County cricket opening day: Lancs v Surrey, Kent v Somerset, and more – as it happened
Hampshire play abandoned for the day
Canterbury: Kent v Somerset play abandoned for the day
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Surrey play abandoned for the day
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Essex 244-9
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire 316-7
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire v Gloucestershire play abandoned for the day
Lord’s: Middlesex v Glamorgan 370-3
Hove: Sussex v Northamptonshire 95-2
Headingley: Yorkshire v Leicestershire 164-5
Middlesex. At Hove Northants 56-1, with Broad and Procter so far seeing off Sussex’s Danny Lamb and Jack Carson – the one wicket to fall pocketed by West Indies Jayden Seales, while Ollie Robinson is looking up on pace from India.
At Headingley, Rishi Patel and Marcus HArris have taken Leicestershire to 43 …. I take that back, Patel has just fallen to Matt Milnes. Now 43-1.
Hampshire play abandoned for the day
Canterbury: Kent v Somerset play abandoned for the day
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Surrey play abandoned for the day
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Essex 174-4
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire 183-2
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire v Gloucestershire play abandoned for the day
Lord’s: Middlesex v Glamorgan 234-2
Hove: Sussex v Northamptonshire 44-1
Headingley: Yorkshire v Leicestershire 12-0
I don’t think it is unfair to say that Yorkshire’s bowling attack is a bit less stellar than their batting attack, but Coad and Fisher bowl some tight opening overs at Headingley, where the sun is sprinkling a little early-season warmth and Harry Brook is fielding at fourth slip. Leicestershire 12-0. While there has been another wicket at Trent Bridge. Cox still there on 57, but Critchley a third wicket for Paterson. Essex 174-4 at tea.
Essex 156-2.
What a way for the new captain to start the season! Congratulations young Sam. This was what he said after being made captain
“It’s a huge honour and a privilege to take over as Red ball Captain building on the good work David Lloyd did for the Club.
“I look forward to working with Grant and Kiran on getting us into Division One. We aim to play an exciting front-foot style of cricket with a nice blend of youth and experience.” Glamorgan 200-2.
And there will be play at Headingley, where Yorkshire have won the toss and will bowl. I’m sure CCLive readers will remember this time last year when Leicestershire beat Yorks for the first time at Headingley since 1910, successfully chasing 389. It ended up being a beacon for a much more cheerful season for the Foxes.
Sussex livestream but accidentally find myself on the website of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – where there is no cricket to be seen, even in tasteful black and white. Robinson’s first over goes for four.Cricket Board’s primary and secondary schools programme – that’s opening up cricket to more state schools and ethnically diverse communities – comes at an important time.”
Mail in which he admitted this was a pivotal season for him.
“I’m 30 now and in sport that’s not young anymore. I feel this is the last summer when I will get any slack. Going forward I have to perform, I have to be injury free and prove I’m the best bowler for the job. It’s probably make or break time for me.”
Essex debut, and fellow new boy Jordan Cox looking very sprightly too.
Hello there Andrew Benton in Los Baños !
“Just home after a very long week at work and am delighted to find you’ve got the county cricket blog going again, it had completely slipped my mind. Time flies. And good that it has!
“A question: Who are the stand-out overseas players this season, with any club?”
I’m sure people will have opinions BTL, but Lancs pulled a blinder with Nathan Lyon, Jason Holder at Worcs and Scott Boland at Durham are cracking signings , while Pujara and Shan Masood are bankers
Here is a full list, courtesy of Wisden.
