WARWICKSHIRE: Heath Streak will not risk his stomach strain injury in tomorrow’s totesport League match at Northampton. Instead, he will play in a second XI match to prove his fitness before next week’s championship match against Kent. “I aggravated the injury bowling at the death in a one-dayer, so we thought it sensible not to risk playing at Northampton,” he said.
WEBSITE: www.thebears.co.uk

GLOUCESTERSHIRE: Mark Alleyne, the player-coach, is out with a broken thumb for the match against Middlesex. A decision on whether to play two spinners will be made today. Shoaib Malik and Shabbir Ahmed, the county’s two original overseas players, will not play again this season because Pakistan require them for a training camp after the Asia Cup.
WEBSITE: www.gloscricket.co.uk

MIDDLESEX: A third successive victory in the game against Gloucestershire, starting at Lord’s today, would complete the county’s transformation from relegation candidates into championship challengers. Paul Hutchison, the left-arm seam bowler, or Chris Peploe, the left-arm spinner, could replace Glenn McGrath, who is unavailable on Australia’s orders.
WEBSITE: www.middlesexccc.com

WORCESTERSHIRE: The county face a return to the scene of the weak capitulation in the Twenty20 Cup quarter-final as they travel to the Oval, where they have not played in the Championship since 1998. They will miss the all-round talents of Andy Bichel, who is rested. Nadeem Malik, the seam bowler, and Shaftab Khalid, the off spinner, are vying for his spot.
WEBSITE: www.wccc.co.uk

LANCASHIRE: Dinesh Mongia’s second spell as a replacement overseas player, scheduled to end on Thursday, may be extended if Stuart Law has not recovered from his back injury. Mal Loye, who injured an Achilles tendon in the draw against Warwickshire, and Peter Martin (injured knee) are doubtful for the Twenty20 Cup finals on Saturday. Warren Hegg may be fit to return.
WEBSITE: www.lccc.co.uk

KENT: Graham Johnson, the county’s former opening batsman and off spinner, is to be the new chairman of the cricket committee. Johnson, a member of the outstanding sides of the 1960s and 1970s, was dismissed controversially in 1985 for refusing to play against the Australians on the morning of the match, after learning that his contract was not to be renewed.
WEBSITE: www.kentccc.com

SURREY: Steve Rixon, the coach, will look to the players who have underperformed to gain the three victories he believes they need to avoid relegation, but Alex Tudor, the former England fast bowler, is also in their squad to face Worcestershire. Should he play, it will be Tudor’s first championship match in almost a year as he has only recently recovered from a back injury.
WEBSITE: www.surreycricket.com

SUSSEX: Luke Wright, the England Under-19 all-rounder who played a big part in the victory over Bangladesh at Headingley last week, could make his championship debut against Kent at Canterbury today. Mark Davis, the off spinner, is out with a knee strain but should be fit for the totesport League game against Derbyshire Scorpions at Hove on Sunday.
WEBSITE: www.sussexcricket.co.uk

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE: Kepler Wessels, the coach, believes that Jason Brown, the off spinner, could still gain recognition by England if he continues his outstanding form. Brown’s nine-wicket match return was the key to the victory over Surrey on Sunday. The county sit out this round of championship games, playing a totesport League match against Warwickshire tomorrow.
WEBSITE: www.nccc.co.uk

SECOND DIVISION

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: They will not say so, but the county recognise that promotion to the first division is all but assured. Not so in the totesport League, where performances have been erratic. Their prospects of a double success could be decided in the middle of the month when they face Leicestershire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire during a four-day period.
WEBSITE: www.nottsccc.co.uk

HAMPSHIRE: Authorities at Southampton International Airport will be examining whether or not using floodlights during matches at the Rose Bowl will have an effect on low-flying aircraft. The county would like to install lights on a permanent basis once they have sufficient funds and are to play a floodlit totesport League match at the ground on Monday.
WEBSITE: www.hampshirecricket.com