Roundup: Foakes and Bracey impress with bat
It was a day of mixed fortunes for discarded England batsmen. Dom Sibley was bowled first ball by Surrey’s Reece Topley as the evening clouds settled over Edgbaston and Warwickshire finished the day 412 runs in arrears; while earlier at the same ground an unbeaten 132 from Ben Foakes had not only charmed the fleece-wrapped crowd but was a replica of his start to the 2021 season.
Then, Foakes made a brilliant 133 in a losing cause against Gloucestershire. In line for international honours, he slipped on a rogue sock in the Oval changing room, tearing his hamstring. It was enough to rule him out of the summer’s international cricket and in his place came James Bracey, whose Test baptism was torrid.
But the second day of the season was cheering for Bracey too. He moved through the gears from slow hand to like-the-clappers on the way to 117. He then pocketed five catches as Northamptonshire recovered from 129 for seven to take a 65-run first-innings lead against Gloucestershire thanks to a century from Rob Keogh and 66 from Gareth Berg.
Matt Critchley was last man out for Essex as they marched to a mammoth 514 at Chelmsford. Critchley arrived from Derbyshire last autumn, and was off the mark with an on-drive for four, his timing immaculate throughout his 132. Darren Stevens claimed his first wicket of the season when he bowled Adam Rossington. Ben Compton, grandson of Denis and cousin of Nick, got Kent off to a sparky reply.
Somerset’s early season starter moved from the disconsolate to the downright miserable, as Hampshire powered onwards at the Ageas Bowl. Joe Weatherley danced merrily to 168, a career best, and James Vince made a typically celestial 56. Such is Somerset’s player shortage that they had briefly to field a Hampshire player as a substitute fielder.
At Grace Road, Leicestershire spent the early evening rebuilding from six for three. Earlier the new Worcestershire captain, Brett D’Oliveira, added backbone to their innings with an unbeaten 118 alongside some sensible hitting from the lower order.
Shan Masood was stumped for 91 on his Derbyshire debut off Josh de Caires as his side fought towards Middlesex’s 401. Tim Murtagh took his 900th first-class wicket when he swung a ball into Billy Godleman’s stumps.
Sussex debutant Steven Finn gathered three wickets, including a tentative Haseeb Hameed for five, to give Nottinghamshire a scare as they chased Sussex’s 375. Earlier a maiden first-class century for Tom Clark topped a sprightly Sussex display with the bat.
Only 26.5 overs were possible at Sophia Gardens, time for Glamorgan to lose six for 42 against Durham as the lower order shuffled about after Colin Ingram fell for an attacking 87. After lunch, the groundstaff were reduced to scooping hail off the field with a tractor bucket.
Updated
I’m going to have to write some copy for the paper - early deadlines on a Friday, so apologies for disappearing. Please keep an eye on things for me. Foakes is six short of a century; Notts six short of a Notts-up.
Shan Masood passes fifty on debut for Derbyshire.
Is it wrong to fetishise the James Vince cover drive? Here is the James Vince cover drive. (He was out for 56.)
People mistakenly thought the county season began yesterday. It has now.#JVCD https://t.co/O3lNsLKWtB
— Jon Hotten (@theoldbatsman) April 8, 2022
Tea-timeish scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 514 all out (Browne 107, Cook 100, Critchley 132) v Kent
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 339-4 (Weatherley 168) v Somerset 180 all out
County Ground: Northants 156-7 v Gloucestershire 223 all out
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Surrey 350-8
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 234 all out v Durham 5-0 Stumps: rain stopped play
Grace Road: Leicester v Worcestershire 326-8 (D’Oliveira 108 not out)
Lord’s: Middlesex 401 all out (Eskinazi 118) v Derbyshire 77-1
Hove: Sussex 375 all out (Clark 100; Patterson-White 5-84)v Nottinghamshire 94-4
Billy Godleman gets the Murtagh 900 wicket souvenir shirt. An incredible stat. When Jimmy got his thousandth last year, I’m not sure we thought anyone else would get near. Anyway, Derbyshire 73-1, with Masood doing exactly what he was brought in for: 43 not out
900 first-class wickets for Tim Murtagh. More than a third of them (334!) at Lord's. He's 41 in August - surely can't get to 1,000?!
