Katich misses Hampshire clash
County championship leaders Hampshire were without key batsman Simon Katich today as they took on reigning champions Warwickshire today.
Katich has flown home to join up with the Australia squad before returning to England for the Ashes series.
Seam bowler Chris Tremlett was also missing as he rested a knee injury.
All-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas was facing a fitness test on a side strain.
Injury-hit Surrey were again without Mark Butcher, Ian Salisbury, James Ormond and Azhar Mahmood against Kent at Tunbridge Wells. Their batting was further depleted by the absence of Graham Thorpe, who is on Test duty.
Indian pace bowler Irfan Pathan was set to make his championship debut for Middlesex against Sussex at Hove after a brief appearance in their rain-hit totesport League clash with Gloucestershire.
County Championship, Div 1 - Bristol: Gloucs v Notts. Tunbridge Wells: Kent v Surrey. Hove: Sussex v Middlesex. Stratford: Warwicks v Hampshire. Div 2 - Northampton: Northants v Somerset. Headingley: Yorks v Essex.
