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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tanya Aldred

County cricket: Anderson takes Cook’s wicket in battle of England legends

Surrey (Organization) Hampshire Cricket Kent Warwickshire (Geopolitical Entity) Jimmy Anderson
James Anderson claims the wicket of Sir Alastair Cook.
James Anderson claims the wicket of Sir Alastair Cook. Photograph: Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo/Shutterstock

Anderson gets Cook wicket in battle of England legends

Seventy-eight years of experience stared down the pitch at each other at Chelmsford, where decades of clean and tidy bowling met the ageless knight.

Jimmy Anderson did neck exercises at the top of his mark, rhythm already established after Nick Browne had kindly shepherded the third ball of the innings into the hands of Luke Wells at slip in the deceptive April sunshine. There was time for Alastair Cook to purr his old mate through the covers for four before Anderson tethered his man, Cook exiting stage left for an lbw that technology may not have smiled at. All the cogs in the machinery seemed in good working order for the Ashes.

Earlier, Lancashire had opted to bat after winning the toss, but had to bank on a maiden fifty from their young wicketkeeper George Bell to inch their innings towards respectability. Sam Cook frisked five more wickets to the pleasure of the Essex CEO, John Stephenson, who said: “There’s no way England can ignore [him].” Simon Harmer fielded in a snood pulled up to his nose.

At The Oval, the 2022 champions, Surrey, were visited by likely pretenders Hampshire, who rescued their innings from the doldrums of 114 for six on a pitch where the ball nipped about like a rogue pea on a plate. Ben Brown, who fell five runs short of his hundred, and Keith Barker put on 96 for the seventh wicket, grinding runs and gathering a bonus point. Rory Burns and Dom Sibley saw Surrey through till stumps.

A career-best seven for 84 for Lewis Gregory, on a pitch the colour of a lime jelly, kept Somerset in contention at Trent Bridge. Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett– one careful and slow-flowering, sitting 28 balls on 0, the other attacking and lucky, reaching fifty with a reverse-swept six off Jack Leach – cantered to an opening partnership of 125 for Nottinghamshire.

Duckett was lbw to Craig Overton, who had earlier walked off the field after three overs, striking fear into the hearts of Somerset supporters. But it was Hameed’s wicket which precipitated a collapse of five for 22. Stuart Broad opened the bowling for Notts, and immediately had Tom Lammonby dropped behind the stumps.

Middlesex’s top order continued its impression of a dropped trifle, as Northamptonshire’s Ben Sanderson (three for 19) tucked in. Ryan Higgins was, once more, left to pick up the pieces, backed up by John Simpson – their only two players to make double figures.

Durham’s batters yet again started the round in fine fettle, this time against Worcestershire. David Bedingham, who at the start of the season expressed a wish to play for South Africa, made a glorious century.

Updated

And with Anderson and Cook rolling back the years, and Durham and Leicestershire showing everyone how to bat, that’s all from me for today, good night!

Close of play scores

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex 98-3 v Lancashire 207 all out

The County Ground: Northants 111-3 v Middlesex 149

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 256 v Somerset 28-2

The Oval: Surrey 37-0 v Hampshire 254

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 367-3 v Kent

DIVISION TWO

Chester-le-Street: Durham 363-7 v Worcestershire

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Yorkshire – NO PLAY TODAY, WET OUTFIELD

Grace Road: Leicestershire 243-2 v Derbyshire

Northants are only 73 behind lacklustre Middx, with 8 wickets remaining; six wickets for Lewis Gregory at Trent Bridge, Notts 251-9; rain at Edgbaston. A hundred for Bedingham at Durham, whose batting line-up is suddenly solid, 298-4 and go the mighty Foxes ressurected – 192-2, unbeaten fifties for Hill and Ackermann. Time for me to write up for the paper, do keep chatting away BTL.

Updated

Now Westley gone too, as Essex struggle against the new ball in the evening sun. At The Oval, Hampshire’s remarkable recovery from 114-6 to 249-8 looks as if it is dribbling to a close, Brown gone for 95 and Barker for a battling 58.

