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Alex Hughes celebrated his county cap with an imperious century as Derbyshire dominated the second day of their Specsavers’ County Championship game against Gloucestershire

ECB Reporters Network26-Sep-2017Alex Hughes celebrated his county cap with an imperious century as Derbyshire dominated the second day of their Specsavers’ County Championship game against Gloucestershire at the Brightside Ground, Bristol.It had been something of an anti-climax last week when Hughes, 26 later this week, was awarded his cap on the second day of the washed-out championship game against Kent at Chesterfield. However, he wasted little time in further confirming his quality this week. Not only did he post his career best first-class score, but he featured heavily in a 233-run stand for the third wicket with fellow centurion Wayne Madsen.When bad light brought about an early finish, Gloucestershire were 47 for 1, in response to Derbyshire’s impressive 460 all out.The pair had come together on a rain-affected first day, at 74 for 2, and took Derbyshire to 307 for 3, in mid-afternoon on day two. Madsen, who in terms of first-class runs scored has endured his worst season since arriving at Derbyshire in 2009, made up for lost time with his 25th first-class hundred, whilst Hughes continued to prosper on a day dominated by the batsmen.The visitors made excellent progress throughout the day with Madsen, who resumed on 24 not out, reaching fifty off 81 balls and his hundred off 175 deliveries with 17 fours. His innings also took him through 10,000 first-class runs, of which all but 1,308 of them have come in Derbyshire colours.Gloucestershire had one or two opportunities to prise the pair apart during the first session, but a dropped catch at first slip when Hughes was on 11 and a missed run out opportunity with Madsen on 52, were to prove costly.Derbyshire, having received the luck their positive approach fully deserved, looked in total control thereafter. Hughes, whose fifty came up off 119 balls, brought up his fourth first-class century and second against Gloucestershire in as many seasons, off 204 balls with 15 fours. It was an outstanding contribution, albeit on a wicket with precious few demons.Gloucestershire eventually made the breakthrough between lunch and tea, when Josh Shaw had Madsen caught behind. Medium pacer Benny Howell picked up his side’s fourth wicket when he bowled Matt Critchley and Gary Wilson followed to Matt Taylor as Derbyshire reached 355 for 5.By then, however, the damage had been done and although Hughes was finally out in the post tea session for 142, the visitors, providing they bowl well on days three and four, had laid the foundations of a potentially match-winning total. Harry Podmore and Harvey Hosein added 70 for the seventh wicket and Gloucestershire, for whom Matt Taylor and Tom Smith helped themselves to three wickets apiece, were left to respond with the bat. By the close, they were still 413 runs adrift with nine wickets in hand after Hardus Viljoen trapped Chris Dent lbw.

With speculation still swirling regarding Harry Kane's future at Tottenham Hotspur, chairman Daniel Levy could be eyeing a dream successor to the England skipper in the form of Paris Saint-Germain contract rebel, Kylian Mbappe.

What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?

As per various reports, Levy may be forced to cash in on Kane this summer rather than run the risk of letting the 29-year-old leave for nothing in a year's time, with Mbappe seemingly facing a similar situation at the Parc des Princes, as the Ligue 1 giants will also not entertain a free transfer exit for the Frenchman next summer, if he does not commit his future to the club.

According to French outlet, L'Equipe, Spurs could look to pounce on the uncertainty surrounding the 24-year-old's current situation, with the north Londoners said to be among the clubs who have 'taken information' from PSG chief, Nasser al-Khelaïfi in recent days.

The belief is that the likes of Tottenham – as well as their rival suitors – see a 'possibility' of taking the former Monaco man on loan for the upcoming campaign, with Ange Postecoglou's ready to lodge an 'important' bid in order convince his current side to agree to that temporary exit.

This comes amid claims that Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal have lodged a mammoth £260m bid for the forward, despite the 70-cap superstar being valued at closer to €126m (£108m), according to Football Transfers.

Could Mbappe replace Kane at Tottenham?

For many, attempting to replace Kane either this summer or the next appears something of an impossible task, with the Premier League side set to be forced to fill the void of a player who is their all-time record scorer, having also netted 30 league goals last season to finish second in the scoring charts behind Erling Haaland (36).

