Is it a given that Woakes won't be available? I assume it depends on England's selectors - they have a great habit of messing him around.

I keep thinking Brookes will surely come good? But, I'm beginning to doubt him. 51 runs off 4 overs is pathetic. What happened to Hasan Ali?

I see 37 year old Chris Wright has taken 27 wickets so far this season for Leicestershire. Now he's been signed up for Sussex for 2024! What year were he and Keith Barker let go?

They need to cut back on the reverse sweeps. You miss playing across the line and invariably you're out lbw. England paid the price against the Aussies.

Annoying in the end, such a flat wicket. A Woakes or a Norwell playing would've helped. Still no real information on Norwell's injury apart from he's still unavailable with a sore back - you have to question whether it's more serious than that as he hasn't bowled a single ball this season.

What's happened to Norwell? Is it still a sore back problem or something more serious? He's missed 2 months of the season now.

Brookes first over goes for 14! Poor show after his display last Friday against the same opposition. Why didn't they go with Lintott's pace off the ball instead?

A brilliant knock from Sam Hain scoring 79 not out. Total looks much better at 203/7......how much longer can England ignore Sam?

140/6 after 16.2, not great against one of the weakest teams in the competition. Some poor shot selections and three top batsmen all bowled against a spinner with only one wicket in the T20 campaign so far! Up to Sam Hain to yet again dig us out of a hole.

If Briggs had bowled the penultimate over we'd probably have won. Poor decision to give it to Brookes. 27 off that over cost us the game.

Bears 43/4 in the powerplay. Some poor shot selections so far. Moeen out cheaply along with Sam Hain. This isn't good at all. Why was Yates dropped after that great knock against Northants??

Are we finally to see Moeen play in the T20. Surely he must be back from the IPL?

The usual poor treatment by the selectors leaving Woaksey in limbo yet again. He should at least be playing in the T20 games.

Great performance by the Bears!

Why are 8 teams starting another round of County Championship games and only us and Lancashire are starting T20 games this weekend? We don't play another Championship game until 25th June, which I feel given our current momentum is a disadvantage.

This is not good news. One player the Aussies really fear. You wonder if Jofra will ever return to red ball cricket? You have to doubt him with all these elbow and back issues over the last two years.....

Did they really need to set the wicket so far over leaving a crazy short boundary to the Hollies side?

A good outcome overall today. That great last wicket stand has probably swung the match our way. A bit disappointed with the collapse in the afternoon, but the last two rescued the situation. Rushworth has been a revelation !

The weather forecast looks dry but mainly cloudy today. There will be moisture in the wicket early on so it favours the seam bowlers. It could be a tricky first hour or so. I hope we can dig in, but losing the second wicket to the last ball of the day will boost Essex.

Essex 112/8. Hannon-Dalby has stepped up with 3 wickets now......