Home favourite Joe Root gave the Headingley crowd plenty to cheer with a maiden Test century that enhanced his rapidly growing reputation.

Ben Foakes and James Foster steered Essex to a draw in the LV=County Championship Division Two match against Kent at Chelmsford.

Worcestershire completed back-to-back 10-wicket victories in Division Two of the LV= County Championship when polishing off a defiant Gloucestershire at New Road.

Worcestershire have signed West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell as their overseas player for the Friends Life t20 after injury forced Jacob Oram to withdraw.

Yorkshire have confirmed Liam Plunkett will be out of action for at least two weeks with a thigh strain.

Only 18 overs were bowled on day three of the LV= County Championship match between Durham and Middlesex, the former progressing to 89 for one and a lead of 152.

Rain proved a pain around the country as the latest round of LV= County Championship matches continued. The game between Leicestershire and Glamorgan ended in a draw.

Only 25 overs were possible at the Ageas Bowl but long enough for Lancashire's Cypriot-South African batsman Andrea Agathangelou to complete his maiden century for his adopted county.

There was frustration at Chelmsford as not a single ball was bowled on day three of the LV= County Championship Division Two match between Essex and Kent.

Glamorgan's hopes of victory over Leicestershire in their LV= County Championship Division Two game were wrecked by the weather, with only 55 minutes of play possible on the final day at Grace Road.

National selector Geoff Miller has assured county cricketers around the country their exploits are being taken into account when England sides are selected.

Inclement weather ruled at Headingley as the first day of the second Investec Test was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

England fans have expressed their belief in Test cricket being the pinnacle of the game - particularly among the under 25 year olds - through a newly formed TwelfthMan Panel.

The Yorkshire Bank 40 is back in a big way this weekend with 12 games from all three groups spread across the UK as the road to September’s Lord's final continues.

England and Lancashire seamer James Anderson is urging cricket fans to act fast after additional tickets were released for all five days of the third Investec Ashes Test at Emirates Old Trafford.

Live coverage of four LV= County Championship fixtures, three of which are concluding today.

Live commentary from the second Investec Test at Headingley, where Joe Root gave the home crowd plenty to cheer with a maiden Test century.

Live blog coverage of today’s games. Five LV= County Championship matches continue and Hampshire versus Lancashire starts. There is also a Yorkshire Bank 40 contest between Warwickshire Bears and Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

Ireland fell agonisingly short of a first-ever win over a Test-playing nation in Dublin as the opening RSA Insurance one-day international against Pakistan ended in a tie.

Graham Onions' second five-wicket haul of the season allowed Durham to take command in their LV= County Championship match against Middlesex at the Emirates Durham ICG.