Lancashire 214 and 98 for 1 (Balderson 44*) lead Nottinghamshire 249 (Hameed 97, Williams 3-31) by 63 runs

Their season's returns are eerily related: Anderson has 11 wickets at 24.90; Broad has 11 at 24.54. Neser may be taking a hat-trick and replicating unplayable inswingers for Glamorgan, however Broad and Anderson's figures are so near similar that it feels as if it have to be some kind of grand masterplan.

Broad did have a minor strop on the second day at Trent Bridge, simply to influence all of us that he was feeling all proper. His enchantment towards Josh Bohannon, on 20, when he jagged the ball by the gate indicated that Broad believed there was an inside edge the place the bulk noticed a trouser-flick. Umpire Rob Bailey was unmoved as Broad stood immobile on the batter's finish as if he was unable to compute the choice.

Anderson managed a number of play-and-misses, however he was the lightest-used tempo bowler, 13 overs in all, as Nottinghamshire stretched their in a single day 119 for five into 249. Lancashire, 98 for 1 when rain and dangerous gentle closed in after tea, lead by 63.

There is extra cricket left on this match than many had supposed and each England bowlers can be calculating what number of overs they need to contribute for their very own well-being. Nearly all England supporters will settle for that it is a utilitarian judgment, and that the best happiness of the best quantity is greatest served by Ashes success. These days, it as pleasure simply to see any England participant, particularly a quick bowler, grace the Championship.

Disappointment that he narrowly missed what would have been a primary century of the season likely prolonged to each units of spectators - not simply Notts however these following his former county - as a result of this had been a masterclass in safety-conscious batting on a bowler's floor. His 1235 Championship runs at 58.80 final season, the captaincy of the Lions, and additional consolidation this season all point out a sport in fine condition once more.

Hameed was 57 in a single day and as soon as once more he batted with a fair tempo, his defence safe, his rating predominantly shifting together with little dinks and steers into the off facet. Anderson compelled an inside edge when he swished at a large one, and a creeper from Tom Bailey additionally momentarily unbalanced him however that was about it.

One imagines that Haseeb likes predictability, which made Broad an unsettling determine to bat alongside with lunch quick approaching. Lose a wicket then and Notts would have been 9 down and Haseeb would have needed to recalibrate for an additional half-hour. For Broad to take a single and provides him the strike with three balls of the session remaining would possibly usually have been an unwelcome end result on 94, however he was in all probability relieved to get the possibility to pay out the session quietly.

As it was, Haseeb was the subsequent batter to be dismissed, leaving Broad to be final out as he succumbed to a whirligig swing and a catch on the wicket. The ball appeared to have come off his hip. No surprise he felt the umpire owed him one with the ball later. Broad, by the way, fell and not using a care on the earth on 249, just one run in need of a batting bonus level, an insouciant dismissal which all these of us preferring to treat bonus factors as a blight on the sport absolutely relished.

hameed had shouldered the burden with nice composure after Steven Mullaney had fallen to the 18th supply of the primary session, mistiming a ball from Williams to provide a straightforward catch to mid-on, and Brett Hutton, squared up by Bailey, had edged a catch to the keeper.

Nottinghamshire, excellent within the area on the primary day, didn't assist their trigger throughout Lancashire's reply with George Balderson surviving two slip catches, to Ben Duckett and Olly Stone, to stay unbeaten on 44.

That being so, Lancashire would have felt barely happier on the shut after an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 82 between Balderson and Josh Bohannon left issues evenly poised. After rain-hit attracts towards Somerset and Essex, the least they'll hope for is a good likelihood to set their season operating. As for Bohannon, he's presently the main run-getter within the Championship and is placing final season's stuttering kind behind him.

David Hopps writes on county cricket for ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps