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Usman Khan, the Pakistan left-arm pacer, has been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the back in what is a career-threatening blow. The 23-year-old bowler, who had stunned Sri Lanka with figures of 5 for 34 in just his second ODI two weeks ago, will be out of action for at least six months as a result of the injury.He picked up the injury after second T20 against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, and missed the final game of the tour – the landmark T20 in Lahore. Medical screening confirmed lumbar-bone stress in his back. He had struggled with the same injury in the early days of his career, in 2013, after making debuting for Pakistan in T20 cricket. He has sustained back injuries twice before and missed a major chunk of season of 2014-15 as a result. “It is disappointing but this [course of treatment] will give him the best chance of recovering as quickly as possible,” Mickey Arthur, the Pakistan head coach, told ESPNcricinfo.Usman was brought into the ODI side for the Sri Lanka series after Mohammad Amir pulled out due to injury, and he made an immediate impact. His five wickets in the second game against Sri Lanka came within the space of 3.3 overs. The performance was a throwback to four years ago, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, when he announced himself with five wickets for nine runs in 3.1 overs for Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan.Usman’s injury is the latest in a string for Pakistan. Amir recently missed the ODIs against Sri Lanka before returning for the T20 series, and Ruman Raees Babar Azam and Imad Wasim are recovering from a wrist impingement, groin strain and knee injury respectively. When asked whether he was concerned by this sudden spate of injuries, Arthur said: “A little bit, but a lot of them niggles just needed a bit of rest and that is why we have put such a lot of effort in working on our bench strength.”

Parthiv Patel, the captain, and Chirag Gandhi – key to Gujarat’s Ranji Trophy triumph last season – held their composure to complete a nervy four-wicket win over Kerala in Nadiad. Chasing 105, Gujarat slumped to 80 for 5 before Parthiv, who walked in at No. 6, allayed fears of a shock loss by remaining unbeaten on 18. The spin pair of Akshay Chandran and Jalaj Saxena picked up two wickets each for Kerala.That Kerala couldn’t defend much more was due to the efforts of Siddarth Desai, who picked six wickets to dismantle them for 203 in the second innings. Piyush Chawla, turning out as a professional for Gujarat this season, took three wickets to take his match haul to 8 for 135. Priyank Panchal, the highest run-getter last season, started the new season with scores of 18 and 30.Kerala, who beat Jharkhand in their opener, now have one win in two matches. They next play Rajasthan at home. Gujarat, meanwhile, will clash against Jammu & Kashmir in the third round starting October 24.On his 23rd birthday, in just his second first-class match, Nazim Siddiqui scored his maiden first-class ton as Jharkhand put in a spirited showing to save the game following on. After Siddiqui’s effort, the baton was picked up by the more experienced Ishank Jaggi, who hit a 16th first-class ton – an unbeaten effort – to see his side through to safety. Rajasthan tried everything possible to take the game away – everyone except the keeper bowled in the innings – but could claim only five wickets in the 76.5 overs played on the day before a draw was declared.Siddiqui, the opener, was batting on 71 overnight and went on to score exactly 100 as his team battled. Briefly around the time when he was out – Jharkhand lost a wicket quickly on either side of his – Rajasthan must have maintained hope of taking full points from the game, but then they ran into Jaggi. He was well supported by the lower-middle order of Ishan Kishan and Kaushal Singh, both of whom batted out a sizeable chunk of balls for their 30-somethings to help carry their team to the finish. They got a point for their efforts, while Rajasthan got three for the first-innings lead they had secured.

