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.
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.
Updated
An ECB pace bowling scout makes a cup of tea at the back of the box, presumably on Ollie Robinson duty.
Updated
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.
Updated
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.
Updated
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.
My Grace Road perambulation list: two dogs, two paperback books, two children, one baby.
Also popped into the Meet and can report that the spread is as amazing as ever. There are two slices of Easter chocolate cake left, garnished with Lindor eggs. So hurry if you’re hungry…
Updated
Time for a quick cold walk round the ground, back shortly.
Nice to read that there was a minute’s silence for Robin Smith this morning at the Rose Bowl.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Yorkshire no play yet today
Southampton: Hampshire v Essex 37-2
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Sussex 154-2
Taunton: Somerset 78-3 v Nottinghamshire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Surrey 61-4
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 100-1 v Worcestershire
Chester le Street: Durham 125-3 v Kent
Lord’s: Middlesex 45-1 v Gloucestershire
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Lancashire 99-1
On the board
Fifties for: Tom Haines, Tom Clark (53 not out), Harry Came (50 not out), Emilio Gay (62 not out), Luke Wells (51 not out).
Wickets for: Ben Sanderson, Matt Taylor, Ethan Bamber (3), Keith Dudgeon (2), Glenton Stuurman, Tom Taylor, Liam Patterson-White, Olly Stone, Dillon Pennington, Ben Green, Ian Holland, Kyle Abbott and Sonny Baker
Updated
Ollie Pope has been and gone here at Edgbaston, trapped lbw on 20 to an inswinger from Ethan Bamber and thus failing to capitalise on a drop by Kai Smith the previous over. Pope was scrapping hard for his runs, survived a tight lbw on nine, and that edge off Ed Barnard’s fifth ball was another example of his propensity to walk at the ball. Kai Smith the relieved man, having enjoyed a fine start up to that point with the run out and the en-gobblement of a thick edge off Jamie Smith. Surrey 55-3, with Dom Sibley more secure at the other end.
Updated
Ah, shame, Tom Haines, who slowed considerably after passing 50, has a wild-eyed swing and is caught behind off Holland for 56. In another paragraph, Tom Clark neatly collects his half century. Sussex 140-2.
Enter James Coles, man of the moment. I’ve just learnt from the radio that he turned down the Lions this winter to play in SA T20, before fetching that whopping near- £400,000 in the Hundred auction.
Updated
Hello new readers!
A special hello to any new readers who have logged on today. All are welcome to this lovely cricket community. If you have any time, do join in with the chatter below the line (BTL), the locals are friendly.
Other links that might be helpful:
BBC radio coverage here.
And, (thanks to the nudge below the line), here is a list of people who post about cricket on bluesky. Some do the same on X.
And one of CCLive’s readers, Mes, has set up a fantasy league which all are welcome to join. He put the links BTL, one of the first posts this morning.
And I think that’s it. Drop me a line if you have any other questions, moans etc.
And mostly a batsman’s morning in Division Two:
Derbyshire 54-0 against Worcestershire; Middlesex 32-0 against Gloucestershire; Lancs 60-1 against Northants – Harry Singh a wicket to Sanderson for 18. Durham have lost both openers at Chester le Street, 68-2, a wicket each for Keith Dudgeon and Glenton Stuurman, and a catch for Zak Crawley
Scores on the doors after an hour:
Division One
Sussex scream past a hundred: 105-1 off 16 overs. Leicestershire plod on.
Somerset are wobbling, 34 for two, Tom Lammonby following Tom Kohler-Cadmore back into the pavilion. Many eyes on James Rew, currently 9 not out against the Champions.
Surrey are making slow progress against Warwickshire, Sibley 11 from 43 balls, Pope 10 from 35. Surrey 34-2.
And there’s play at the Rose Bowl at last, where Abbott has winkled out Dean Elgar or 2. Essex 11-1.