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) April 8, 2022
Clark J flicks Yates into the safe hands o Mousley for fifty. Kemar Roach appears, Foakes 84 not out, looks nervously at what’s to come Answer: Taylor, Topley. Surrey 343-7
A very good day’s work for James Bracey: a hundred, which moved through the gears from slow to like-the-clappers as necessity demanded; and now five catches behind the stumps. Northants struggling, 143-7, very reliant on an undefeated half-century from Keogh.
Stumps called at Sophia Gardens
Only 26.5 overs possible on day 2. Glamorgan dismissed for 234, 6 wickets falling for 42 as the lower order shuffled about after Ingram fell for an attacking 87. Matty Potts took two in two balls, to finish with 3-67; Raine 3-35. Durham had time to make five before lunch, when the heavens opened and the groundstaff were reduced to scooping hail off the field with a tractor bucket.
A century for Brett D'Oliveira!
A captain’s knock for D’Oliveira, and in his first game as skipper too. Worcestershire batting all down the (lower) order, a plucky 310-7.
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗬 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 🙌
— Worcestershire County Cricket Club (@WorcsCCC) April 8, 2022
💚 #WeAreWorcestershire | 🍐 #Pears pic.twitter.com/ZxU7YKDC5A
Updated
In Division Two:
Bad things are afoot at Hove for Notts. Hameed, Ducket, Clarke and Slater all back in their tracksuits. 54-4.
The hailstorm and rain avalanche seems to have wiped out the prospect of any further play today with Durham 5-0.
Impressive fortitude from Worcestershire, 288-7. Dolly 88 not out, leach fell for 70.
And Derby 46-0 against Middlesex’s imposing 401.
A good-news update on Ben Stokes: He will, if all goes well, return to Durham in early May as the scan in his knee didn’t find anything new.
Time for a stroll around the grounds:
DIVISION ONE
Critchley (81) and Wheater ploughing on at Chelmsford. Only one for the DI, but at 24 overs for 44, he’s still miserly. Essex 425-6
Hampshire still relishing this batting lark: 296-2, a lead over Somerset of 117. Has Vince hit three boundaries in his 18? Of course he has.
Northants holding on by their teeth - 116-5. Keogh not out 39, trailing Gloucsestershire by 107.
And at Edgbaston, Surrey 289-6. Warwicks ask the umpires if they can change the ball, the umpires answer with a swift shake of the head. Foakes 60 not out.
Updated
Joe Clarke, mentioned in dispatches as a possible man to step up to the Test team if he make the numbers, Finn’s second victim. For six. Notts 43-3.
A stoppage here because of a code red signal to stewards. We think a fire alarm somewhere. Ah, all back on track now, with Miles sprinting into Clark.
As to Jordan Clark - a successful move to Surrey? Discuss.
I went to get a jacket potato, and Ben Foakes gets fifty. Not sure what to do when he’s on 98. Bit of a plod here by Surrey tbh.
What’s happening at Hove? Ah Notts are 38-2. And one of them is Has. Sob. For five. Finn’s first wicket in a Sussex shirt.
Fifty for Matt Critchley - a cracking start to his Essex career, signing from Derbyshire on a three year contract in the autumn. Essex 381-6.
A breakthrough soon after lunch at Edgbaston as, with a skip at the top of his run, Hannon-Dalby traps Jacks lbw, done by a touch of inswing. Surrey 255-6.
And more hail has stopped play at Sophia Gardens, with Durham 5-0.
You don't see that every day on a cricket field!#GoGlam pic.twitter.com/4zLbozlPWU
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) April 8, 2022
Updated
Five wickets to Liam Patterson-White
Congratulations to LPW for the first five-fer of the season! Still a chance Naseem Shah is on for the second (2.5-0-13-1), but they’ll have to hold Higgins (3-26) back.
Anyway, time for a snack and a stroll. Back soon!
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 359-6 (Browne 107, Cook 100) v Kent
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 209-1 (Weatherley 116 not out) v Somerset 180 all out
County Ground: Northants 56-4 v Gloucestershire 223
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Surrey 240-5
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 234 all out v Durham 5-0
Grace Road: Leicester v Worcestershire 205-6
Lord’s: Middlesex 401 all out (Eskinazi 118) v Derbyshire
Hove: Sussex 375 all out (Clark 100; Patterson-White 5-84)v Nottinghamshire
What we’ve all been waiting for.
