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Usman Afzaal advanced his claims for a place in the Third Test at Trent Bridge next week with a century as he and John Morris slaughtered the Derbyshire bowling.Afzaal, who played in the First Test at Edgbaston, made 138 and shared a stand of 316 in 63 overs with Morris who followed his decision to retire at the end of the season with a brilliant hundred.It was the 51st of his first-class career and the second against Derbyshire, the county he played for from 1982-93.Derbyshire could not contain him on a flat pitch and he and Afzaal raced along at five an over as the temperatures rose into the eighties.They came together just before lunch and were not parted until deep into the final session when Afzaal pulled Rob Bailey’s gentle off-spin into the hands of mid-wicket.Afzaal had earlier offered two hard chances but Morris did not put a foot wrong as he cruised to his hundred which came off 116 balls and contained 14 fours and two sixes.A third six, driven over long on off Bailey, brought up his 150, easily his best score for Nottinghamshire, and he advanced to 170 before he was run out by Dominic Cork’s throw from mid on.The 37-year-old had batted for 248 minutes, hitting 22 fours and three sixes in an innings which earned him a standing ovation and put the visitors in complete control of the game.Although Kevin Pietersen was lbw without scoring shortly before Morris was dismissed, Nottinghamshire were 478-6 at the close.

Nottinghamshire’s best day of the season has left them in striking distance of a first Championship win at Trent Bridge since May 1999. After taking their own first innings score to 371 and picking up one Glamorgan wicket during the morning session, they took nine more wickets in the period between lunch and tea to bowl out their visitors for just 187.Following on, 184 behind, Glamorgan fared little better at the second time of asking. Without a run on the board Robert Croft should have gone. A casual flick off his legs flew straight to Paul Johnson at square leg. Inexplicably the `dolly’ went down – to rub salt in the wounds with Johnson holding his head in his hands and the ball at his feed the batsmen ran a cheeky single.The unlucky bowler Paul Franks soon had cause for double celebration dismissing Croft and Powell in the same over. The off spinner tried to cut a rising delivery and for the second time in three hours was taken by Hewison in the gully.Michael Powell clipped his first ball for four and then lost his off stump to the next. Franks jubilation was understandable if not, perhaps, a little excessive.Things got even better for the England one-day international when he picked up the prize scalp of Matthew Maynard in his next over – again it was the off stump that took the pounding and again it preceded wild scenes of delight.At 20-3 the departure of Glamorgan’s captain would surely have dented the spirit of the dressing room but their day of suffering ended shorly afterwards when bad light halted the day’s play, with still 28 overs remaining.Franks had taken all three wickets, at a personal cost of just eight runs. In Glamorgan’s first innings the pick of the Notts bowlers was AJ Harris, who bagged 5-69 to take his haul for the season to 40.With still two full days remaining Notts could yet revive their fading hopes of promotion from division two.

Matthew Hoggard pulled off the most outstanding catch of the day, an athletic high-jump at deep midwicket to dismiss Jamie How – New Zealand’s first innings centurion © Getty Images

