McKinney's century punishes Warwickshire
Young England white-ball bowler John Turner, sent on a 14-day loan to Old Trafford from Hampshire, was handed his debut Lancashire cap by Jimmy Anderson. A few hours later it was revealed that plain Jimmy was soon to be Sir, knighted in Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list.
Knight or not, Anderson won’t have been too sad to miss bowling on an Old Trafford pitch as hard as briskly-baked biscuit, thanks to the sunniest March on record and Manchester’s rain taking an overdue holiday. Turner ran in with vigour, and some menace, but tirelessly as he and the Lancs attack bowled, Northamptonshire waved them off. Saif Zaib made a calm and, at times, charming century, while James Sales, in kissing distance of a ton, shovelled the ball straight to mid-on, slumping off the ground like a man destined for the gunge tank.
Durham’s accomplished young man in the wings, Ben McKinney, collected a second Championship hundred, a calm 143 not out against Warwickshire, while Ben Stokes watched from the sidelines. Briefly marooned in the 90s, he reached three figures with a fizz and put on 109 with Matthew Potts (53).
South African Kyle Verreynne was Nottinghamshire’s linchpin as they fought back from 78 for five at Trent Bridge. His collected 111 frustrated Essex, with Rob Key keeping an eye on Sam Cook, who bowled both beautifully and unluckily, for his two wickets.
A century of iron will by Dom Sibley knotted Surrey together at the Oval. Sibley carried his bat – only Geoff Boycott has done so more times since the second world war - while Hampshire, led by Brad Wheal, chipped away at the hallowed lineup.
A topsy-turvy game at Hove left Sussex on top, despite collapsing in the afternoon sun. A late flurry of wickets from Fynn Hudson-Prentice saw Somerset floundering in the dirt at 62 for five at stumps. At Headingley, Yorkshire made the most of top-notch batting conditions, Dawid Malan leading the way with 98. Worcestershire’s slips were given Jonny Bairstow’s finest glower after he was somewhat unluckily given out, caught behind for seven.
Everyone’s favourite boom or bust cricketer Zak Crawley was lbw to Toby Roland-Jones for a four-ball duck at Canterbury. Kent were batting after tea after bowling Middlesex out for 222, but were soon themselves in trouble, finishing 172 for six. Sol Budinger (81) got Leicestershire off to a flying start at Grace Road, the toiling Derbyshire bowlers having to watch the scoreboard tick past 400; while Gloucestershire’s Cameron Bancroft hotfooted it off the plane to make light work of Glamorgan, scoring 163 in his first game as red-ball captain.
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And while I wait for John Turner to arrive in the commentary box, thank you for sailing alongside as Sir Jimmy blew by. Have a lovely evening, good night!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 343-7 v Warwickshire
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 328-8 v Essex
The Oval: Surrey 253 v Hampshire 55-1
Hove: Sussex 294 v Somerset 62-5
Headingley: Yorkshire 425-8 v Worcestershire
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 368-3 Glamorgan
Canterbury: Kent 172-6 v Middlesex 222
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Northamptonshire 355-5
Grace Road: Leicestershire 423-9 v Derbyshire
And a century for Verreynne at Trent Bridge. Ali pointed out pre-season that his f-c average was a very useful 50. Cricinfo tells me that being a schoolboy hockey star explains his wristiness. Anyway, the boy done good, rescuing Notts from 74-4.
Second album syndrome strikes at Hove where Tom Banton has been caught for six.
Fifty for Matty Potts, he and McKinney have taken this game by the scruff of the neck in a partnership of 109 for the eighth wicket. Tired Warwickshire plod on.
Fifteen minutes in the sun to see Saif Zaib through to his century, three cracking fours to get there. Roundly applauded by his teammates on the balcony. Once upon a time he was an England U19 to be watched.
Gosh, Kent – Crawley, DBD, Leaning and Evison’s contributions read 0, 6, 0, 4. Finch and Steward have steered them to 100-6. Friendly rain may take the game tinto Sunday.
Whilst I was away, Dom Sibley and Ben McKinney made centuries, James Sales and Dawid Malan didn’t (hope the subs check that…)
I’m going to have to write early because of the golf, but please keep chatting BTL.
