237 for two to lead by 264 going into the final day.

Warwickshire lost their last five wickets for 27 to fold to 333 all out and give the visitors a lead of 27, which they enhanced in highly entertaining fashion as Kashif was supported by Jake Libby’s unbeaten 75.

Nottinghamshire look likely to be chasing a 300-plus target on the final day after Essex hauled themselves out of a tricky situation at Trent Bridge.

At 129 for five shortly before lunch – just 89 runs in front – the visitors appeared in danger of slipping to defeat.

But after Paul Walter (79) and Matt Critchley (68) fought back in a 132-run partnership for the sixth wicket, Tom Westley’s team were 289 in front at 329 for eight when rain forced an early close.

Kent and Somerset look to be heading for a draw at Canterbury.

Tom Lammonby hit 90 and Matt Renshaw 66 as the visitors reached 374 for seven at stumps to overhaul Kent’s first innings score of 284.

Kent debutants Matt Parkinson and George Garrett took three for 31 and two for 61 respectively, but a stand of 101 between Kasey Aldridge and James Rew left Somerset with a lead of 90.

Durham and Hampshire continue to wait for the start of their campaigns as play was abandoned in Chester-le-Street for a third consecutive day due to wet weather.

The match between Lancashire and Surrey also looks certain to end in a draw after only 21 balls were bowled on the third day at Emirates Old Trafford because of rain.

Reigning champions Surrey had progressed to 15 without loss in their first innings in reply to Lancashire’s 202 all out.

In Division Two, Ryan Higgins’ century steered Middlesex towards the safety of a draw in their high-scoring encounter with Glamorgan at Lord’s.

The all-rounder plundered an unbeaten 127 to enable the hosts, faced with the scoreboard pressure of Glamorgan’s first innings score of 620 for three, to move to the verge of avoiding the follow-on with their impressive reply of 460 for five.

Higgins was ably assisted by wicketkeeper-batter Jack Davies, who contributed 60 during a fifth-wicket stand of 153, after opener Mark Stoneman fell three shy of a century.

Sussex opener Tom Haines made 133 but his side’s game against Northamptonshire at Hove looks likely to end in a draw.

The left-hander eased to the 10th first-class hundred of his career as the home team reached 351 for six at stumps, trailing by 20.

Sussex had been in a spot of bother at 94 for three but James Coles produced a stylish 78 in a fourth-wicket stand of 137 to add to his three wickets.

England batter Harry Brook’s first competitive innings of the year was delayed by the weather as Yorkshire’s clash with Leicestershire was abandoned without a ball bowled.

The hosts remain on 72 for two at Headingley in response to Leicestershire’s 354, with Adam Lyth unbeaten on 43 and George Hill on 13.

There was a similar story at Derby where there was no play for the third day running in the match between Derbyshire and Gloucestershire.

In a run-fest at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians secured their first win of the IPL 2024 season with a commanding 29-run victory over Delhi Capitals. The highlight of the match was Player of the Match Romario Shepherd's explosive batting display in the final over, where he smashed 32 runs off Anrich Nortje to lift Mumbai to a formidable total of 234 for 5.

Mumbai's innings began with a blazing start from Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, who put on an impressive 80-run partnership in just seven overs. Rohit, in particular, was in devastating form, dispatching the Capitals' bowlers to all parts of the ground. He accelerated rapidly, hitting boundaries at will and setting the tone for Mumbai's innings.

As the Capitals looked to regain control with spinners, Rohit continued his onslaught, unfazed by the change in bowling attack. His aggressive strokeplay kept Mumbai's scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace, pushing them to 75 for no loss after six overs.

While Rohit fell just short of a half-century, contributions from Kishan and later Tim David (45* off 21) and Romario Shepherd (39* off 10) propelled Mumbai to a daunting total. Shepherd's heroics in the final over, particularly against Nortje, turned the tide firmly in Mumbai's favor and provided crucial momentum heading into the second innings.

In response, Delhi Capitals fought bravely, led by Prithvi Shaw's attacking 66 off 40 balls and a sensational unbeaten 71 from Tristan Stubbs. Shaw's aggressive approach and Stubbs' late onslaught kept the Capitals in contention, but Mumbai's total proved too challenging to chase down.

Despite the Capitals' spirited efforts, the 20th over of Mumbai's innings, where Romario Shepherd unleashed a flurry of boundaries against Nortje, emerged as the decisive moment of the match. Shepherd's exceptional hitting display not only boosted Mumbai's total significantly but also injected momentum and confidence into the team.

Sophie Devine struck an unbeaten century to guide New Zealand to a seven-wicket victory over England in the final game of the ODI series in Hamilton.