Anderson has his second, and it is his old captain SirAlastair, who had just tickled him through the covers for four. Cook struck on the pads, looked back at his stumps, and walked off horizontally as Anderson ran straight in celebration . Whatever, it was pleasing to the eye.Essex 21-2

Westley not totally convincing against Anderson…

It’s another diddy hundred for Rob Yates at Edgbaston. I’d wondered whether today might be the day he went past his career best of 141. But with 128 to his name the eyes lit up as Denly gave a leg-break a bit more air, Yates duffing his contact trying to go over the top and plopping a simple catch to mid-on. Precious breakthrough for Kent with Warwickshire 235 for three in the 70th over. One local lad replaces another, Dan Mousley striding out, with Sam Hain is on 73 at the other end and seemingly rolling over his form from last week.

Huge congrats to Nicholas Brookes, who won the Cricket Society and MCC Book of the Year for An Island’s Eleven, the story of Sri Lankan Cricket which not only fills a big gap in the game’s history but is beautifully written.

“There’s no way you [England] can ignore Sam Cook,” says John Stevenson, CEO of Essex after Cook’s 12th five-fer, dismissing Lancs for 207. Discuss.

Cook celebrates with his teammates.
Sam Cook: bowling the day away. Photograph: Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo/Shutterstock

Another nail in the ye olde English summer.

Updated

Anderson strikes with his third ball!

Jimmy Anderson , in short sleeves under April sunshine, does some quick neck exercises at the top of his mark. Nick Browne leaves his second ball, and expertly directs the third to second slip. Essex 0-1.

Updated

Time for a quick cuppa, back shortly!

The covers have been rolled out at Edgbaston, three balls into Joe Denly’s first exploratory over of leg spin and seeing tea called. Bright sunshine now and the ground staff are moving, so would expect a swift resumption. Warwickshire are 193 for two from 56.3 overs and Kent are into their sixth bowler. Nice to hear that South African cricket writer Patrick Compton is in attendance today, in the UK for a month watching his son Ben playing for the visitors. A young Ben once ran me out in a press match in Durban, calling for a single that only a professional could complete. Less said about my efforts to reach safety the better...

Tea-time ish scores

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex v Lancashire 207 all out

The County Ground: Northants 21-1 v Middlesex 149

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 186-6 v Somerset

The Oval: Surrey v Hampshire 179-6

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 193-2 v Kent

DIVISION TWO

Chester-le-Street: Durham 207-4 v Worcestershire

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Yorkshire – NO PLAY TODAY, WET OUTFIELD

Grace Road: Leicestershire 121-2 v Derbyshire

Somerset suddenly slicing through Notts, who from the beauty spot of 164-1 are now 186-6: three for Gregory, two for Siddle and much frustration for the Notts openers who worked to hard to establish the platform. Just eating a chocolate sardine I was given for Easter from my brother – highly recommended.

Turns out Jimmy can reverse-sweep Harmer for four.

With tea on the cards, a glimpse of emerald Trent Bridge pitch, where Notts are suddenly 185-5.

and at Chelmsford, Bell is swallowed by Alastair Cook off Sam Cook after a super innings that sprayed a veneer of respectability onto Lancs’ scorecard. Now, what can Jimmy do?

Bailey run-out by a direct hit – Lancs 184-8. Now for a strictly unnecessary photo of Simon Harmer in a snood.

Down at the Rose Bowl, Durham’s batters approach tea in a healthy position -200-4, with Darren Bedingham not out 59. At Grace Road, there is action! Patel, perhaps inevitably, has been skewered by Ali’s interview but Budiger and Hill have taken Leics to 87-1.

Updated

Fifty for George Bell

The sun streams through my window, whispering “rest your eyes,” and George Bell reaches his maiden Championship fifty – fantastic shepherding of Lancs past 150.

George Bell celebrates his maiden 50
George Bell: keeps the red rose blooming. Photograph: Nick Wood/TGS Photo/Shutterstock

Updated

A statement from Middlesex on "Middlesex Schools Cricket"

In the strongest possible terms, Middlesex Cricket today issues the following statement, wishing irrefutably to distance itself from an organisation called “Middlesex Schools Cricket”.

In 2021 Middlesex Cricket became aware of an organisation that had been created called “Middlesex Schools Cricket” – an independent organisation, with no ties or affiliation whatsoever to Middlesex Cricket, and is in no way endorsed by Middlesex Cricket.