R Ashwin took three wickets on debut [file picture]•AFP

He probably wasn’t the off-spinning all-rounder they had come to see, but Jack Taylor produced the key contribution to defy Worcestershire at New Road.The day was meant to be about R Ashwin. The pitch had been prepared for him – this is the third time it has been used this season – and, by the time he was introduced into the attack, just before lunch on the second day, the stage was set for a key contribution.It was not quite to be. Nicely though he bowled and often as he troubled the batsmen – initially at least – Ashwin was forced to work hard to make an impact. The pitch, though dry, offered him very little – he described it as “extremely slow” with an expression that made it clear that was no compliment – and, even when the edge was taken, the fielders struggled to cling on to some tough chances. There was no lack of effort and no lack of variations, but there really wasn’t much help for him here.Maybe Worcestershire missed a trick with their selection. Had they included one of their left-arm seamers – either Jack Shantry or George Scrimshaw – their footmarks may have created a bit more rough with which Ashwin could work. As if was, they selected Pat Brown, a right-arm seamer, and he did not bowl a ball in the innings.With gentle rain falling on and off throughout the day – “I signed-up for the cold,” Ashwin smiled – holding the unfamiliar Duke’s ball was demanding and only one of his 27.5 overs was a maiden. And, if his first wicket, that of Gareth Roderick caught and bowled by one that was tossed up a little slower, would have pleased him, the wicket of Craig Miles came when the batsman clipped a full-toss to mid-wicket. Kieran Noema-Barnett might consider himself a little unfortunate to be adjudged leg before, too.But Ashwin is here to learn. He is here not for any financial reward – there is little county cricket can offer him in that regard these days – but because he wants to improve himself. He wants to learn to bowl in unfamiliar conditions (he has played only two Tests in England) and with unfamiliar balls. He wants to return next year and play a key role in helping India defeat England in a Test series. It speaks volumes for his character that, despite being placed No. 3 in the Test bowling rankings, he is prepared to go to such lengths to improve.”It’s not just about next year,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s always been a dream to play county cricket. I grew-up watching it on TV in India and it has always meant a lot. Spinners have come before and told me it is a must-do experience. I was being rested from a series [against Sri Lanka], so I thought I might as well come here to get experience.”But yes, next year was in the back of my mind and the back of the mind of the team management back home. With the pace with which the international cricket calendar is set-up, you don’t have a long time to prepare. That might even cost you a Test match. So these experiences can be banked upon and, if you can learn faster – which I pride myself upon – the results can come a bit faster.”The conditions shouldn’t have been especially tough. But for all the use this surface has had – one four-day match between the England and India U19 sides and one T20 match – it hardly appears to have deteriorated. At this stage, it appears more to have died though it remains possible it will deteriorate over the next couple of days. Ashwin could yet win Worcestershire this match in the second innings and, by doing say, help them take a decent stride towards promotion.Either way, he was sanguine about the missed chances – none of which were easy – and, was able to see the bigger picture both in terms of his own development and his team’s position in the game.”They put down a few catches,” Ashwin shrugged. “But catches go down. It is part of the game. They are fielding close in to me for the first time so I would not blame them.”I wanted to work on exploiting the rough, on using angles and on using a greasy ball. My bowling figures aren’t so important; it’s about making a difference for the team and challenging myself to bowl in tough conditions.”How long he is here remains to be seen. There remains a possibility he will be recalled to play in the limited-overs games against Australia which could reduce his involvement to as little as two Championship matches: this one and the one next week at Trent Bridge. Worcestershire, desperate to push on and achieve promotion, dearly want him to stay until the end of the season and play four matches in total.”I could be called to play in the Australia series,” Ashwin admitted. “But I have indicated to Bumpy [Steve Rhodes, the Worcestershire direct of cricket] that I will be available for all four games. As of now, there are no communication channels open but they will be shortly so I’ll probably get a clearer idea after the Sri Lanka series.”When Ashwin took his first wicket, it seemed Worcestershire might cruise to victory. Gloucestershire were 93 for five at the time and the follow-on mark – 214 – looked distant. Ed Barnard, who finished with career-best first-class figures, had helped dismantle the top-order with a fine spell that peaked with the wicket of Cameron Bancroft, who lost his off stump to a beauty that was angled in, pitched and held its own. While not especially quick – he probably bowls in the high 70s in terms of miles per hour; not unlike a young Chris Woakes – Barnard maintains an immaculate line and length and gains just enough seam movement to trouble batsmen.But then came Taylor. While his overall first-class record may be modest – he came into this match averaging just 31.88 – his record against Worcestershire is outstanding. He has now scored four centuries against them in four successive Championship matches and averages 85.33 against them in first-class cricket. For a man who has scored only six first-class centuries in total, it is a remarkable statistic. He’s made a couple of centuries against them in second XI cricket, too. Only Wally Hammond (with six) and Charles Dacre (with five), of Gloucestershire players, have scored more first-class centuries against Worcestershire.While he survived one strong leg before shout in the 80s – George Rhodes, who bowled his own off-spin very nicely, was the unfortunate bowler – this was a deserved century. He picked Ashwin’s variations – especially the delivery that leaves the right-hander – used the crease intelligently to nudge and nurdle and put away the bad ball without fuss. While the first innings deficit was still substantial – 105 – it is not impossible he could have an even greater impact on the game with his off-spin in the fourth innings. He has, at least, kept his side in the game. Nobody else managed more than 33.Earlier Worcestershire lost their final three first-innings wickets for just three runs as Liam Norwell, who dislocated his finger on Monday and had it re-set at hospital, finished with four wickets.But in the grand scheme of things, perhaps the most significant aspect of the day was Ashwin soaking up the experience. While some will bemoan the fact that he has been given an opportunity to gain such knowledge – and it is true, he may well punish England with it next year – the smart English players will be watching and learning everything he does. It can only help them to test themselves against him and watch how he operates. It is especially telling that Moeen Ali nominally at least, a teammate for a few weeks, has already been on the phone offering his help and arranging a meeting.From a spectator’s perspective, it is simply a delight to see a terrific cricketer at close-quarters in the county game. Worcestershire are not the only ones who are lucky to have him.

