Symonds stars as back-up boys plunder

While most eyes were on the first Test, the Australians reminded county fans that the next rung of players was also a force as the Championship returned after a week's break. Andrew Symonds may have missed out on a wicket, but he made his first game for Lancashire a memorable one with 134 in a high-scoring but boring draw. Even the match's pace seemed to affect Symonds, the one-day international big hitter, who stayed for a lengthy 211 balls and struck 22 fours against Essex at Old Trafford.

Lancashire held their second place in Division Two behind Durham, who lead by 12 points after their draw with Derbyshire at Derby. The Australian star was Michael Di Venuto as he smashed 203 from 298 deliveries with 33 fours, boosting Derbyshire as they recovered from a first-innings 161 to declare at 7 for 539. While Di Venuto fired to 876 runs at 62.57, Jon Moss collected 7, 0 and no wickets from 25 overs to continue his disappointing season.

Mike Hussey and Ashley Noffke made a pair of 10s in the first innings for Durham, but after taking two wickets Noffke suffered a back injury and could miss the next six weeks. Queensland will monitor his recovery closely as the problem hindered him towards the end of last season. Hussey was 42 not out when rain spoiled the final day with Durham 2 for 93 chasing 330 for victory.

Phil Jaques and Ian Harvey cracked half-centuries as Yorkshire successfully chased a massive 397 for victory over Leicestershire at Scarborough. Jaques hit 55 and Harvey, who took one first-innings wicket, made 54 not out as Yorkshire reached 4 for 400. After scoring a century against the Australians last weekend, Chris Rogers almost picked up two hundreds in a row, but he fell for 93 in Leicestershire's opening innings and 35 in their second.

At Northampton Martin Love collected a double of 74 and 27 and six catches as Northamptonshire beat Worcestershire despite seven wickets from Shoaib Akhtar. Damien Wright added 47 in the second innings to go with three wickets in the first.

In Division One Shane Watson made an impressive debut when he picked up 43 and a team top-score of 82 as he helped Hampshire recover from a second-innings stumble against Sussex at Southampton. With their captain Shane Warne busy bowling Australia to victory, Hampshire showed they could fight back without him - they will have to until late September - and are third, two points ahead of Middlesex.

David Hussey posted 77 as Nottinghamshire secured a 10-wicket victory over Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Notts' 341 gave them a 121-run lead and the 12 needed for victory were knocked off quickly on the third day.