Derbyshire: Blair Tickner (New Zealand, April – July 4)
Durham: David Bedingham (South Africa), Scott Boland (Australia, April – July)
Essex: Dean Elgar (South Africa), Simon Harmer (South Africa)
Glamorgan: Mir Hamza (Pakistan, seven matches, April – May), Colin Ingram (South Africa), Marnus Labuschagne (Australia)
Gloucestershire: Cameron Bancroft (Australia), Zafar Gohar (Pakistan), Beau Webster (Australia, June – July)
Hampshire: Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan), Kyle Abbott (South Africa), Michael Neser (Australia, June)
Kent: Wes Agar (Australia, April – July), Xavier Bartlett (Australia, April – July)
Lancashire: Tom Bruce (New Zealand), Nathan Lyon (Australia, seven matches, April – July)
Leicestershire: Peter Handscomb (Australia), Wiaan Mulder (South Africa, from May), Marcus Harris (Australia, five matches, April – May)
Middlesex: None
Northamptonshire: Karun Nair (India, seven matches, April – May), Prithvi Shaw (India, from June), Chris Tremain (Australia, four matches, April)
Nottinghamshire: Dane Paterson (South Africa), Will Young (New Zealand, April – July)
Somerset: Matt Renshaw (Australia, seven matches, April – May)
Surrey: Sean Abbott (Australia, May – June), Kemar Roach (West Indies, seven matches, April – May)
Sussex: Daniel Hughes (Australia, June – September), Nathan McAndrew (Australia, June – July), Cheteshwar Pujara (India, seven matches, April – May), Jayden Seales (West Indies, April – June 8), Jaydev Unadkat (India, five matches, August – September)
Warwickshire: Hassan Ali (Pakistan, April – July)
Worcestershire: Yadvinder Singh (India), Nathan Smith (New Zealand), Jason Holder (West Indies, five matches, April – May)
Yorkshire: Shan Masood (Pakistan)
Essex match.
Kashif Ali and Gareth Roderick both in the forties in Worcestershire’s 133-1. Jason Holder due to come in at No.7.
And four-an-over Glamorgan have lost Root and ul Hassan, but Northeast looking good for 76. Glamorgan 149-2.
Cricket Stickers, in search of 1983’s World of Cricket Sticker Album Heroes by Matthew Appleby. In the meantime, they’ve also abandoned play for the day at Canterbury.Hampshire play abandoned for the day
Canterbury: Kent v Somerset no play yet today
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Surrey play abandoned for the day
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Essex 62-2
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire 123-1
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire v Gloucestershire play abandoned for the day
Lord’s: Middlesex v Glamorgan 118-1
Hove: Sussex v Northamptonshire no play yet today
Headingley: Yorkshire v Leicestershire no play yet today
And a further inspection after lunch at Hove; while Dillon Pennington has taken his first wicket for Nottinghamshire, Khushi for 18, Essex 48-1. The first time I saw him bowl, about five years ago, his trousers were flapping above his ankles, I wonder if he plumps for longer ones these days.
That’s three called off for the day, three live and three in the waiting room.
…goes to new Glamorgan captain Sam Northeast! Ten fours, 51 balls.
And so it begins.
“Good Afternoon Tanya, good afternoon all!”
Em Jackson! Lovely to hear from you.
”I’m sitting here on Tyneside awaiting the commentary from Wearside & seeing grey clouds being blown northwards outside my window. Hopefully that’s good for the prospects of play in Chester-le-Street, if not for putting any laundry out once the spin cycle finishes.
”However, if I may digress to Division 2 & my other home County, Gloucestershire. I think they’ll be soon changing their moniker from “Glorious” to “Groundhog Day” given the rain affecting their season start again (although this time in Derbys.). If the drainage at the County Ground, Bristol, is the reason why relocation is vital to prevent income loss, then sooner rather than later please?! Even if that means my dream will die to own one of those gorgeous Ashley Down Rd. end apartments.”
Still just the two wickets to fall this morning – ul Hassan to Bamber (Glam whizzing along to 92-1) and Libby to Booth Worcs 98-1. Khushi and Elgar looking in top form at Trent Bridge (32-0) .
Essex line up: Elgar, Khushi, Westley, Cox, Critchley, Walter. Currently 14-0 off three and a bit overs.
Michael Booth has his first first-class wicket! Runaway Worcs lose a wicket, as Jake Libby top edges and is caught inside the rope. Worcestershire 77-1.
