Porter has been the pick of the Essex bowlers and he beats Bartlett’s bat with a jaffa. One off the over.
03:13 PM
OVER 45: SOM 168/3 (Lammonby 102 Bartlett 0)
Just the one run off that Harmer over, there is still the threat of rain but nothing has fallen just yet. Fingers crossed.
03:10 PM
OVER 44: SOM 167/3 (Lammonby 101 Bartlett 0)
Before Byrom's fell this happened....That’s it! Lammonby hits Porter for three with a graceful push though mid-wicket for three. That brilliant 100 came off 134 balls - it’s been a fine century and a wonder to watch. In the 20-year-old, playing in his first season in first class cricket, Somerset have seemingly found a fantastic player. It’s his third ton (one of those centuries he carried his bat against Worcestershire) in only his sixth game. He was on a pair when he came out but has played his elan and fluency and taken the attack to Essex. Quite simply brilliant.
03:08 PM
WICKET!!
Bryom b Porter 1 After Lammonby’s ton (more of that in a mo) Bryom is clean bowled by the hard-working Porter FOW 167/3
03:02 PM
OVER 43: SOM 164/2 (Lammonby 98 Bryom 1)
Harmer is bowling better, he’s got his rhythm and beats Lammonby with a lovely off-break. Next ball Lammonby beats the in field but only gets a single. Since the loss of Abell the innings has slowed.
03:00 PM
OVER 42: SOM 163/2 (Lammonby 97 Bryom 1)
Lammonby suddenly is looking jittery - I imagine being in the 90s at Lord’s does that to you. He plays a couple of false shots before nudging the ball for a single to move to 97. That’s the only run off the Porter over.
02:56 PM
OVER 41: SOM 162/2 (Lammonby 96 Bryom 1)
First ball after the break Lammonby plays a leaning edge (a false shot - a rarity for him) that goes into the air but falls just short of extra cover. Two balls later he dances again dow the pitch and hits a thick outside edge to cover, he moves on to 96 and is four away from that deserving ton.
02:37 PM
The Tom Lammonby Fan Club
Lammonby has been brilliant and is six runs short of his third first class century in only his sixth match. He personified the way Somerset went about that afternoon session - solid and watchful in defence but always looking to attack when he could. I’m certainly a fan and regardless of how many runs he adds after the break it will be very interesting to see how he progresses next summer and beyond.
Tom Lammonby goes into tea on 94 at Lord's - GETTY IMAGES
02:33 PM
TEA - Somerset 159-2, a lead of 123.
Lammonby was on 93 at the start of the over needing seven for a maiden ton at Lord’s. He hits single off the second ball and heads to the famous pavilion for a well-earned rest just six shy of the sought-after mark. That was about as good an afternoon session as Somerset could have hoped for.
02:28 PM
OVER 38: SOM 156/2 (Lammonby 93 Bryom 0)
The busy Lammonby comes down the pitch to drive Harmer down the ground for one. Harmer then beats Bryom’s bat, the Essex spinner is looking good. This is better for Essex, since the wicket they’ve bowled lots of dot balls and pegged back Somerset’s run rate.
02:25 PM
OVER 38: SOM 155/2 (Lammonby 92 Bryom 0)
Porter sends down another maiden as the lights come on at Lord’s. It’s getting dark and rain is forecast, but it was forecast earlier and hasn’t yet disrupted today’s play.
02:21 PM
OVER 37: SOM 155/2 (Lammonby 92 Bryom 0)
Lammonby leaves a straight one from Harmer and it just misses off-stump. Another maiden for the left-arm spinner.
02:18 PM
OVER 36: SOM 155/2 (Lammonby 92 Bryom 0)
Porter was bought back into the attack, Essex needed him to get a wicket or two, he had bowled without luck so far until that wicket of the dangerous Abell.
02:17 PM
WICKET!!
Abell c Brown b Porter 15 Soft dismissal there as Abell chips a legside delivery into the hands of Browne at square leg FOW 155/2
02:12 PM
OVER 35: SOM 152/1 (Lammonby 88 Abell 15)
Somerset reach the 150 mark in 208 balls thanks to an extra cover drive from Abell off Harmer. This game is now very well poised. Somerset are back in this match.