Dominic Sibley is making an impression at Birmingham•Getty Images

Ed Pollock, Dom Sibley and Adam Hose all starred with the bat to help nervy Birmingham Bears into the quarter-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast as they beat Lancashire by two wickets with three balls to spare at Emirates Old Trafford.Victory justified Birmingham’s decision to omit their captain and former England batsman, Ian Bell, for the final match in response to an unproductive T20 season – but it was a close-run thing.Chasing 164 on a used pitch, left-handed opener Pollock smashed 49 off 24 balls, including four sixes, to get things started.New Bears signings Sibley and Hose then shared 84 in 10 overs for the second wicket to advance from 61 for one in the sixth before the Bears slipped from 145 for 1 in the 16th to 160 for 8 after 19, losing seven wickets in 23 balls.Sibley finished 53 off 37 balls, while Hose added 49 off 35. They hit five sixes between them before Olly Stone hit the winning runs with four needed off the last over.Hose and Sibley have only arrived at Edgbaston from Somerset and Surrey within the last month, and Pollock is in his maiden summer of first-team cricket.For Lancashire, who have failed to qualify for the last eight since winning the Blast in 2015, they had to win and hope other results went their way to qualify.The Bears are now targeting their second title in four years.The Lightning would have been reasonably happy at halfway with their 163 for 4, underpinned by Jos Buttler’s 58 off 42 balls. The England man’s second half-century in three days was another measured effort and included two sixes after being inserted.Having hit 36 without a boundary in Wednesday’s win over Worcestershire here, Liam Livingstone (39) guided his very first ball from Stone to the third-man fence. He pulled two huge leg-side sixes, including the latter off leg-spinner Josh Poysden, which went out of the ground and onto the Brian Statham Way.Buttler was elevated to No 3 and hit Sibley’s leggies for a straight six in the 13th over to move into the twenties. By that stage, Lancashire were 100 for 2. He also hit Stone over long-off for six and shared 86 in 10 overs with inventive South African Dane Vilas, who made 30. Buttler miscued Stone to long-on in the 19th.Poysden and Stone were the only two Bears wicket-takers with two apiece, with the former the pick as he conceded 28 from his four overs.He hit Ryan McLaren for three sixes in the power play, including two over long-leg, before slapping a short ball from the seamer to cover with the score on 61 midway through the sixth over.Sibley and Hose both offered relatively simple catches on 18 and 31 to Matt Parkinson at short fine-leg and Jordan Clark at long-off.Hose hit 76 on his Bears debut in the win over Lancashire at Edgbaston late last month, and he demonstrated his power again by hitting three sixes over long-on.But the Bears stumbled dramatically with victory in sight as Livingstone struck twice in two balls. Junaid Khan and Arron Lilley also claimed two wickets apiece, but Lancashire’s success with the ball came too late.