When this organisation was established, Middlesex Cricket, contacted them to discuss them using the trading name of “Middlesex Schools Cricket”, strongly voicing our concerns that this could lead to incorrect assumptions that their organisation was in some way affiliated to Middlesex Cricket, which is categorically not the case.

These concerns have proven well founded, as over the period that this organisation has been operating, Middlesex Cricket has fielded numerous enquiries and complaints about the conduct of those representing the organisation, with complainants assuming that the organisation was tied to the Club. In every case, we have made it clear that this organisation has nothing to do with Middlesex Cricket.

Today, on social media, on the Middlesex School Cricket Twitter account, a post has been created with an image that all at Middlesex Cricket finds deeply offensive, wholly inappropriate, and is at complete odds with everything Middlesex Cricket stands for.

The post, which suggests a number of ‘sledges’ that might be used this season, is so offensive that we will not repeat the content contained within the image used, other than to say that the posting of such material is utterly despicable and will cause deep distress to many people. There is absolutely no place for it.

We have today made the England and Wales Cricket Board, the games’ governing body, aware of the conduct of this organisation, in respect of this Twitter post, and this statement has been distributed to Middlesex Cricket’s media distribution list, posted on the Club’s website, and shared across our social media channels, as we wish to conclusively distance ourselves publicly from this organisation.

Sprinkling of stardust in the Edgbaston press box today. Allan Donald has been quietly watching his old club all day - in fact two of his old clubs, given he used to coach Kent - and Jonathan Trott, in charge of Afghanistan men’s set-up these days, has just popped in. Donald will be doing a Q&A in the member’s lounge at lunch tomorrow. Jeetan Patel, still local when not travelling with England, did one today but I couldn’t get close enough to listen, such was the throng of eager supporters (and, ahem, the lure of fish and chips in the canteen).

An eighth first-class century for Rob Yates is on the board at Edgbaston, a seventh on his home ground and pretty handsome one too coming from 152 balls, with 17 fours and one six. The left-hander sets up nice and still at the crease, puts away anything on his hip, cuts well and plays some lovely drives too. It comes after a winter playing for Bayswater-Morley in Perth before Christmas and, as mentioned before, a tricky season last year. Solid century stand has developed with Sam Hain, who is 41 not out, and Warwickshire are 177 for two after 49 overs. Kent’s decision to bowl yet to be vindicated...

Tom Hartley (playing for Parky) put on 67 with tiny George Bell – who with just two wickets left is 44 not out. Lancs 153-7.

Fifty to Haseeb Hameed!

The first of his season. If you remember watching that Ashes debacle two winter’s ago, his comeback has shown real depth of character. Notts 163-1.

Ben Slater shakes hands with Haseeb Hameed.
Happy Has: celebrates his fifty. Photograph: Steve Poole/ProSports/Shutterstock

Love the sports jackets that the watching spectators are wearing. This is how my paternal grandpa Bob did anything, from walking the moors to popping round for a cup of tea.

Updated

Very energetic, especially post sandwiches:

Middx 123-9.

Sam Cook adding inevitable Lanky swag to the bag – Lancs now 100-6, with grateful thanks to 12 from Extras. Middx continuing their attack of the vapours, 107-8 at The County Ground, Higgins still plodding away on 40. And in the other wicket-spectacular, Hants have recovered slightly to 124-6, a unbeaten half century to Ben Brown.

A reader writes: “Well, bon, it’s a day like that, recovering from a fall down the stairs, nature’s way of teaching.” Get well soon Tone White!
”Enjoying sharing the otherworldliness of county cricket, grace à your always delightful and slightly curvey commentaries.I left Essex nearly 60 years ago and don’t claim to be an Essex fanatic - never owned an Anglia or voted for Thatcher - but … can’t help a twinge of curiosity about the Essex team.

As a lad I would go with a pal or two on Sundays. On arriving home afterwards there was a third degree to check my behaviour and cricket awareness : my father asked for the latest scores and my mother looked at my shoes - late 1940’s the river was accessible through the trees! I usually failed on both counts .Merci, bonne continuation, pat for the dog.” Merci beaucoup.

And a second bowling point of the day to Surrey at The Oval as Holland goes for five. Ben Brown still there on 46 – Hants 114-5 and hoping the toothsome trio can do something similar for them later today.

