Opening day roundup
This round of Championship cricket, squeezed between the T20 Blast, has the novelty of being the first of two this summer which will use the Kookaburra ball. They were prescribed by the Strauss report, in an attempt to reduce reliance on the swing and seam of the Dukes and encourage fast and spin bowling.
One day in, with seven centuries on the board but five teams bowled out in less than a day, it seems too early to make a call. Finlay Bean and George Hill made the most of a good Headingley pitch, a swift outfield, and some wayward Gloucestershire bowling, to rock to sparkling centuries and put Yorkshire in a dominant position.
At Chelmsford, Dan Lawrence made his second hundred of the season for Essex, in a partnership of 227 with Tom Westley, who was finally out for a sparkling 114. Dom Bess grabbed two consolation wickets for Warwickshire.
A humdinger of a game is developing at The Oval, where Lancashire were dismissed for 274 only to have Surrey 70 for four at stumps. A Brett Hutton five‑fer took the shine off Somerset’s day against Nottinghamshire, dismissed for 163.
Hampshire finished the day on 284 for four against Middlesex. Spinner Liam Dawson, overlooked by England, was 111 not out overnight and, along with Nick Gubbins, shimmied Hampshire into a dominant position. At the County Ground, Rob Keogh’s 97 propped up Northamptonshire in the Division One basement battle against Kent.
Durham raced along at now familiar lick, with centuries from Alex Lees and Ollie Robinson putting pressure on a Leicestershire side already reeling from the news that Paul Nixon had been put on gardening leave. Nathan McAndrew and Jack Carson kept Glamorgan firmly tethered at Sophia Gardens against Sussex, while Anuj Dal’s five wickets ensured the bottom club Derbyshire had some skin in the game at New Road, Worcestershire all out for 237 after a stonking opening stand.
That’s all from us. Thanks for hanging around on a roasting Sunday, congratulations to centurions all: Lawrence, Westley, Dawson, Bean, Hill, Lees and Robinson and five-wicketers Anuj Dal and Brett Hutton. We’ll be back tomorrow – good night!
Closer of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 391-7 v Warwickshire
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 284-4 v Middlesex
County Ground: Northants 237 v Kent 110-1
Taunton: Somerset 163 v Nottinghamshire 145-4
The Oval: Surrey 70-4 v Lancashire 274
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 242 v Sussex 65-1
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Durham 422-4
New Road: Worcestershire 237 v Derbyshire 32-2
Headingley: Yorkshire 393-6 v Gloucestershire
And here comes the promised rain…. with Yorkshire 388-6.
Right, time for me to write up. A final polka round the grounds: Dan Lawrence, 147 not out, has guided Essex to 337-5; Dawson and Gubbins are racing each other to a hundred, Hants 256-4; Compton out cheaply, but Kent 49-1; Somerset fighting back against Notts, but Slater (44 not out) is standing in their way 99-3, 63 behind. And Lancashire are all out for 274.
In Division Two: Yorks 361-5 Tattersall picking up where Hill and Bean left off, but the clouds are fast approaching. Worcesterstershire have made a horlicks of their innings, from 105-1 to 237-9. Dal 4-45. Four wickets for McAndrew in Glamorgan’s 242 all out. Billy Root the top-scorer with 66. Jack Carson, on people’s lips as an up and coming spinner, 3-45; McAndrew 4-58. Sussex have already lost Haines for six.
And Durham are in usual-bish-bang-baz-ball mode: 346-4.
I must go off and write my roundup, but do keep chatting BTL.
The new ball has been taken at Headingley. The clouds are coming over. Gloucestershire’s best chance.
A third wicket for Jordan Clark has reduced Lancs to 274-9, it is left to Williams and Morley to try and scrape towards 300.
A hundred for George Hill!
A second century of the day for Yorkshire –maybe the prospect of a final resolution on Tuesday is instinctively inspiring some freedom of shot. Or maybe it is the excellent pitch. Or the average bowling. Or the rapid outfield. Helmet off, he shyly raises his the bat. 177 balls, 13 fours. Yorkshire making hay, 343-4.
Gubbins and Dawson are pulling Hampshire away from the danger zone with a partnership of 121 – Hants 215-4 at The Rose Bowl
As Jonny Tattersall sends the ball shooting through midwicket, beating George Hill in the milestone race, to reach fifty.Very nicely done.
While I was looking the other way, Wes Agar (5-63) and Hamidullah Qadri (3-69) rattle through Northants. The immovable object Rob Keogh, was seventh man out for 97. Kent 16-0 in reply already.
Runs, runs, more runs at Headingley. Gohar’s over is plonked: four, four, three, six, two. Hill 93, Tattersall 43.
Good to see Phil Salt continuing his snappy form from Southport, 56 not out in Lancashire’s 236-7 – which definitely feels not enough against the Ovalnaughts.
If you’d asked me in April to guess the Championship’s leading run-scorer at midsummer, I wouldn’t have plumped for Tom Westley. Out for 114, Essex 260-3.