Richard Levi’s innings proved enough for Northants•Getty Images

Ryan McLaren’s T20 career-best 77 in 50 balls narrowly failed to see Lancashire home against Northamptonshire in an extraordinary NatWest T20 Blast game at Wantage Road that the home side won by 11 runs.Left to recover a chase of 159 when they were in tatters at 25 for 5, McLaren helped Lancashire stay alive and 26 were needed from the final over. McLaren hit the first two balls of the over for six beyond long-on but then holed out to mid-off as Lancashire’s hopes were finally extinguished.Lancashire appeared to have no hope at all after suffering a nightmare start to their innings, all of their own making, slipping to 19 for 4. Liam Liverstone, having stepped away to Richard Gleeson’s second ball to carve a boundary over point, lost his middle and leg stumps next ball trying to play the same stroke.Aaron Lilley played an almost identical innings and top-edged a wild hack that was well caught by Richard Levi running back from slip – but he was clattered by Gleeson running in from third man in the process. Levi was forced from the field but his replacement, Tom Sole, ran out Steven Croft with a direct hit from midwicket after being sent back by Dane Villas.Before the run-out, Karl Brown drove loosely to edge a catch to wicketkeeper Adam Rossington, giving Rory Kleinveldt a second wicket – he took 2 for 2 in his first three overs.Gleeson also picked up a second wicket in his opening three overs – and the huge scalp of Jos Buttler. Having scooped a six over the fine-leg fence to get off the mark, Buttler attempted the same stroke next ball and was badly dropped by Saif Zaib at long leg. It mattered not, as Gleeson produced a beauty that nipped back to take out the off stump.All this came in a crazy Powerplay where the required rate – which began at just under eight-an-over – soon climbed into double figures. But McLaren and Villas, who made 40 in 27 balls, plotted a recovery and despite only reaching the half-way mark at 54 for 5, began to get a foothold on the chase.The turning point was the 12th over bowled by Rob Keogh that went for 21 with two a six and a four each from both batsman. McLaren then heaved Zaib over midwicket to leave 49 to win from 30 balls.Villas slapped Azharullah down the throat of long-on but the stand of 91 in 60 balls had revived Lancashire’s hopes. But Gleeson returned to york Jordan Clark second ball and Nathan Buck hit Stephen Parry’s off stump to leave McLaren having to win the game on his own.Northants’ 158 for 4 appeared to be a below-par total. Levi led them their with 71 from 54 balls. He has delivered in each of his five innings since returning from concussion and his side were indebted to his effort here as they were largely well with their power game kept in check to great effect, Junaid Khan’s four overs cost only 21 runs and Matt Parkinson’s set 23.Levi was forced to be very patient and passing fifty in 43 balls was slower than most innings from the South African. He snapped a run of just 11 runs in four over with a drive over extra-cover and lifted Stephen Parry over long-on. Parkinson’s one bad ball was pulled for six but not until the 16th over did he really fire.Adam Rossington gave the innings a bright start with 29 in just 16 balls but when he fell, Ben Duckett collected his second duck in three innings and the Northants scoring rate subsequently slumped. Parkinson ran through four overs for just 23 and after 15 overs, Northants were 104 for 2 and the innings in need of impetus.Levi found it with three fours in the 16th over and a no-ball smashed over midwicket. The over from McLaren conceded 25 and Alex Wakely found the committee balcony in the next and Kleinveldt – after Levi was cleaned by a Clark slower-ball – lifted another six over midwicket but the late innings spurt didn’t come as only 11 runs came from the final two overs.