02:09 PM
OVER 34: SOM 147/1 (Lammonby 88 Abell 11)
Abell gets in on the act now, he hits two boundaries off that Beard over and there is no no doubt which side is now on top at Lord’s. Somerset have over a 100-run lead and are scoring at 4.32 an over. Essex always look to keep sides to 2 and over, just to indicate how far off their game they are in the field at the moment.
02:06 PM
One to watch
Tom Lammonby is playing beautifully for Somerset and closing in on what would be a fine and well-deserved ton - PA
02:04 PM
OVER 33: SOM 135/1 (Lammonby 88 Abell 3)
I think I’m about to start a Tom Lammonby Fan Club, who wants to join? He hits Harmer confidently down the ground for another four. Two balls later he once against uses his feet to hit Harmer through mid-wicket for his second four of the over.
02:01 PM
OVER 32: SOM 125/1 (Lammonby 78 Abell 3)
Beard’s radar is a bit off, too leg side and Lammonby hits him for two through mid-wicket. Next ball overcompensating Beard goes too far offside and Lammonby plays a glorious stroke crashing the ball to the cover boundary. Next up it’s a leg glance to bring up another four and that’s followed up with another swashbuckling shot though extra cover for boundary No.3 of the over. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Lammonby looks a fine prospect.
01:56 PM
OVER 31: SOM 110/1 (Lammonby 63 Abell 3)
Lammonby gets a single off the first ball of Harmer’s over. Abell dances down the track and flicks the ball at mid-wicket and it falls just short. Lammonby is equally busy against the spinner and picks up another single last ball.
01:53 PM
OVER 30: SOM 107/1 (Lammonby 61 Abell 2)
Abell, very much the elder statesman in this Somerset batting line-up at just 26, gets off the mark with two off his hip off Beard.
Lammonby is personifying the Somerset innings, solid, resolute and willing to attack when the opportunity presents itself. He plays out a maiden to Harmer.
01:46 PM
OVER 28: SOM 105/1 (Lammonby 61 Abell 0)
Beard needed that wicket having bowled poorly in the first innings. Green batted brilliantly and was looking to attack Harmer, so that was in more ways than one a vital wicket for Essex. Good opening stand, though, for Somerset.
01:45 PM
WICKET!!
Green c Cook b Beard 41 Beard comes on for his first over and has Green caught at slip by Cook. Essex needed that, it was a full delivery and did just enough to get the edge. FOW 105/1
01:39 PM
OVER 27: SOM 102/0 (Green 41 Lammonby 58)
Green plays a big sweep shot, taking the ball outside offstump, for four to bring up the 100 partnership (one that bodes well today and for the future). Harmer is Essex’s hope to break this partnership but there’s little turn for him and Green and Lammonby are looking better with every over.
01:36 PM
OVER 26 SOM 98/0 (Green 37 Lammonby 58)
Lammonby is playing superbly, he drives Cook straight down the ground second ball. The Somerset opener is studious for the rest of the over, the run rate is 3.77, just what Lammonby and Co would have been looking for.
01:31 PM
OVER 25 SOM 94/0 (Green 37 Lammonby 54)
Lammonby plays a fine paddle sweep off Harmer’s first ball which goes for four. The left-header plays another sweep, less fine than the first, the very next ball for another boundary to bring up his 50. Next up Harmer bowls a beautiful delivery on the stumps which spins past the bat and the off-stump. Good over to watch and Somerset are doing everything right at the moment.
01:28 PM
OVER 24 SOM 85/0 (Green 37 Lammonby 45)
If Somerset score at four an over from here for the rest of the day (what they have been doing since lunch) then they could have a lead of 250ish which would be some target for Essex. Somerset have been brilliant since the break and Essex are in containment mode at the moment, waiting for a mistake from one of the openers which, at the moment, doesn’t look like it’s going to come. That Cook over goes for two singles.
