The covers are now on at Old Trafford, the sun dropping behind the outdoor nets. A great first day – with particular congratulations to Yorkshire’s 20 year old Finlay Bean who made the first century of the season, 132 balls, 17 fours, and Mohammad Abbas who scythed and stitched his way to six for 49 against Nottinghamshire. Thanks for your messages and comments, see you tomorrow – good night!
Close of play scores
Division One
The Rose Bowl: Notts 185 all out v Hampshire 119-3
Canterbury: Kent v Northants 89-7
Old Trafford: Surrey 340-7 v Lancashire.
Lord’s: Essex 162-3 v Middlesex
Taunton: Somerset v Warwickshire, no play possible today, wet outfield.
Division Two
The County Ground, Derbyshire 300-8 v Worcestershire
Sophia Gardens: Gloucestershire 165 all out v Glamorgan 4-0
Hove: Sussex v Durham 352-7
Headingley: Yorkshire 285-3 v Leicestershire
A maiden Championship hundred for Finlay Bean!
Young Bean makes the first hundred of the season and the first Championship century of his career, in Yorkshire’s 239-2. Now that was on nobody’s list! Huge congratulations.
Drinks at OT, with Cameron Steel on a cutely accumulated 60. Surrey 276-6. Lancs have taken the new ball and it is time for me to disappear and write up the round-up for the paper. Do hang around and chat below the line, will be back with close of play scores later.
Urgh, after that earlier bright sunshine we now have another stoppage in play for bad light with Essex 162 for three, that blanket of cloud having fully rolled in over Lord’s. The floodlights have been on all day but it’s pretty gloomy out there, four shadows per person etc. Lovely stuff from Dan Lawrence up to that point and he walked into the pavilion unbeaten on 74, having just freed his arms with a couple of boundaries. A drinks waiter in New Zealand, he’s enjoying a promising start to this Ashes summer.
Gloucestershire’s run-rate has shimmied up to over 2 – but they’ve just lost four wickets for 29, 101-5. Van der Gugten, 3-18.
And the first batting point of the season, goes to Surrey!
A wicket ... and something of a surprise. Tom Westley had been happily hunkering down for the best part of three hours but with a half-century one shot away he went to drive Roland-Jones and popped a catch to backward point on 48. Smart pouch from Max Holden in that position and Essex are 159 for three in the 55th over.
Oooof! A super one handed catch by de Grandhomme at square leg, clutched a whisker from the turf, cuts off what seemed an inevitable century by Ben Foakes, out for 76. Very nicely batted, Surrey 239-6.
Gloucestershire however…
Gloucestershire have started the Bazball era of county cricket with a run rate of a smidge over one run an over.
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) April 6, 2023
17/1 off 16 overs so far.
And the Ben Stokes award for getting a wriggle on goes to Durham, who have put their money where their mouth is: 213-1 off 41 overs. Lees batting at more than a run a ball, McKinney at a run a ball, and Michael Jones a little more sedate but 83 not out.
A string of single-figure scores at Canterbury for Northamptonshire, and unfortunately they’ve just lost the only man to pass 8 – Ricky Vasconcelos for 39. Currently 89-7, extras the second highest scorer with 11. Stewart 3-6.
Hmmm, Hampshire are not going to have this all their way after all. Nick Gubbins joins Felix Organ back in the pavilion, a second catch for Duckett – this time off Fletcher. Hants 29-2 and James Vince walks to the crease.
Updated
Back on at Lord’s after a tea interval extended by rain, with sunshine bright enough to see shades slipped on to the old nose. Toby Roland-Jones has switched to the Nursery End and has just suffered the agony of an lbw shout met with a twitch of the arm from the umpire. Nothing doing and Lawrence has just responded with a four driven handsomely down the ground. Trying to work out if the ominous blanket of grey cloud behind the Warner Stand is coming this way ... but for now, Essex are 142 for two.