Stevo strikes! It’s been hard yakka, but a fine ball to bowl Rossington for 41 #EssvKen pic.twitter.com/h78eKeDAkE
— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) April 8, 2022
Hogan throws the bat to give Rushworth his second wicket of the innings. Glamorgan all out 234, losing 5-20 as lunch approached. Three wickets apiece for Potts and Raine.
Foakes, dropped! On 37 by second slip - Rob Yates the man with soapy paws.
Meanwhile, down at Hove, Sussex keep plugging away. Everyone in double figures except Alsop and No. 11 Atkins (3 not out). Sussex 375-9. After lunch we may have the chance to observe the less-spotted batting Notts-up.
Something to read over sandwiches:
🏏 Cricket’s class problem
— Prospect Magazine (@prospect_uk) April 8, 2022
As state schools continue to suffer the effects of austerity, it’s only going to get worse
✍️ @_PaulHayward #crickethttps://t.co/TEUQnhxLpG
At Lord’s, Gary Naylor is casting a stern eye. Good to see Roland-Jones, out for a duck incidentally, playing. May his knee remain steadfast. Middx 379-8.
Another batsman complicit in his own demise at Lord's @tjaldred, Jack Davies playing down the wrong line.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) April 8, 2022
If the pitch is like this for the First Test, Williamson and Root might get 502 each.
A hundred for Joe Weatherley
Celebrates with a squeeze from batting mate Nick Gubbins. Happy day, happy Hampshire: 198-1.
A wicket falls at Edgbaston as Jamie Smith edges behind. Surrey 216-5. Warwicks plugging away. Northants are, er, 22-3. Higgins 3-14.
And trouble for Joe Denly,
Trouble for Joe Denly as he pulls up abruptly while chasing down a ball to the boundary. Looks like an early-season hamstring #EssvKen pic.twitter.com/7zYTDrySrx
— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) April 8, 2022
Trouble for Joe Denly as he pulls up abruptly while chasing down a ball to the boundary. Looks like an early-season hamstring #EssvKen pic.twitter.com/7zYTDrySrx
— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) April 8, 2022
So Hampshire, what now? They’ve taken the lead at the Rose Bowl with just one wicket down (Holland for 81). Stride onwards to 450 and bowl Somerset out tomorrow afternoon?
Turns out Northants don’t need to wait for Naseem Shah to sag about the seams. Vasconcelos gives Bracey some catching practise off Higgins. 10-1. Crossing my fingers for the older Curran brother here: hope he has a breakthrough season.
Bracey last man out for 117 - a fine peg to start the new season. Gloucestershire 223 all out. So Northants really do have to face Shah now. First five-fer of the season?
This could be fun, Gloucestershire fans! He’s only 19.
Naseem Shah is gone but not before having some fun in the middle 😆
— Gloucestershire Cricket🏏 (@Gloscricket) April 8, 2022
The pakistani @iNaseemShah showing his flair, picking up 19 runs off 40 balls with 2x4️⃣s & 1x6️⃣!
Live stream ➡ https://t.co/NacJYSuYsT#GoGlos 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/MzO1VWh3Nl
I hope Northants are ready for this:
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Ingram falls just before three figures, but Glammy continue to fiddle a total out of some kindling. Cooke 50 not out. Glamorgan 210-5
Grace Road: Barnard falls to Barnes for 57, but Dolly still there on a captain’s forty. Worcestershire 140-5 (a vast improvement on 45-4)
Lord’s: Derbyshire toiling away, without Sidebottom (the Australian, not the spiral haired yorkie). Robbie White 50 not out. Middlesex 347-5
Hove: All hail the young guns! Tom Clark out for exactly a hundred, Rawlins for 49. Sussex 335-7
Updated
Let’s look around the grounds:
DIVISION ONE
Edgbaston: Pope just out, stumps a go go, bowled Hannon-Dalby for 58. Surrey 191-4.