01:24 PM
OVER 23 SOM 83/0 (Green 36 Lammonby 44)
Harmer has changed ends in a bid to peg back this Somerset second innings but he is hit to the mid-wicket boundary by Green who is looking ever-more positive. There’s been little spin out there so far, but Harmer is surely the man to find what little turn there may be.
01:22 PM
OVER 22 SOM 78/0 (Green 31 Lammonby 44)
Walter comes on for Essex and is having trouble finding his radar, the big left-armer is bowling too leg side, three runs off the over. Essex look a bit quiet at the moment, slight momentum shift.
01:17 PM
OVER 21 SOM 75/0 (Green 29 Lammonby 43)
Green has gone up a gear, he hits Cook thought square leg for four third ball and both openers are bing more proactive at the crease. The run rate is now over 3.5 and in a topsy turvy match you get the feeling that Somerset are now not far from being slightly on top, perhaps? Either way this has been a great start to the session by Somerset.
01:11 PM
OVER 20 SOM 69/0 (Green 24 Lammonby 42)
Green uses his feet coming down the track to hit Harmer for six to cow corner. Real intent from this pair after their solid, yet slow start. Great to watch. Two balls later Green plays back to Harmer and the ball just evade Alastair Cook at first slip and the thick outside edge goes for four.
01:09 PM
OVER 19 SOM 59/0 (Green 14 Lammonby 42)
Cook is back in the attack and first up is clipped to fine leg for four by Green. The openers have applied themselves and look comfortable, this is the start they would have wanted, they’ve got a lead now and a decent base from which to build.
01:04 PM
OVER 18 SOM 54/0 (Green 10 Lammonby 42)
Lammonby tries a Lara-esque drive to cover for no runs, then follows that up by coming down the pitch to Harmer and smacking him over mid-off for four. Positive stuff from the left-hander, who then has to fend off a ball that rears up off a length from the Essex spinner, this is a good battle.
01:00 PM
OVER 17 SOM 50/0 (Green 10 Lammonby 38)
Lammonby looks a fine player, illustrated by a fine on-drive off Porter for four, first ball of the over. Two balls later he plays what I am calling a clippy pull shot that again goes to the boundary. He scampers for another single to bring up the 50.
12:56 PM
OVER 16 SOM 41/0 (Green 10 Lammonby 29)
There’s not much turn but Harmer has an aura in county cricket and it is sometimes tempting to play the man and not the ball. Lammonby is trying to get Harmer off his length, Harmer appeals for LBW last ball but the umpire in unmoved.
12:54 PM
OVER 15 SOM 40/0 (Green 10 Lammonby 29)
Green edges to Porter and it flies to second slip but it falls just short, Overton at second slip for Somerset was very far up during Essex’s innings and that delivery illustrates why. Just one off the over, a Somerset have a lead of four runs.
12:49 PM
OVER 14: SOM 39/0 (Green 10 Lammonby 28)
Harmer is back on, he’s always a threat and starts his spell with a maiden.
12:47 PM
OVER 13: SOM 39/0 (Green 10 Lammonby 28)
Lammonby this time beats a diving Beard with a push through mid-wicket for four off Porter. Porter’s radar is off as next ball he is clipped to the leg-side boundary once again. Lammonby is looking good and the fear of getting a pair at Lord’s is long gone.
12:43 PM
OVER 12: SOM 31/0 (Green 10 Lammonby 20)
Lammonby is looking composed at the crease now - he is scoring comfortably with the ball becoming more soft, and slightly wet. It’s still cagey, though, and Essex will be the happier, the longer this goes on the more it will need Somerset to up the ante before COP today.
12:38 PM
OVER 11: SOM 27/0 (Green 10 Lammonby 17)
Just a single and a two off that over. It’s looking dark at Lord’s but thankfully they’re still out there. Somerset do not want to lose any time, they need as many overs as possible to set Essex a target and take 10 wickets.
12:34 PM
OVER 10: SOM 24/0 (Green 9 Lammonby 15)
Green plays a delightful shot through mid-wicket that deserved more than the two he got, Beard was the reason it wasn’t a three as the Essex man did a great impression of Usain Bolt, sprinting across the outfield before throwing to the keeper. Somerset chipping away at the deficit - just 12 behind now.
12:31 PM
OVER 9: SOM 20/0 (Green 6 Lammonby 14)
Porter is regularly targeting the stumps and Somerset are happy to try and see him off and take singles and more when they can. They do not want to be 40-4 so it’s not hard to see why they’re being solid rather than spectacular so far.
Rain is in the air and it is, sorry to say, forecast (showers rather than biblical downpours)…
12:26 PM
OVER 8: SOM 18/0 (Green 5 Lammonby 13)
Lammonby plays a lovely on-drive that deserves a four (don’t all on-drives deserve boundaries?) but is well stopped at mid on and the lefty only gets a single for his bit of Goweresque brilliance. He gets a boundary two balls later, though, clipping the ball off his hips.
12:22 PM
There's bad news and (thankfully) there's good news...
The covers were on over lunch as rain arrived in St John's Wood. BUT fear not, it's now dry and we're set for the start of the second session.
11:50 AM
Cook is a fan of this year's first-class format
Sir Alastair Cook is a fan of the Bob Willis Trophy format: “it’s a fitting tribute to one of the greats of the game” #BWTFinal
LUNCH: SOM 12/0, (Somerset 301, Essex 337/8) Essex lead by 24.
It’s been a slow-moving game so far - typified by that first session - and one of the sides has to make a move with five sessions left to play. There are enough overs with which to set up a natural finish to the match - without going all ballistic - but you get the feeling the next session will be an important one. Essex will be the happier of the sides. Somerset have to win it, due to the first-innings deficit, so there’s a feeling that the cagey nature of the match so far has to change and soon. We’ll be back after some much-needed food.
11:41 AM
OVER 7: SOM 12/0 (Green 4 Lammonby 8)
An over of spin before lunch and Harmer lands six on the spot and it’s the fourth maiden of the innings. Time for lunch!
11:38 AM
OVER 6: SOM 12/0 (Green 4 Lammonby 8)
Lammonby guides the ball off his hip and the ball races away down the slope for four. Cook, bowling around the wicket, then has another appeal for LBW turned down - the Essex attack are probing well and, as all new-ball pairings should, asking questions of the Somerset openers.
11:34 AM
OVER 5: SOM 6/0 (Green 4 Lammonby 2)
Green is off the mark with a run down to the third man boundary which goes for four. Porter then has a decent shout for LBW but Green is forward and it’s probably a touch high.
11:30 AM
OVER 4: SOM 2/0 (Green 0 Lammonby 2)
Lammonby is off the pair with a two to the leg side off the first ball of the over - his heart rate with have slowed a bit thanks to that forward push.
11:26 AM
OVER 3: SOM 0/0 (Green 0 Lammonby 0)
Three overs - you suspect - until lunch and we’ve had three maidens in the first three overs. Something to happen in the fourth over?
11:23 AM
OVER 2: SOM 0/0 (Green 0 Lammonby 0)
Lammonby is on the dreaded pair - something that will undoubtedly be on his mind and those in the slip cordon - and he drives and misses the fourth ball from Cook. He is still on a pair but is still out in the middle. Two overs in and two maidens.
11:19 AM
OVER 1: SOM 0/0 (Green 0 Lammonby 0)
Porter appeals for LBW first up, fanciful but does illustrate what he and the Essex attack do well: target the stumps and bring all three modes of dismissal into play. He beats Green’s bat the penultimate ball of the over and it’s a maiden to start with. 73 overs left today - what sort of total can Somerset get to by COP?
11:11 AM
Masterchef
Cook was the sole reason Essex are on the front foot - his 172 was the England all-time great at his most fluent best. It inevitably brought about suggestions that he could still add to his tally of 12,472 Test runs. Fanciful? Yes, but we can all dream...Here's the former England skipper on a possible (and VERY unlikely) comeback....