If there was a man to plug the gap, however, it would seemingly be Mbappe, with the "crazy" talent – as described by Arsenal icon, Thierry Henry – having arguably been more clinical than the Englishman in recent times.

While the latter man has 280 goals in 453 games in all competitions for Spurs to date with a goal-to-game ratio of 0.61, his PSG counterpart has bagged 212 goals in just 260 games for his current side, resulting in a superior goal-to-game ratio of 0.81.

Equally, despite Kane's heroics last season – as he netted 32 goals and provided five assists in 49 games in all competitions – the Walthamstow native which still edged by Mbappe, with the World Cup-winning hotshot contributing 41 goals and ten assists in just 43 appearances across all fronts.

In the Champions League, for instance, Mbappe netted seven goals in only eight outings despite seeing his side crash out at the last 16 stage, while the Englishman only bagged one goal in eight appearances as his side were also dumped out in the first knockout round.

While it remains to be seen if the younger man could emulate his goalscoring feats in the Premier League, on the evidence of his career so far, the 5 foot 10 machine has certainly proven himself to be particularly lethal in front of goal, performing at a level that even Kane seemingly can't get close to.

Regard as arguably "the best" in the world at present – according to pundit Rio Ferdinand – Mbappe's arrival at N17 could provide Postecoglou with a new, devastating attacking figurehead.

With India needing eight runs to win, Sri Lanka fans, clearly displeased with their team’s show, began to throw plastic bottles into the ground causing a 35-minute disruption

Andrew Fidel Fernando27-Aug-20173:52

Maharoof: Crowd behavior unacceptable

Bottle-flinging fans in Pallekele caused a 35-minute disruption, and prompted the intervention of riot police, in the closing stages of India’s six-wicket victory on Sunday. In the 44th over of India’s innings, plastic bottles began to be thrown from the two grass embankments that flank the ground – many of these projectiles made their way on to the playing area. Ground staff were seen clearing the bottles, but more continued to be flung, thereby forcing the Sri Lanka fielders to move to the centre of the field in order to avoid being hit.At one stage, there was doubt as to whether the match could even be concluded, because the bottle-throwing persisted for so long. Having spent about 20 idle minutes near the pitch – MS Dhoni even finding time for a nap – players eventually shook hands and made their way off the field. Later, however, after the embankments were cleared of spectators, match referee Andy Pycroft decided the match could continue. India required only seven further deliveries to close out the game.This is the second crowd-related incident in Sri Lanka in the space of two years. In 2015, a fight between two groups of fans had broken out in the stands at Khettarama, and had subsequently degenerated into stone-throwing. That incident had also caused a disruption of play, though on that occasion, no projectiles had been thrown towards the players.Earlier in the month, fans in Dambulla had also held up the team bus in order to voice their displeasure after the first ODI. That incident, however, had not been marked by any violence.

Billy Godleman struck his best Twenty20 score to keep Derbyshire near the top of North Group with a victory at New Road

