Id better think about writing up, as they once again secure the covers at The Oval.

Division Two lives and breathes:

Derbyshire 15-0 after Sussex were bowled out for 100 in 36 overs. Four wickets each for Chappell and Conners.

Yorkshire 67-0 in the crucial fast-flowing game at Grace Road.

And Worcestershire press on, aimlessly. Three wickets for de Leede, including his Netherlands teammate van Beek. Worcs 287-6.

Fifty for Jamie Overton

Ooof, a drop. A cover-your-eyes one. Overton given a life by Sanderson off Procter, and Overton then cracks/hits/thwacks two successive fours, followed by four byes. OVerton 49 not out.

Foakes and Overton making the previous few hours at The Oval look strangely eventful, as Sanderson resumes from the Pavilion end, half appealing first ball. Over at Chelmsford, they’re still off for bad light.

They’ve called it a day at Taunton, Somerset 404-4, with Kent only collecting one bowling point. Somerset to declare tomorrow and see what Kent can do- or not do?

Jason Roy turns down ODI spot v Ireland

A much-improved Middlesex batting performance, though Mark Stoneman has just been caught for 32. Middx 78-1. Sussex back on at The County Ground – though not for long, 100-9.

The Oval helicopter circles back and around, desperate to catch another one of those Foakes on drives. And who can blame them.

With a rich crack of the bat, Ben Foakes on drives Taylor for four. Two balls later, he repeats the shot. The Oval crowd wakes up, and a helicopter flies loudly overhead.

Bad light and rain again forcing the teams off at Derby, Grace Road, Taunton, Old Trafford and Chelmsford.

Somerset to lose the head of their groundstaff, Scott Hawkins, to the Premiership.

Overton edges, on the ground, through second slip for four. Surrey 105-6. Now bad light at Chelmsford. And the slide rule moves again.

Surrey full of love for – 20 year old – Tom Prest.

The floodlights are on at Grace Road, Lyth and Bean resist Scriven and Wright. Time for a cup of tea.

Four o’clock restart at Lord’s. Four fifteen start at The Oval as the groundstaff shake out the washing and peg it on the line.

Weather interfering in bonus points here, promotion dreams there. But the teams are back out at New Road in the game where both sides would be happy twiddling their thumbs. Worcestershire 195-4, Adam Hose retired hurt after being hit on the hand. Durham can be outright Division Two winners today if they can rattle out Worcestershire for less than 400.

Hampshire avoid the follow on. Tom Prest just nine away from an almost run a ball hundred. Essex frustrated. And they take tea.

Swindells finally out for a hook-a-duck 73. Leics 233, a most unexpected lead of 78.

Harmer (5-116) grinds the (Felix) Organ, who spoons out to Matt Critchely for a duck. Hants 286-8, 161 behind.

South London skies:

Harry Swindells making a late entry for performance of the season. He and Will Davis have now passed the record 10th-wicket partnership against Yorkshire, the partnership 90 and counting. Leics 233-9, the lead 78.

And while the ground-staff inspect the soaking covers at a now sunny Oval, a wicket at Chelmsford. Keith Barker holing out off Sam Cook. Hampshire 284-7, Essex lead by 163.

Tea-time-ish scores

Prest proving a right royal irritant for Essex, after a 54-run partnership with Liam Dawson, he and Keith Barker have now added 39. The deficit 213, four wickets in hand.

Richard Kendall is hopeful for another year of SAC.

Harry “soon to be out of contract” Swindells and Davis have stretched that Leicestershire lead to 30. Fifty-one not out to Swindells. Enough?

Men in matching wellies, shorts and cagouls walk in formation across the Oval with groundsheets.

Rain at The County Ground – Sussex 90-8. Rain at New Road – Worcestershire frozen at 179-4. Tight as a drum at Grace Road, where Leicestershire have one wicket in hand, and trail Yorks by one run. A precious 41 not out by Swindells, fresh from his Cup heroics, in his first Championship game of the year.

Keeping it interesting: Lancs five down, Hampshire six down. Rain at Lord’s (Middlesex easing to 52-0), Taunton (Somerset, likewise, 404-4) and The Oval (Surrey 91-6).

And suddenly, down comes the rain.

And Jordan Clark must shuffle off, giving the umpire a glance possibly a verbal or two, caught behind for 9.

Jordan Clark looks as the score and says, hell no, flat-hooking Sanderson for six. Surrey 79-5.

Jack White lollops in from a great height. Clark is watchful, to a chorus of school-children. Below us a couple of members of ground-staff hover by the covers. Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, Lancashire are quietly four down

As Clark survives an lbw shout on 0, some ceremony at Taunton.

