Twenty wickets fell on an eventful day at Taunton, while elsewhere the rain intervened. We’ll be back tomorrow – have a lovely Friday night!

And while everywhere else was rained off long ago, Essex start the third innings of the day at a sunlit Taunton.

Just checked the scoreboard at Taunton. Somerset have deflated like a whoppee cushion under a gentleman farmer. From 95-5 to 128 all out. Five wickets each for Porter and Cook.

Somerset now five down. Time for a James Rew special? Cook 3-21.

Please excuse me while I disappear to write up for the paper. I believe they’re about to restart at Headingley.

Raining again at OT, and at Derby and Headingley.

Andy Umeed’s boundary or bust strategy has come to an end at Taunton, caught poking at Sam Cook by Simon Harmer at slip. Somerset 61-3, Lammonby still there on 14.

A phone call on Monday, by Tuesday a candidate for the Worker’s Party for Britain. A story of a lost soul.

A third fifty of the season for Evison, off 114 balls – and then he loses his partner, after a partnership of 69. Stewart a second wicket for Lyon, stretching forward and pushing ineffectively to slip. Kent 199-7.

They’re on at OT, but I suspect not for long. The umpires make the walk of doom to converse about the light. They stay on, indeed Stewart dispatches two Balderson deliveries to the rope.

After five dots, Grant Stewart has had enough, and biffs Tom Hartley for six, to bring up the fifty partnership between him and Joey Evison. Kent 184-6.

Meanwhile at Headingley, earlier today:

One for the fraternal memory bank.

AI helping to pick England teams:

Old nets, new homes:

Essex are all out for 156 before you can say Sam Cook. Four wickets to Pretorius, two for Coverton and Ball. Somerset can make merry after tea – which is occurring round the grounds.

Denly has a rush of blood, charges Lyon and delivers the ball with pitch-perfect precision into the hands of the waiting Keaton Jennings on the rope, who pumps his fist in delight. Kent 129-6, Hartley and Lyon now wheeling away in tandem.

Essex need a win at Taunton to keep a grip on the Surrey coat-tails, but it isn’t going well. Now 132-6, Duke and Harmer tasked with inching them up towards 200.

Nathan Lyon into his fifth over here at OT, the floodlights adding a mucky lustre to proceedings. Kent 127-5.

Wickets a-tumbling at Derby, Derbyshire 157-7: two for Ollie Robinson, two for Hudson-Prentice. Reece (50) and Donald (44 off 46) the only men to pass 14.

Some more touching tributes to Josh Baker:

From Jos Buttler out in India with the IPL: “Incredibly sad news, thoughts and prayers with all Josh’s family, friends and all at Worcs,”

While England women’s coach Jon Lewis spoke of his sadness and that of Alex Gidman, the women’s assistant coach, who used to be head coach at Worcestershire and oversaw Baker’s development into a first-team cricketer.
“It’s really shocking. I spoke to Alex and he was pretty cut up about it,” said Lewis.
“He gave Josh his first contract at Worcestershire, so he was quite connected to that part of cricket. Cricket is an incredibly small world and it’s really sad.”

Still raining at Lord’s; rain at Headingley, where Billy Root was out just before lunch for 51, a sixth wicket of the season for Dan Moriarty.

A hundred years ago, the 1924 season was a day old – Harry Makepeace holding Lancashire together against Derbyshire. Thank you Ken.

It looks straight, it is straight. Williams strikes ten minutes after lunch. Joey Evison joins Joe Denly. Kent in something of a hole at 83-5.

Result of the mascot race from Ken who was dutifully watching rather than queueing up for a portion of veggie chilli: “Lanky won, by a long neck.”

Lunch round the grounds, as Old Trafford prepare for a mascot race.

A third for Balderson (3-35), as the skies darken even more at OT. Applause from the Lancs dressing room as Leaning has his stumps expertly rearranged.

Climbing walls, fire engine, remote control cars, ice-cream van chaos outside at OT. Inside, Kent have had a small technical hitch: Crawley – carried away after three successive boundaries off Balderson, had a flat-footed waft at Will Williams. Then Drummond gives George Bell some catching practice at second slip. Kent 72-3.

The clouds – and George Balderson – get their reward as Ben Compton is taken by Matty Hurst low, for 13. Kent 48-1.

