More on New Zealanders in the county game

Nathan Astle has just picked a short-term contract with Durham and will play for them during June, when Mike Hussey is unavailable due to his selection in the Australian one day side.

Meanwhile Stephen Fleming's first game for Nottinghamshire did not improve much after his first inning's duck. He only made 1 in the second dig and his decision not to enforce the follow-on when he had the chance gave Middlesex enough time in which to save the match. Andre Adams' Essex side had their match against Glamorgan rained out and Craig Spearman scored 16 in his Gloucestershire side's unsuccessful chase of Northamptonshire's total in a one-dayers at Bristol.