While going to get a tissue, I miss Jake Weatherall dropping Clark at third slip off Holland. A sitter, apparently. Leicestershire’s first morning in Div one is a trying one.
Tom Haines is still in here at Grace Road, short and street fighter-ready next to the willowy Tom Clark. 28 of his 32 runs have come in boundaries. A couple of big appeals from Green, but no joy.
With half an hour gone, let’s skip around the grounds:
Early wickets at: Chester le Street, Durham 28-1, England prospect Ben McKinney lbw for eight; Taunton, Somerset 11-1, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, opening, done by a pearler from Olly Stone; and Edgbaston where Jamie Smith, looking to build confidence after the Ashes, has followed Burns back into the pavilion, caught off Bamber for 9. Surrey 19-2.
Updated
And hello Tim Maitland (still in Hong Kong)!
“Hi Tanya and a belated Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and everything else we missed during the dull void that isn’t the cricket season.
”And if that sounds a bit dark and depressing, wait til I get started.
”I couldn’t help but notice an air of optimism permeating through the county championship preview material I scoured, as if the policy wonks at Lord’s have magically healed the rift between the county game and the England set-up by hauling Brendon McCullum in front of the headmaster to rake through the ashes of the calamitous Ashes series.
”Then I clicked on the 56 second clip of Ben Stokes that sits in a prominent position on the ECB homepage. It’s cobbled together from a series of answers and basically says that the County Championship is a great opportunity for players. Repeatedly.
”To those who are naturally suspicious of leopards who show up sporting stripes, it might ring a few alarm bells. Stokes’ response offers no details and, to a cynic, might suggest that while England’s MAGAesque approach to international cricket needed to sound contrite to survive the review process, no further thought has been given to how repairing the ties with the county circuit will work or what success will look like.
“After all, this is the same England leadership that, to paraphrase the great philosopher Nigel Molesworth (and to show my age by referencing St. Custards), had long given the impression that county cricket, as any fule knos, is, like preparation, detailed planning and spending the eve of an elite international sports event stone-cold sober, for weeds and gurls.
”Isn’t it great to be back?”
As the sun briefly shows its face, Haines and Hughes are really getting stuck in. Yadvinder is taken off after two torrid overs … replacement Ben Green is hit for another four but, just as things were starting to look desperate for Leicestershire, a wicket, Hughes caught just out of my eyeline at third man for 19. Sussex 57 for one.
As Sussex flay Yadvinder Singh around, good morning Mike Daniels, back in the Grace Road scorebox.
“Well, back in the Grace Road box to see whether a creaking, well-worn anachronism in need of investment can see the season through. Anyway, enough about the County Championship.
“Leicestershire will be hoping that the late withdrawal of Peter Handscomb and the earlier one of Keshav Maharaj don’t threaten the excitement and enthusiasm engendered last season. The head says that the Foxes will need all of their cunning to survive what is likely to be a tough season. A seam attack which looks a bit military medium will look to youngsters Josh Hull and Alex Green to add some pace and a point of difference, whilst the signing of Ajaz Patel could go either way between inspired and desperate.
“The batters will need to dig deep and bat long to make the team competitive and everyone is hoping that Rehan Ahmed can continue his progress after a stellar season in 2025.
“Let’s thank our lucky stars that we can take such frivolous matters (semi)seriously in these turbulent times.
“Happy New Season to one and all.”
We’ve had the first wicket of the season here at Edgbaston and the replay needs the Benny Hill music over the top of it. Complete mix-up, with Burns plinking a drive past mid-off ... or so he thought ... and Ed Barnard sweeping up with a tumble. Burns was halfway down the pitch at this point, the throw to Kai Smith behind the stumps was not the best. But the young keeper recovered well to whip off the bails. A bit of a bonus for the Bears, Burns gone for four and Surrey 8-1.
Updated
Ali wins the first wicket of the year competition, as Rory Burns charges up the pitch for a quick single only to meet an unmoveable object in Dom Sibley. He is run out, and Surrey are 8 for 1.