ECB Reporters Network19-Jul-2017
ScorecardFile photo: Billy Godleman reached new T20 heights•Getty ImagesExperienced Derbyshire duo of skipper Billy Godleman and Wayne Madsen powered Derbyshire Falcons to a third win in four Natwest T20 Blast matches to leave Worcestershire Rapids still searching for their first success of the campaign.The Rapids had posted a challenging looking target of 187 thanks to the efforts of Joe Clarke, Ross Whiteley and Ben Cox. But the Falcons made light work of their task and achieved a seven wicket win with 10 balls to spare once Godleman and Madsen joined forces and added 93 in 10 overs for the third wicket.Godleman achieved his career best score in T20 cricket and his 70 came off just 42 balls and contained two sixes and seven fours. It was his first half century for Derbyshire in the short format and he also surpassed his previous best of 69 for Middlesex.Madsen finished unbeaten on 58 from 35 deliveries with nine fours to add to his tidy spell with the ball.Falcons skipper Gary Wilson said: “At half-time I thought it would be a tough chase. They potentially did have enough runs.”But credit to Billy and Wayne with the way they played. I knew Wayne was a good player but probably didn’t realise how good he was until I played with him. He has been unbelievable so far in this T20 competition and it was great to see Billy strike the ball the way he did.”Worcestershire have lost their opening three T20 Blast matches – all at New Road – and already are facing an uphill battle if they are to maintain hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.The Rapids were put into bat under murky skies and Daryl Mitchell, who has become their highest ever T20 scorer, holed out to wide mid on in Madsen’s opening over.Joe Clarke reeled off a series of impressive strokes, mixing power with delicate ramp and scoop shots, in making 42 off only 18 balls with seven fours and a six. The England Lions batsman was eventually bowled by a Hardus Viljoen full-toss as the Rapids reached 63 for 2 by the end of the powerplay.Madsen and Imran Tahir then slowed the run rate and Brett D’Oliveira was trapped lbw by the former attempting a reverse sweep.Tahir claimed his 199th victim in domestic T20 cricket when Mitchell Santner was caught behind but his last over cost 16 runs and the Rapids regained momentum via Ben Cox and Ross Whiteley.Whiteley produced typically big hitting against his former club but he had an escape on 23 when Derbyshire debutant Callum Brodrick spilled a straightforward chance at deep mid wicket off Henry. To add salt into the wound for Academy product Brodrick, the ball trickled from his grasp and to the boundary.Whiteley eventually fell in the final over from Henry to deep extra cover after making 39 off 28 balls with two sixes and two fours. But Cox continued his recent good form in making 40 not out and John Hastings pulled and straight drove Henry’s last two deliveries for six.Derbyshire openers Godleman and Matt Critchley gave their side a hurricane start and plundered 57 from the opening four overs. Worcestershire skipper Joe Leach conceded 28 runs in two overs and spinner George Rhodes was taken for 19 in his initial over.Jack Shantry, who passed a fitness test on an ankle injury, had Critchley (31 off 16 balls) safely pouched at deep mid wicket.Then the introduction into the attack of Santner quickly paid dividends as Luis Reece was caught at long on.New Zealand spinner Santner bowled two typically tight overs and scoring was not so straightforward with the pace taken off the ball.The Falcons 100 came up in the 11th over and Madsen wrestled the initiative back with the Falcons by striking three fours in a third over from Santner which cost 15 runs.Madsen had a let-off on 36 as Leach at mid off spilled a chance off Ed Barnard. Godleman was stumped by Cox off Santner, who finished with 2 for 27 from his four overs, but by then only 18 were needed for victory.

Newcastle United look set to complete the signing of young right-back Tino Livramento from Southampton in the very near future, with the club "closing in" on a move for him.

Who is Tino Livramento?

The 20-year-old is a highly-rated youngster with a potentially big future ahead of him, even though his career has been a little stunted to date. Having joined Saints from Chelsea in 2021, he found himself sidelined for the vast majority of last season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury.

Only 26 minutes of Premier League action came his way in the whole of 2022/23, but in the previous campaign he started 25 times in the competition, despite still only being a teenager at that point.

Southampton's relegation to the Championship has meant that important players are going to move on in the current transfer window, and Livramento falls into that bracket, considering the ability that he possesses.

He has been constantly linked with a move to Newcastle – he seemingly prefers them over Chelsea, who have also been in the mix – as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of a return to the Champions League in 2023/24, as well as attempting to secure back-to-back top-four finishes in the league.

A new update has now emerged regarding the Englishman's future and it looks as though it is now just a matter of time until he is plying his trade at St James' Park.

Are Newcastle set to sign Tino Livramento?

According to reliable journalist Nizaar Kinsella on Twitter, Newcastle are now on the verge of sealing the signing of Livramento this summer:

"Valentino Livramento is closing in on a move to Newcastle. Player is ready to accept terms and Southampton are expected to agree a fee soon."

This has the potential to be a fantastic piece of business by Newcastle, at a time when it is crucial when they plan for both the present and the future, rather than simply focusing on the here and now.

Granted, Livramento suffered a serious knee injury last season – one that many players can struggle to fully recover from – but he is so young still and the club will no doubt have done their research in making sure they believe he won't be hampered in the long-term future.

