Ali Martin’s report from New Road
Tanya Aldred's roundup
Jonny bounced and Jonny jumped. Jonny ushered his slips into place, Jonny jogged from one end of the wicket to the other in his tight, short-sleeved gansie, Jonny rugby-tackled a flying piece of advertising hoarding and pleased the crowd. Jonny took three smart catches, one a cartwheeling effort to his left to scoop up Kiran Carlson. Jonny looked pleased.
It was just over eight months ago that Bairstow slipped walking to the third tee of a Harrogate golf course, breaking his left fibular in three places and dislocating his ankle. A horror injury, in the midst of a golden run of form: four Test hundreds in five Test innings: 136, 162, 106 and 114. The path back has been long and arduous. As the man himself said in an Instagram post from Wednesday: “36 weeks of pain, 36 week of emotional rollercoaster, 36 weeks of asking questions you may not get answered. The road hasn’t been straight forward nor easy, but hey it’s me, why would it be.”
Despite the best efforts of two Yorkshire nightwatchman in the Leeds gloom, Bairstow did have to bat under lights with slips salivating, as Yorkshire tripped to 62 for 5, with three wickets for Michael Neser. Bairstow survived seven balls, jogged two runs, with power to add if the weather is forgiving in the morning. Yorkshire had earlier bowled Glamorgan out for 245, Marnus Labuschagne top-scoring with a knock of 65 that creaked into action but gradually oiled itself in all the right places. There were three wickets apiece for George Hill and Erling Haaland-lookalike Micky Edwards.
The catch of the day went to a sun-hatted Rory Burns at Chelmsford who powered upwards, left and round the corner at slip to poach Matthew Critchley off Will Jacks for 60. Surrey pulled back the curtains on Essex, with Gus Atkinson taking a career-best 6 for 68.
It was a day for bowlers everywhere, as Hampshire’s James Vince (75 not out) watched his teammates fall about him at the Rose Bowl; and Lancashire slipped from 109 for two to 214 all out; before reducing Notts to 119 for five; Haseeb Hameed surveying the wreckage on 57.
At the County Ground, Henry Brookes, on loan to Derbyshire from Warwickshire, took six for 20 to help bowl out Leicestershire for 122. And Northamptonshire’s Ricardo Vasconcelos nipped along to 70 at Taunton where rain curtailed play. Somerset’s Craig Overton, returning from injury, snaffled a couple of catches and a wicket against Northants.
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So much has happened round the grounds, 78 wickets in fact, but I spent most of it watching Jonny Bairstow walk from pitch end to pitch end. I’m off to unfold my brain, Ali and I will be back tomorrow, thanks for all the messages. Good night!
Updated
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 314 v Surrey 1-0
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 229 all out v Warwicks 82-0
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 119-5 v Lancashire 214
Taunton: Somerset v Northampton 137-4 Rain
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 144-3 v Leicestershire 122
New Road: Worcestershire 264 v Sussex 63-1
Headingley: Yorkshire 62-5 v Glamorgan 245
Just popping back quickly, because Brian Withington (thank you Brian) has sent me this previously mentioned and actually wondrous Rory Burns catch:
Stop that Rory Burns 😮
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 4, 2023
What a grab 🔥
🤎 | #SurreyCricket https://t.co/TKUKobTJKY pic.twitter.com/BlNn0c4Bgk
A smart catch at third slip, and Glamorgan are all out just short of a batting point. Three wickets for Edwards, three for Hill, two for Coad and three catches for YJB. Yorkies pad up and with the big guns yet to come in at New Road, Derbyshire nearly gobbling up Leicestershire, Has leading the Notts charge, Warwicks in the embryonic throws of their innings and Essex suddenly collapsing, time for me to write up for the paper. Please sit back and chat on below the line; YJB is due to come in at No.5.
The magic number is 1277 through the turnstiles at Headingley today.
