Gus Atkinson failed a concussion test and was substituted out of Surrey’s clash with county champions Nottinghamshire after bearing the brunt of England team-mate Josh Tongue’s bouncer barrage.
Both fast bowlers are likely to be selected for England’s first Test of the summer against New Zealand next month but Tongue might have inadvertently harmed Atkinson’s chances at Trent Bridge.
A couple of spiteful bouncers from Tongue reared up and thudded into the helmet of Atkinson, who batted on for nearly an hour before leaving the field and being replaced in Surrey’s line-up by Reece Topley.
Under concussion rules, Atkinson is disqualified from Surrey’s trip to Yorkshire, beginning on Friday, which would have been his last chance to get some red-ball form ahead of linking up with England.
Tongue finished with four for 89 but Dan Lawrence’s 104 underpinned Surrey’s 449 and a first-innings lead of 34, which was wiped out as the hosts closed on 99 for one, with Ben Duckett unbeaten on 35.
Josh Tongue is also in contention to be selected for England’s first Test of the summer against New Zealand next month
Matt Critchley’s quickfire 90 not out helped Essex defeat Division One bottom side Hampshire by six wickets at Chelmsford.
Set 177 after Hampshire were skittled for 214 in their second dig, where Simon Harmer claimed four for 66, Essex lurched to 40 for three, thanks to Kyle Abbott, when Critchley strode to the crease.
Critchley peeled off 15 fours in a fabulous 73-ball knock and while Abbott picked up a fourth wicket he lacked support – Hampshire are without Sonny Baker this week – and the visitors subsided to defeat.
Warwickshire are on the brink of wrapping up a big victory over Yorkshire, who closed on 98 for five after being tasked with chasing a nominal 549 at Edgbaston.
Sam Hain’s 164 not out lifted the Bears to 553 for six declared and Ethan Bamber prised out Yorkshire’s top-three for single digits before Harry Brook was caught and bowled by ex-Yorkshire all-rounder Jordan Thompson and Jonny Bairstow was bowled by Ed Barnard to leave the White Rose reeling.
England hopeful Asa Tribe recorded his third half-century of the season but was among the casualties as Glamorgan slipped from 81 without loss to 140 for five in pursuit of 283 against Somerset at Cardiff.
Under concussion rules, Atkinson is disqualified from Surrey’s trip to Yorkshire
Ollie Robinson bowled Australia opener Jake Weatherald as Leicestershire went to stumps on 154 for four and a lead of 52 against Sussex, who were earlier all out for 430 at Hove.
Division Two table-toppers Durham claimed their third win of the campaign after Worcestershire’s second-innings collapse at New Road handed the visitors all the momentum.
Callum Parkinson’s five for 13, plus two for 33 for England Test captain Ben Stokes, saw Worcestershire slump to 102 all out from 53 for none.
Ben McKinney (87 not out) and Emilio Gay (51 not out), both of whom are vying for an England opener’s spot alongside Tribe, put on an unbroken 139 to help Durham claim an emphatic nine-wicket victory.
Lancashire’s capitulation from 48 for three to 84 all out allowed Middlesex to chase down a paltry 117 with six wickets to spare as Sir James Anderson’s side suffered their second defeat of 2026.
Gloucestershire captain Cameron Bancroft’s 83 helped his side to a lead of 249 against Kent at Bristol, while Northamptonshire were all out for 228 and asked to follow-on by Derbyshire, who made a mammoth 604 for seven declared. Northamptonshire closed on 66 for two, still trailing by 310 runs.
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