ScorecardJohn Wright began with a win [file picture]•Getty Images

Luis Reece’s 75 from 51 balls saw Derbyshire upset champions Northamptonshire on the opening night of the NatWest T20 Blast with a rampant seven-wicket win at Wantage Road. Reece steered Derbyshire’s chase of 180 as they won in the final over but victory never looked under threat.Reece was playing just his fifth T20 but played a fluent knock wth 10 boundaries and a six. His partnership of 64 in 40 balls with Wayne Madsen saw Derbyshire keep in touch with the required rate throughout the middle of the chase as Northants failed create any pressure. Gary Wilson’s 28 from 15 balls finished the game off as Derbyshire won a T20 at Wantage Road for the first time since 2011.Had Shiv Thakor not been suspended, Reece may not have even played but he took his chance with a maiden T20 fifty and helped Derbyshire to an opening night win to begin their new era under specialist coach John Wright in perfect style.At 124 for 2 after 14 overs, Northants desperately needed a wicket and brought back Rory Kleinveldt to try and find it. Reece responded by slapping the South African over long-on for six. Kleinveldt did find a breakthrough with Madsen top-edging a pull to the wicketkeeper.Richard Gleeson returned with 37 required in 24 balls but conceded four leg-byes to fine leg and was pulled over square leg for six by Wilson.The only time Northants had control of the second innings was at 35 for 1 after five overs. But Reece struck four boundaries from Ben Sanderson in the final over of the Powerplay and Derbyshire never looked back.Northants’ 179 for 6 appeared a solid total. It was built around Ben Duckett’s 69 from 52 balls. Opening the batting in place of usual opener Richard Levi who hadn’t recovered from concussion, Duckett took few risks in marshalling Northants’ progress. He blazed Hardus Viljoen over extra-cover and turned him past short fine leg in the final over of the Powerplay that brought 52 runs for the lazy run out of Adam Rossington in the first over. Duckett stepped back to cut Matt Critchley past point and swept a low full toss for another boundary.Duckett eventually fell in the 17th over as Northants slid from 101 for 1 in the 12th over to 132 for 5 in the 17th, a mini collapse began with two wickets in two balls for Viljoen – who finished with 3 for 28, comfortable the pick of the Derbyshire attack. After Josh Cobb had mistimed a drive to mid-off – the catch taken low by Wayne Madsen – Alex Wakely gloved his first ball to wicketkeeper Daryn Smit.Imran Tahir bowled Rob Keogh trying to cut but the South African legspinner’s 1 for 31 wasn’t quite as threatening as Derbyshire would have hoped. He tore through Northants for Nottinghamshire at Wantage Road last season, taking 3 for 13 from his four overs, but here was swept for four through midwicket and heaved over cow corner by Cobb.Northants needed a middle-order innings to cash in on their strong start. Steven Crook provided it with 34 in 17 balls. He swung Alex Hughes to the midwicket fence and perfectly bisected long-off and long-on next ball as 16 came off the 18th overs and took Matt Henry’s final delivery over long-off as the New Zealander conceded 42 from his four overs. In the final over he swung Viljoen over