Tea time scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 228-4 v Warwickshire
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 212-6 v Essex
The Oval: Surrey 198-6 v Hampshire
Hove: Sussex 242-8 v Somerset
Headingley: Yorkshire 270-4 v Worcestershire
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 225-1 v Glamorgan
Canterbury: Kent v Middlesex 222
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Northamptonshire 234-4
Grace Road: Leicestershire 271-5 v Derbyshire
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Hello there Romeo: “In my view the first Lancastrian cricketer to be knighted was Learie
Constantine, Freeman of the Borough of Nelson, in 1962 (five years before Cardus).
I suspect many younger people know little about him so a visit to Wikipedia might be in order.
And he bowled fast.”
What a legend he was. There is an exhibition dedicated to West Indian influence on Lancashire cricket in the OT pavilion at the moment. Worth half an hour of anyone’s time.
Tea time here at OT, the crowd thronging onto the grass to inspect the baked hard pitch.
England U19 World Cup captain Ben McKinney closing in on a century at Chester-le-Street. He was on Sunderland’s books as a teenager, but grew too tall for his centre-mid role. “I was always ok,” he told the BBC, “but didn’t really enjoy it.” Graeme Swann, a coach with England Lions is a fan: “he could easily walk into Test cricket now.” Durham 228-4.
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Apropos of nothing, I was reading the latest WCM and came across Mel Farrel’s very moving interview with South African captain Temba Bavuma. It included the dry observation by another journalist that Temba is “only ever one failure away from being a quota player.”
Tea approaches: Middlesex eight down, Sussex seven, Notts six, Surrey and Leicestershire five, Durham, Northants and Yorkshire four and mighty Gloucestershire one – Cameron Bancroft 104 not out!
It turns out that is not free everywhere after tea. Ang Gilham writes ,”Not at Lord’s alas. A fiver on days 1 to 3.
Watching Sam Cook’s third spell here at Trent Bridge - fourth if you count the break for lunch - and he’s got it on a string once more; so accurate and with enough nip to keep the batters honest. Really should have had a third wicket, too, with Kyle Verreynne put down by Simon Harmer at second slip following an edge that came through at a good catchable height. Strongly suspect that unless Chris Woakes gets up and running soon-ish, Cook may well be charging in from the Stuart Broad End come that one-off Test here against Zimbabwe at the end of May. Speaking of which, am told tickets are not exactly hot cakes right now ... so if you fancy seeing England this summer and missed out on the India series... Anyhoo, Notts 158 for five in the 51st over.
Jimmy is the first Lancastrian cricketer, and the second Lancastrican if you include Neville Cardus, to be knighted for services to cricket. He is the third fast bowler after Gubby Allen, Alec Bedser and Ian Botham.
Key event
David Hopps rings,“Consternation at Headingley, as YJB drops his wrist on one that probably didn’t touch his gloves. Umpire Newell raises the finger and Jonny glowers twice at the umpire, then the slips, as well as giving them a gobful. His attempt to get a million runs before the end of May in tatters.” Hopps promises to report at least once from every game this season, henceforth to be known as the Hopps report.
Free after tea?
asks Stuart Bowman? It is! And it was at Chelmsford last week. I think it is everywhere.
And a first Lancashire wicket for Turner! A short one daintily gloved down the leg side to Hurst. Turner celebrates happily. Capped by a sir this morning.
𝟕𝟏𝟖 🧢🤝
— Lancashire Cricket Men (@lancscricket) April 11, 2025
JT received his debut cap from Jimmy this morning and is ready to get to work!
🌹 #RedRoseTogether https://t.co/Ti1XC2DmeQ pic.twitter.com/0lwaSlHD2T
Surrey, fallible Surrey, are 150-5 at The Oval. Dom Sibley stitching a reply, 45 not out.
Sussex also five down, to Gregory and Pretorius.
As are Notts, but that’s something of a recovery, orchestrated by Kyle Verreynne and Lyndon James. Notts 137-5 v Essex.
Adam Lyth has just been caught for 67 at Headingley off Waite, YJB strides in. Yorks 162-3 v Worcs.
While McKinney (63) and Bedingham (47) make hay at Chester le Street, Durham 161-2 v Warwicks. Emilio Gay fell three short of his first fifty for Durham.