New signing Olly Stone takes his first Notts wicket in his second over, Felix Organ caught behind for one. Fantastic to see him firing and fully fit. Hants 17-1. Meanwhile here at OT, Matt Parkinson has wheeled down 14 overs on April 6, so far without reward. Foakes smacks a full toss to the boundary and Surrey wriggle pass 200.
Just five hours late reading Graham Hardcastle’s tweet: Adam Lyth is Yorks’ captain for this match, with Shan Masood in Pakistan, and Jonny Tattersall unfit.
Updated
They’re on at OT, sun shining but still freezing cold if you go by how many players have their hands in their pockets. Play to restart at 4.35 at Lord’s – with eight overs lost.
Free entry after tea at Old Trafford and … presumably…everywhere? As as the groundsman paints the crease and Surrey squad players walk out in formation in royal blue tracksuits, time for a quick cuppa, back shortly. Tea can’t come quickly enough for Northants, who have lost 6 for 46.
Teatime scores
Division One
The Rose Bowl: Notts 185 all out v Hampshire.
Canterbury: Kent v Northants 72-6
Old Trafford: Surrey 196-5 v Lancashire.
Lord’s: Essex 136-2, rain stopped play.
Taunton: Somerset v Warwickshire, no play today.
Division Two
The County Ground, Derbyshire 152-3 v Worcestershire
Sophia Gardens: Gloucestershire 71-1 v Glamorgan
Hove: Sussex v Durham 161-1
Headingley: Yorkshire 186-2 v Leicestershire. Inspection 4pm
And the first completed innings of the year goes to Nottinghamshire, comprehensively Abbased for 185. Poor Tom Moores left high and dry on 49 as his partner Paterson is run-out for 0. Abbas 6-49.
Derbyshire quietly going about their business at The County Ground against Worcestershire – one team on the up, another on the wane (come back to me on this one in six weeks time. Derbys 138-3, Godleman gone for 70 at more than a run a ball, Madsen tinking along with a boundary-laden 41.
Finlay Bean is still on target to make the first century of the year – should the rain stop at Headingley – after Alex Lees with go-faster stripes is bowled by George Garton for 79. Durham 156-1 from 31.
Make that six for Abbas! Notts 181-9. Fletcher joining Hameed, Duckett, Slater, Mullaney and Stone in the trap.
First five-fer of the season goes to Mohammad Abbas
Not the biggest surprise of the year, with Olly Stone his fifth, Brown’s fourth catch of the day. Notts 181 for 8.
Parky just starting to find his mojo, a couple of bamboozling beauties.
Updated
Gloucestershire are just doing this for the lols now – 36 for one from 21 overs. Chris Dent out for a 31-ball three against Glamorgan.
And there goes Smith, a leg-side tickle through to Bell, another wicket for Bailey and a beginning-to-fee- urgent wicket for Lancashire. Surrey 163-4.
Fifty for Alex Lees
Currently 67 off 67 – I wonder if Rob Key is tuned into the live stream? Durham 125-0 off 24.4 overs.
Fifty for Jamie Smith!
Nine fours, lots of flourish.
Northants have lost a couple of afternoon wickets, Hassan Azad to Welsh traveller Hogan and Sam Whiteman third ball to Quinn. Whiteman was Mickey Arthur’s tip as one to watch. A “shrewd purchase,” I think he said.Northants 43-3.
Bang – Smith, with perfect balance, clomps Parky straight, to the boundary, to usher in the Surrey 150.
Updated
A small one-act play: Bailey runs in, Jamie Smith pings the ball back, Bailey slips over and deflects the ball back into the stumps. Foakes is in his crease. No run. Surrey 143-4.
Perhaps worth checking before you travel to Taunton tomorrow:
The scene at the CACG. A row of heat lamps at the Tres end trying to produce some growth from a bare, heavily sanded area and ground sheets covering the wettest part in front of the Colin Atkinson pavilion. The ground staff are doing their best! pic.twitter.com/JNHO4OE11m
— anthony gibson (@antgib) April 6, 2023
If Abbas/Barker/Abbot dont get you, Fuller must. Notts now 137-7, with Clarke (47) and Patterson-White (4) both caught behind.
