County Championship: Ben Duckett hits double century as Ollie Robinson bolsters England’s Test claim | cricket news

Ben Duckett blasted his way to an unbeaten double century on Monday as County Championship title contenders Nottingham and Surrey drew at Trent Bridge.

The England Test opener announced in March that he would withdraw from this year’s Indian Premier League to improve his form against the red ball after a disappointing Ashes series in the winter.

Duckett scored 503 runs in seven innings at the start of the county championship season. During Nottinghamshire’s first innings, he was dismissed by Dan Worrall – who took six wickets in the first innings – for 42 runs.

He bounced back on Monday, scoring 203 off 311 deliveries with 23 fours and a six.

“It was a hard fought game, two very good teams going into it,” Duckett told Nottinghamshire’s club website after the draw. “Obviously, my knock was great. Last night, going in, I thought if we had lost a couple of wickets we could have been under a lot of pressure against that attack. So, talked about taking hours with the guys.

“That second half of my innings was probably the easiest part of my career, but I had to put in a lot of work to get to that point and told myself to be there till the end.”

Reflecting on his decision to sit out the IPL this summer, Duckett believes his game is on the upswing in the summer and any concerns that he might be left out of England’s Test squad to face New Zealand and Pakistan must now have faded.

“I decided to stay here for my personal career, I love playing in this dressing room,” he added on his decision to quit the IPL.

“The decision I made last month, everything is going in the right direction, and my game is well disciplined and hopefully I can take this confidence into this summer.”

The win saw Nottinghamshire move six points clear at the top of Division One.

Robinson stars as Sussex claim a seven-wicket win

Ollie Robinson added strength to his case for an England call-up this summer, taking six wickets Sussex Claiming a seven-wicket win Leicestershire In Brighton.

The pacer has been in excellent form earlier this season and is in the frame of selection for England’s upcoming Tests against New Zealand and Pakistan.

England coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key have both approached the 32-year-old about returning to the Test squad in recent months, with Robinson not having played red-ball cricket for England since February 2024.

“I had a text from Buzz (McCollum) at the start of the season, just to say the door was still open, which was nice,” Robinson told ESPN Cricinfo. “Kisi called me and said: ‘Take the wicket, knock on the door and there’s still room for you’.”

So far this season, he has 17 wickets, but also impressed with the bat when he scored an unbeaten century in Sussex’s last match against Surrey.

Two long rain stops threatened to end Sussex’s chase of 131 on Monday when they bowled out their opponents for 232.

Tom Clarke and Daniel Hughes came to the crease, but Hughes was sent back to the clubhouse shortly after for a zero. Clarke scored 39 off 30 deliveries, while Daniel Ibrahim also hit four fours and a six at the crease, before being dismissed for 48. James Coles (32) and Jack Leaning (7) produced the final runs as Sussex moved to fourth in the standings, having won two matches and lost one.

elsewhere, Warwickshire claimed their second win of the season, defeating Yorkshire An incredible bowling performance by Ethan Bamber and Oliver Hannon-Dalby put on a total of 337 runs.

Yorkshire started the final day chasing 549, but were bowled out for 171, with Bamber taking four for 50 and Hannon-Dalby taking three.

Essex Defeated bottom side Hampshire By six wickets, Ben Brown’s side have now suffered their fourth defeat of the season.

Glamorgan After bouncing back from 81 not out to 140 for 5 to move to fifth in the standings Somerset It was a historic win for the Cardiff-based side on Sunday who sealed their first ever home win in Division One.

Shoaib Bashir took three wickets for 70 runs in the second division Derbyshire Bold out Northamptonshire Fast bowler Jack Chappell also impressed, taking four for 53, with an innings of 263 and 113 to claim victory.

Tawanda Muye is excited Kent to win Gloucestershire In Bristol, the visitors claimed an eight-wicket win to send Gloucestershire to the bottom of the second division.

Watch England’s home international summer live sky sports, The three-match Test series against New Zealand will begin from June 4. Didn’t get the sky? Stream contract free cricket now.