So Somerset’s strategy has been dealt to them - get some quackish runs, and try to bowl Essex out all before close of play tomorrow. It won’t be easy as this pitch doesn’t look easy to score freely on, but they are far from out if it and if they can set Cook and Co a decent target they have the bowlers to put Essex under pressure.
11:05 AM
ESSEX 337/8 - lead of 36
Beard is no Buttler though everyone is on the boundary for him (am sure that will be a first for the Essex bowler). He tries and fails with an attempt at the Buttler ramp shot something he found amusing. He then attempts a quick single but Wheater was having none of it and sends him back - weird considering there was only one ball left. The innings comes to a close with Essex enjoying a lead of 36 runs.
So if the match ends in a draw it will be Essex’s trophy.
11:01 AM
OVER 119: ESS 334/8 (Wheater 24 Beard 13)
With 10 balls to go the batsmen finally go into one-day mode, throwing bat at ball. Most of the fielders are on the boundary and there are only four runs off that over as a result.
10:57 AM
OVER 118: ESS 329/8 (Wheater 21 Beard 11)
Is it just me, but who else is struggling to understand why Essex, already with a decent lead and two wickets in hand, aren’t trying to send the ball to the boundary? Three singles - yawn - off that Overton over.
10:53 AM
OVER 117: ESS 326/8 (Wheater 19 Beard 10)
Just two runs off that over, Essex have a lead of 25 with three overs to come. There's a feeling both sides - and me - are waiting for that innings break.
10:49 AM
OVER 116: ESS 324/8 (Wheater 19 Beard 8)
Run out chance as Wheater drives Overton to mid-off but the throw is wide. A sign that Wheater and Essex are trying to up the ante? Essex are advancing with singles, four overs to go - surely time to give it the big heave ho?
10:45 AM
OVER 115: ESS 322/8 (Wheater 18 Beard 7)
There is virtue in Essex being circumspect rather than extravagant during these final overs. They are taking time out of the game and should they be eight down at the end of play tomorrow they will look at these overs with a huge smile. That may not happen but it’s one way of looking at their strategy at the moment - three singles off that Davey over, very cagey cricket. Five overs left, 21 is the lead.
10:41 AM
OVER 114: ESS 319/8 (Wheater 16 Beard 6)
Overton is back on and beard plays out a comeback maiden - there are definitely no signs of Essex throwing bat at the ball. Six overs to go until their innings is set to come to an end.
10:36 AM
OVER 113: ESS 319/8 (Wheater 16 Beard 6)
It’s not an easy pitch on which to play flowing shots - unless you’re Alastair Cook - and Wheater and Beard are happy to take singles when they can. Time for Jack Leach to bowl?
10:33 AM
OVER 112: ESS 317/8 (Wheater 15 Beard 5)
Beard plays a wonderful drive for four and the lead is up to 16.
10:28 AM
OVER 111: ESS 313/8 (Wheater 13 Beard 2)
Wheater is happy for Beard to see the strike as he takes a single off the first of the over. Another single and a two takes Essex up to 313/8 and a 12-run lead.
10:25 AM
OVER 110: ESS 309/8 (Wheater 12 Beard 0)
It looks like Essex will be content with a lead of 20-30. Gregory has bowled well but he’s been guilty of a few no-balls - one of which comes in this over - and extras is the top scorer so far today…
10:20 AM
OVER 109: ESS 306/8 (Wheater 11 Beard 0)
Davey is on to bowl and is on the money giving nothing away. It’s not an easy pitch to time the ball and that’s the sort of over - the old staples of line and length - that Somerset need. Just one off it. Wheater and Essex seem happy to play out these overs at the moment.
10:16 AM
OVER 108: ESS 305/8 (Wheater 10 Beard 0)
Harmer has a couple of first-class centuries and can hit out so that was a good wicket to get for Somerset. Essex have 12 overs in which to get some sort of sizeable lead. No runs off the bat in that 25th over from Gregory.
10:13 AM
WICKET!!