Captain Devine anchored her side to a comprehensive victory, finishing with 100 off 93 balls in a chase of 195.

She finished the game in style, hitting a six to bring up her ton and secure her side’s consolation victory in the 2-1 series defeat.

England took to the crease first but were dealt an early blow as Tammy Beaumont was lbw to Hannah Rowe.

Maia Bouchier was dismissed just one over later before captain Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt looked to anchor the innings.

With the score 82 for two from 17 overs, Sciver-Brunt was caught off Amelia Kerr for 27.

The captain watched wickets fall around her, with Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt out for one and four respectively.

Knight was the next to go before wicketkeeper Amy Jones and Charlie Dean put together a much-needed partnership of 73, with Jones top-scoring for England with 50.

England finished all out for 194 fter 46 overs, with Jess Kerr and Rowe picking up three wickets each.

England looked in the game after removing both New Zealand openers with only 14 on the board before Amelia Kerr and Devine built a strong partnership.

Sophie Ecclestone had Amelia Kerr lbw for 31, but that was the final wicket, with Maddy Green scoring 38 not out alongside Devine to reach England’s total after 39 overs.

Barbados-born England fast bowler Jofra Archer is expected to play for local club, Wildey when the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Twenty20 Cup tournament opens on Sunday.

Archer and former West Indies white-ball captain Carlos Brathwaite are expected to be part of the Wildey line-up when they face Police in the opening round of matches on home soil at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology ground.

The 28-year-old made a surprise appearance for his relegation-threatened alma mater, Foundation School in the BCA Division 1 championship last December at the same time England were on a white-ball tour of the Caribbean, much to the chagrin of England & Wales Cricket Board officials.

England managing director Rob Key said on Friday that Archer will not play Tests this summer when Ben Stokes’ side face West Indies and Sri Lanka, but he will hopefully be ready for the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup in June in the Caribbean and the United States.

“The whole plan with Jofra is he’s going to play white-ball cricket for this summer and going into the winter,” Key told Sky Sports.

“Then hopefully next summer, when we play India and then onto the Ashes, we get him back for Test cricket. It’s a slow process to get him back for all forms.”

Key said Archer is being eased back into action after he struggled with stress fractures in his elbow, but the fast bowler was a part of a pre-season trip with English County side Sussex last month to India and bowled with fire.

“Jofra has been out with Sussex in India for pre-season and bowled quickly out there, he bowled really well,” Key added.

“He has now gone back to the Caribbean where he’s going to play a bit of club cricket, all about getting himself ready for that T20 World Cup.”

Key said: “He’ll hopefully play the Pakistan series, but it’s always fingers-crossed at the moment with Jofra.

“What we’re going to do is take it slower (rather) than trying to go too quickly, so that we get him back for not just a short period, but we get him for a long period.”

Archer last played a Test for England more than three years ago in February 2021, but he has since represented them in white-ball cricket, with his last outing coming in a Twenty20 International against Bangladesh last year.

Sam Northeast made history for Glamorgan in Vitality County Championship Division Two after hitting the highest first-class score recorded at Lord’s against Middlesex.

The captain hit 335 not out to overtake Graham Gooch’s 333 for England against India in 1990 and put on an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 299 with Colin Ingram (132 not out) before Glamorgan declared on 620 for three.

Sam Robson was the first to fall for Middlesex seven runs short of a century but the hosts finished day two trailing by 482 runs with nine wickets remaining.

Essex bowler Sam Cook put in an impressive display in Division One, taking a hat-trick as his side lead Nottinghamshire by 24 runs at Trent Bridge.

The visitors were all out for 253 after Jamie Porter was dismissed in the morning and Joe Clarke put Nottinghamshire in a strong position with 104 off 185 balls before having his wicket taken by Simon Harmer.

The hosts were also helped by Jack Haynes’ 77 but following his dismissal by Matt Critchley Cook claimed the wickets of Lyndon James, Brett Hutton and Dillon Pennington as the hosts slumped to 293 all out. Essex finished on 65 for one second time around.

Cameron Steel took five wickets as Lancashire were bowled all out for 202 by Surrey, with Australian spinner Nathan Lyon making his debut for the hosts at Old Trafford.

Day one was washed out, but play was able to begin at lunchtime on day two following a pitch inspection and Josh Bohannon top-scored with 84 from 155 balls before falling to Dan Lawrence, who picked up four wickets on debut for Surrey.

Steel bowled George Balderson for 21 before Lawrence took over, but he went on to mop up the tail finishing with five wickets for 25 runs, which included the wicket of Lyon for a duck. Surrey closed on 11 without loss.

Kent were all out for 284 against Somerset before bad light ended play early on day two at Canterbury.

