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Last night James Rew was the Somerset man on media duty after they beat Sussex.Here he talks about his England call up.
“It was an incredible moment when I got the call, something you dream of, but never think will happen.
“To join up with the squad last week and do a bit of training with them was amazing. Just watching Test Match players go about their business is a great learning experience.
“It’s hard to put into words how I felt. Everything they do is a class apart and to be able to draw on the wisdom of great players is a wonderful opportunity for me.
“Watching the England boys bat in the nets and the level of skill they show was incredible. And the way they train is the next level to anything I have seen before.
“The commitment they show to practice is amazing to see. I am going back to train with the squad tomorrow for the next couple of days before the Test Match starts on Thursday.
“If I am not required, I will be heading up to Durham with the Somerset team. If I play for England it would be fantastic, but just being involved in the build-up to the Test will be tremendous, so we will wait and see.”
And another interesting snippet from later on in his interview is that Lewis Gregory opened the batting at an early stage of his career.
Lancs are batting on at OT, but only added eight runs before Balderson holed out. Tickner also seems to have hurt the back of his knee in his follow through.
No beers before bedtime.
Sunday's round-up
Leicestershire’s rise to the top of Division Two – four wins out of six, nearly half the season gone – is starting to cultivate peony‑sized dreams of promotion. Middlesex fell under the cartwheels, losing six for 34, dismissed for 143 in their second innings.
Logan van Beek and Ben Green gathered three wickets each. Peter Handscomb, the captain, hit the winning runs and Leicestershire could tick off a first Championship win at Lord’s in 45 years.
At Old Trafford, Derbyshire just avoided the follow-on thanks to some doughty batting and tail‑end bounty. Lancashire pulled Jimmy Anderson back from patrolling the boundary with an eight‑down Derbyshire needing 29 to not bat again. But although he removed Zach Chappell, Ben Aitchison and Blair Tickner got the visiting side over the line.
Lancashire suffered a tumble of wickets going for quick runs, including an astonishing caught and bowled by David Lloyd, but a lead of 285 is nearly enough to let Anderson off the leash in the second innings. A career-best six for 19 from Matthew Waite helped Worcestershire to secure their first win of the season, as Essex’s second‑innings chase of 336 ended damply – 110 all out.
Lewis Gregory is finding the shoes fit very nicely in his new role as Somerset opener. His busy and boisterous 89 lifted Somerset to a five-wicket win against Sussex, from an unpromising 30 for three.
James Fuller (five for 56) and Kyle Abbott (three for 44) undid Warwickshire against Hampshire at Edgbaston. Chasing 310 they lost two wickets with 10 on the board, and the climb was too steep.
Durham cruised to their highest first-class score, with centuries from Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson and Graham Clark. Yorkshire are in trouble at Surrey despite an unbeaten 64 from Jonny Bairstow. Sam Northeast and Asa Tribe safely escorted Glamorgan to a three-day victory against Northamptonshire.
Scores on the doors
Chester-le-Street: Durham 664 v Nottinghamshire 407 and 67-1
Taunton: Somerset 338 and 150-5 BEAT Sussex 152 and 335 by five wickets
The Oval: Surrey 512 v Yorkshire 255 and 185-6
Edgbaston: Hampshire 300 and 203 BEAT Warwickshire 194 and 220 by 89 runs
New Road: Worcestershire 358 and 134 BEAT Essex 157 and 110 By 225 runs
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 424 and 66-2 BEAT Northants 185 and 304 by eight wickets
Bristol: Gloucestershire 516 v Kent 424 and 135-4
Old Trafford: Lancashire 458 and 141-6 v Derbyshire 314
Lord’s: Leicestershire 274 and 102-3 BEAT Middlesex 232 and 143 BY seven wickets
Preamble
Hello from a cooler Old Trafford, where the clouds have dropped and the sky is grey. Only four games still in progress, after Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Somerset, Hampshire and Worcestershire all romped to victories yesterday. Of those left: Yorkshire look unlikely to bat all day at The Oval, even with a furious YJB at the crease; Kent are in trouble against Gloucestershire unless Grant Stewart fancies a reprise of the first innings; a draw beckons at CLS, which leaves the most interesting prospect at Old Trafford – where Derbyshire might find themselves with a battle on their hands against Jimmy Anderson.
Play starts at 11am, do join us.
