Stuart Broad is hoping England have seen just a glimpse so far of the rewards he can reap this summer for the hard work he has put in on his bowling.
Yorkshire Bank 40: Somerset beat Middlesex by six wickets
Yorkshire Bank 40 Group B: Lancashire beat Surrey by seven runs
England captain Alastair Cook hailed an on-form Stuart Broad as “an absolute nightmare” for batsmen after his career-best figures blew New Zealand away to claim the first Test Lord’s.
First Investec Test, day 4: England (232 & 213) beat New Zealand (207 & 68) by 170 runs
Joe Root believes England still have the advantage over New Zealand, despite their “very disappointing” last half-hour on day three of the first Test at Lord’s.
First Investec Test, day 3: England 232 & 180-6 New Zealand 207 (all out)
Mark Pettini kept his cool to see Essex to their second LV= County Championship Division Two victory of the season by beating Glamorgan by five wickets with seven balls to spare at Cardiff.
Surrey suffered a 114-run LV= County Championship Division One defeat at Trent Bridge as Nottinghamshire’s seam attack saw them off in favourable conditions.
Stewart Walters fell two runs short of securing Glamorgan’s first century of the season but the Welsh county nevertheless built a useful second-innings lead on the third day of their LV= County Championship Division Two clash with Essex at Cardiff.
Twelve wickets fell under slate-grey skies as Nottinghamshire and Surrey each pressed for a victory that would enhance their claims of moving away from the lower reaches of the Division One table.
Tim Murtagh finished with match figures of 10 wickets for 77 as Middlesex completed an emphatic three-day LV=County Championship win over Somerset at Taunton by nine wickets.
James Anderson can rub shoulders with England’s all-time great bowlers after becoming just the fourth from this country to reach 300 Test wickets.
James Anderson joined Test cricket’s elite 300 club, on a tough day otherwise for England against New Zealand at Lord’s.
England were today pinning their hopes on some middle-order solidity to try to take charge of the first Investec Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.
England were unable to get out of first gear on a sluggish pitch at Lord’s, but insist they have laid a platform from which they can dominate the rest of the first Investec Test.
First Investec Test day 1: England 160-4 New Zealand (yet to bat)
County Championship Division One day 2: Somerset 152 & 112-5 Middlesex 347
County Championship Division One day 2: Notts 274 & 24-1 Surrey 207
County Championship Division Two day 2: Glamorgan 231 Essex 343-9
Alastair Cook will need to be on his mettle in his first home Test as permanent England captain - and can be confident he will at least look the part against New Zealand today.
Middlesex run machine Sam Robson has the potential to be one of English cricket’s brightest stars, according to his opening partner Chris Rogers.
County Championship Division One day 1: Somerset (yet to bat) Middlesex 293-8
County Championship Division One day 1: Notts 273-9 Surrey (yet to bat)
County Championship Division Two day 1: Glamorgan 231 Essex 10-2
Alastair Cook admits England need to improve on their drawn Test series in New Zealand earlier this year but does not believe his side were guilty of taking their eye off the ball.
Lord’s is set to witness its very own battle of the giants, when Stuart Broad and Middlesex pace ace Steven Finn take on New Zealand opener Peter Fulton in the first Investec Test.
Trent Boult has the chance to achieve something his childhood hero Wasim Akram never managed - by putting his name on the Lord’s honours board.
Matt Prior will begin England’s momentous Ashes summer one up on his Test captain Alastair Cook, after winning the cricketer-of-the-year award.
Matt Prior tonight won the prestigious England cricketer-of-the-year award, for 2012-13.