Lewis Gregory finished the day with four wickets as Joe Evison (85) and Harry Finch (54) led the effort for the hosts.

Ed Barnard’s 89 means Warwickshire trail Worcestershire by 68 runs with five wickets remaining at Edgbaston.

Worcestershire resumed day two on 316 for seven and were bowled all out for 360, with Chris Rushworth claiming three of the wickets.

Barnard starred with the bat, scoring 89 from 124 balls before being trapped lbw by Adam Finch. Warwickshire will resume day three with Dan Mousely unbeaten on 56 alongside Michael Burgess on one.

In Division Two, Captain Luke Proctor’s 92 helped Northamptonshire as they closed day two on 292 for seven against Sussex at Hove. Karun Nair hit 57 for the visitors.

Ben Mike scored 90 for Leicestershire on his return to Yorkshire as they were bowled all out for 354 by the hosts at Headingley.

Mike, who left Yorkshire in November one year into a three-year deal, returned for a second spell at Grace Road in search of greater opportunity in this competition.

Leicestershire resumed on 164 for five and needed the efforts of Mike and Tom Scriven (56) to halt their slide, with seamer Matt Milnes taking four wickets for Yorkshire.

All-rounder Mike then impressed with the ball in the evening session, taking two wickets as the hosts finished day two on 72 for two.

Wet weather meant no play was possible for a second day in Durham’s Division One meeting with Hampshire and for Derbyshire’s clash with Gloucestershire in Division Two.

Northamptonshire reached 292-7 off 102.3 overs at stumps on day two of their rain-affected game against Sussex to kick off their County Championship Division Two season at Hove on Saturday.

Captain Luke Procter led the way with 92 while Indian Karun Nair contributed 57.

Procter’s knock lasted 225 balls and included eight fours and one six while Nair faced 104 balls and hit seven fours and one six.

West Indian pacer Jayden Seales, in his first appearance in the County Championship, has, so far, taken 3-64 in his 20 overs.

The 22-year-old removed openers Emilio Gay (5) and Justin Broad (27) before removing middle order batsman George Bartlett for 27 in the 82^nd over.

James Coles has provided good support for Seales with 2-19 from 8.3 overs.

Dean Elgar and Jordan Cox made eye-catching debuts for Essex but it was Elgar’s fellow South African Dane Paterson who stole the show for Nottinghamshire on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship season at Trent Bridge.

Opener Elgar, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, looked more than capable of filling the void left by Sir Alastair Cook, defying typical opening-day conditions with a classy 80.

He shared a 112-run third-wicket partnership with the talented former Kent batter Cox, who went on to make 84, but Paterson powered a Nottinghamshire fightback by taking five for 49 with his wily medium pace.

Paterson bowled Elgar with one of several outstanding deliveries as Essex, runners-up in Division One last season, slipped from 170 for two to 176 for five before closing on 244 for nine from 77 overs, with time having been lost to a wet outfield at the start and bad light in the evening.

Kashif Ali scored an accomplished maiden century as Worcestershire made a solid 316 for seven against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Kashif struck 110 (188 balls) and Gareth Roderick added 68 (163) as the visitors returned to Division One with a strong day’s work following promotion last year.

Seamer George Hill claimed three key wickets, including Australian opener Marcus Harris for 56, as Yorkshire had the better of a shortened opening day against Leicestershire at Headingley.

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Heavy overnight rain meant a wet outfield and a delayed start until 3.40pm, with Division Two title favourites Yorkshire opting to bowl upon winning the toss.

The Foxes, led by fringe Test left-hander Harris, started brightly as they reached 89 for one. But skilful Hill set about changing the course of proceedings and left the close-of-play score at 164 for five from 46 overs.

Sam Northeast became the summer’s first centurion in Glamorgan’s Division Two clash with hosts Middlesex at Lord’s.

The Glamorgan skipper passed the landmark for the 30th time in his career, sharing century stands with Billy Root, 67, and Kiran Carlson, 77, and finishing unbeaten on 186 as the Welsh county reached 370 for three by the close.

Northamptonshire had the better of the half day’s play that was possible against Sussex as their batters battled hard and reached 95 for two when bad light – with no option for floodlights – drove the players from the field just after 6pm.

There was no play possible in the Division One games between Durham and Hampshire, Kent and Somerset and Lancashire and Surrey because of the wet weather.

In Division Two Derbyshire versus Gloucestershire was also wiped out.

England managing director Rob Key has said that Jofra Archer will not play Test cricket this summer but will hopefully be ready for June’s T20 World Cup.

The Sussex quick is being eased back into action having struggled with stress fractures in his elbow.

