Key events
Sam Cook picked for Zimbabwe Test
Ben Stokes (Durham) – Captain
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Jordan Cox (Essex)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)
Root out!
Root fences, uncharacteristically, and this time second slip takes the chance. Ed Barnard, who has just signed a new contract with Warwickshire, has now bowled two overs, two maidens, and has the best batter in the country in his pocket.
Root dropped
Alex Davies makes a horlicks of a catch at first slip at Headingley. Ball in, ball out, like a man surprised by a jack in a box. Unfortunately the man at the crease was Joe Root, on one.
Joe Root is batting at Headingley, one not out from 12 balls, after the Bess experiment came to a premature close, caught behind for 16. Wharton didn’t last long, out the same way in Bamber’s next over.
The umpire suddenly takes a keen interest in Josh Bohannon’s bat and tests it with his gauge – it passes – and shortly afterwards KJ edges Singh Dale to Bancroft at slip. Lancs 23-2.
Hoards of seven and nine year olds are in at Old Trafford today, sword fighting with balloons and, if they looked up, watching George Bells kick Ajeet Singh Dale’s second delivery onto his stumps. Lancs 16-1.
No wickets to report so far this morning!
Good luck to SACA graduate Zen Malik on his first-class debut, he was picked up by Warwickshire after a cracking season with Glamorgan second XI last year.
An interesting read on Cameron Bancroft, the third of the sandpaper gate Australian trio, whose fledgling career never quite recovered in the same way as those of David Warner and Steve Smith.
One to keep an eye on as play starts round the grounds. Craig Overton returns after his back spasm.
Yorkshire are batting, with Lyth and Bess opening – perhaps in Rehan Ahmed mode.
ECB and BBC announce extended partnership
More of the same as far as I can see: the Beeb will continue to show highlights of England Men’s and Women’s internationals and live coverage of The Hundred in a deal running 2025-2028.
BBC sport will show eight double-headers each season, including the opening matches and the finals of the Hundred across TV and iPlayer. This will see more live women’s games screened on the BBC than previously.
Here is the, er, emerald, pitch spotted BTL at Taunton.
Surrey have signed Australian left-handed Kurtis Patterson as batting cover for their three County Championship matches in May.
Patterson has played two Tests for Australia, with a top score of 114 against Sri Lanka in 2019. Last season, Patterson hit 743 runs in eight Sheffield Shield matches for New South Wales at an average of 57.15.n
No Jimmy Anderson, but Brook and Root play
Lancs are still without Jimmy, who is “champing at the bit” but not quite match-fit. Rocky Flintoff is apparently back to hitting balls and looking to play some one day cricket in June. Yorkshire are strengthened by the return of Root and Brook, as well as Australian Jordan Buckingham, who has signed for five games. WArwickshire also have an Australian, Beau Webster.
DIVISION TWO
1 Leicestershire (played 4) 74
2 Derbyshire (played 4) 53
3 Kent (played 3) 52
4 Middlesex (played 4) 38
5 Gloucestershire (played 4) 38
6 Lancashire (played 3) 34
7 Northamptonshire (played 3) 34
8 Glamorgan (played 3) 15
DIVISION ONE TABLE
1 Nottinghamshire (played 4) 70
2 Surrey (played 4) 60
3 Sussex (played 4) 52
4 Essex (played 3) 47
5 Warwickshire (played 3) 46
6 Durham (played 4) 45
7 Hampshire (played 3) 43
8 Yorkshire (played 3) 40
9 Somerset (played 4) 33
10 Worcestershire (played 4) 18
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire v Durham
Taunton: Somerset v Essex
Headingley: Yorkshire v Warwickshire
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Derbyshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Gloucestershire
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Northamptonshire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Kent
Preamble
Good May morning! With a quarter of the Championship season already gone, the cherry blossom falling but the swifts not yet here, patterns are starting to emerge. But patterns can be undone. Four teams take a rest this bank holiday weekend: the top three in Division One, Notts, Surrey and Sussex, and the April wooden spoonists, Worcestershire. Play starts at 11am, please join us!