Ashes hopefuls on song in county cricket

Glamorgan batsman Marnus Labuschagne has scored his fourth century of the English County Championship season against Worcestershire as he took his run tally to 938 and edged closer to a place in Australia's squad for the Ashes series later this summer.

With one more Championship game to play before Australia batsman Shaun Marsh returns - unless he is needed for the Test squad - Labuschagne has been a revelation in helping Glamorgan rise to the top of Division Two after finishing bottom last season - 36 points adrift from ninth place with only 13 batting points.

He was well-supported by David Lloyd (97) and Glamorgan, who were 6-354 on Sunday, will have their sights on a score in excess of 400, which will pose a formidable challenge for the visitors on a pitch already responding to spin.

They have already gained 27 batting points this summer, with another one likely from this game, and if Glamorgan can maintain this form in their remaining games they will be very much in contention for promotion.

Labuschagne scored 106, a chanceless innings from 139 balls, which included a six and 13 fours, but his dismissal sparked Glamorgan's mid-innings collapse where Brett D'Oliveira took 3-1 from nine balls.

Glamorgan captain David Lloyd watched the wickets fall from the other end after he and Labuschagne had added a further 138 for the third wicket.

The leg-spinner held on to a return catch from Labuschagne, bowled Billy Root - who played down the wrong line - before trapping Dan Douthwaite in front.

Meanwhile, fellow Australian Peter Siddle did good work with the ball to help Essex bundle out Nottinghamshire for only 213 in 69.1 overs.

Essex, second in the standings, then reached the close on 72 for the loss of Sir Alastair Cook, a deficit of only 141, and they will expect to secure a substantial first-innings advantage.

The Essex attack shared the wickets around during the first two sessions, with Siddle, Jamie Porter and Aaron Beard picking up three apiece.

Siddle pinned Nottinghamshire's Joe Clarke lbw for 15 before taking the wickets of Samit Patel, who played nicely for 39, and Jake Ball for one - also caught tickling to leg.

Qantas Ashes Tour of the UK 2019

Tour match: Australia v Australia A, Hampshire, July 23-26

First Test: August 1-5 at Edgbaston, Birmingham

Tour match: Australia v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18 at Lord's, London

Third Test: August 22-26 at Headingley, Leeds

Tour match: Australia v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester

Fifth Test: September 12-16 at The Oval, London