Harmer c Overton b Gregory Another good ball from Gregory who’s been the pick of the bowlers by some margin. Harmer edges and it carries at a good height to Overton in the slips. FOW 303/7
10:10 AM
OVER 107: ESS 303/7 (Wheater 10 Harmer 0)
No sooner did I say Essex might play these last 14 overs in one-day mode than they play out a maiden - don't call me Nostradamus just yet.
10:07 AM
OVER 106: ESS 303/7 (Wheater 10 Harmer 0)
With the first-innings lead how will Essex play this now - put the afterburners on and free their arms or just bat time out and accumulate? I suspect the latter...let's see.
10:06 AM
WICKET!!
Porter bowled Gregory 13. Porter has taken 50 balls for his dogged 13 and in doing so taken Essex past Somerset’s first-innings total. Gregory has a five-fer (5-63) and it’s well deserved.
10:01 AM
OVER 105: ESS 299/6 (Porter 13 Wheater 10)
Chance for Overton as Porter fends off a short ball, but it falls just short of Green at a shortish square leg. Next up Porter drives through extra cover for a stylish single. Overton is looking very hard down by, he’s in one of those woe-is-me pace bowler moods as Wheater plays and misses twice leaving the Somerset bowler to look up to the skies in despair.
09:55 AM
OVER 104: ESS 298/6 (Porter 12 Wheater 10)
The wickets aren’t coming for Somerset and the runs have come for Essex, it’s now a question of how much of a lead they can get in the next 16 overs.
09:52 AM
OVER 103: ESS 296/6 (Porter 12 Wheater 10)
The nightwatchman Porter plays a delightful drive off Overton - whose rider has been off so far - for four. He timed it brilliantly and prompts Somerset to take one of their three slips away. This isn’t the start Somerset were hoping for. Porter looks like a ‘proper’ batsman and Essex are just six runs shy of the first-innings lead.
09:48 AM
OVER 102: ESS 292/6 (Porter 8 Wheater 10)
Porter’s looked very solid in defence so far this morning, he gets one off the final ball - there’s nothing more annoying for a fielding side than a ‘definite’ wicket hanging around for a long time.
09:43 AM
OVER 101: ESS 291/6 (Porter 7 Wheater 10)
Wheater plays a lovely onside drive off Overton to start the over. Next up Overton again strays down leg allowing Wheater to play a delightful leg glance for another four. Essex have started the day off at a gallop and it looks very likely they’ll get that all-important first-innings lead. Overton is looking grumpy, he’s not had much luck but so far he’s bowled too leg side. 19 overs of Essex’s first innings left.
09:39 AM
OVER 100: ESS 283/6 (Porter 7 Wheater 2)
Four more leg byes after a better LBW appeal from Gregory, Porter gets inside the line but it was sliding down leg side. Those extras - eight already today - will annoy Somerset. Two runs off the bat in Gregory’s first over.
09:36 AM
OVER 99: ESS277/6 (Porter 6 Wheater 1)
Four leg byes gets the day underway with Overton appealing for a very hopeful LBW. Wheater gets off the mark next ball. Essex are edging towards that initial target of 302.
09:31 AM
The players are out...
Overton to bowl the first over from the nursery end....
09:23 AM
Watch that Cook masterclass again...
Trust me, it's well worth it.
His masterful 172 was his highest at the home of cricket and was wonderful to watch. Not just because it harked back to his brilliance in the Test arena where he pulled and cut for fun, but also because he added a flurry of cover drives (not his forte, even he would admit) to his repertoire. This was Cook at his very best - style as well as huge substance.
𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 | Essex hit back thanks to Sir Alastair Cook's daddy 💯
I am happy to report it's a lot calmer in the capital at the moment.
09:13 AM
Weather report
It’s currently a beautiful autumnal morning in London but, and sorry to be the bearer of bad news, rain is forecast for this afternoon, fingers crossed it doesn’t hamper what is poised to be an exciting final two days at Lord's.
08:42 AM
Morning everyone....
Sir Alastair Cook added yet another distinguished century to his glittering CV as he dominated the third day of Essex's Bob Willis Trophy final against Somerset, then admitted he had been "scared" to walk away from county cricket when he retired from England duty.