Arise, Sir Jimmy
Jimmy Anderson is to be knighted in Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list. The 42-year-old retired from Test cricket in July having taken 704 wickets, the most by a fast bowler in Test history. He is still playing for his county Lancashire but has missed the start of the County Championship season with a calf problem.
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Young Sales and Procter pause for a chat in the middle, Northants ticking over very nicely here. Nice to see Sales junior in the flesh, his dad was one of my brothers’ favourite players.
A glance at the other Division Two scoreboards shows that Middlesex have faltered to 117-6, the top six all out. Gilchrist 3-18.
Budinger has been out for 81 – caught off the other Andersson, Holland 54 not out. Leics 184-3.
And Bancroft still going at Bristol, 78 not out, Glos: 143-1
Belatedly, hello Guardian colleague Will Unwin:
“As I trudge through Lancashire on my way back from Glasgow, I have the Old Trafford soundtrack on. It is interesting to see Lancs once again elect to bowl first and give Balderson a chance with the new ball. The allrounder, however, is having a fine start to the season with ball in hand.
“I’m not sure why Turner has been signed up considering the plethora of seamers at Lancs but I’m intrigued what his pace will add.
“You’ll be pleased to know my family, without me, will be heading to the ground later, including my 10-month old niece in order to celebrate my brother’s birthday. “
Happy Birthday Will’s brother! And I love the idea of the Old Trafford soundtrack: Jimmy by Bonney M, Eurythmics’ Here Comes the Rain again…
A backfoot force by Sales brings up the first Northants fifty partnership of the season. 109-2.
After a circuit of Old Trafford to find Cafe Nero, I can report that it’s a fair dinkum scorcher out there. People squinting into their packed lunches on the picnic tables in front of the hotel, while five kids in shorts play cricket behind where the party stand usually squats. An older gentleman leans on the barrier and watches Tom Bailey run by in a mustard and custard jumper and cords.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 104-2 v Warwickshire
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 78-5 v Essex
The Oval: Surrey 122-4 v Hampshire
Hove: Sussex 122-1 v Somerset
Headingley: Yorkshire 103-1 v Worcestershire
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 100-1 v Glamorgan
Canterbury: Kent v Middlesex 89-3
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Northamptonshire 89-2
Grace Road: Leicestershire 138-2 v Derbyshire
Second division roundabout: Leicestershire flying at five an over against Derbyshire, thanks to Sol Budinger’s run-a-ball 80. His new opening partner Rehan Ahmed blazed for 20 balls before being bowled. Leics 129-1.
Here at OT, Tom Hartley has his first over of the season, shades on, shirt tucked in, which is odd for a serial untucker. Northants, who survived the Turner/Phillip onslaught, 80-2.
Middlesex are rebuilding at Canterbury after losing three early wickets, 89-3. Holden, fresh from his century against Lancs, 25 not out.
And Cameron Bancroft showing his value already, 53 not out in Gloucestershire’s 99-1 against Glamorgan.
Joe Clarke tried to get the scoreboard moving here, bopping Jamie Porter down the ground for a handsome six and whipping Sam Cook square for four. But an attempt to repeat the second of those shots led to his downfall next bell with Cook bullseyeing the pad. Not at a great angle to see how adjacent it was - stream not much better - and Clarke seemed to suggest a bit of wood on it through his subsequent body language. The keeper was moving down leg also. But the best view - and the only opinion that mattered - was that of umpire Peter Hartley and Essex are 27 for three in the 12th over.
Fresh from Mike Daniels in the Grace Road scorebox: “Interesting first hour at Grace Road. First look at Tickner and he’s got pace and bounce but Budinger has put him away nicely when he’s pitched up. Budinger, as usual, scoring at a run a ball and Holland, as usual, blocking.”
Power restored, (thank you kind husband carrying charger) and apologies BTL. Back in time to see Turner in his fourth over. He leaked a few early on, but now carrying a touch of venom. He’s tall. And quick. I wonder if Hampshire through that loaning him out to Lancs to share a dressing-room with Jimmy Anderson would be a win-win. There’s been another wicket too – Bartlett lbw to Philllip for 18. Northants 71-2.