Can report that there is Union Jack bunting round the little Headingley shop, where they were struggling to shut up as the wind was buffetting so strongly. Lots of wooly hats, lots of cagouls in the crowd because the sun is outsmarted by breeze. Jonny still doing his thing behind the stumps, in his very tight short-sleeved gansie: ushering the slips into place and bouncing up and down between balls. Ah, a wicket, a first for Fisher, Glamorgan 228-9.
But I see from reading BTL that I’ve missed a piece of art by Burns. I haven’t found it online yet, but here is Foakes from earlier:
Time to get some steps in, a quick stroll round the ground.
Tea-time-ish scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 212-3 v Surrey
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 229 all out v Warwicks
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 45-2 v Lancashire 214
Taunton: Somerset v Northampton 137-4 Rain
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 99-0 v Leicestershire 122
New Road: Worcestershire 264 v Sussex 13-0
Headingley: Yorkshire v Glamorgan 215-8
England selector Luke Wright is milling about at Headingley, watching YJB et al but NOT James Vince who is at the Rose Bowl, dragging Hamsphire towards a batting point with his 70 not out amongst the carnage. Hants 229-9.
Another for six foot seven Edwards, Glamorgan 199-8. A quick google brings up this random snippet..
Aye-up, more occurrences at Trent Bridge. Despite Jimmy Anderson having bowled four overs, the wickets are Bailey’s. Duckett’s day ended with five runs.
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Not a bad debut for Henry Brookes
Munching on the power of rejection, Brookes takes 6-20 on loan.
A day to remember for @BrookesHenry who has taken six for 20 on his debut for @DerbyshireCCC - only Dove Gregory, who took six for nine on his debut against Lancashire in 1871 has ever recorded better innings figures on debut... pic.twitter.com/AFmxNucnXP
— David Griffin Photography (@dgriffinpix) May 4, 2023
Seven wickets for Ollie Robinson
And one makes 7 for 59! Worcestershire 264 all out.
Six wickets for Ollie Robinson
Ollie Robinson has booked his place at the post-stumps press conference, the lucky so-and-so, completing his five-wicket haul as a bail-trimmer bowls Matthew Waite for 59. It was needed too, Sussex starting to run out of ideas as Waite and Joe Leach motored to a century partnership in just 82 balls. Some cracking biff from the pair, not least the straight six Leach struck to bring up his half-century. I once spent a day at Fenner’s transfixed by the sight of David Boon walking from slip to slip between overs and Steve Smith is seeing those memories flooding back. Worcestershire, 44 for five earlier in the day, are now 263 for eight. In fact, make that 264 for nine as Robinson nicks off Leach and Smith finally gets into the action. Six for the England man.
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In the other Div 2 games, Worcestershire’s Matthew Waite and Joe Leach have been making a complete pain of themselves, rescuing Worcestershire from 160-7 and zipping them to 263-8, Waite just out for 59. That man Robinson.
And Leicestershire can scrumple up today and drop kick it into the trash – all out 122, Derbyshire now 50-0.
Ooof, iffy call, as Neser decides to leave a ball from Edwards that nips in and smashes into the off stump. Glam 174-7.
Let’s scamper round the grounds, dodging the wickets dropping at random. Hampshire 166-7, three for (England’s) Chris Woakes and Chris Rushworth. James Vince sitting pretty on 47. At Trent Bridge Lancashire are all out for 214, blushes saved by 48 not out from Tom Bailey. Hameed and Duckett start the reply. Essex, alone, are finding batting easy, 187-3 v Surrey - fifty for Sir Alastair; and not out forties for Westley and Critchley.
They’ve called a rain-affected tea at Taunton with Northants 137-4, two for Gregory, and a bold 70 from Vasconcelos.
Here, at Headingley, Chris Cooke has just given Fisher an easy catch as Glamorgan a-crumbling 161-6.
A third catch for Jonny!
It’s raining, at Taunton – but hang on – that’s a third catch for Jonny! A disappointed Labuschagne knocks one straight into the gloves. Thanks very much Marnus. He trudges away, barely waving his bat at the faithful.
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Anything Ben Foakes can do….