Man of the dayFew cricketers have deserved a day in the sun quite like Ryan Sidebottom. Dismissed for so long as a one-cap wonder after his solitary appearance at Lord’s in 2001, he never got a sniff of a recall in the Duncan Fletcher days, despite taking 50 wickets a season on a regular basis for Nottinghamshire. He was nothing more than a trundler, so the reasoning went, but he’s trundled into the record-books in this game. With his father, Arnie, watching from the stands, he picked up England’s 11th hat-trick in Test history, and the first since his new-ball partner, Matthew Hoggard, in Barbados four years ago.Dismissal of the dayThe hat-trick was special, but there was another wicket that fell in the intervening over that arguably made even more of a difference. Brendon McCullum had emerged to a rousing reception, two places higher than his customary No. 7 position. The intention was clear – New Zealand wanted quick runs to set up a challenging declaration – but that wasn’t quite how it mapped out. McCullum blocked his first ball from Monty Panesar, then mowed his second, high and hard over deep midwicket. But he didn’t connect as sweetly as intended, and Andrew Strauss made good ground to complete another excellent catch. The wobble was now fully on.Catch of the day No. 1It doesn’t take much for the vultures to start circling around Hoggard’s career. One off-colour game and the talons have quickly been extended, but at the age of 31, he demonstrated his enduring athleticism with an outstanding pluck at deep midwicket. Jamie How connected sweetly, as he has done all summer, but Hoggard judged the flight and his run to perfection. He galloped 20 metres, leapt at the last possible moment, and got both hands to the offering with both feet off the ground. It was an outstanding moment, reminiscent of Darren Gough’s outfield extravagances, and it gave England just a sniff of salvation.Catch of the day No. 2What is the matter with Alastair Cook? It seems only last week that England had to hide him in the field. Every catch that came his way was juggled at least three times, and even strokes along the ground were an invitation for error. But now he’s leaping like a spawning carp every time the ball comes close, and Ryan Sidebottom would not be celebrating his maiden Test hat-trick without his incredible efforts at gully. If his first was good then his second was spectacular, a full lift-off to his left to pouch a fizzing edge from Mathew Sinclair. It was his fifth of the match, and every one has been a collector’s item.Shot of the dayUntil their innings started to go pear-shaped, New Zealand’s destiny was in the hands of their former captain, Stephen Fleming, who struck the ball as sweetly as ever during his 88-ball 66. Some of his driving was as languid and elegant as David Gower’s, with whom he shares a birthday, but it was his pick-up for six off Steve Harmison that really took the breath away. It was short and misdirected, but helped on its way over fine leg with dismissive insouciance. He’s got four more innings before he calls time on his career, but on this evidence, he could endure for several seasons yet.Unexpected acceleration of the dayThe pace of New Zealand’s innings and the drama of their collapse made the grind and shuffle of England’s effort seem like a long-distant memory. But their 11-hour, 867-dot-ball stodgefest really did happen. And Paul Collingwood really did score from just 29 of the 182 balls he faced in a four-hour 66. And so it took everyone by surprise when, in the 157th over of the innings, he galloped down the track to Daniel Vettori and deposited him coolly over long-off for six. Like Kevin Pietersen on the third day, it was a lone statement of aggression.

If things go Stephen Fleming’s way, then he will continue as Test captain while playing under Daniel Vettori in the one-day side © AFP

Stephen Fleming, who stepped down as one-day captain after New Zealand’s semi-final defeat in the World Cup, is now aiming at consistent form with the bat.”By declaring the one-day captaincy, I’ve put all my eggs in the one basket because I just want to test myself to see how good I can be without the pressure of captaincy,” Fleming told New Zealand Press Association.Fleming now wants to compete for a place in the one-day side as a specialist batsman while still continuing as captain of the Test side. But he confesses that he is not in a position to write his own script regarding his one-day career. “I certainly believe there’s more runs for me to come,” he said. “I just have to prove myself.”Set to join Nottinghamshire in the English county circuit in another two weeks, Fleming said he had got things to work on. “I felt my batting at the World Cup was pretty close to as good as I can be. I’m not sure I got the rub of the green throughout the tournament, but that’s cricket.”On being asked who he thought would succeed him as one-day captain, Fleming felt that Daniel Vettori, the current vice-captain, was a fine leader though there were others in the side too who could lead well. “I’m confident that leadership is not going to be an issue in both forms of the game going forward,” he added.Fleming also batted for coach John Bracewell whose contract expires in August. “I think what he has done in the past few years has been very good, especially in past 12 to 18 months. It’s only my opinion and I’ve read a lot of opinions to the contrary, so it’s going to be an interesting time for New Zealand cricket.” Martin Crowe, the former New Zealand captain, recently called for Bracewell’s resignation.

Ian Botham and designer Lindka Cierach at the launch of his charity walk for cancer © Getty Images

Ian Botham has unveiled plans for his 11th charity walk to raise funds for Leukaemia Research and the Teenage Cancer Trust.Botham, who has walked 6,500 miles to raise more than £8m on previous treks, and even led a herd of elephants across the Alps on one occasion, will walk for nine days from October 8 to 17, stopping off at Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Cardiff.Botham’s last walk took place in October 2003, when he walked 210 miles across Wales to raise more than £300,000 for a new children’s hospital. He said at the time that would be his last such walk but, having turned 50 last November, he is in no mood for retirement just yet.Andrew Flintoff is expected to join Botham for at least part of the way, although with England’s Champions Trophy campaign getting underway on October 15, there may be a conflict of interests.Botham himself had no doubt where the team’s priorities would lie, however. “Freddie and the England boys will all be coming along,” he said. “Freddie will be doing more than one town and we hope to involve a number of the other players in their home cities.”A lot of guys from the rugby world, the cricketing world and a few friends from showbiz will also be taking part.”