Livramento could come in as the natural heir to Kieran Trippier, who is now 32 years of age and possibly not at his best for too much longer, initially arriving as his deputy but growing into a key figure over time.

The Saints ace has won five caps for England Under-21s, breaking into a setup full of fantastic young options, and if he can remain injury-free moving forward, he could believe that a future starting berth awaits him for the Three Lions at senior level, even though competition is clearly strong in that area.

Gareth Southgate has hailed Livramento as "excellent" in the past, which can only bode well for him, and a move to a Newcastle team very much on the rise can only increase his level of exposure.

Kevin Pietersen made a grand return for Surrey in the NatWest Blast in front of 23,000 at Kia Oval, but not without an immediate injury worry

ECB Reporters Network19-Jul-2017
ScorecardKevin Pietersen soaked up the adulation once more•Getty ImagesKevin Pietersen hit four sixes in an over as he made an explosive return to domestic cricket for Surrey in the NatWest T20 Blast.The 37-year-old’s 52 off 35 balls – his highest score in 22 games for Surrey in the format – helped his side to victory by ten runs, their third win in five South Group games in front of a 23,508 crowd at the Kia Oval.Defending a total of 150 for 9 on a stodgy, two-paced pitch, Surrey restricted Essex to 140 for 7, although Pietersen was unable to field during because of a calf strain. Surrey said it was too early to assess whether he would recover in time for Friday’s game against Middlesex.Pietersen was playing his first domestic match for nearly two years and aiming to improve on a modest competition average for Surrey of 22.30. That looked unlikely in the 10th over when he picked out deep mid-wicket with a slog sweep but Dan Lawrence dropped a straightforward catch, to the obvious frustration of the unlucky bowler Ashar Zaidi, when Pietersen had made 12.Pietersen takes the strain

Kevin Pietersen: I absolutely loved being back out there. It was a date in my diary I had looked forward to for a very long time so to get there and do what I did and help the boys get the victory was magnificent.
“My calf is a little bit sore and, at 37, I know my body. If I had gone out there and started sprinting I could have done a lot of damage to it. I want to play on Friday against Middlesex but if I need to pull up I will.
“It was just nice to be batting, manipulating the field and keeping things ticking over. Hitting sixes is a by-product of the art of batting and I still love the art of batting.

Earlier, Pietersen reverse-hit his fifth ball from Simon Harmer for his first boundary but it was in the South African off-spinner’s third over that he made Essex pay for dropping him, hitting the first two deliveries for six into the crowd at long on and repeating the shots off the final two balls of an over which cost 26 runs and forced Harmer, the leading wicket-taker in the County Championship this season, out of the attack.Pietersen added 43 with Dominic Sibley in the most productive stand of the Surrey innings and he also launched Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate back over his head for his fifth six before holing out to long on off Paul Walter in the 16th over, three balls after reaching his 40th half-century in T20.Finch made 21 in an opening stand of 40 in four overs with England’s Jason Roy, but both fell victim to Mohammad Amir who was the pick of a disciplined Essex attack with 2 for 13 while Walter picked up three wickets in 12 balls to finish with 3 for 24.Essex began their chase confidently, but after openers Varun Chopra (27) and Dan Lawrence (24) were parted in the seventh over with the score on 47 no Essex batsman was able to play with the freedom Pietersen had shown earlier.Surrey captain Gareth Batty picked up Tom Westley (17), courtesy of a smart stumping by Kumar Sangakkara, who was keeping wicket for the first time in England since 2014, and Adam Wheater off successive balls and when Jade Dernbach had Ravi Bopara held at long off for 24 it left ten Doeschate too much to do.He struck boundaries off Jade Dernbach to leave Essex needing 19 to win off the final over but the impressive Tom Curran held his nerve and conceded just eight runs.

Chelsea are in the process of overhauling a squad that desperately underperformed in the Premier League last season, with new boss Mauricio Pochettino potentially eyeing another striker.

Who have Chelsea signed so far?

The Blues have added Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson to their squad already this summer – players boasting 28 goals combined in the Bundesliga and La Liga last season – while teenage wingers Angelo Gabriel and Diego Moreira have joined from Santos and Benfica respectively.