In the other Division Two matches: Lees and Jones continue to rattle along, Durham 77-0 from 16 overs against young Sussex. Good to see George Garton back after recovering from what was originally thought to be long covid but was actually a lung clot.
Poor old Chris Dent who spent most of the morning padded up, has been dismissed for a 31 ball three. Living the dream. Gloucestershire 15-1.
Derbyshire 61-2, Haider Ali and Brooke Guest the men out. A wicket each for Worcestershire’s Joe Leach and MAtthew Waite.
In Division Two, Yorkshire’s serene progress has been stymied by the rain: 186-2, Bean 82 not out, Dawid Malan 51 not out.
The other side of the Pennines – PARKY! First hour of the second session of the first day of the season. According to Glen Chapple, he’s back to his best. Bowling across an Arctic wind.
Action at last in Canterbury, Hassan Azad and last year’s pocket rocket Ricky Vasconcelos have put on 25 in four and a bit overs.
It feels like Foakes and Smith are winding up to attack here at Old Trafford. Button Baz pressed. Surrey 117-4.
So, we’ve had an hour of cricket since the resumption and Essex have oozed their way from 48 for two to 82 for two in sunshine thanks to some composed and largely un-Bazbally stuff from Dan Lawrence and Tom Westley. Tom Helm struggled with his line a touch from the Nursery End, straying down leg too often, and now Dial M for Murtagh has replaced him with John Simpson up to the stumps. A couple of drives have flashed past point, one edge has dropped short of slip, but Essex otherwise untroubled.
Eight games are now in play, rain cleared, even the hover cover is behaving itself. Everywhere except soggy Taunton.
Eleven pairs of shoulders are hunched around the field at Old Trafford, as the workmen clang metal poles in the innards of the hotel taking form where the old Red Rose suite once stood. All on target for the Ashes, I’m told.
Abbas continues his magic at Hampshire, Mullaney for four. Joe Clarke still there on 42. Notts 120-5.
You’ll be glad to know that Parky is still wearing baggy trousers and an extremely baggy shirt, possibly about to pull a conker and a can of panda lemonade from his pocket. The groundsman runs out, in woolly hat and two anoraks to hammer the pitch as required.
Matty Potts announced to sceptical reporters that Durham were going to embrace the Baz, and off they’ve semi-steamed – 38 for 0 off 8 overs against Sussex, Lees and Jones the men in the middle.
Malan and Bean making seamless progress at Headingley. Bean now a career-best 75 off just 85 balls – Yorkshire 150 for two. Rehan Ahmed bowled one over before lunch – which went for 22, including two wacky full tosses.
Updated
Apologies about the slight delay. A lovely cover drive for two first ball after lunch has been followed by a period of contemplation, before another pitch-perfect cover drive, this time for four, takes Smith to 11. Surrey 94-4, the sun out, but still toe-numbingly freezing in the shade.
Gary Naylor muses from Stratford:
I'm missing the action in St John's Wood today, as I'm in Stratford Upon Avon for Julius Caesar @tjaldred.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) April 6, 2023
I couldn't possibly draw any parallels with a mighty leader brought down by a conspiracy of underlings, each with their own reasons.
The Strauss Report is spiked though.
Lunchtime scores
Division One
The Rose Bowl: Notts 93-4 v Hampshire.
Canterbury: Kent v Northants, no play before lunch.
Old Trafford: Surrey 85-4 v Lancashire.
Lord’s: Essex 48-2, rain stopped play, restart due 1.25pm
Taunton: Somerset v Warwickshire, no play today.
Division Two
The County Ground, Derbyshire v Worcestershire, no play before lunch, play due 2pm local time.
Sophia Gardens: Gloucestershire 0-0 v Glamorgan, broken hover cover.
Hove: Sussex v Durham, no play before lunch, play due 1.30pm.
