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Yesterday, under brooding skies, he bowled one over of his off-spin before being taken out of the attack after being warned by umpires John Hampshire and Barry Dudleston But Wagh was not called for a no-ball. Instead, Hampshire explained: “We expressed our doubts about the legality of his action and rather than cause an incident we mentioned it to the Warwickshire captain, Neil Smith, who then took Wagh out of the attack.”The umpires then contacted the England and Wales Cricket Board, which will study available film – and fortunately for them Sky Sports, covering this match, should be able to provide video footage to help clarify the matter. It is the second time in his career that Wagh, an Oxford Blue, has come under scrutiny. Some three or four years ago a video of his action was studied but he was cleared.Last night, the Warwickshire coach, Bob Woolmer, said: “Mark is a very rubbery man. His arm hyper-extends backwards and it looks as if he is throwing. I would like another look at it.”Wagh’s enforced absence from the attack was a blow to Warwickshire since he had been picked as much for his bowling as for his batting, although he had only sent down a total of 24 overs in four other matches this summer.Indeed, Warwickshire’s remaining quartet coped admirably. They made a breakthrough in their first over when Charles Dagnall had Paul Prichard, feet stuck to the crease, lbw.

Paul Grayson (17) also fell lbw, to Dougie Brown and when Stuart Law (10), after looking dangerous, fell to a superb one-handed catch by Trevor Penney in the covers, Essex’s task looked a stiff one.However, Robinson and Irani managed to add 116 precious runs before they were separated. There was a tinge of sadness since it was Robinson who fell, to a smart catch by Dominic Ostler at backward short-leg. Robinson, who has lived in the shadow of Graham Gooch since scoring the third of his seven centuries to date in the great man’s final match three years ago, and has never matched the expectations that cloaked him, fell eight runs short of another hundred yesterday.His captain, Irani, who had passed fifty for the ninth time this season, remained there, bristling with barely suppressed belligerence, eager to lead his men into the First Division, but with 43 runs still needed to avoid the follow-on it is clearly not going to be easy.At least they had the satisfaction of picking up a batting point before the close to safeguard something of a differential between themselves and their opponents in the promotion stakes, especially since they had made things tougher for themselves in the first hour yesterday by permitting Warwickshire to sneak a fifth batting point. At which juncture Warwickshire promptly declared, thereby denying Essex maximum bowling points.. Relegated Hampshire could end their 115 years at Southampton’s County Ground by being deducted points. England and Wales Cricket Board officials saw another 10 wickets fall yesterday to add to the 16 on the first day, which led to the pitch being reported to Lord’s. Relegated Hampshire could end their 115 years at Southampton’s County Ground by being deducted points.

England and Wales Cricket Board officials saw another 10 wickets fall yesterday to add to the 16 on the first day, which led to the pitch being reported to Lord’s.
Yorkshire ended the day 173 ahead at 181 for 6 in their second innings, after Shane Warne’s 65 had helped Hampshire to 213. The spinner James Middlebrook finished with career-best figures of 6 for 82.The match will be the last in the career of Hampshire’s Peter Hartley, the oldest professional in the country. The 40-year-old fast bowler, playing his 232nd game, has missed an increasing number of matches due to a hamstring injury and has now decided to retire at the end of the season.Rain washed out the other First Division matches between Derbyshire and Somerset at Derby, and Leicestershire and Kent at Grace Road, as well as the Second Division game between Worcestershire and Northamptonshire at New Road.The weather jeopardised Worcestershire’s chances of a top-three final placing, and also hit Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire’s promotion ambitions. Rain restricted play at Bristol, where Gloucestershire moved to 73 for 1 in reply to Nottinghamshire’s 216.Glamorgan quickly made up for lost time even though only 15.2 overs were possible on the second day of their match against Middlesex at Cardiff.Middlesex, replying to Glamorgan’s 325, were tottering on 38 for 3 when bad light ended play 20 minutes early.. The oldest player in the country, Hampshire bowler Peter Hartley, is to retire at the end of the season. The oldest player in the country, Hampshire bowler Peter Hartley, is to retire at the end of the season.
Hartley started his 232nd and final first-class game yesterday when he led Hampshire and his former side Yorkshire on to the field at Southampton.The 40-year-old fast bowler, who made his debut for Warwickshire in 1982, had taken 680 wickets and scored 4,321 runs in 231 first-class matches before yesterday’s match.