A brisk lunchtime stroll through the Surrey wetlands slightly elongated by a confusing network of paths. A couple of wickets round the grounds since the break. At Trent Bridge, Duckett lbw to Coverton (thankfully well enough to bowl again) for a more than brist 91. HH still there, teetering on the edge of 50. Notts 132-1. And Middlesex’s afternoon starts much as their morning did, with a wicket – this time Hollman for a 12-ball duck. Higgins doing his best to hold up the crumbling edifice with 30 not out: Middx 92-7.

On a tricky morning for batting round most of the Division One grounds, time to grab some lunch, back shortly!

Lunchtime scores

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex v Lancashire 70-4

The County Ground: Northants v Middlesex 82-6

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 106-0 v Somerset

The Oval: Surrey v Hampshire 98-5

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 104-2 v Kent

DIVISION TWO

Chester-le-Street: Durham 79-1 v Worcestershire

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Yorkshire – NO PLAY TODAY, WET OUTFIELD

Grace Road: Leicestershire v Derbyshire – NO PLAY YET TODAY, INSPECTION 1.10PM

Happy to see this, though for me the betting television adverts that feed on sports events are more of a menace. And personally I’d like to see fossil fuel companies banned…

Lovely rasping cut shot sees Rob Yates to his first half-century of the campaign, his 10th four and needing 69 balls to get there. After five first-class centuries in 2021 the opener suffered a touch of the old second season syndrome last year with that solitary hundred in the final match against Hampshire taking his average to 17.5 for the summer. Big summer ahead, especially now Dom Sibley has departed.

At The Oval, Middleton done by a beauty from Clark, caught for 32. He batted beautifully on a morning where the ball has danced to its own tune. Hants 89-5.

Click on the Lancs score – a morning stumble with broken crockery: 57-4. A couple of smart catches a piece for Harmer and Rossington; Wells, Jennings, Bohannon and Croft back in the pavilion. Harmer yet to turn his arm over, two wickest for Doug Bracewell.

And here’s Gary Naylor’s lowdown on the first round.

Not a bad way to reach fifty.

A very thoughtful piece on Yorkshire by Taha, whose interview with Azeem Rafiq kicked off the whole story.

Warwickshire two down at Edgbaston with 69 runs on the board, Will Rhodes the latest to fall was he attempts a pull shot off Conor McKerr (on loan from Surrey) and top edges it straight to a back-peddling Matt Quinn at mid-on. Quinn, just to add, pulled out of his fourth over earlier, so interesting to see him still out on the field. Bit of an injury crisis for Kent (hence the McKerr loan), wonder if they might send up a flare for Stevo...

Key event

Up at Trent Bridge, all eyes on Craig Overton, who went off after three overs and although he’s returned to the field, still hasn’t bowled again. Notts cruising to 82-0, Hameed has inched his way off the mark to unveil a couple of great shots, Duckett has whizzed along to 52 not out, lucky but stylish.

Some of Ben Sanderson’s handiwork this morning:

Max Holden is just trudging back for 7, Middx 36 for five, and the rain starts falling in London commuter belt.

Another drop at The Oval, where Ben Brown has slipped through the fingers. Surrey still well on top though, Hants 54-4, with the very impressive Fletcha Middleton stoically digging in for 18.

Fletcha Middleton: Hampshire’s bright young opener Photograph: Dave Vokes/REX/Shutterstock

A wicket at Edgbaston, and just when you started to wonder if this really was a bowl first day after only a handful of plays and misses. The in-form Alex Davies just went to run one behind square off the newly deployed Joey Evison and played on to his stumps for 23. Warwickshire 41 for one in the 13th over.

This sounds epic, even for those of us who hear database and go into a cold sweat.

Updated

In Division Two: nowt doing today at Bristol, a further inspection taking place at noon at Grace Road. And Durham, much as they did on the first day of Round one, screaming along at nearly five an over – 53-0 – against Worcestershire.

And an email wings in, hello Em Jackson!

“Morning Tanya, Morning All,

“Am I the only one that has to check that c Rossington (or indeed any Essex catch) to b Cook isn’t Sir Alistair giving his arm a twirl in the early part of the season?

And I can’t be the only one thinking “Hey I [Sir Alistair] might take a wicket against Middlesex?

(wishing I was either at Durham for today’s game).”

