Key events
Ali Martin’s report from Edgbaston
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 99-4 v Yorkshire
Southampton: Hampshire v Essex 219-3
Grace Road: Leicestershire 15-1 v Sussex 361
Taunton: Somerset 292-6 v Nottinghamshire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Surrey 328
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 391-4 v Worcestershire
Chester le Street: Durham 335 v Kent 50-2
Lord’s: Middlesex 279-5 v Gloucestershire
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Lancashire 346-7
Tanya’s county roundup
The spectre of the Ashes loomed over day one of a new Championship season, every innings, every wicket, a play in one act sent straight to the laptop of Brendon McCullum.
England Lion Emilio Gay won the race to the first century of the season for Durham, a classy innings, fierce on the loose ball, and in tricky conditions at Chester-le-Street. When he was finally out, a fourth catch of the day to Kent’s Zak Crawley, he had pocketed 128 from just 140 balls.
Crawley’s turn with the bat went about as well as Jamie Smith’s and Ollie Pope’s over at Edgbaston, two boundaries before falling lbw to Matthew Potts for nine.
At Grace Road Tom Clark embroidered a stylish 101, as Sussex gave promoted Leicestershire a bloody nose in the morning session, racing to 155 for two by lunch. Lion Tom Haines made a giddy half-century and James Coles, of mega-deal Hundred fame, a pretty 28. An England and Wales Cricket Board bowling scout, watching from the wings, then saw Ollie Robinson remove Rishi Patel in the four overs of Leicestershire’s innings possible before stumps
At Taunton, Somerset performed their usual rescue act, this time from 14 for two against the champions. Tom Abell stroked a flawless 108, and he and young James Rew (64) added 140 for the fourth wicket against Nottinghamshire. One of Rew’s drives lilted through covers like a lullaby. Craig Overton clubbed 32.
Rain wiped out much of the day at Sophia Gardens but Glamorgan, back in Division One for the first time since 2005, had a tricky start. They lost four wickets in six overs against Yorkshire including the fancied Asa Tribe, who donated Jonny Bairstow a pillowy catch. Ben Kellaway and Colin Ingram rebuilt to 99 for four at stumps.
History was made at Southampton, where Noah Thain became the first full substitute in County Championship history under the ECB’s new experimental rule change. He replaced the Essex captain, Tom Westley, whose finger was fractured by a snorter from Hampshire’s Sonny Baker. Wobbling at 67 for three, and with Westley retired hurt, Matt Critchley (97no) and Charlie Allison (60no) rebuilt calmly. There was a minute’s silence at the start of the match in memory of Hampshire and England legend Robin Smith, who died during the winter.
There was also a minute’s silence at Lord’s, to remember long-serving groundsman Mick Hunt. On a stodgy day, Leus du Plooy’s 98 not out helped Middlesex to 279 for five against Gloucestershire.
It was a tough day for Worcestershire’s bowlers at Derbyshire, where Martin Andersson shimmied a rapid unbeaten 134. Worcestershire are without South African signing Beyers Swanepoel, whose desperation to get to New Road was such that he left for the airport with seven overs of a domestic one-day final to go and then found that a furious South African had withheld his no-objection certificate. “Beyers would probably say he’s made a bit of an error in hindsight,” said the Worcestershire chief executive, Ashley Giles.
Lancashire were the only side who won the toss and batted and could be happy enough with their work against Northamptonshire thanks to 90 from Josh Bohannon, 87 from Luke Wells and 71 from Michael Jones.
Not sure Rishi Patel was dreaming of that shot this morning, winding up but edging behind to Simpson. Robinson the man, ticking up the pace. Leics 10-1.
And at Chester le Street, Zak Crawley is out, two fours, lbw for nine to Potts.
As stumps is called around the grounds, I must write up.
Patel survives Robinson’s over; Jake Weatherall gets off the mark for Leicestershire by cutting Fynn Hudson- Prentice’s first ball (a no ball) for four.
Out march the Sussex fielders, hands stuffed firmly in pockets. Ollie Robinson gives the umpire his jumper. His first ball is a trundle, Rishi Patel bats it away.
A hundred for Ben Foakes
Very nicely done. Surrey from 65-6 are 298 for seven.
Sussex are all out here at Grace Road, for 361, three wickets each for Holland and Ben Green. Those that know think this is a very good score. Ollie Robinson paws the earth.
I really admire the way that Ben Foakes deals with his feelings towards the selectors, by just getting loads of runs. Currently 93 not out in the Surrey rebuild. If you’ve got a Cricketer subscription, this is a nice read.
“I had so many years where I was in and out,” he says. “Every season, every tour, you’re wondering: am I going to be in? Am I going to be out? It can be quite draining. It feels like you’re living on that knife-edge.
“I don’t know that relief is the right word. It’s like you’ve always had a dream, and now that’s done. That’s tough to take. It really sucks.
“But there is some relief, too. Now, when I know an England squad is set to be announced, I’m not nervous. It doesn’t occupy my mind for two weeks in the way it did. From that point of view, life is easier.
“There was a time when I was a backup for a tour. So I’d be downstairs [in the nets at the Kia Oval] hitting balls in October in case something happens. Living your life like that isn’t great.
“They’ve definitely moved on now. They went to Smudge [Jamie Smith] and then, when he was unavailable, Jordan Cox and Ollie Robinson. So it’s pretty obvious they didn’t want me.