Headingley: Yorkshire 134-2 v Leicestershire
The A-team are onto Nottinghamshire, 89-4: three for Abbas, one for Abbott – Hameed, Duckett, Slater, James all back in the pavilion. Joe Clarke constructing the scaffolding, 28 not out.
“If Sibley is still in and three of his teammates have squandered their wickets it seems a bit harsh to call him the prodigal one, no?” Good morning Felix Wood! You may - as Sibley pushes forward to de Grandhomme and edges to George Bell behind the stumps for 35 – have a point. Surrey 77 for 4.
Updated
And the first fifty of the season goes to...
20 year old Finlay Bean of Yorkshire, a baz-balling-esque 55 off 61 balls, 11 fours. He’s now been joined by Dawid Malan after James Wharton was caught by Finan off Handscomb for 24. Yorkshire 110-2.
A ball after Sibley’s third boundary, really a cracking shot, we have have Colin de Grandhomme sans mullett, and with suncream optimistically smeared over his nose, for his first over in Lancashire colours. Steady as she goes, four from it, including a sprinted three as orchestrated by Ben Foakes.
More news from Sophia Gardens: where the hover cover has broken down on the outfield, necessitating an early sandwich.
No play before lunch in Cardiff as the hover cover is broken down on the outfield. pic.twitter.com/HwtNtXwVOC
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) April 6, 2023
In brief:
Hampshire 53-2 – two for Abbas
Surrey 46-3 – prodigal son Sibley not out 21
Essex 48-2 – one for Murtagh, one for TRJ
Yorkies 74-1 – Bean (he of 441 against Notts in the second team) 34 not out, Wharton 16 not out
Rain news
No play yet at Canterbury or Hove. Action due at 2pm at Derby and 1.10pm at Sophia Gardens.
Play has already been called off for the day at Taunton.
Round the grounds: Hampshire’s attack dogs growl into action, with Mohammad Abbas dismissing both Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett in consecutive overs. Notts, who didn’t get an easy first game back in the top division, 51-2.
Here is Keith Barker on being part of the best attack in the Championship (discuss).
Rob Key has been spotted at Old Trafford, looking surprisingly tall.
Thanks to Ken Grime for confirming that this is the earliest Championship or first-class home game ever played by Lancs, beating the games against Sussex at Liverpool in 2011, and at Old Trafford in 2021, which started on April 8. The skies, I’m afraid, are darkening.
Keaton Jennings, currently warming his hands in his pocket at second slip – was typically thoughtful about the allures of Bazball at the pre-season press conference
“Come the first game we’ll be facing Kemar Roach, Dan Worrall and Sean Abbott with a brand new Dukes ball on what could be a tough surface as Old Trafford has been under water for the last three weeks.
“I don’t think you can go out and play however you want to. You have to assess the situation in front of you and play accordingly. There may be times when we need to solidify and others when we need to put our foot down. I’m a believer in reading the situation and going about it in a way to give you the best chance of winning.”
Alec Stewart has been equally considered, and with 50 minutes gone and 35 on the board, I think you could say this is a measured start. Perhaps slightly less measured, as Pope, tumbling over as he plays round his pad, is given out lbw to Tom Bailey. Surrey now 35-2.
Updated
And Middlesex have their first wicket of the season ... in fact, make that two in two. Bright start from Nick Browne and Alastair Cook but the latter went first tickling one down leg on 16, almost in homage to old mate Jimmy Anderson in Wellington. “Good ball to a right-hander” overheard in the press box but Toby Roland-Jones won’t mind - last season’s hardest working seamer has opened his account for the season. And then immediately Browne(ball), 22 from 22, slashes Tim Murtagh to second slip. Essex 38 for two from 8.1 overs ... and we’re off for rain. It’s all happening.
“Hello Tanya” Andrew Benton, hello!
“It’s great to be reading from you about county cricket again ! Here’s to an engrossing six months. And to Glos bouncing straight back up to division one - you rank them finishing third in div two but last year were two out in the wrong direction, so I’m hoping for two out in the right direction this year and all will be fine.”
