There was mixed news on the county scene for Phil Simmons ahead of the Sri Lanka series. Young stars Paul Stirling and George Dockrell have been unable to force his way into their county’s first XIs, although both have been in good form lower down, as you can read in CountyWatch Extra.

But perhaps the best news was the return to form of William Porterfield, who won a recall to Warwickshire’s championship team with the lay-off of Jonathan Trott.

Porterfield scored his first championship fifty for almost two years in making 77 against Lancashire. The Irish captain’s career at Edgbaston has been tough since he moved there from Gloucestershire in 2011 and he has yet to make a century for his club in a county championship game.

Leicestershire had a delayed start to the summer because of a bereavement but Niall O’Brien was quick to get moving, making 32 before being out lbw to Doug Bolliger, and making 10no in the second dig as the county made a win-seeking declaration.

Gary Wilson was promoted to number four in the order at Surrey, but fell for 18 to Monty Panesar. His club continues to prefer Steve Davies as keeper.