.. I should probably add it’s single figures out there with a strong wind.

At Trent Bridge, Hameed has ticked over to one not out; while Hants have just lost James Vince to Abbott’s first ball, caught in the slips, 38-3.

Tricky to know what quite to say about Middlesex, who have now floundered to 13 for four against the mighty Northants. Malan a third for Sanderson, Eskinazi to White for a duck.That pre-season interview by Simon has proved a potent jinx.

Greetings from Edgbaston, where Kent have won the toss and Sam Billings has opted to have a crack at Warwickshire’s top order. It means Chris Woakes, his first first-class match in over a year, sees his duel with Zak Crawley deferred, Matt Quinn and Michael Hogan instead probing away to Alex Davies (118 v Somerset last week) and Rob Yates. Won’t surprise you to hear the sun is shining in leafy south Birmingham, the gold leaf on the side of the Dukes ball twinkling as it whizzes down.

With half an hour of the day gone, let’s stroll round the ground:

Hampshire in early trouble at The Oval, Felix Organ and Nick Gubbins back for a cold shower – both to a revved up Kemar Roach. Oh dear, and that’s a drop by Jamie Smith (substituting for Ben Foakes) behind the stumps with Middleton on 0. Hants 17-2.

Jamie Porter collecting an early-morning wicket in Luke Wells, Lancs 8 for one.

The Middlesex openers’ early season form continues to resemble a dropped trifle. Robson caught for four, Stoneman caught for three, both to Sanderson. Middx 10-2.

Snow White and Rose Red batting for Notts at Trent Bridge, Hameed not out 0 off 22 balls, Duckett not out 20 off 26. Notts 22-0. And smooth sailing for Yates and Davies at Edgbaston – Warwicks 19-0.

England watch

IN: Anderson (Lancs); Woakes (Warwicks), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Stuart Broad (Notts), Ben Duckett (Notts), Jack Leach (Somerset).

OUT: Ben Foakes (Surrey, achy back), Brydon Carse (Durham, told to sit out by England), Saqib Mahmood (still not match fit).

Updated

Division Two table after round one

Worcs 22

Leicestershire 22

Sussex 21

Glamorgan 12

Gloucestershire 8

Yorkshire 7

Durham 6

Derbyshire 5

Glamorgan and Sussex rest for round two.

Division One table after round one

Essex 20

Kent 19

Hants 19

Surrey 12

Warwicks 11

Lancs 9

Somerset 9

Middx 3

Northants 3

Notts 3

Just reading the rain report from Bristol. Yorkshire may like to turn on their heels and retire to bed. “More rain is forecast for tomorrow, so prospects for a prompt start on day two look bleak.”

Reports from Trent Bridge, for Overton v Hameed, is that the pitch is lurid green.

Rainwatch

No play today at Bristol, delayed start at Durham and Grace Road. All fine and dandy in Division One.

Jimmy Anderson plays!

Great news for Lancs, whose attack looked a bit – dare I say toothless? – against Surrey. Essex’s test is postponed as Keaton Jennings has won the toss and elected to pad up, and keep Jimmy in cottonwool for another day .

No play today at Bristol

More heat lamps in operation on the outfield – but with an identical result to Taunton last week. Rotten news for spectators and not the bright new dawn Yorkshire were hoping for after last week’s defeat by Leicestershire.

Updated

Fixtures

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex v Lancashire

The County Ground: Northants v Middlesex

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Somerset

The Oval: Surrey v Hampshire

Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Kent

DIVISION TWO

Chester-le-Street: Durham v Worcestershire

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Yorkshire – NO PLAY TODAY, WET OUTFIELD

Grace Road: Leicestershire v Derbyshire – INSPECTION AT 11AM

Preamble

Good morning! It’s a beautiful day in the south east, and a perfect time to be at The Oval for the 2022 Champions Surrey v the neighbourly pretenders Hampshire. Unfortunately, I’m currently stranded in Woking because of the signal outage at Waterloo, but imagining the Hampshire trio thundering through their paces in the nets.

The highlight of a busy first round was Leicestershire’s last-gasp win over Yorkshire – ending a run of of 19 months without victory and their first win at Headingley since 1910. Ali tracked down Rishi Patel, who scaffolded the win with his maiden first-class century.

Matches, tosses to follow shortly.

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