Essex

Mitchell Marsh scored his second consecutive century, following a David Warner blitz earlier in the day, as Australia piled on a massive 440 runs on day one of their second tour game against Essex in Chelmsford.

Last week, I went to watch Kent play Surrey at Beckenham and it got me thinking about the plight of festival cricket at outgrounds, writes Rob Johnston.

Matt Carter gives his analysis of how Derbyshire, Durham, Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Lancashire and Leicestershire fared this season.

Sunday's match between Upminster CC and Essex CCC attracted a record crowd to Upminster Park and saw Alastair Cook's Essex XI win a high-scoring contest by one run.

Matt Carter previews the Royal London One-Day Cup quarter-finals which take place later today, on Thursday and Friday of this week.

18 teams began the season with hopes of reaching Finals Day at Edgbaston. Now just eight remain in contention. Ahead of this week's quarter-finals, Matt Carter assesses their chances.

Matt Carter rounds up the latest LV= County Championship action with 10 talking points from a week which saw Middlesex assume the leadership mantle.

Matt Carter takes a detailed look at the first month or so of LV= County Championship Division Two action by digging out some key statistics.

Essex beat the touring Sri Lankans by 22 runs (Duckworth/Lewis method) in a one-day tour game in Chelmsford that was reduced to a 21 overs per side affair due to rain.

Upminster Cricket Club have announced that they will be hosting a match in aid of England captain Alastair Cook's benefit year in September.

Essex head coach Paul Grayson ran the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon in a time of four hours and four minutes to raise money for the Lord's Taverners.

Matt Carter takes a detailed statistical look ahead to the LV= County Championship, which gets underway this weekend, continuing with Division Two.

A round-up of the day's county cricket news, including Leicestershire's capture of former Kent and Nottinghamshire bowler Charlie Shreck.

A round-up of the latest from the county circuit, including coaching changes at Essex and Kent and the death of Warwickshire all-rounder Alan Townsend.

Essex fast bowler Reece Topley has suffered a back injury and will miss out on an England Lions tour while Durham have signed Scotland batsman Calum MacLeod.

A round-up of the week's county cricket news, including the signings of Jon Lewis and Saeed Ajmal by Sussex and Worcestershire respectively.

Sri Lanka will play tour matches against Essex, Kent, Northamptonshire and Sussex during their 2014 tour of England, the ECB has confirmed.

Watch highlights of the Friends Life t20 Finals Day semi-finals between Northamptonshire and Essex, and then Hampshire and Surrey at Edgbaston.

With the required run rate threatening to get out of hand, enter the man who has enjoyed a season so spectacular as to be almost unbelievable since re-joining the club from Middlesex over the winter.

A record crowd is expected at Edgbaston for the 2013 Friends Life t20 Finals Day at Edgbaston this weekend as Essex, Hampshire, Northamptonshire and Surrey battle for the title.