Updated
Sophie Ecclestone’s 5-63 means England need 268 to beat Australia. Follow it all here with the master himself R Smyth (and worry about whether Ecclestone’s arm will fall off later)
Tea-time scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 247-2 v Warwickshire
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 183-4 v Middlesex
County Ground: Northants 218-9 v Kent
Taunton: Somerset 163 v Nottinghamshire 23-1
The Oval: Surrey v Lancashire 214-7
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 212-7 v Sussex
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Durham 246-4
New Road: Worcestershire 189-6 v Derbyshire
Headingley: Yorkshire 273-4 v Gloucestershire
Hundreds for Dan Lawrence and Tom Westley!
Put your feet up boys, and enjoy the show. Essex 230-2. Khushi and Cook must be kicking themselves.
A tale of two England once-weres:
At Trent Bridge, Haseeb Hameed has been out for an 18-ball duck.
At Chelmsford, Dom Bess has been bowling. 19 overs, 0-77.
A hundred for Alex Lees!
His first first-class century for 14 months. And out! A second catch for soon-to-be-Riverside bound Ackermann, a first-wicket for soon-to-be-Riverside-bound Parkinson C. Durham 223-4.
And there goes Bean, pulling again, but this time straight into the hands of Charlesworth at backward square leg. off Akther, for 114. He slopes off in obvious disappointment, gloves off, helmet half cock. Smashing innings, Yorks 243-4.
A hundred for Finlay Bean!
Nicely does it! A snappy pull to the rope brings Bean a second hundred in his nascent first-class career. Happy applause waves around Headingley, Yorkshire on top, Gloucestershire lost for ideas. And a single brings the fourth-wicket partnership up to 150 from 211 balls.
Somerset 163 all out
Is this going to be one of those years when Somerset flirt with relegation? Of course it is! Five for Brett Hutton. Top scorer TKC. Not the best half a day’s batting.
Getting spicy in the Test – where England have managed to drop five catches but still have Australia six down – the lead 206.
Essex are still strolling through the foothills, the third wicket partnership 145 and counting. Essex 165-2. Is Dan Lawrence (68 not out) now going to have the summer of his life as he says farewell to Chelmsford?
George Hill, generally considered one of the best players of spin on the team, has Yorks racing along, an easy afternoon six off Zahar Gohar into the plastic seats. The partnership between him and Finlay Bean now 98. Yorks 188-3 as a fierce win stamps round the ground.
In 31 degree heat, Lancashire are starting to melt. Sean Abbott’s Kookaburra skills(3-42) have been complemented by a wicket each for Sam Curran and Tom Lawes. Lancs 123-5. Salt and Balderson don the hard hats and wearily bend to pick up the rubble.
Updated
Apologies for the lack of updates, a work phone call. Updates to follow.
Updated
A onion bhaji wrap in my brown Headingley sandwich bag, makes for a tasty lunch. Just spoke to Tanni Grey Thompson, Yorkshire’s interim chair, who has been out and about meeting and greeting round the ground. I know she would, wouldn’t she, but she was very positive about the expertise on the Yorkshire committee, and the pathway programme in particular.
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 119-2 v Warwickshire
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 92-3 v Middlesex
County Ground: Northants 104-4 v Kent
Taunton: Somerset 106-4 v Nottinghamshire
The Oval: Surrey v Lancashire 98-3
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 85-4 v Sussex
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Durham 150-1
New Road: Worcestershire 105-2 v Derbyshire
Headingley: Yorkshire 139-3 v Gloucestershire
A frisky morning at Headingley, Yorks 133-3, Finlay Bean leading the way 65 not out. Lunchtime scores round the grounds to follow.
Some succour for Somerset fans:
SHOT!! Lovely, lovely stroke from James Rew!
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) June 25, 2023
LIVE STREAM ➡️ https://t.co/aRtGCP7E47#SOMvNOTTS#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/5Qepo5pEEN
Hampshire lose a third, and its a big one, their maypole, James Vince. Josh de Caires, Atherton’s boy, the wicket-taker. Hants 81-3. Essex are making hay after being 20-2; now 112-2, a half century to Tom Westley.
A fourth for Brett Hutton, who is having a very fruitful morning at Taunton, Somerset 103-4.
TdL with some Ashes thoughts:
And Barney off his long run:
The Trent Bridge pitch’s friendly nature continues to make wicket-taking a trial in the women’s Test. The fabulous Megan Maurice will keep you updated:
In Division Two,
Yorkshire are racing along – ah but perhaps not so much now – as Ben Charleswoth sends down a complete pie which Dawid Malan pulls round into Bracey’s gloes. Gone for a boundary-laden 28. Bean at the non-striker’s end tips his head back in exasperation/despair. Yorks 90-3.
Roderick and Libby continue to enjoy Derbyshire’s profligacy, Worcs 65-0. Durham too racing along, as is their want, 100-0 off 17 overs. Parkinson C, getting to know his soon-to-be-teammates, from the bowling crease. Parkinson M, back with Durham on loan, sits in the opposition dressing room.