Those arrivals have helped to offset the departures of Kalidou Koulibaly, Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, Kai Havertz, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N'Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Christian Pulisic, among others.

Chelsea are said to have made signing Moises Caicedo their top priority before the transfer window closes on 1st September, but Brighton & Hove Albion are continuing to play hardball.

However, Pochettino may have better success when it comes to bringing in another attacking player, as L'Equipe reports that Chelsea are preparing a bid for Montpellier ace Elye Wahi, who is reportedly valued in the region of €30m (£26m).

How old is Montpellier striker Elye Wahi?

Despite only turning 20 earlier this year, Wahi is already an established Ligue 1 player as he has featured 84 times for Montpellier, including 33 appearances last season as La Paillade finished 12th.

Wahi was directly involved in 24 goals across those 33 games (19 of his own and five assists), which puts him on a par with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar. Indeed, only six others in the French top flight could better that tally – Kylian Mbappe (34) and Lionel Messi (32) among them.

Given his age, his already-proven ability and a reasonable price tag, Wahi looks to be a steal on the face of it. Indeed, the youngster may even be a better option than Jackson to potentially partner – or indeed, fill in for – Nkunku should he arrive.

The France U21 international scored seven league goals more than Jackson last season, doing so at a rate of 0.68 per 90 minutes, compared to 0.67 per 90 for the Senegalese, as per FBref.

Wahi was also slightly more accurate in terms of shooting accuracy, finding the target from 58.1% of his efforts, compared to 56.1 for Jackson, while there is also little between the pair when it comes to carries (19.2 v 19.5 respectively).

Jackson does pose more of an aerial threat, winning 30.2% of his duels in the air compared to 20.4% for Wahi, but the Frenchman's game is based more around pace and power.

That is not to say Jackson is not a superb player himself, but according to The Analyst, Wahi is already ranked in the top 11% of all forwards across Europe's top five leagues for goals scored last season and does not turn 21 until next January.

Described by Diario AS reporter Andres Onrubia Ramos as a "real beast", Wahi will no doubt be hungry to hit the ground running should Chelsea win the race for his signature.

On the basis of what he has already shown in France, do not bet against him challenging for a regular starting spot as Pochettino's Stamford Bridge revolution continues.

Wolves are "no longer" in the race sign highly-rated Bristol City youngster Alex Scott in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Alex Crook.

How much is Alex Scott worth?

The 19-year-old has emerged as possible one of the most gifted young English players around at the moment, already making a significant mark for his current side. Last season, he started 40 of City's 46 Championship matches, despite still being an inexperienced figure, and he proved to be a key man.

Playing a fairly disciplined role, Scott scored once and also chipped in with four assists, not to mention averaging 1.8 tackles and 1.1 aerial duel wins per game in the league.

It is no surprise to see that there has been a huge amount of interest in the teenager's signature this summer, and while City will no doubt want to retain his services for as long as possible, they may be under no illusions that his future eventually lies in the top flight.

Scott's current City deal expires in the summer of 2025, so the Championship side will be aware that selling him now could allow them to receive the biggest possible fee, with his price potentially dropping the closer his contract comes to running down.

Wolves are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move in recent months, but now a very contrary report has emerged regarding the current situation of the player valued at €20m (£17m) by Transfermarkt.

Could Wolves sign Alex Scott?

Taking to Twitter, Crook provided a pretty blunt update on Wolves' pursuit of Scott this summer, now claiming that he is not seen as transfer target for the club anymore, dropping out of the battle in the process:

"Reliably informed Wolves are no longer in the race for Alex Scott."