More sheeting being pulled on at Old Trafford to cover the run-ups. Now being pegged down. When I came in this morning, Lancashire were in the nets and I was instantly taken back to when I first started doing this job and if there was one person in the nets you could guarantee it would be Haseeb Hameed. Really happy to see he is Notts captain this year, where his first decision has been to decide to bowl after winning the toss at Trent Bridge. Play due there imminently.
Your first wicket of the season: Ethan Bamber on the money for Middlesex, where Billy Root has already hit four fours in his 28 not out.
County Championship however just like the skies over in your country, my mood has been dampened with the continuous “Match has been delayed” messages filling up my phone.
Not to brag, and it is not a pleasant feeling at all, but the weather right now in Mumbai is teetering on the 40 degree scale. Seems like we are on vastly contrasting unplayable levels here.
”Having moaned about this, the first bowl is about to be bowled at Lord’s and my mood has improved significantly. I hope I haven’t jinxed it. Regardless, a very Happy New Championship Day to you and the team.”
Well thank you Sarthak! And please do feel free to join in with the chat below the line, new commentators always welcome. At Old Trafford the covers are resolutely on, the flag is dancing a merry dance above the Hilton Hotel and a scattering of loyal fans are sitting in the stands.
”Morning,” Hello Tom v c Gucht.! “I got the train to Leeds this morning before heading over down the Aire Valley to plant some trees on rewilded farmland in memory of my dad. My meteorological and geological insights suggest it’s muggy, overcast, blustery with a very high water-table and generally saturated underfoot turf. Obviously l, the groundstaff probably have better drainage facilities than moorland on Kildwick, but you get the picture.” I hope the tree planting goes well, what a lovely idea.
I see Billy Root is opening for Glamorgan. No wickets lost yet at Lord’s:Glamorgan 16-0 against Bamber and Higgins.
Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Freddie Lynch writes in “Welcome to the new season! Toss news from Edgbaston particularly interesting – Sam Hain missing out due to personal reasons makes Warwickshire’s XI look quite a lot weaker. With no Woakes around either, could be a tricky start to the season for the Bears…” Jason Holder makes his Worcestershire debut.
BBC local radio and links to the livestreams either through the ECB or county websites.County Championship game today, even if it’s looking dicey for seeing any cricket. We’ve got a packed lunch and cricket bat and ball, what more do you need!”
A nice covered walkway just past the media centre is good for some cricket if the skies open – hope she enjoys it!
And hello Phil Withall! “Welcome back! A new season, a new hope, a new underwhelming weather situation. I hope there is enough off field content to keep you occupied…. If it’s any consolation it’s raining in Queensland too…” I’m about to go and investigate the brownies….
No play before lunch at Canterbury, tbc at Trent Bridge
which leaves us, I think, with play at Durham, Edgbaston, Lord’s and Headingley.
Inspection at 10.30 at Headingley. Feeling particularly sorry for Gloucestershire, whose last season was rain-ruined, and who have already been rained off at Derby for the day and whose chances of hosting their first home game against Yorkshire next week are already looking precarious.
Ben and Imo by Mark Ravenhill, which he rates as a must-go-to play at Stratford, if you live anywhere near. But it only runs until tomorrow so you haven’t got long. In return I’ve given him a hot-cross bun from local deli Barbakan.
Wet, wet, wet….
Have arrived at Old Trafford to find the covers on and no play before lunch.
Derby: Derbyshire v Gloucestershire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Glamorgan
Hove: Sussex v Northamptonshire
Headingley: Yorkshire v Leicestershire
Chester le Street: Durham v Hampshire
Canterbury: Kent v Somerset
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Surrey
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Essex
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire
County Championship through this season.
Today, anything seems possible. Gloucestershire could be promoted; Kent could steal the pennant from under the well-funded noses of south London. For now, a glass raised to new starts, old dogs, stars born and friends made. I’ll be at Old Trafford shortly – the skies are … frowning.
Source: theguardian.com