Alone in Division Two, Glamorgan’s batters are struggling, 49-3 against Sussex.Shipley 2-21.
A wicket at The Oval – Bohannon lbw to Sean Abbot for 10. Lancs 35-2. And Hutton has ticked off another of Somerset’s batters George Bartlett for 13. Somerset 56-3.
“Just trying to get my head around how the Kookaburra can be ‘more helpful to the bowlers’ despite apparently offering less seam and swing?! taps Brian Withington. “Certainly seems to be capturing some early wickets today though. Apologies if this has already been dissected BTL but haven’t got there yet.”
Er, yes you’re quite right. I’m writing drivel and have corrected said entry. Ball is LESS helpful to the bowlers as it doesn’t move as much. That said, no real sign of batting dominance yet except for Bazballing Durham and Worcestershire.
Updated
Dancing round the Division One grounds: Warwickshire’s bowlers enjoying the Kookaburra ball – Alastair Cook and Feroze Khushi both out cheaply, Essex 24-2. Dan Lawrence, moving to Surrey at the end of the summer, nine not out.
At The Rose Bowl, TRJ has whittled out Fletcha Middleton for four, Hampshire 30-1. Early wickets for Kent too – Wes Agar and Arshdeep Singh taking one each, Northants 32-2.
Two wickets for Brett Hutton at Taunton, where Notts have Somerset 39-2; and Lancs, inserted by Surrey, have lost Wells for three. Keaton Jennings, back from his hamstring injury, has hit three fours in his 16 not out.
This too, at Taunton. I hope it brings comfort to Barnaby Webber’s family.
Signed shirts from both clubs were presented to Barnaby Webber's family prior to play at Taunton today as an expression of condolence and unity.
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) June 25, 2023
Our thoughts remain with the victims and all those affected by last week's tragic events in Nottingham. #SOMNOT pic.twitter.com/uJObocGgZF
Hang about Yorkshire, the storm clouds aren’t supposed to be coming till after lunch. Shan Masood lbw Taylor for a three ball duck. 33-2.
A wicket at Headingley – Lyth tries to leave alone and is snaffled up at second slip for 14. A short and sweet cameo.
An early email, hello Will Unwin!
“In a week where it was confirmed Matt Parkinson and Danny Lamb will leave Lancs in the summer, I’m intrigued why the club has become pretty poor at A) helping academy graduates reach their potential
And B) retaining them. In recent seasons we’ve seen Hameed and Davies go, and now the latest two. We were pretty close to losing Mahmood this winter, too, so seems a big problem. We do have another hotel on the ground though…
Why do you think this is the situation at Lancs? We only ever get very vague reasoning from the club.”
I can’t pretend to have any special behind the scenes knowledge. In the case of Danny Lamb I think he wanted first-team cricket. With Parky, like Hameed, there seems to have been something of a breakdown in communication between both parties. Best, in such cases, for a clean break and a fresh start – but it doesn’t reflect too well on the club.
Kookaburra ball
Yes, this is one of the two rounds this summer which will features the Kookaburra ball – as recommended in the Strauss report. They are said to seam and swing less and generally be less helpful to the bowlers. I’m sure they’re very grateful.
Updated
So much to keep an eye on this round. Runaway favourites Surrey take on Lancashire – who announced the departure of Matt Parkinson to Kent at the end of the season. Meanwhile brother Callum is moving to Durham, as part of the bin-fire at Grace Road which also involved Paul Nixon being put on gardening leave and the departures of Colin Ackermann and Chris Wright.
Leicestershire chief exec Sean Jarvis, quoted on cricinfo said, that there had been “ a mess behind… every door I opened” since he joined in 2020.
“A lot of information has come to my attention over the past two months and as chief executive of this club, I’ll be investigating comments, allegations, all those sorts of things that have gone on.
“That’s what we’re trying to sort out. All these different fires that seem to be burning, we’re now starting to eradicate and we’re starting to put the proper infrastructure in place within this club. I know members were very upset and very unhappy with what’s gone on. I get that that is sport, but we are striving to develop this club.”
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex v Warwickshire
Rose Bowl: Hampshire v Middlesex
County Ground: Northants v Kent
Taunton: Somerset v Nottinghamshire
The Oval: Surrey v Lancashire
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Sussex
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Durham
New Road: Worcestersire v Derbyshire
Headingley: Yorkshire v Gloucestershire
Preamble
Good Sunday morning! Midsummer cricket is back – for a week. The clouds have arranged themselves prettily above Headingley this morning in preparation for this afternoon’s predicted cloudburst. And there are storm clouds ahead for English cricket generally with the publication on Tuesday of the long awaited ICEC’s Report examining the state of equity in cricket.
Yorkshire have won the toss and will bat. Their team includes Dan Moriarty, signed on a loan deal from Surrey, while Dom Bess plays for Warwickshire on a one-game loan. Round and round and round we go.
Updated