A very, very, very happy YJB cartwheels to his left and scoops up a Kiran Carlson inside edge. Glamorgan (now) 150-4, with Billy Root, Labuschagne’s company.
Jonny Bairstow take a bow 🤩
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) May 4, 2023
What a catch 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/sTYldK85eZ pic.twitter.com/9pU1K7PS9T
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An excellent 59 from Adam Hose comes to a spectacular end as Harry Crocombe replaces Ollie Robinson and immediately yorks the Worcestershire No6. A fine half-century from Hose nonetheless, slotting some lovely crisp straight drives down the ground like Luca Brecel. Hose had lost Gareth Roderick after lunch, left-armer Sean Hunt the bowler to strike. Worcestershire are 160 for seven.
With a gentle acknowledging wave of the bat, Labuschagne reaches his second fifty in consecutive games. Now eight fours to hurry up from that tortoise crawl of a start. Glamorgan 128-3.
𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗧𝗬
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) May 4, 2023
Half-centuries in back-to-back games for Labuschagne, and what a way to get there 🔥
Glamorgan 128/3
𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 👉https://t.co/ShvTxJS2R0#GoGlam | #YORvGLAM pic.twitter.com/7I2zRRMZCO
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Henry Brookes, on loan to Derbyshire till middle of May, now has six for 18 against Leicestershire. Brookes is yet to lace up his boots for YouBears this season. Last rites for Leics, 119-9, though Chris Wright is having a swing.
Updated
Something of a Lancs-up underway at Trent Bridge. The first of the season. From 80-1 to 155-8, via a 68 for Bohannon and not much else. Five for Brett Hutton, two for Stuart Broad. It’s on Bailey and Williams now.
Trivia of the day: Daryl Mitchell’s dad John has just been appointed head coach of the England women’s rugby team.
Ben Coad limps off clutching his leg.
(England’s) Rehan Ahmed is no longer at the crease at The County Ground, a fifth wicket for Henry Brookes, caught for 23. Leics a sorry 87-8. Lancs in quite a sorry state too – 140-6, Broad winkling out the big man. Bohannon still there.
Took the liberty of sitting in the sun for ten minutes with my falafel wrap. Missed Sam Northeast being out to the third ball after lunch to Erling Haarland Mickey Edwards because I was too slow finding my pass out to get back in again, but caught YJB rugby tackling a flying piece of advertising hoarding – which the crowd loved – and Labuschagne stroke a drive for four to move onto a laborious 23. Glammie 88-3.
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Time for me to go and find some lunch, back soon.
A decent fightback here at New Road, the wiry Adam Hose drivingly handsomely to push Worcestershire past three figures, douse the early flames and send a couple of slips off to field elsewhere before lunch. Gareth Roderick is the other half of a 67-run stand although Ollie Robinson was convinced he had him, and a fifth, with an lbw shout in his second spell. Worcestershire 111 for five, with Hose 46 not out and Roderick on 20.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 100-2 v Surrey
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 83-2 v Warwicks
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Lancashire 118-5
Taunton: Somerset v Northampton 108-1
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 77-6
New Road: Worcestershire 111-5 v Sussex
Headingley: Yorkshire v Glamorgan 83-2
Three ducks in Leicestershire’s sad looking scorecard – 69-6. Henry Brookes 4-6, Luis Reece 2-13.
Another boundary for Northeast, who whistles to 49 in this partnership of 81. And Labuschagne plays Fisher’s ball back. (19 off 92 balls).
A wicket for Broad to add to his Ashes warm-up tally. Perhaps the zooter, the hooter or the outswinger that creates “more flow”. Lancs 116-4, Bohannon still there on 60.
Yorkshire have piped down a bit now in the field, as Thompson returns from the Kirkstall Lane End. Labuschagne and Northeast happy to see this softly through till lunch. A small black and white art film about passing time.
Four wickets now for Henry Brookes, from his five overs. Four runs, three maidens and a partridge in a pear tree. Dear Leicestershire 55-5.