Records tumbled in Potchefstroom as India women openers Deepti Sharma and Punam Raut smashed centuries to forge the highest partnership in women’s ODIs. Their 320-run opening stand took India to 358 for 2 in the first innings and it was 249 runs too much for a second-string Ireland side, which has now let two different oppositions – South Africa and India – notch up their highest team totals in consecutive games.In what was the first 300-run stand by any pair in women’s ODIs, Deepti, all of 19, clobbered a record 27 fours during her 160-ball 188 – the second-highest individual score in the 50-over format, only bettered by Belinda Clark’s unbeaten 229 for Australia.Speaking about the records achieved by the India women’s team, former chairperson of the BCCI women’s selection panel Shanta Rangaswamy told ESPNcricinfo: “It’s a great achievement for Indian women’s cricket. It couldn’t have come at a better time. Deepti is young and has a fabulous temperament. Her batting stands apart from most others and I think she has the capability to become one of the best allrounders in world cricket in the years to come.”In the absence of regular opener Smriti Mandhana, who has been recalled to the squad for the Women’s World Cup after a four-month layoff, Deepti has carried the mantle of propping up a top order that has traditionally been reliant on Mithali Raj. Deepti’s recent run of form came particularly good for India in the Women’s World Cup qualifiers in Sri Lanka, where she finished as the tournament’s leading run-getter. She scored 253 runs with three fifties in six innings, including a match-winning 71 against South Africa in the final, which helped India complete their highest successful chase in ODIs.Deepti’s opening partner also etched her name in the record books with the feat of being involved in India’s highest partnership across all three formats. Rangaswamy underlined Raut’s credentials for the longer formats of the game.”For one-day cricket and Test cricket, Punam is a big asset to the Indian team,” Rangaswamy said. “I cannot forget the big centuries she and [MD] Thirush Kamini got in Mysore against South Africa.”Punam has always been in my scheme of things. Her knock against Australia steered India to victory last year in an ODI. It was crucial in the context of the game. In England, where the ball will swing and bounce more, Punam’s presence there will definitely benefit the team’s batting.”Having earned a call-up for the quadrangular series on merit of her domestic form, Raut has now forced her way into the squad for the World Cup on the back of unbeaten knocks in two of the three matches so far.Raut’s reputation for being a livewire on the field is likely to have further strengthened her case. In the three matches so far in the quadrangular series, she has played a part in at least one run-out in every game, dismissing set batsmen – South Africa’s Mignon du Preez and Ireland’s Jennifer Gray, twice – in each instance.”These girls are excellent fielders,” Rangaswamy said. “Deepti excels in close-in fielding; Punam is a very good fielder in the deep. She throws brilliantly and puts in good dives.”India are currently on a 16-match winning streak, and are one win away from equalling Australia’s record of 17 consecutive ODI wins. They lead the four-nation tournament with 19 points, followed by South Africa on 15.

ScorecardRilee Rossouw made Hampshire’s chase a formality•Getty Images

Rilee Rossouw biitzed his way to a career-best 156 to help Hampshire beat Somerset by four wickets in the Royal London One Day Cup group match at Taunton.The South African opened the innings and stayed at the crease almost to the end to help his side to victory with more than 12 overs to spare.Replying to Somerset’s below par 249, which included half centuries from Dean Elgar, Pete Trego and Adam Hose, Hampshire took advantage of some wayward bowling.After they lost Tom Alsop with the score on 20, left-hander Rossouw shared a second wicket stand of 114 with James Vince before the skipper was out for 35.Rossouw scored his runs freely and was particularly ruthless on anything short. It wasn’t until Somerset introduced Tim Groenewald and Roelof van der Merwe into the attack that they were able to curb his run spree.He duly went to his century with a boundary to square cover off Van der Merwe, his runs coming off 73 balls with 17 fours and a six.Hampshire were within touching distance of their target when Jamie Overton, who had suffered in his earlier overs, returned and picked up four quick wickets, including that of Rossouw.But by that time the outcome was a formality as Hampshire became the first team to beat Somerset this season in this competition.Earlier, Somerset were rescued from two wickets down for one run by Elgar and Trego, who was put down in the slips on one. The all-rounder then started to go for his shots and lofted Abbott high into the Somerset Stand for six before seeing up the 50 in the ninth over.Trego went to his 50 with a square drive off Berg, his runs coming off 41 balls with eight 4s and a six. However five runs later he was out when the same bowler got his revenge. Trego’s third-wicket partnership with Elgar added 85.James Hildreth went cheaply, which brought Adam Hose in to face the county that released him as a youngster. Elgar went to his 50 with a single off Crane, his runs coming off 56 balls – his fifth half-century in as many innings.Hose played the shot of the day when he drove Edwards to midwicket and went to his second 50 of the competition this season with a single off Crane. Later in the same over he was caught at long off without addition, his fifth wicket partnership with Elgar adding 80.Roelof van der Merwe hit two big sixes before he was run out for 19 after a mix up with Elgar.Craig Overton and Josh Davey went cheaply and when Elgar was out for 78 trying to run Crane down the third man Somerset found themselves 224 for nine. Jamie Overton played some lusty blows but on 28 he was bowled by Edwards and Somerset were all out for 249 off 44.2 overs.