Recent developments behind the scenes in American cricket are making many wonder if the International Cricket Council is retreating from its position that the current administration of the United States Cricket Association (USACA) is seriously dysfunctional in its management of US cricket. There are worrying signs that the ICC is backing down over a number of key issues in the face of determined resistance by the old USACA executive, led by Gladstone Dainty.The ICC’s strong position was first stated in a series of letters to Dainty, the USACA president, citing a series of failures on the part of the association, and that culminated in the cancellation of Project USA.Subsequently, acting on a series of pleas from American cricketers, the ICC suspended all their payments to the USACA until the internal disputes were resolved. A key fact was that the ICC recommended arbitration between the warring factions, adding that the USA would not be allowed to participate in the ICC Trophy if the situation were not resolved.But Dainty’s executive refused arbitration, unless it was subject to New York state law, a condition which was never likely to be acceptable either to their opponents or the ICC. Sure enough, the ICC reported that Dainty had declined arbitration and withdrew the offer.The selection of the USA squad for the ICC Trophy was also a major bone of contention. Dainty’s board named a controversial side which was essentially the same group which performed so dismally in the Champions Trophy in England last September. Opponents claimed that this side was in no way representative, and again the ICC suggested a neutral selection committee, headed by Sir Julian Hunte. Under Sir Julian’s urging, a conference call was arranged for representatives of all parties to see if a deal could be brokered. But it became clear there was going to be no agreement.Talks soon broke down when the only offer on the table was for the Dainty squad to be sent to Ireland on the understanding that talks be held at a later date to address the issues at the heart of the dispute. But when opponents again raised the fundamental issues behind their refusal to acknowledge the squad as it stood, it is claimed that Dainty broke off the talks.Throughout this process, it seemed to observers that the ICC was backing down at every step. In fairness, the ICC could not get directly involved, but after offering more than once to provide the mechanism to find a solution, it has been repeatedly snubbed.So the main question now is whether the ICC is going to wash its hands of the whole matter and allow the Dainty-selected team to play in the ICC Trophy. That would represent a major blow to opponents of the Dainty-led board, but would also leave the ICC facing some very difficult questions.

A costly chat: Simon Jones bellows at Ramnaresh Sarwan after dismissing him yesterday© Getty Images

Brian Lara and Simon Jones have both been found guilty of breaching LevelOne of the ICC’s Code of Conduct, and have been fined half their match fees.Speaking after the disciplinary hearing, Mike Procter, the match referee,explained that Lara was fined for showing dissent to the umpires on Sundayevening, when the England batsmen were offered the light for the second time,minutes after declining to go off.”Brian was very genuine at the hearing,” said Procter. “He apologised andpleaded not guilty of a level-one [breach of the code], but admitted to having shown dissent.”Jones, on the other hand, pleaded guilty and was punished for bringing thegame into disrepute after his spat with Ramnaresh Sarwan. “I listened toboth sides of the story, and what came out loud and clear was that Jones wasvery apologetic,” said Procter. “The umpires were very complimentary abouthis behaviour – Jones apologised to them straight away, and at the end ofplay.”Procter concluded, “I originally thought it was a more serious charge than level one, but in the end I decided to fine him %50 of his match fee.”