This is undoubtedly a shame to hear, considering how high Scott's ceiling is as a player, having already made 91 appearances for City, despite still only being a teenager, and he is a three-time capped England Under-20 international, too.Pep Guardiola has hailed the Englishman as "unbelievable", which is huge praise from arguably one of the greatest managers of all time – City manager Nigel Pearson has also said that he is a "very unique talent and he's got a very impressive temperament" – and there is every chance that he will end up as a future England senior international.It is essential that Wolves look to bring in young homegrown talent, so if they do ultimately miss out on snapping up Scott this summer, they need to look elsewhere and look for a player of a similar ilk, rather than naturally decide to look abroad for a new midfield addition, potentially hurting their homegrown quota.The hope is that there is time for a twist in the saga, however, with Wanderers changing their stance and Scott liking the idea of heading to Molineux. The City ace would surely learn a lot from playing under a manager of Julen Lopetegui's quality and pedigree, and the Wolves boss himself would surely love to work alongside such a highly-rated young footballer.

Hibernian boss Lee Johnson has acted sharply during the transfer window, making six signings as he looks to improve on the fifth-placed finish they achieved in the Premiership last term and with Europa Conference League qualifiers fast approaching, another one or two new arrivals wouldn’t do any harm at all.

The Easter Road side have been linked with a potential loan move for Manchester City starlet Lewis Fiorini ahead of next season, although they face competition from clubs in the Championship for his signature, yet Johnson will be hoping that European football could perhaps be an ideal incentive for the midfielder.

Hibs scored 57 goals in the league last term, which was the fourth-best total in the division, and these were spread out amongst the attack and midfield, with Josh Campbell netting nine from the heart of the Hibs midfield, yet adding Fiorini into the side could give them another extra attacking edge going forward.

Johnson could even form a dream midfield duo of Fiorini and new arrival Dylan Levitt – who is a product of Manchester United's academy – which he will be hoping can propel the club into the group stages of the Europa Conference League while also impressing on the domestic front too.

How good is Lewis Fiorini?

The 5 foot 10 starlet has yet to make an appearance for the City first team, however he has shone for their youth sides, scoring 12 goals and grabbing five assists in that period too. It has been his loan spells away from Manchester that have given him the platform to showcase his talents.

Registering 25 goal contributions – 13 goals and 12 assists – in temporary spells with Blackpool, Lincoln City and NAC Breda throughout the previous three seasons has not only given him an opportunity to play senior football, but an outlet to get his creative juices flowing.

He could thrive alongside Levitt, who notched eight goal contributions for Dundee United last term alongside creating four big chances and making 1.6 tackles per game, suggesting that not only does he provide an attacking threat from the centre of the midfield, but he also likes to get stuck in and win the ball back often.

Despite United's relegation, Levitt proved to be one of the standout members of the squad, ranking third for overall Sofascore rating, second for big chances created and fifth for tackles per game, and these sorts of attributes could allow him to shine at Hibs.

These traits could give Fiorini – who has been lauded for his "quality" by former Lincoln boss, Michael Appleton – more freedom to push forward on a regular basis, and it would surely prove to be a popular pairing at the centre of the Hibs midfield as they aim to finish in third place, behind Rangers and Celtic next term.

The 21-year-old is also a fixture at U21 level for Scotland, scoring twice for his country and under Johnson, Fiorini could land regular game time next season which could help bolster his chances at not only securing a first Scotland cap, but also giving him a chance at bursting into the City first team.

A devastating spell of bowling from Mark Footitt – or perhaps that should be Mark F00000itt – powered Surrey into an overwhelmingly dominant position at The Kia Oval

