Key events
Somerset have lost an early wicket, but it isn’t James Rew as he’s not opening after all. South African Jordan Hermann, signed on a three-game loan, accompanied Josh Thomas (lbw Robinson, 7) instead. Hermann will play in the South Africa A side who will play the England Lions in two four-day matches later this month – England Lions side announced at 12.30. Somerset 24-1.
Good to see Gloucestershire and Glamorgan competing for the most dismal start to the day – Glamorgan 10-2, Zain ul Hassan and Asa Tribe both gone for 0 – the unstoppable OHD and Ethan Bamber; while Gloucestershire have gone one better at 14-3, Sanderson and Conway the slayers, ducks for Ben Charlesworth and Cameron Bancroft, two for Miles Hamond.
Maybe Zak Crawley will fly today now he no longer has the executioner’s axe hovering. Kent are 29-0 after winning the toss and plumping to bat.
“Good morning Tanya,” hello there Dean Kinsella. “What an incredible turn around in Kent’s season! After a disastrous run of thrashings they are in a position where if they can turn Durham over this weekend they’d be in with a realistic chance of promotion. All changed following social media ban. A sign of the times methinks.” Yes, definitely need to dig into this and see if it really has brought about a change of mindset.
An early wicket, here at Headingley, the Howard stand impassive as Luxton clips old Yorkshire boy Fisher to midwicket for eight. Yorks 23-1.
And, while I’m here, happy, happy 10th birthday to my nephew Cian who unwrapped Playfair 26 this morning with his cereal.
Good morning Tim Maitland: “Subbed out of the Glamorgan game with a hand injury, since his return, the artist formerly known as YJB has managed 6 against Sussex (failing along with Lyth while all around boots were filled) , a fluent yet truncated 38 batting with Root and 18 at Somerset and then another brief flash (four 4s and a 6) of 25 before shouldering arms to one that needed playing and a second innings duck.
“Assuming that the wise old heads in the Headingley press box will ignore the fact that you come from the wrong side of the Pennines, I’d be interested to hear any of their thoughts on how Young Jonny B is coping with the burdens of captaincy.”
Wise old heads say: he did well last year marrying everything together, especially in the second half of the season, but for one reason or another it hasn’t really happened so far this year.
Ali Martin
There is a chap who sits in the same seat at the very top of Hollies Stand for Warwickshire home games, presumably to enjoy the peaceful solitude it offers. But for today’s visit of Glamorgan he is surrounded by hundreds of local school kids, all chirruping away excitedly, for what is being deemed a “Red-ball showcase” fixture. Anyway, the Bears have won the toss and will be looking to showcase their skills with said red ball. It does feel like a bowl-first day, even if one of the square boundaries is remarkably short.
Made a major error not bringing my winter coat. A decent crowd for this, Yorkshire’s last Championship match at Headingley until September. Surrey have won the toss and will bowl, great to hear the Yorkshire lineup read out over the loudspeaker: “Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow” and some great Surrey players too.
T20 Hall of fame
The ECB has announced a new T20 hall of fame before the Blast, er, blasts off, a week today. The garlanded four are: Ravi Bopara, Charlotte Edwards, James Vince and Danni Wyatt-Hodge
England mix it up for Test series
Division Two table (all teams have played five games)
1 Durham 91
2 Middlesex 68
3 Northamptonshire 66
4 Lancashire 63
5 Kent 61
6 Worcestershire 60
7 Derbyshire 53
8 Gloucestershire 29
Division One table (all teams have played five games)
1 Notts 80
2 Warwickshire 74
3 Surrey 72
4 Sussex 69
5 Glamorgan 69
6 Somerset 64
7 Essex 60
8 Yorkshire 48
9 Leicestershire 41
10 Hampshire 29
Fixtures
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex v Leicestershire
Southampton: Hampshire v Nottinghamshire
Taunton: Somerset v Sussex
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Glamorgan
Headingley: Yorkshire v Surrey
Division Two
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire
Beckenham: Kent v Durham
Southport: Lancashire v Worcestershire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Derbyshire
Preamble
Good morning! How can we be here already? Trees decked in their brightest spring greens totter on the embankments as my trans pennine express slips through the hills.Here be the final round of this early block, nearly half way through the Championship season.
I’m off to see Root, Brook and Bairstow v Surrey, there are a couple of outground games at Southport and Beckenham; out of sorts Hampshire host top of the table Notts, and Warwickshire take on roaring Glamorgan.
All that and more from 11am. Do come and join us, the coffee is percolating.