And no room for Steve Smith in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad:

This is a fascinating interview by Taha with the Champonship’s leading wicket taker, Cameron Steel.

Migael Pretorius joining in the party on a green one at Taunton, Essex now 52-4. Westley still hangign in there.

With an hour gone – Essex in the most trouble,45-3, with captain Tom Westley steadying the ship. Kent 35-0 at OT while Fynn Hudson-Prentice has just picked off David Lloyd at Derby. A wicket for Ollie Robinson, Derby 50-2. Billy Root and Sam Northeast rebuilding after losing Eddie Byrom early. Glamorgan 42-1. Brother Joe Root and Harry Brook both playing for Yorkshire.

No play before lunch at Lord’s.

A bold single by Crawley, who ends up spreadeagled on the ground at the non-striker’s end after misjudging Tom Bailey’s arm. If Bailey had hit, it would have been a near-thing.

Great enthusiasm under lights being showed by the children let out of the classroom today at Old Trafford. Not every Friday morning that you get to see England’s opener knocking boundaries around. Testing out there though, Kent 27-0.

Essex slumping most unexpectedly. Now 35-3, two to Coverton – Jordan Cox the last man out after one dreamy drive for four.

Rain currently at Lord’s.

And good morning Tim Maitland! “Hi Tanya, it is possible that Hell has officially frozen over. Yorkshire have picked two spinners at Headingley! Apparently they’re playing on the same track that was used against Derbyshire last week.”

Great spot – Daniel Moriarty and Dom Bess the spin twins. We should see them in action today, if the weather holds, Glamorgan won the toss and are having a bat. Currently 9-0.

Around the grounds, a minute’s silence. At Old Trafford, Lancashire have won the toss and Zak Crawley and Ben Compton get to face Tom Bailey under cloud cover. At Taunton, Essex have got off to a flier against Somerset – or at least they had, Elgar has now been lbw for five. Essex 14-1.

Around the country, players are wearing black armbands in memory of Josh Baker and flags are flying at half mast. At New Road, they have opened up the Severn Suite for anyone who would like to stop by for a moment of rememberence or to sign a book of condolence.

The weather is looking a bit ropey here in Manchester – clouds heavy with the wet stuff. But it isn’t coming down – yet. Elsewhere, the Met office promise: “Rather cloudy for many with showery rain. The rain perhaps thundery, especially across southern Scotland, and the north and east of England. Fine and warm, though breezy in the far north. Bright spells across the far south of England too.”

From Gloucestershire earlier this week came the announcement that 23 year old Ben Wells was retiring from cricket after being diagnosed with a heart complaint. An extract from his letter here:

“I’m very thankful for everything that cricket has given me throughout my life, from the friends I’ve made, the places I’ve been able to visit, and the many memories that I’ve made along the way. Cricket has been a massive part of my life for as long as I can remember, it’s been all I’ve ever wanted to do. From playing in the garden as a child with my brother, every break time at school, going to Bath Cricket Club summer camps, playing throughout age group sides, Exeter University, and throughout my time at Gloucestershire, playing cricket has always been my dream and driven everything I’ve done. I could never have imagined that this is the path that cricket would have taken me down. I’ve loved every moment and am very grateful to have had the chance to live out a part of this dream, even if it was only for a few years.

“It’s been a journey full of ups and downs, from not gaining a contract at 18, to being offered the chance with Gloucestershire at 21, dealing with a number of major injuries, and ending my career with my first and only professional hundred on a torn hamstring in what is now my final innings; but I will always look back on everything with fond memories.”

Hello and welcome to day one of round five of the 2024 Championship. Just five games this round – with top of the table Essex visiting Somerset, and Lancashire entertaining Kent; while in Division Two, Sussex travel to Derby, Leicestershire to Lord’s in a top-ish of the table clash, and Glamorgan to Headingley.

But overshadowing all that, the news yesterday of the death of Worcestershire’s talented 20 year old spinner Josh Baker. Baker came through the ranks at New Road, a young allrounder of great potential, who last year hit the winning runs to secure Worcestershire’s promotion to Division One .

Worcestershire said in a statement, “It was his vibrant spirit and infectious enthusiasm that endeared him to everyone he met. His warmth, kindness, and professionalism were remarkable, making him a true credit to his family and a loved member of our team.”