This is a ridiculous scoreline considering Northants have only won one game all season. Still, Foakes and Steel have this. Thanks to Andrew Radd for telling us that Sanderson is now in the top 30 Northants wicket-takers. BLOW ME THERE IS ANOTHER – as Steel loses his off stump at high speed to Jack White. Surrey 66-5

Consternation amongst the Surrey faithful as Dom Sibley is sawn off sent on his heavy-footed way. Surrey 62-4.

Sir Alastair -a correction

A bucket of wickets this morning, with Sussex in particular strife. Time for some lunch – back shortly!

Lunchtime scores

Hampshire lose three for seven to keep things spicy. Middleton (47), Vince (46) and Dawson (1). Harmer three for 58.

Does big bad Dom has a limp? Anyway, he drives Procter chunkily for four. Lunch approaches.

Hmm, so, Surrey. Clouds encroaching, cool air falling and Sudharsan back in the paivilion. Three wickets down for fifty.

A half-century for England-bound Tom Kohler-Cadmore at Taunton.

And – ALERT – Middlesex are batting, again.

A wicket at The Oval, as Patel drives Procter straight to cover. Surrey 43-2. They won’t collapse, they never do, but it would be interesting.

Sibley (23) and Patel in no hurry. The tall Tom Taylor, soon to move to New Road, striding in from the Pavilion End, elbows outwards.

In Division Two: Rain at New Road, which will not displease either party – Worcs 179-4. George Hill has whistled through must-win Leicestershire, who are 70-4, 84 behind Yorks. And at the County Ground, Sussex 57-4 and very glad that they only have a day and two thirds to survive.

Harmer (and Walter) time: Hampshire 99-2. Albert gone for 39 and Gubbins fifth ball for one. Vince screaming along to a three-boundaried 17.

And here, reproduced ATL with kind thanks to Brian Withington: Sir Alastair Cook Blues

Stop all the clocks, mute the mobile phone,

Prevent Balti from sobbing with a juicy Rhône,

Silence Don Topley and with muffled drum

Pack up the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead

Scribbling on the sky the message He’s Retired,

Put crepe bows round the white necks of the Chelmsford doves,

Let the groundstaff lads wear black cotton gloves.

He was our North, our South, our East and West,

Our working week and our Sunday best,

Our opener, our rock, always batting long,

We thought the runs would come for ever: we were wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;

Pour away Balti’s fizz and put away the wood;

And just to rub it in Dan’s off to Surrey for good.

A hundred for Lewis Goldsworthy!

An hour in, let’s go round the Division One grounds: Burns and Sibley coping, with patience, and occasional inelegance, competently. Surrey 16-0.

Hampshire 68-0 against the soon to (possibly) be DeCooked Essex . Harmer, seven unrewarded overs.

Wells and Jennings 58-0 at Old Trafford, against Notts in the battle of the under-achieving counties.

At Lord’s, Rhodes out for 102 but Briggs still there in the nervous nineties. Warwicks 278-7, the lead 150 plus.

And Somerset in control against Kent, Goldsworthy just a pigeon step away from his ton. Somerset 273-2.

For your stats book: only 118.2 overs were played across the Championship yesterday.

About 1min 25 in:

Four red-capped slips waiting as Sanderson approaches Burns, whose stance, I can confirm to Ian Sargeant continues to be, “I’ve heard a noise over my right shoulder that I must immediately investigate.”

An email from Ian Sargeant – the first in what I hope will be a long-running series Cricketers on Public Transport:

“Rory Burns was on my train (to Vauxhall) this morning – no seats available.

“I can confirm he stood in an orthodox side on stance in the walkway – as opposed to the more open stance one has attributed to him at the wicket.”

Retirements

A hundred for Will Rhodes!

Here come Burns and Sibley -with only two days left they need to get a wriggle on for the win. At Chelmsford, Simon Harmer has been brought into the attack. Hampshire 15-0.

I have some trouble plugging in my laptop and in that time Karun Nair reaches 150 and is then caught and bowled by Lawes, who finishes with five for 105. Both are warmly applauded off in precious autumn sunshine. That was Lawes’ fiftieth first-class wicket of the summer.

And if you have a spare half an hour, I can highly recommend this new podcast by our own Emma John – featuring, amongst others, the wonderful Sharda Ugra.

And at The County Ground, where Derby have won the toss and will bowl against mea-culpa-points-docked Sussex.

Shock news: after two days of nothingness, there will be play at Old Trafford. Notts have won the toss and will bowl; Lancs hand out a new cap to wicket-keeper/batter Matthew Hurst.

Wednesday’s round-up

Scores on the doors

Preamble