With the new cricket season fast approaching it is looking increasingly likely that the Somerset opening partnership will be Peter Bowler and Matt Wood.Bowler who turns forty in July is the senior professional on the staff, having previously had spells with both Derbyshire and Leicestershire before moving west in 1995, whilst Wood is just twenty two and the youngest member of the first team.Both players have a very strong association with the West Country because they were both born in Devon.Matt Wood was born in Exeter and is well known in Devon cricketing circles, having played for Exmouth Cricket Club where his father Jim Wood is chairman, and Devon County Cricket Club. Peter Bowler was also born in the county at Plymouth, where his father was posted in the Australian Navy, so both players are Devonians.Last season Jamie Cox and Matt Wood were the championship openers for Somerset, but with the Tasmanian announcing that he wants to drop down the order in his final season with the county, Peter Bowler is relishing the opportunity of going back to opening.He told me: " I may be in my fortieth year but I am fitter than ever and I am still hungry for the game. If anything I am even more enthusiastic about the game, and the longer that I play the more I enjoy it .I’m delighted to be back at the top of the order opening the innings again because I think that is where I play my best cricket, going out and facing the new ball."What did he think about opening the innings with a player who was eighteen years his junior. He told me: "I want to finish my career at the top and I think that Wood and Bowler will be a very successful opening partnership for the club. Matt is a very talented young player, and will continue to improve. I expect him to score more centuries in his career than I have and I think that he is someone who could well be looking at an Academy place next winter, I rate him very highly indeed."Matt Wood told me: "I like batting with Peter Bowler. We shared partnerships against Kent both at Canterbury and here at Taunton, when I made my big score and he was a great help with advice and encouragement out in the middle. He has also helped me a great deal technically with my game so I am delighted at the prospect of opening for Somerset with him."Commenting on the prospect of having two Devon born players opening the innings for Somerset, chief executive Peter Anderson said: "Having emigrated to the West Country in 1959 and married locally in Devon I regard myself as a Devonian, although some of the locals in Beer would question that!"He continued: " I know the local cricket scene well, and of course it’s a great fillip for Devon cricket to dine out on the possible Bowler and Wood opening partnership, but it is rather a strange partnership. Mr `Tough Guy’, Peter Bowler who you would always want in your team is totally different from Matt Wood who says nothing but lets his talent do the talking. If they are successful I will win in two ways because I support two teams- Somerset and Devon."

David Acfield has announced his resignation as Chairman of Essex County Cricket Club. David, who is 54, played for the Club between 1966 and 1986 and succeeded Doug Insole as the Club’s chairman in 1993. David has been having increasing difficulty juggling his business and cricketing commitments, and feels the time is right to hand the future direction of the Club over to another.On the announcement of his departure, David Acfield commented: “In the present circumstances it is in the best interest of the Club for someone else to take over the reins. The role of chairman in the modern game has become increasingly time consuming, and for many years I have tried to balance the conflicting demands of my various responsibilities in cricket, whilst holding down a full-time job. Unfortunately the situation has become impossible to sustain.”He continued: “After 35 years involvement with Essex it will be a huge wrench but I will, of course, be available to help the Club in any less demanding role. I would urge all of our members and supporters to get behind the players and committee at this difficult time, so that the Club can prosper once again.”David Acfield will remain on the ECB Management Board, and will continue with his committee responsibilities at both the MCC and ICC.On hearing the news of David’s resignation, Club President Doug Insole said: “David has made a huge contribution to Essex cricket in both playing and administrative capacities. He was an integral part of the great team of the 1980s, and since his retirement has worked tirelessly to further the Club’s cause off the field. We fully respect his decision, but sincerely hope that this will not be the end of David’s involvement with the Club.”The Essex Executive committee will meet in the near future to appoint David Acfield’s successor.David EastChief Executive

Don’t worry Liverpool fans, we’ve got some more news in the Transfer Tavern for you. 

After his dreadful display in the Champions League final, it’s safe to say that Loris Karius’ career at Liverpool might just be over. Ever since he joined the club, the German goalkeeper has never cemented himself in the Liverpool side. With that said, following Stoke’s relegation to the Championship, the Merseyside club should target, Jack Butland.

If Liverpool are to win a title this year, Jurgen Klopp must sign a top-class goalkeeper. Loris Karius has had his chance but continually failed to come up with the goods, and as for Simon Mignolet, if he’s second to Karius, then that tells you what Klopp thinks of him.

Although he’s second to Jordan Pickford for England, Jack Butland still remains one of the bets goalkeeping talents in the country.

Butland left Birmingham City’s academy for £3.5 million in 2013 and ever since he has gone to become one of Stoke’s best players.

Valued at £19.8 million by Transfermarkt, the England goalkeeper could well go for even less due to Stoke’s relegation. However, new boss Gary Rowett has confirmed that he will speak to the goalkeeper, whom he is very keen to keep at the club.

“Because Jack is a terrific goalkeeper and obviously with England at the moment everyone will speculate that because you’ve been relegated, of course he’s going to have to go, he’s going to want to go.”

“But the reality is – you’ve seen it with Joe Allen and others – people want to be at this club.”

He’s the ideal candidate to mind the nets at Anfield for years to come. A stoic presence between the sticks, Butland’s shot-stopping abilities and high concentrations levels would stand him in good stead in a team who largely dominate games, not giving him all that much to do until the inevitable defensive lapse.

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Clearly, he’s got a long way to go to wrestle the England No.1 jersey from Pickford, though a move to Liverpool could give him the platform to do exactly that.

Thoughts?