A third fifty for Josh Bohannon this season, this time against Notts. Very brisk it is too. He’s lost his opening pair, Wells and Balderson. Broad has bowled four and a bit wicketless overs. Lancs 95-2
“Is Ollie Robinson’s opening spell at New Road an England player showing some semblance of form ahead of The Ashes?” asks Tim Maitland.
”Save me from wracking my addled brains and tell me if anyone else has looked in good nick yet?”
Crawley has run boiling hot and icy cold. Pope scored that dreamy century against Hampshire. Er… think that’s it but I’m sure I’ll be corrected BTL.
In reference to “In Division One: Alastair Cooke and Nick Browne are nuding away against Surrey, Essex 48-0.”
“I’ll be honest,” writes Tim Maitland, “there were times when Cookie was the only thing standing in the way of another innings defeat that I did have a bit of a man-crush on that chiselled oak jaw of his. But time waits for no man and I can’t imagine anyone needs to see that these days.”
Er. Apologies. Though somewhere in my mind I’m thinking that perhaps he once posed for Cosmo covered only in a blanket of cricket balls.
In Division Two, Worcestershire have been Robinsoned (56-5); Jonny looks in good working order (Glam 34-2 – Labuschagne and Northeast rebuild); and top of the table surfers Leicestershire are struggling (47-3) against bottom lurkers Derbyshire. Two wickets for Henry Brookes.
And it is raining at Taunton.
In Division One: Alastair Cooke and Nick Browne are nudging away against Surrey, Essex 48-0. Hampshire lost Felix Organ for one, but Middleton and Gubbins have rebuilt against Warwickshire, 39-1. Balderson and Bohannon charging along against Notts – about time for Bohannon to notch up another hundred, Lancs 80 for one. And Somerset are wicketless against Northants, who after the first hour rest at 50-0.
😍 Just watch and admire this shot from Chef.
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 4, 2023
Essex 44-0 (13.2 overs)
🦅 #FlyLikeAnEagle pic.twitter.com/HMZUb6COuU
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Four for Ollie Robinson
Worcestershire are 45 for five at New Road and it’s Ollie Robinson doing the damage with four of them, his latest incision seeing Jake Libby’s middle stump uprooted. Fynn Hudson-Prentice has come on as first change and followed this up as a regulation edge from Brett d’Oliveira flies to Tom Clark at third slip. Mind you, the last team I saw collapse like this here was Gloucestershire and they turned it around nicely.
The sun is now out. Jonny is standing up to Coad, Labuschagne has been wandering out of his crease, playing and whisking the bat away. Glamorgan 25 -2. Right, let’s stride around the grounds.
Azhar Ali falls lbw to Ollie Robinson at New Road to make it and have to say, it felt like it was coming after a bit of working over. Robinson, who removed Azhar twice during the 3-0 win in Pakistan last December, just got one to nip back in. I wondered whether it might be inside edge on to pad and then caught, watching live, but the scorebook says otherwise. And just to keep Steve Smith high on the page for search purposes, I’m going to include the fun fact that he and Azhar made their Test debuts in the same match - Lord’s 2010, when England hosted and nothing particularly major happened later that summer. And as I write that piffle, Robinson removes Jack Haynes fourth ball to make it 30 for three...
A drop! By Adam Lyth at second slip – in, then inexplicably out. Northeast the lucky man. Glamorgan 12 for 2.
Jonny gets new gloves.
So busy trying to work out if Jonny is moving without any issue ( I think he is) that I don’t have a total eye on Salter being lbw for 0 to Ben Coad. But I’m assured it was “very out.” Glamorgan 1 for two as the sun tries to burn through the Leeds cloud.
In another world, Steven Croft is playing his 200th first-class match for Lancs
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An early wicket at Worcestershire, Ollie Robinson finding the edge of an expansive drive from Ed Pollock fourth ball and Tom Clark holding an excellent catch above his head at third slip. The Pears are four for one...
A catch for YJB!
Big booming drive, edge behind, straight into the gloves, thanks very much. Huge celebration from Jonny, Glamorgan 0-1.