Chelmsford: A third for Bird. Westley gone for 37. Essex 295-5
Rose Bowl: Relentless accumulation. Weatherley 16 short o his century. Hampshire 148-0
County Ground: A hundred for Bracey. A HUNDRED for Bracey! Gloucestershire 205-8
Ollie Pope fifty!
Seventy six balls and eleven fours, a flick to the square leg boundary and there we are. An earlier on-drive down the ground was biscotti perfection.
And thank you for this Gary Naylor!
I recall hearing that 8463 was also Alec Stewart's numberplate @tjaldred. I can't possibly speculate on his ATM PIN though...
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) April 8, 2022
Updated
Bizarre moment here at Edgbaston when Warwickshire sent Alex Davies out as a sub, before he was immediately sent away by the umpires. Davies is serving a one-match ban for historic offensive tweets.
Fascinating stattage from below the line - thank geogman and long hop for your careful browsing of the cricinfo database.
QUESTION:. Of the 43 wickets taken yesterday, 2 were runouts. Of the remaining 41, how many were taken by
- bowlers under the age of 30 and
- who were born in England (England qualified was too complex to work out) and
- are described as fast or fast medium by Cricinfo?
ANSWER: 9 wickets fell to under 30s. 7 to under 30s that are UK born (not sure about the eligibility of Quinn and Gilchrist). 1 to fast medium Sam Conners. Cue discussion of the CC as a win at all costs competition v a breeding ground for a higher purpose.
4 wickets
Sanderson (33)
3 wickets
Barker (35)
Wright (36)
Patterson-White (23) sla
2 wickets
Abbas (32)
Dawson (32)
Berg (41)
Buck (30)
Hannon – Dalby (32)
Raine (30)
Bird (35)
Lakmal (35)
Runout
1 wicket
Abbot (34)
Holland (31)
Fuller (32)
Briggs (30)
Rushworth (35)
Potts (23) ramf
Gilchrist (21)
Quinn (29)
Hutton (29) ramf
Connors (23) rafm
Thomson (28) ob
Mullaney (35)
If I look up too quickly, it feels as if the Birmingham skyline is marching towards my left shoulder. Anyway, a quiet first five minutes in Birmingham, bright sunshine, no gloves that I can spot, and a few more hardy souls in the stands wrapped up and squinting into the unaccustomed light.
Updated
This is bonkers:
Happy birthday to one of England's finest batters, who spawned one of cricket's strangest statistics. pic.twitter.com/AB2FLLGtCC
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 8, 2022
Stokes' knee
I missed this story from a couple of days ago - Stokes’s knee issue. He’s been struggling since the West Indies series, and can’t make any decision about the summer till he has results of a scan. All of which may influence any decision about Joe Root’s future - to be decided by a director of cricket, yet to be appointed.
This is such a great idea. A set of lectures about cricket and climate at Gloucestershire CCC - who have done lots of great work on this issue under chief exec Will Brown. (Admission: I do have a vested interest in that I’m going to one but not lecturing!)
Booking is live for Time to Declare a series of Free talks about #Cricket & #Climate impacts. Bookings https://t.co/i9TaOig6qv all @Gloscricket Seat Unique stadium. Guest chairs include @richardheller @TheNextTest & speakers @AndrewSimms_uk @BASIS_org Russell Seymour @rogerg44 pic.twitter.com/WpwEJL9aqI
— Bristol XR Cricket Club (@XRCricketClub) April 7, 2022
Day two scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 272-4 (Browne 107, Cook 100) v Kent
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 109-0 v Somerset 180 all out
County Ground: Northants v Gloucestershire 164-8
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Surrey 168-3
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 164-4 v Durham
Grace Road: Leicester v Worcestershire 118-4
Lord’s: Middlesex 307-4 (Eskinazi 118) v Derbyshire
Hove: Sussex 302-6 v Nottinghamshire
Thursday's round-up
Preamble
Hello! And welcome to day 2 - already it seems normal that county cricket is being played. If people still did offices, it might be water-cooler chit-chat. “Did you see that old rogue Alastair Cook got a century, and what about Somerset? Why did they choose to bat? I hear Ollie Pope is looking good - and away from home too.”
The sun is beaming down on Birmingham. Let’s have a good day.
