On another day decimated by the miserable spring weather, the dark clouds avoided Trent Bridge but the one currently following Andrew Strauss clung doggedly to its purpose.

One way or another, it was not a good day for the England captain, who looks short of catching practice as well as form with the bat ahead of next week's opening Test.

Strauss is normally as reliable a first slip as there is yet he put down three chances yesterday, two of them from consecutive balls. But that was not the end of his misfortune. He had made only two when Harry Gurney, a left-arm quick he had never previously encountered, had him fencing outside off stump to be caught behind. So much for sharpening up against Stuart Broad.

Strauss's latest foray into county cricket has not been helped by early-season conditions that favour the bowlers but, even so, 57 runs from four innings is not an encouraging return. Should anyone need reminding, he has only one century in his last 50 Test innings.

He dropped Nottinghamshire's Michael Lumb, who went on to make 162, on 95 off the gentle medium pace of Neil Dexter and again, next ball, on 99. Tim Murtagh also spilt a sitter at mid-on when Lumb was on 83.

Kevin Pietersen had another day alternating between the dressing room and the field at New Road, where Worcestershire claimed their first batting points of the season. Little play was possible elsewhere.

The England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive, David Collier, will not succeed Haroon Lorgat in the equivalent role with the International Cricket Council, whose board has named the former South Africa wicketkeeper Dave Richardson as its chosen successor.