County cricket opening day: Essex v Surrey, Middlesex v Lancs, and more
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature County Championship 2025: team-by-team guide to the new season Share
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Gloucestershire
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Leicestershire
Lord's: Middlesex v Lancashire
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Kent Share
Chelmsford: Essex v Surrey
Southampton: Hampshire v Yorkshire
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Durham
Taunton: Somerset v Worcestershire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Sussex Share
Good morning! It's April 4 2025 and round the scaffolding view from my Chelmsford Premier Inn window, and the sky is blue. Yes, it's back, the County Championship, this coulntry's oldest
If you're a regular to this blog– welcome back! Hope the trials and tribulations of winter haven't been too taxing. If you're new here, come on in, the water's lovely.
Readers regularly chat about the cricket, and life, underneath the blog (BTL – below the line) please join in. Somewhere is a glossary of terms used by older hands which I'll link to when I find it.
The players are out in the middle, footballs are being kicked, ru-uthe odd woolly hat but also shorts hat but some shorts off to try and find a filter coffee from somewhere, back soon! Share
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BBC News
14 hours ago
- BBC News
Parents say children are 'dodging cars' as car park remains shut
Parents who drop their children off at a football club say it is "frustrating" they are unable to use a car park a year after it was Jaguars are being forced to "dodge cars" when their parents drop them off in Bishops Cleeve, a coach access the car park, parents would have to drive over a verge belonging to Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), which asked Bishops Cleeve Parish Council to complete a surface specification to ensure heavy goods vehicles could access the car specification has now been completed, and the car park is due to open in late October, the parish council said. Gotherington Jaguars play on an astroturf pitch every Saturday, next to the new car officials and families of the 160 players were using it for a time but the access gate was then are parking along Kayte Lane and crossing the road to take their children to football. Katrin Perkins, who takes her daughter to the club, said: "It's very frustrating that we've got this lovely car park with a lot of spaces that we can't use. It doesn't feel very safe on the road." GCC has been accused of "ridiculous" bureaucracy by Lauren, a coach at Gotherington Jaguars."We've got girls as young as four coming to play football, it's worse dodging cars than the footballs," she said."It's for the safety of the people who've paid the council tax to use it."While there is a car park on Cheltenham Road, it is 500 metres from The Astro Cage and, according to Wayne Morgan, a coach, is often full, "making access impractical and putting pressure on local roads". The parish council said it is working to get the car park open "as soon as possible"."We are hopeful that the car park will be open for the winter training sessions, commencing at the end of October," a spokesperson said."It is important to remember there is a car park at the other end of the Sports Field."GCC has been contacted for comment.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
England reveal Jofra Archer comeback plan ahead of India series
Jofra Archer is primed to make his return to Test cricket in the second encounter with India at Edgbaston next month – provided the Sussex seamer proves his fitness in the County Championship. Archer has not played first-class cricket of any kind since 2021 due to a series of injury issues, and was not considered for England selection for the first Test at Headingley as he works his way back from a broken thumb suffered at the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 30-year-old looks set to bolster England's options in Birmingham should he come through Sussex's clash with Durham, which begins on 23 June. Archer has featured regularly in England's white-ball sides over the last few years having made an eye-catching start to life in international cricket in the World Cup win and Ashes series in 2019. His possible return would come as a significant boost for England with their seam stocks hit by a hamstring injury to Gus Atkinson, who is expected to miss the first two Tests against India. "Jof's trucking along really well actually," said Luke Wright, the England selector and a former Sussex teammate of Archer's. "The plan is for him to play a few second team games, loading up in the second team for Sussex. And then the idea for him is to play for Sussex against Durham during the first Test. So he'll play for Sussex if all things go well, and then if all things go well fingers crossed he should be available for the second Test. "Like anything with all these bowlers, he's got to keep ticking things off everyday with no setbacks but if all goes well and he gets through that Durham game then he's available potentially for selection for that second Test.' Mark Wood and Olly Stone look likely to miss the entirety of the series after their own injury issues, resulting in a recall for Jamie Overton after three years out of the Test set-up. Chris Woakes, who is working his way back to full fitness, and Brydon Carse also return to a 14-man squad with Sam Cook and Josh Tongue retained after the win over Zimbabwe. England face a big call at No 3 for the first Test with Jacob Bethell back available. The left-hander batted with aplomb having earned a surprise promotion to the position on the tour of New Zealand late last year but all of England's incumbents, including Ollie Pope, made runs at Trent Bridge in the opening Test of the summer. Wright admitted that Bethell, who made a fine 81 in the first one-day international against the West Indies, was pushing for selection though no final decision had yet been made. 'He's very close to [making the side], it's a great option to have, isn't it?' Wright conceded. 'What a talent we all see in him. When we get up to Leeds we'll have good discussions and look to announce it a few days out from the Test.' England squad for first Test against India at Headingley (20-24 June) Ben Stokes (Durham) – Captain Shoaib Bashir (Somerset) Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire) Harry Brook (Yorkshire) Brydon Carse (Durham) Sam Cook (Essex) Zak Crawley (Kent) Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire) Jamie Overton (Surrey) Ollie Pope (Surrey) Joe Root (Yorkshire) Jamie Smith (Surrey) Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire) Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Man Utd make opening transfer offer of £45m to sign Premier League star
Manchester United have submitted an opening bid to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo. The Red Devils kick-started their summer overhaul by agreeing a £62.5million deal for Matheus Cunha, who will join the club from Wolves subject to visa approval and registration procedures. But Old Trafford bosses are determined to further strengthen Ruben Amorim's misfiring attack on the back of their miserable campaign and Mbeumo finds himself at the top of United's wishlist. It's understood United began talks with Brentford to discuss a move for Mbeumo last week, with the Cameroon international said to be eager to push through a switch to the Theatre of Dreams. United's interest comes on the back of a magnificent season for Mbeumo, 25, who racked up 20 goals and seven assists in 38 appearances. Only Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah outscored him in the Premier League last term. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. According to The Athletic, United's opening offer of £45m – plus £10m in add-ons – is some way short of the fee Brentford are demanding for their top goalscorer. It's understood the Bees are holding out for a sum closer to £60m from United and discussions are ongoing between the two clubs. Mbeumo has just 12 months remaining on his current contract at the Gtech Community Stadium. After the season came to an end, Thomas Frank admitted he was powerless to preventing Mbeumo from leaving given Brentford are a 'selling club'. 'I can definitely understand the interest in him,' the Brentford head coach told reporters. 'There should be interest in him. He is at his best age, he has scored 20 goals. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'I would like to keep him but we are a selling club so if someone comes in with the right price…' It seems Mbeumo's team-mates are also resigned to the prospect of the forward making way this summer, with Christian Norgaard telling Sky Sports: 'I think Bryan is likely to go. 'I don't know about [Yoanne] Wissa yet. Everyone hopes that he might stay. 'Either way, I'm happy for the season and am happy for both of them. They deserve it so much.' Mbeumo has spent six years with with Brentford, finding the back of the net 70 times in his 242 appearances for the west London outfit. Brentford stand to make a significant profit on Mbeumo given they signed the attacker from Troyes for a fee of just £5.8million – a then club-record – back in 2019. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Florian Wirtz clashes with Bruno Fernandes in Germany's Nations League loss to Portugal MORE: Chelsea told to make transfer 'exception' by signing £25m star MORE: Liam Delap reveals why he's chosen to join Chelsea after snubbing Man Utd