Ian Bell has committed to Warwickshire for a further three years, after signing a contract extension that runs until the end of the 2020 season.Bell, 34, scored 7,727 runs at 42.69 in 118 Test appearances, but has not played for England since their 2-0 series defeat against Pakistan in November 2015.However, with 18,533 runs to his name in first-class cricket, his commitment to Warwickshire is undimmed, not least since being appointed captain last year.”Warwickshire is the only county that I’ve ever wanted to play for,” Bell said.”The club has played a huge role in my career and it’s a great honour to now captain the team and help our young, talented players fulfil their potential here at Edgbaston.”Bell played in seven Ashes series in the course of his England career, emerging victorious on five occasions in 2005, 2009, 2010-11, 2013 and 2015.In domestic cricket, he has won six trophies, including last summer’s Royal London One-Day Cup when the Birmingham Bears beat Surrey in the final at Lord’s to cap his first season as captain.”Ian is a true Bear who has been with Warwickshire since the age of 10 and has gone on to be one of the most decorated players in the club’s history,” said Warwickshire sport director, Ashley Giles.”He continues to be one of the leading batsmen in the country across all three formats and, as our captain, he sets exceptionally high standards for the rest of the squad.”

Middlesex have announced that they are on the hunt for an overseas player in their bid to avoid relegation from Division One of the County Championship, with Pieter Malan leaving the club early after a poor season with the bat.Malan, who won three Test caps for South Africa in early 2020, re-signed for the summer after helping Middlesex secure promotion at the end of last summer but has struggled for form. He managed 221 runs at 14.73 across his eight Championship fixtures, with more ducks (five) than half-centuries (two).He also played eight games for them in the Blast, scoring 206 runs at a strike rate of 137.33, and did not feature in their One Day Cup campaign, with opportunities instead afforded to younger players. He has now returned to South Africa to captain Boland in domestic cricket.Alan Coleman, Middlesex’s director of cricket, said that Malan “would be the first to admit that this season has been a struggle for him on the field”. He added: “It most certainly isn’t through lack of effort and hard work on his part… however, sometimes things just don’t work out.”Middlesex, who sit third-bottom in Division One and are locked into a relegation battle with Kent and Northamptonshire, confirmed in a statement: “[We are] now looking for a replacement to feature in the run-in to the end of the season, with four crucial County Championship matches remaining.”Kemar Roach is returning to Surrey•Getty Images

Meanwhile, south of the River Thames, Surrey have secured the return of Kemar Roach as they look to secure a second successive Championship title. Roach took 18 wickets in five appearances for them earlier this year before returning home, but is coming back to South London for the run-in.Surrey are 17 points clear of second-placed Essex heading into the final month of fixtures, and will be without three fast bowlers on England duty in Gus Atkinson, Sam Curran and Reece Topley – though Curran and Topley have featured in one Championship match between them this season.Roach said: “Surrey is a second home for me and I’m looking forward to getting back down to business ahead of three massive games. We know what the goal is for the team and I’m going to give everything to help achieve it.”