Updated
Greetings from Edgbaston and season’s tidings. Grey overhead but we’ve started on time, with Ed Barnard winning his first toss as Warwickshire captain, looking at his phallanx of seamers, and deciding to have a bowl. Sets the day up nicely, Chris Woakes to take the new ball against a Test-capped Surrey top six: Dom Sibley, Rory Burns, Jamie Smith (hello...), Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence and Ben Foakes. In other news, the ground this summer looks like a ring doughnut after the first bite: a big chunk missing and a crane towering where it was, as work continues on the new hotel.
..the ball was dabbed away by Hughes and we’re off. Round the grounds, no wickets have yet fallen.
Updated
A smattering/ripple/slurp of applause as the players take the field. Tom Haines and Daniel Hughes in the middle. A windswept Ian Holland with the ball, the umpire in gloves. Here we go…
Ali Martin spoke to Shoaib Bashir. I really hope he finds the pastures welcoming at Derby – must have been a topsy-turvy few years.
and pre-season bits and bobs:
Updated
Starts delayed
At Sophia Gardens and Southampton.
Elsewhere, everyone who has won the toss is having a bowl – apart from Lancashire
Leicestershire won the toss and will field.
Notts won the toss and will field.
Warwicks won the toss and will field
Worcs won the toss and will field
Kent won the toss and will field
Gloucs won the toss and will field
Lancs won the toss and will bat
Made it to Grace Road. It isn’t raining and they’re expecting around 700 through the turnstiles. One of the groundstaff is hurriedly running around with the mower on the far side, while the players warm up. Bobble hats all round.
Leicestershire have won the toss and will field. They are without the injured Ben Mike, Josh Davey and Alex Green and Josh Hull, who made the squad but isn’t yet fit enough to play.
Weather watch
The calm before Storm Dave. The Met office says:
Cloudy and breezy with rain and drizzle slowly clearing, but lingering in the south. Some brighter spells developing in the north with sunshine and scattered showers, some heavy and wintry over higher ground. Feeling warm in the south.
An early one for the hive mind – sitting with David and Val on the train who were once given a premium bond for their daughter by a tall Nottinghamshire and England fast bowler in the late 60s. Might be called Alan. Any ideas?
"He's made a bit of an error in hindsight"
Worcestershire’s 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 (his team lost off the penultimate ball, fielding only ten men), has now caused problems for his new team as well.
Cricket South Africa have withheld his No-objection certificate, and he has been charged him with bringing the game into disprepute and breaching his contract. Worcestershire have signed Warwickshire’s Olly Hannon-Dalby on a two-week loan to fill the hole. “Beyers would probably say he’s made a bit of an error in hindsight,” said Worcs chief exec Ashley Giles.
Surrey to win it...Lancs and Durham to be promoted
Or is there another way?
Fixtures - round one
DIVISION ONE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Yorkshire
Southampton: Hampshire v Essex
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Sussex
Taunton: Somerset v Nottinghamshire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Surrey
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Worcestershire
Chester le Street: Durham v Kent
Lord’s: Middlesex v Gloucestershire
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Lancashire
Preamble
Good morning! The sky is slate, the grass is lush, there’s a spot of rain on my cheek – welcome back!
And hello to readers new and old, it’s lovely to have you with us.
Fifteen Championship rounds lie ahead (16, if you count Surrey’s one off game against Hampshire). And the first seven before England start their Test summer in June - though there are a scattering of interspersed white-ball matches against New Zealand. So many runs to score, wickets to take, careers to make. Hearts to break. England say the door is open, who will push hardest?
I’m at Grace Road (at least I will be soon, only I forgot to change trains at Nuneaton) to watch injury-plagued Leicestershire and points-deducted Sussex, while big chief Ali Martin is at Edgbaston to keep an eye on his tip for the top, Warwicks, and fancied Surrey. And we’ll be here every day until the end of the season, on Sunday September 27. The kettle’s on, grab a mug. It’s going to be fun.