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And as noon approaches (though not on the pavilion clock), Anderson Philip gets his first over of the season. Clean orange soles on his shiny white boots. A warm round of applause from the OT faithful, scattered around the ground like toffee pennies in Quality Street. Bartlett is watchful.
Around the Div one grounds with a Friday bounce:
Here at OT, Balderson and Bailey and tottering in, big guns Anderson and Turner to come. Northants 32-1.
Lyth and Bean are having a fine-old time at Headingley, bashing 49 off the first ten overs from Worcestershire.
Notts have been Portered at Trent Bridge, 13-2. Ten overs gone, Porter 2-3 and Cook 0-6.
Surrey are also in early trouble against Hampshire, 39-2. Burns caught for two and Pope for 14. Wickets for Wheal and Abbott.
And Lewis Gregory has an early wicket at Hove, Haines bowled for 14. Sussex 42-1.
“I have an ex-GP friend who’s moved to Leek and has had a lot of work done on her new house,” writes Mike Daniels.
“She was surprised that the workers were calling her “Doc” as she hadn’t told them what she did for a living. Eventually she realised they were calling her “Duck”!”
Cook watch
Sam Cook is bowling nicely here - Freddie McCann has just about survived some excellent probage outside off stump - but it is Jamie Porter with the first two wickets of the day. Ben Slater was tucked up lbw from around the wicket and Haseeb Hameeb has fallen just now pushing out to an outswinger and nicking off for a 21-ball duck. In comes Joe Clarke with the score four for two in the seventh over.
A first-half-hour wicket, Vasconcelos trudges off, caught behind off baby-faced Balderson for 16. Oh well, at least he’s 16 runs richer than he would have been, if Jennings hadn’t fumbled him early on. Northants 25-1.
The pavilion clock here at Old Trafford is running six minutes slow making Keaton head boy Jennings late for the toss. Read the runes in that.
Good morning Tim Maitland!
“Greetings Tanya
Just pondering my next thesis for my PhD in stating the bleeding obvious, and it would seem that Yorkshire and Northamptonshire have the most to prove in their respective divisions after folding relatively cheaply in their season openers.
Yorkshire at least had the Adam Lyth second-inning masterclass in standing your ground (106 in 275 balls) to remind them that belligerence has its place in the County Championship.
Northants’ batting looks paper thin without Emilio Gay this season, although you’d expect Darren Lehman to have been in their ears this week.
Having said that, I just checked on Gay’s performances on debut for Durham: donuts and just ten balls faced. Did anyone do worse last week?”
An early morning drop, between second and third slip, Vasconcelos for a duck. A slow Manchester sigh.
Yello Tanya and friends. Just arrived at sunny Trent Bridge for the first time this season as the players were strolling out from their auxiliary changing rooms in the Radcliffe Road End. The old pavilion is a bit like the house I left this morning: a building site. Essex won the toss and are having a jam roll, so an early look at Sam Cook (with Rob Key believed to be in attendance today). Already had a first “me duck” from one of the stewards, so all is well in the world.
Apologies about the lack of posts, I couldn’t find my keys. There were, of course, in my handbag. Here at Old Trafford, Lancs won the toss and have put Northants in.
Who knew that ditching the dog -thrower was the way to go? Ali Martin talks to man of the moment, Tom Banton, fresh from his 371 against Worcestershire.
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Division One Table
Too early?
1 Notts 22
2 Hants 19
3 Somerset 16
4 Sussex 15
5 Warwicks 14
6 Essex 14
7 Surrey 11
8 Worcestershire 9
9 Durham 5
10 Yorkshire 3
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham v Warwickshire
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Essex
The Oval: Surrey v Hampshire
Hove: Sussex v Somerset
Headingley: Yorkshire v Worcestershire
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Glamorgan
Canterbury: Kent v Middlesex
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Northamptonshire
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Derbyshire
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Preamble
Good misty morning! Welcome to round two of this Championship extravaganza/last hurrah.
There really was a breathless hush to the last hour on Monday – the games at Lord’s and Taunton going down to the shoe-chewing final over, only to end in draws. The first-round spoils went to Notts and Hampshire, Leicester, Derbyshire and Kent – time will tell if they are still on top when the leaves turn.
Play starts at 11am and we’ll be here all day, so pull up your chair and settle in. The coffee is brewing.
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