Somerset Justin Langer, the captain, is planning to field a different side in Twenty20 Cup matches. The emphasis will be on youth and fielding, which should suit Gareth Andrew, Wes Durston and Arul Suppiah.

Played 8 Won 4 Drawn 3 Lost 1 Batting 34 Bowling 20 Points 122

Nottinghamshire Will Jefferson, the England Lions batsman who has played only one Friends Provident Trophy game since joining from Essex this season, gets his chance in the Twenty20 Cup campaign, starting under floodlights at Derby on Friday.

Played 8 Won 4 Drawn 3 Lost 1 Batting 29 Bowling 24 Points 120.5

Essex The club have already sold out three of their four home matches for the Twenty20 Cup. There are only 200 tickets remaining for the game against Surrey Brown Caps at Chelmsford a week tomorrow.

Played 8 Won 3 Drawn 3 Lost 2 Batting 27 Bowling 20 Points 101

Middlesex Tyron Henderson, the South African all-rounder who played for Kent last season, will make his first appearance for the county in a Twenty20 Cup warm-up game against Bedfordshire at the Dunstable Town club in Lancot Park, Tottenhoe, tonight.

Played 7 Won 3 Drawn 4 Lost 0 Batting 11 Bowling 18 Points 85.5

Derbyshire Simon Katich, the captain, did not hold back when he told the players that some of their recent displays have been unacceptable. “I didn’t come to Derbyshire to waste my time and people don’t come to watch sub-standard cricket,” he said.

Played 7 Won 1 Drawn 5 Lost 1 Batting 18 Bowling 18 Points 70

Northamptonshire The club are delighted with ticket sales for the Twenty20 Cup match at Milton Keynes on July 2, with half of the 7,000 tickets sold. There is still plenty of room for Friday’s match against Worcestershire at Wantage Road.

Played 7 Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 3 Batting 19 Bowling 13 Points 68

Gloucestershire Hamish Marshall, the New Zealand batsman, has apparently given up his international career and will sign long term for the club. Marshall, 28, who has not played a Test match since March 2006, rejected a New Zealand contract last week.

Played 7 Won 1 Drawn 3 Lost 3 Batting 16 Bowling 18 Points 59

Leicestershire The Twenty20 Cup holders begin their defence at Grace Road against Yorkshire on Friday. Tim Boon, the coach, is delighted that Stuart Broad has rediscovered his rhythm and that Garnett Kruger has recovered from a broken thumb.

Played 8 Won 0 Drawn 4 Lost 4 Batting 18 Bowling 19 Points 53

Glamorgan Michael Powell will need surgery to remove a piece of the bone in his chest that is thought to have caused the blood clot under his collarbone. Alex Wharf has an infection and is a doubt for first two Twenty20 Cup matches.

Played 6 Won 1 Drawn 1 Lost 4 Batting 15 Bowling 16 Points 41