Whoops, sorry about that. I’d love to see Gloucestershire straight back up.
A huge appeal, as Pope flurries at Williams, but no. An unfriendly wind is now gusting round the ground.
They manage four balls at Sophia Gardens
The moment the heavens opened...
— Gloucestershire Cricket (@Gloscricket) April 6, 2023
Marcus Harris couldn't get off quick enough - he's not used to this! 😂#GoGlos 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/V8AIdzdBA0
And the first boundary of the day at Old Trafford dances over the line, as Sibley drives, back in Surrey colours for first time since 2017. An observation from the press box – the boundary rope has been pulled in considerably, could that be anything to do with the change in batting bonus points?
We think Burns could have been unlucky – ball may not have exactly touched bat, more waved on its way past.
Round the grounds: we’ve only got play at Old Trafford, Lord’s, the Rose Bowl and Headingley. Burns so far the only wicket to fall, with Duckett and Hameed dealing in boundaries at The Rose Bowl, SirAlastair playing second fiddle to Nick Browne at Lord’s and Yorkshire’s openers standing firm against last year’s wooden spoonists, Leicestershire.
Good to see the Burns bend, twist and …edge behind! A deeply pissed off Burns turns and crawls back to the pavilion, which gives anyone who got to Old Trafford early enough the pleasure of watching England’s Ollie Pope before they’ve had time to open their thermos. Surrey 8-1
Great to be at Lord’s where there’s a good smattering of supporters and a pretty bumper turnout in the press box too. After a Tim Murtagh maiden, Alastair Cook has just nurdled the first run of his 21st season behind square. Lights on, pitch a yellowy green, Dukes ball looking nice and shiny.
The first ball of the 2023 new season is bowled by the rangy Tom Bailey. Rory Burns, whose lookalike Marcel Sabitzer I saw running around at the other Old Trafford last night, urges it behind for a leg bye.
Who is batting? Who is bowling? Who has their feet up waiting for the grass to dry?
Division One
The Rose Bowl: Notts win the toss and will bat
Canterbury: Kent win the toss and will field, start delayed, inspection at noon.
Old Trafford: Lancs win the toss and will bowl
Lord’s: Middlesex win the toss and will field
Taunton: Somerset v Warwickshire, no play today.
Division Two
The County Ground, Derbyshire v Worcestershire (The County Ground), start delayed, inspection at noon.
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan win the toss and will field.
Hove: Sussex v Durham, start delayed, inspection at noon
Headingley: Leicestershire win the toss and will field.
Updated
“Hello from Ballymena, N. Ireland....” Welcome James Butler!
“Was determined to embrace the new county season - and Somerset - a bit more than in recent years (shocked to read your guide yesterday and see that Jason Kerr is now their coach, not a player and that Trescothick and Caddick seem to have vanished...).
“But Taunton is washed out today so now transfixed by events at Mirpur where Lorcan Tucker is 91 not out v Bangladesh...can he be the first (I think) Irish player to make a Test century?” I think Kevin O’Brien got one against Pakistan.
DI Stevens, we’ll miss you.
Eve of the 1st day of the County season. To all involved in county cricket, clubs/players/staff. I’d like 2 wish you all the best for the 2023 summer. Good days/bad days/dirt days! Cherish each day of this amazing game. Put on a gr8 show for us all 2 watch.
— Darren Ian Stevens (@Stevo208) April 5, 2023
Big luv Stevo 💜 pic.twitter.com/c2WgvGdd6C
Updated
Will it be Bazball, or will it be Chappyball – in the words of Paul Edwards “63 for one after 40 overs,” and a cold cup of tea.
Your team by team guide – the jinx falls on Hampshire this year:
Somerset v Warwickshire - no play today
Morning Tanya, morning all.
Somerset’s opening day against Warwickshire being called off before a ball was bowled follows a wet, troubled build-up to the match and growing concerns about sections of the outfield at Taunton.