His last Test for England was more than three years ago in February 2021, but he has since represented England in white-ball cricket, with his last outing coming in a T20 against Bangladesh last year.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Key confirmed that Archer will not play a part in England’s red-ball summer, when Ben Stokes’ side have Tests against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

“The whole plan with Jofra is he’s going to play white-ball cricket for this summer and going into the winter,” Key told Sky Sports.

“Then hopefully next summer, when we play India and then onto the Ashes, we get him back for Test cricket.

“It’s a slow process to get him back for all forms.”

Although Archer will not be involved in Test cricket for England, the aim is that he can be fit for this year’s T20 World Cup taking place in the West Indies and the United States.

Key is also hopeful the fast bowler can be involved in the T20 series against Pakistan in May.

“Jofra has been out with Sussex in India for pre-season and bowled quickly out there, he bowled really well,” Key added.

“He has now gone back to the Caribbean where he’s going to play a bit of club cricket, all about getting himself ready for that T20 World Cup.

“He’ll hopefully play the Pakistan series, but it’s always fingers-crossed at the moment with Jofra.

“What we’re going to do is take it slower (rather) than trying to go too quickly so that we get him back for not just a short period but we get him for a long period.”

James Anderson does not expect to be available for Lancashire until the end of May at the earliest as he looks to prime himself for the English Test summer.

Anderson became the first fast bowler in history to reach 700 Test wickets last month, joining spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne in an exclusive club, in England’s 4-1 series loss in India.

As he wants to be firing on all cylinders for the first of England’s six Tests this summer, against the West Indies at Lord’s starting on July 10 – three weeks before his 42nd birthday – Anderson anticipates he will sit out the early part of the 2024 Vitality County Championship, which got under way on Friday.

He is set to miss at least the first five rounds and could also skip the visit of Warwickshire, beginning on May 24, although Lancashire’s next fixture after that is not until June 23 at Kent.

“With the Tests being in July, it’s tricky,” said Anderson. “It’ll probably be June before I play, or maybe the end of May.”

Anderson featured four times within the space of a month last year but then suffered a groin niggle which left him touch and go for the start of an Ashes series in which he had an underwhelming impact.

Anderson reducing his county commitments this term means the prospect of him playing alongside Nathan Lyon has receded after Cricket Australia scaled back the off-spinner’s availability for Lancashire.

The pair have been on opposite sides of the Ashes divide over the years but Lyon revealed they had lunch earlier this week and Anderson remains hopeful they can play together at least once or twice.

“It was nice to actually have a civil conversation with him,” added Anderson, speaking following the announcement that £35million will be invested into grassroots cricket.

“I think he plays seven out of the first nine games, so hopefully I’ll play one or two, either at the end of May or in June.”

Following the non-selection of Guyanese Ashmini Munisar, Plaffiana Millington and Shabika Gajnabi, top performers in the recently concluded CWI Blaze T20 and Super50 Cup tournaments, for the West Indies Women’s upcoming tour of Pakistan, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is questioning Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) criteria/measuring stick used for selection.

Munisar, Millington and Gajnabi were among the leading performers in the recent CWI Women's Super50 and T20 Blaze tournaments, either with bat, ball or both, but were somehow overlooked ahead of the Pakistan tour.

CWI released their 15-member squad ahead of the upcoming eight-match Series which bowls off April 6 in Pakistan, with Guyana skipper Shemaine Campbelle being named vice-captain and all-rounder Cherry-Ann Fraser, the only Guyanese in the team.

“The non-inclusion of Munisar, Millington and Gajnabi comes as a shock, as the trio played outstanding cricket throughout,” the board expressed in a statement on social media on Thursday.

In the batting department, Guyana had 3 players in the top five run scorers for the T20 Blaze, with Gajnabi, Campbell and Mandy Mangru occupying spots 2, 3 and 5 respectively.

Gajnabi, a regular face in the Windies Women's team, finished as the second leading run-scorer overall in the T20 Blaze and top run-getter for Guyana, with 138 runs at an average of 34 and a top score of 52.

Campbell, who was selected for Pakistan, ended as the 3rd leading scorer behind Gajnabi, with an aggregate of 128 runs, also ended with the most dismissals by a wicket-keeper (6).

In Women's Super50 Cup, Munisar finished as the leading wicket-taker with 12 victims and a best of 5-15, which was also the best figures of the Super50 by any bowler.

She was followed by countrywoman Niya Latchman who was the next best wicket-taker in the 50-Overs with 11 wickets, as the latter also had a selection-warranted season with the ball.

The Guyanese trio statistically outplayed almost all of the other selectees for the upcoming tour, with the non-selection of three premier performers in both the T20 and Super50 now being questioned by the GCB.