James Taylor's retirement could open the door to new England hopefuls

The shock retirement of James Taylor because of a previously undiagnosed health condition was perhaps the biggest cricketing news of the week. To be forced to give up the game just as he was approaching his prime is cruel. England will miss both his batting, and notably his terrific short-leg fielding.

Cricketers across the county circuit sent good tidings, and meant them. But it won’t have been ignored that Taylor’s retirement leaves a gaping hole in England’s middle order – early season runs have therefore taken on even greater significance for those pushing for a test place against Sri Lanka next month.

In that context, Tom Westley’s century for Essex against Gloucestershire – made mostly in the company of Alistair Cook – won’t have gone amiss. But perhaps the batting performance of the week goes to Ian Bell, whose 174 was the backbone of Warwickshire’s dominant show against Hampshire. His longed-for England recall could become a reality.

The other much-scrutinised spot in England’s line-up is as Alistair Cook’s opening partner. The selectors may well keep faith with Alex Hales, despite his modest return of 136 in eight innings against South Africa over the winter.

But Ben Duckett pushed the claims of youth, with a blistering 282 out of Northamptonshire’s total of 481-7 against Sussex. He made a century in the final championship match of last season too and averages over 42 in 33 first class matches, having prospered since moving up to open the batting last year; and he’s only 21. One for the future maybe, but a future perhaps not too distant?

The ECB diligently provides brief highlights from county games on its website – limited stuff but better than nothing. The counties utilise the material on their own sites too. durhamccc.co.uk has gone so far as to integrate it into its own ‘Durham TV’. Other delights include Mark Wood giving five reasons why we ought to go to the Riverside ground for this summer’s second test against Sri Lanka.

Evidently Woods’ encouragement is unnecessary, however. Perhaps it’s a technical glitch but at the time of writing, the video, which was posted online on 18 March, had “0 views” – excluding mine of course.

Under this season’s trial regulations, the visiting team in championship matches is given first option on having a bowl – the hope being that clubs will be incentivised to produce better four-day pitches, which in turn will encourage the development of spin bowlers. Only if the away side doesn’t want to bowl first will a coin be tossed in the normal way.

In four of the five matches in which play was possible, the visitors chose to bowl. At Trent Bridge, Notts subsequently racked up 446 off 91 overs against Surrey and eventually won by 3 wickets. In two of the three matches which ended in draws the home sides – batting first – similarly posted decent scores and were on top (albeit that Sussex never got a chance to counter Northants’ imposing first innings total). And in the one match where a toss took place, Gloucestershire chose to bat after Gareth Roderick called correctly and were promptly thrashed by Essex.

All of which goes to prove either that the toss isn’t especially important or that the trial is so far going to plan.

ECB officials can do all they like to encourage counties to produce pitches that go the full, four-day distance. But even Colin Graves – despite having the mysterious powers of a Yorkshireman – can’t control the weather.

Durham and Warwickshire were both in winning positions when the rain set in. But spare a thought for the hordes who had turned up at New Road to watch Worcestershire’s promising team take on Kent. Four days, no balls bowled. Some things won’t change.

@willjgore