My understanding is that Somerset approached Warwickshire last about a possible switch in home and away fixtures but saw this declined - so clearly fears were already building.
Still waiting for more updates but there’s a bit from chief executive Gordon Hollins on the Somerset website yesterday - have tapped a bit out here.
Hollins: “We’ve had 26 days of rain in March - wettest in 40 years, I’m told. We’ve had three days of lovely sunshine but more rain set us back. [There is] very very soft ground, the officials need to take a view if that’s dangerous. We’re optimistic.
“Scott Hawkins and his ground staff team have been outstanding, working their socks off almost literally day and night. They’ve done all they can to get the game on. They got some heat lamps in ... a water pump ... to accelerate the removal of the water and the grass growth where it’s lacking.”
A lot of understandably annoyed replies to the Somerset tweet. I had to call Vic Marks and break the news to him but not in time - his train had just departed. Gah.
Old Trafford is looking mighty fine, Ken and Paul are in the press box, play, against all odds, will start on time. We have the teams for the (last year’s) top of the table clash.
Lancashire: Jennings, Well, Bohannon, Croft, Vilas, Bell, de Grandhomme, Wood, Bailey, Williams, PARKY!
Surrey: Burns, Sibley, Pope, Patel, Foakes, Smith, Steel, Clark, Abbott, Roach, Worrall.
Fixtures
Division One
Hampshire v Nottinghamshire (The Rose Bowl)
Kent v Northamptonshire (Canterbury)
Lancashire v Surrey (Old Trafford)
Middlesex v Essex (Lord’s)
Somerset v Warwickshire (Taunton)
Division Two
Derbyshire v Worcestershire (The County Ground)
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire (Sophia Gardens)
Sussex v Durham (Hove)
Yorkshire v Leicestershire (Headingley)
Preamble
Good morning and welcome! The dawn is soggy over Manchester, but the birds are singing their little hearts out. It’s good to be back.
Six months since a magnificent Surrey team lifted the Championship trophy and Liam Norwell hauled Warwickshire out of the abyss with his teeth in the last moments of the season, sending Yorkshire tumbling down to Division Two , the rattle of the circus wheels can be heard on the cobbles
Middlesex and Nottinghamshire are this year’s top tier new boys, joining a league dominated by southern clubs: Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Lancashire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey and Warwickshire.
Yorkshire and Gloucestershire drop down into the eight team Division Two: Derbyshire, Durham, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Sussex, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.
There have been a few bits of ECB housekeeping during the winter, Each county continues to play 14 games, with two up, two down, relegation/promotion. Two overseas players are permitted per game though counties are now allowed to sign four. The first seven rounds will be played Thursday-Sunday in consecutive weeks. Five rounds follow in June and July, and the remaining four rounds in September. The points structure has changed, with five points, not eight, awarded for a draw; and teams will now only accrue batting points once they pass 250 (rather than 200). It is hoped both changes will encourage more attacking cricket. There will also be a two-match trial of the Kookaburra ball in late June and early July.
But as for the Strauss report’s suggestions of cuts to the number of matches, and a switch from two divisions, the ECB’s chief executive Richard Gould yesterday said that they were “dead in the water,” – defeated by a combination of county opposition and the power of Bazball. Here is Ali with more details:
Division One
Hampshire v Nottinghamshire (Southampton)
Kent v Northampstonshire (Canterbury)
Lancashire v Surrey (Old Trafford)
Middlesex v Essex (Lord's)
Somerset v Warwickshire (Taunton)
Division Two
Derbyshire v Worcestershire (Derby)
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire (Cardiff)
Sussex v Durham (Hove)
Yorkshire v Leicestershire (Headingley)
Time for me to pull out the galoshes and wade to Old Trafford, though the sun is now sporadically smiling on us. Ali Martin is at Lord’s. To old friends, a bear hug, to new readers, thank you for joining us – hope you enjoy the ride.