George Dobell at the Kia Oval08-Apr-2017
ScorecardA devastating spell of bowling from Mark Footitt – or perhaps that should be Mark F00000itt – powered Surrey into an overwhelmingly dominant position at The Kia Oval.Footitt claimed 6 for 14 as Warwickshire were bowled out for just 91, the lowest first-class total by a visiting team to The Oval since 1999 and their fourth lowest total this century, to give Surrey a first innings lead of 363 runs.At one stage Footitt, generating sharp pace on an easy-paced wicket, claimed six wickets for three runs in 32 deliveries as Warwickshire collapsed from 30 without loss to 48 for 8. It was a passage of play that saw five Warwickshire batsmen – including Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell – dismissed for ducks and gave Footitt a five-wicket haul for the fourth Championship match in succession.No other bowler in this match – and there are several who have been in international reckoning in recent times – has come close to replicating the bounce and pace achieved by Footitt as he charged in from The Vauxhall End. In one over before tea he accounted for Trott, set-up by some back of a length deliveries and then pinned by a lovely full inswinger as he fell over to the off side, and Bell, edging a peach of a ball that bounced and left him, while Sam Hain, drawn into a poke outside off stump, fell in his next over.William Porterfield was beaten by another beauty that bounced and took his outside edge, Rikki Clarke played across another that swung in and Keith Barker was bowled by one that may well have kept a bit low.While a couple of Warwickshire batsmen – not least Bell, who received one that scuttled along the pitch two balls before he was dismissed, and Barker, who was struck by a bouncer the ball before he was bowled – may point to some variable bounce as mitigation for their dismissals, the fact that their tenth-wicket pair posted the equal highest stand of the innings underlined the failings of the top-order and they may reflect that it was their choice to bowl first. Chris Wright, coming in at No. 10, finished as their highest scorer with an unbeaten 28 as reward for some application and a straight bat.It may well be that Footitt’s England chance has passed him by. He made it into the squad during the 2015 Ashes and then went on the tour to South Africa but, after an understandably nervous performance during the warm-up games, was overlooked for the start of the series. He came tantalisingly close to selection for the final Test in Pretoria but, in the end, the England management went for Chris Woakes instead. There is every chance that was as close as Footitt will get to a Test cap.But in form like this, he really does present a compelling case for a recall. Offering left-arm pace and swing, all delivered amid an awkward flurry of arms and legs, he challenges batsmen in a variety of ways and has the ability to unlock strong line-ups in good batting conditions. Certainly he looked a far more dangerous bowler than the relatively sedate Sam Curran, another left-arm swing bowler who has been tipped for selection, and he might yet – aged 31 – add some bite and variety to the England attack.It might be that he did not help himself at the start of last season. Having come back from what was, ultimately, a bit of a disappointing tour of South Africa from a personal perspective, he went into his first season with Surrey a little short of match fitness. He subsequently suffered a side strain in the opening weeks of the season after coming up against better batsmen on flatter tracks and finding it took more out of his body than had been the case at Derbyshire. It has taken time to recover his confidence, rhythm and pace.It would be a risk to take him to Australia. He is, despite his age, relatively inexperienced and might well find the aggression and pressure of an Ashes series a huge culture shock. He would have to learn to swing the Kookaburra ball, too. But if he can bowl like this, he will enjoy the pace of Australia pitches and no batsman will fancy facing him. It would be a stretch to compare him to Mitchell Johnson – he’s not that quick or awkward – but the challenges he offers are not so different.”I still have the ambition to play for England,” he said afterwards. “If it’s too late, it’s too late. But Gareth Batty went on the last tour and we was 38, so I’ve not given up and I don’t think you’re ever too old.”Would I like to go to Australia this winter for the Ashes? I’ve never even been there, so it would be nice just to go. Perhaps I wasn’t quite there fitness-wise this time last year but I feel strong now and I have my pace back.””I’ve seen a few spells over the years,” Jim Troughton, Warwickshire’s first team coach said, “but that’s right up with the best of them. He got pace and shape and bounce. I wouldn’t say any of our batsmen threw it away but we weren’t up to it and we’re going to have to front up in a big way over the next couple of days. I still think it’s a pretty decent track.”At least Warwickshire showed a little more resolve having been asked to follow-on. But any doubts Ashley Giles, Warwickshire’s new director of sport, had about the enormity of the task facing him upon his return to Edgbaston should now have been dispelled. An ageing side lacked the pace to extract life from the surface and the batting line-up looks overly reliant upon two men in their mid-30s. There are few obvious reserves pushing for selection, either. These are early days, but it could well be the start of a painful transition for Warwickshire.They had actually enjoyed the best of the first half of the day. Bowling with excellent discipline, they slowed the Surrey rate of scoring to a crawl and then picked up wickets as the batsmen’s frustration mounted. From a platform of 314 for 2 in the 86th over, Surrey lost their last eight wickets for 140 runs in a further 55 overs – and the last five for 49- with Wright recovering from an expensive start to finish with a five-wicket haul for the first time since July 2015. It was nothing compared to what followed from Footitt, though.