Cook bowed out from the Test arena in a blaze of glory with a farewell hundred at The Oval in 2018 but, despite his record as the country's most prolific run-scorer and longest serving captain, has spent the last two years back in the ranks at Chelmsford.
At 35 he no longer misses the intense pressure and exhausting schedule of the international calendar but his remorseless 172 on day three at Lord's proved his hunger to occupy the crease and churn out runs has not changed.
Without him, the reigning county champions would surely have fallen well short of Somerset's 301 all out but instead resume on 271 for six - 31 short of a first-innings lead that would deliver them the silverware in the event of a draw.
Reflecting on the motivation that saw him haul in his 67th first-class ton, Cook said: "Obviously it's not as it was a few years ago, that's one of the reasons why I'm not still playing international cricket but this is a great club and this is great fun.
"I enjoy playing with this bunch of lads, I've played a lot of cricket with a lot of them. I was scared when I retired from international cricket of walking away totally because it's a big hole to fill, isn't it?
"Suddenly walking off at The Oval in 2018 - the last time I played for England - would have been a big hole to fill. I've really enjoyed hanging out in the changing rooms at Essex. And it makes it better when you win.
"It's a great occasion to play in any final, especially something like this that's never been done before, and under the legacy of Bob Willis. It's cool."
Cook appeared to rule out the idea of calling it a day this week, despite the possible lure of exiting with another ton and another title. To do so would mean departing in front of empty stands given the current health restrictions in sport.
"I'll definitely play next year, then we'll see how life is," he said.
"This year has been a bit different - six games a year I can do, I could do that every year. But it would be great to get back to normal next year and get some crowds back into the domestic game because the domestic game is, I think, in good stead."
Somerset all-rounder Lewis Gregory kept his side in with a shout of bowling Essex out for under 300, getting Cook caught at slip late in the day for his fourth wicket of the innings.
Amanda Holden, 53, looked sensational as she showed off her latest outfit to host Heart FM despite "not being able to find a top" as she opted for just a bra and jacket
The arrival of the US M1A1 Abrams tanks in Ukraine was hailed as a turning point in the war. Coming in at roughly $10 million a unit, the Nato stalwart was supposed to provide the armoured fist that would punch through the Russian lines. But tactics evolve quickly in warfare, and Russia’s use of surveillance and hunter-killer drones has led to heavy casualties for Ukraine’s tank fleets. This is alarming for NATO. If Russia has found critical vulnerabilities in our armour, our borders are beginni
The moment was filmed by a Pollok resident who was left disgusted after spotting the vermin from her kitchen window in the Templeland Road area of Glasgow.
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Leo Varadkar left his job as Irish prime minister last month with compliments being lavished on him from all directions — especially the White House — for his triumph over Brexit Britain in forcing the retention of an open land border on Northern Ireland.
Prince William made a surprise visit to a school in the West Midlands today, where he issued a 14-word update on his wife, Kate Middleton, amid her cancer treatment
Vida was treated by vets for lacerations which saw its coat soaked in blood but Quaker was in an equine hospital with its future "not looking good", sources said
A man gave his dying dog a chocolate bar – a treat dogs love but that is toxic to them – as a final gesture of love before she was put to sleep on April 23.Footage recorded by Miller Hurtado Toro shows his dog Sharon enjoying the tasty sweet before she was injected with euthanizing drugsToro told Storyful that Sharon was 12 years old and had been fighting the tick-borne canine disease ehrlichiosis for two years.“We tried to take her to find more treatments, but they saw that she had lung cancer, with metastases in her lungs and liver that were making her weak from just lying down,” Toro said.“The day before yesterday, she could not get up again, and that is when I made the decision,” he explained.Toro said he had often denied Sharon a taste of chocolate as the candy is notably bad for dogs’ health, but that he thought she should try it as her final treat.“No dog should leave without first trying chocolate,” Toro said. Credit: Miller Hurtado Toro via Storyful
Callum Laing, 40, was diagnosed with a stage 4 Glioblastoma brain tumour, after he had been suffering from intense headaches - but surgeons in Edinburgh have made a surprising discovery.
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