A third wicket for Yorkshire’s Jack White, as Glamorgan’s short afternoon of cricket gets worse. Captain Carlson out, for two. Glamorgan 40-4.
Hundreds for Tom Abell and Martin Andersson.
While I wasn’t looking, cracking hundreds for Somerset’s Tom Abell and Derbyshire’s Martin Andersson.
Leus du Plooy, Ben Foakes, Tom Lawes and Matt Critchley lurk in the edgy eighties.
And Ben Green immediately makes the new ball talk from the tricky Bennett end, Carson (taller than I’d expected) lbw for five. Sussex 330-8.
The Asa Tribe klaxon blew only briefly, before he was caught behind by YJB, who repeats the trick shortly afterwards, a diving Jackinthebox this time, to dismiss Dickson for a duck. Glamorgan 26 for three.
At Grace Road, Leicestershire have taken the new ball, Sussex 325 for seven, as the clouds start to gather.
Play at Sophia Gardens! Asa Tribe klaxon, currently 11 not out, though he has lost his opening partner Byrom for five to Ben Coad. Glamorgan 20 for one.
Injury sub news: Noah Thain will be able to bat, including in the first innings, but not bowl in the game. Sam Cook captains Essex in Westley’s absence.
Sorry about that.
Just after I started writing up, Tom Clark reach his, excellent, hundred, lagubriously lifting his bat and waving to the dressing room, four sixes, nine fours. He made a hundred in his first match last year too, against Warwickshire , though his season wasn’t all that. He’s out shortly afterwards for 101. And Rehan Ahmed sent John Simpson on his way, lbw for 17. New boy Tom Price is now at the crease, 23 not out in Sussex’s 287-6.
Ali Martin
Tom Lawes is flipping the script here at Edgbaston, bringing up a measured half-century before taking to the cold-fingered off-spin of Rob Yates to reach 67 not out. There was a chance, however, Lawes sticking one up straight up but sub fielder Zen Malik struggling to get around and seeing it plop to the floor beside him. Surrey 176 for six, with Ben Foakes also chiselling his way to 44 not out.
Just got to write up quickly for first edition, back shortly. Do chat on BTL.
In Division Two:
A steady start by Derbyshire, fifties a piece for the openers. Derbyshire 181-4.
Durham 218-5, Gay still there on 123 but he doesn’t have much support. Three wickets for Kent’s SA signing Glenton Stuurman.
Middx 141-3 on a stodgy pitch against Gloucestershire. An unbeaten 50 for Leus du Plooy.
And Lancashire, the only team to choose to bat , are having the better of the day at Wantage Road. Luke Wells was stumped for 87, vice-captain Josh Bohannon 72 not out. Lancs 200-2
An hour and a half into the afternoon session, let’s go round the grounds.
No play yet at Sophia Gardens
A wicket at Grace Road! Leaning on his Sussex debut is lbw to Holland for 13. Clark still there on 86. Sussex 222-4.
Essex 102-3, two wickets for Abbott. Westley out for the match. Charlie Allison who did so well last year, 24 not out.
James Rew hangs out his wares with an unbeaten 54, in front, I suspect, of an ECB scout. Tom Abell 49 not out. The two have put on 97, Somerset 163-3.
Tom Lawes (48) and Ben Foakes (33) are pulling Surrey out of the mire, Surrey 146-6
Injury substitute number one: Tom Westley is replaced by Noah Thain
Tom Westley makes history, the first man to get an full injury substitute in CC history. Out with a finger injury, he’s replaced by Noah Thain for Essex.
An ECB pace bowling scout makes a cup of tea at the back of the box, presumably on Ollie Robinson duty.
Yadvinder Singh is having a second spell, up the troublesome hill from the Bennett end. The flag behind him rags and billows all over the place. Leaning defends one, two. Sussex: 217-3.
Thanks to all those below the line who tried to work out who the mysterious tall Nottinghamshire bowler was who gave the couple on the train a postal order. They worked out just before I got off that it was Alan Moss, and he’d played for Middx not Notts.
The first hundred of the season goes to Emilio Gay!
And there it is! Pocketing a couple of runs to deep midwicket for the first century of the season. He whoops his arms, and pulls off his helmet with a beaming smile. The radio commentator says that at media day he told reporters that all he is interested in is hundreds. And now he has one. Bravo.
And over at Chester le Street, another player must slip off after wafting without moving his boots. A third catch for Zak Crawley., a second wicket for Stuurman. Durham 189-4, Emilio Gay one run away from what would be the first ton of the season.
James Coles slopes off in his baggy jumper, shoulders sloped, a leaden-footed inside edge onto his stumps. Happiness for Sam Wood. Sussex 192-3.
Rew watch
James Rew is dragging Somerset back to respectability agains Notts and throwing an early hat into the England ring. Currently 39 not out in Somerset’s 101-3.
It’s getting dark here at Grace Road. Leicestershire have pulled the net a little tighter. Clark drives and misses at Scriven but the next ball is a one legged flamingo flick into the road for six, his third of the day.
Rolling back the years at Edgbaston. Surrey, er, Champions elect, 74-6.
Ali Martin
Chris Woakes is on a roll at Edgbaston after lunch, winning his duel outside off stump with Dom Sibley via an edge to slip and uprooting Ralphie Albert’s middle stump second ball. Not a great defensive shot to be honest, the ball knocking over middle stump without having to do much. Surrey 65 for six, Ethan ‘La’ Bamber having done the business for his (soy) capitan in the morning with three wickets.