Good morning from a blissfully sunny New Road, where Sussex have won the toss and stuck Worcestershire in. There’s a promising young buck in the away side - Aussie born, English mother, bowls a bit of leg spin - plus Cheteshwar Pujara but we’ll have to wait to see them bat ... a chance to see Ollie Robinson with the new ball in hand, however, and should be a cracking day. Bit of fun at the toss, as the PA announcer sets out the rules of engagement: “No spitting, no biting, no swearing.”
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Steve Smith gets his cap
Steve Smith is handed his Sussex cap at New Road pic.twitter.com/7fMpnhw0sx
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) May 4, 2023
Toss news
Hants win v Warwicks and bat
Essex win v Surrey and bat
Notts win v Lancs and bowl
Somerset v Northants and bowl
Yorkshire win v Glamorgan and ….bowl
Derbyshire win v Leicestershire and bowl
Sussex win v Worcestershire and …bowl
After much mystery, it is confirmed that Bairstow WILL be taking the gloves.
Three players will refuse to pay fines:
Jonny played one game for Yorkshire seconds as part of his comeback, biffing 97 off just 88 balls against Notts seconds – though he should have been caught off a similarly rehabbing Olly Stone on 21. Stone got his man in the end as YJB tried to reach his hundred with a six.
Jonny Bairstow is back!
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) April 25, 2023
On his return from injury, he struck 97 from 88 balls for the @YorkshireCCC 2nd XI 👀 pic.twitter.com/kmzBCzc6Uq
Before the injury, he had in a ridiculous glut of form for England – making four Test hundreds in five innings: 136 (v NZ), 162 (v NZ), 106 (v India), 114 (v India).
Updated
We’ve spotted YJB, in a wooly hat, and anorak. He’s lying on the grass, stretching.
Division Two table
1 DURHAM (played 4) 64
2 LEICESTERSHIRE (3) 45
3 SUSSEX (3) 41
4 WORCESTERSHIRE (3) 35
5 GLAMORGAN (3) 31
6 GLOUCESTERSHIRE (4) 27
7 YORKSHIRE (3) 21
8 DERBYSHIRE (3) 17
Division One table
1 SURREY (played 3) 52
2 HAMPSHIRE (3) 45
3 MIDDLESEX (4) 45
4 ESSEX (3) 40
5 WARWICKSHIRE (3) 38
6 KENT (4) 31
7 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE (3) 29
8 LANCASHIRE (3) 29
9 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE (3) 23
10 SOMERSET (3) 22
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex v Surrey
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire v Warwicks
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Lancashire
Taunton: Somerset v Northampton
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Leicestershire
New Road: Worcestershire v Sussex
Headingley: Yorkshire v Glamorgan
Preamble
Hello and welcome to beautiful, brazen May. So much to see this round. Ali is at New Road, where Steve Smith will be trying his hand at county cricket and absolutely not preparing for the Ashes in any way.
I am at Headingley to watch Jonny Bairstow take to the field for the first time for Yorkshire since his horror golfing accident that left him with a broken leg and dislocated ankle. He’s quite keen to be back:
He's coming back! He wants the world to know, he is Jonny Bairstow 🎶 pic.twitter.com/H1RmffXPx5
— England's Barmy Army 🏴🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) May 4, 2023
Marnus Labuschagne plays the part of the baggy green for Yorkshire’s opponents Glamorgan.
Gloucestershire, Durham, Middlesex and Kent take a break this week.
This arrived in my inbox earlier. I like to think Christina Rossetti was at the cricket while it popped into her head.
I cannot tell you how it was,
But this I know: it came to pass
Upon a bright and sunny day
When May was young; ah, pleasant May!
As yet the poppies were not born
Between the blades of tender corn;
The last egg had not hatched as yet,
Nor any bird foregone its mate.
I cannot tell you what it was,
But this I know: it did but pass.
It passed away with sunny May,
Like all sweet things it passed away,
And left me old, and cold, and gray.
