All hail the mighty siege weapon that is Chris Tremlett, who now has three wickets to leave Oxford MCCU in tatters on 28-4 in reply to Surrey’s 420-7 declared, writes Ali Martin. Matt Dunn was first to strike, removing Steve Leach caught at slip for none, before Tremmers - he of the impossibly huge biceps - came to the party. Fellow Henry Hughes was bowled for a duck, with Lloyd Sain and Lloyd Paternott both edging behind. And as I write that, they’re off for bad light. Probably a good call, given the giant hurling boulders at them from the other end.
Update from the now sub-zero Parks in Oxford, shivers Ali Martin. Surrey are 393-7, with captain Gareth Batty having just been bowled by Sam Weller for 29. At the other end Gary Wilson is 111 not out, having brought up his century from 117 balls. Tapping away on the KP chunk of the match report ... aka the bulk of it. But will say that, despite a shellacking from the star attraction, the Oxford MCCU bowlers have shown promise. Their opening pair of Weller, currently boasting 3-73, and Abidine Sakande, 2-80 as it stands, would certainly walk into the St Kitts Invitational XI.
It has taken a one-handed cracker down the leg-side from wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd to help get rid of Tom Fell for 114, writes Graham Hardcastle at New Road.
Worcester are seven down approaching 230, not what they would have hoped for in the early stages of the afternoon at 129 for two. It may not have been Hodd’s best day behind the stumps, with two earlier chances going begging, But this was some catch from the ex-Sussex keeper, who was diving to his left after decent contact from Fell on a leg glance.
After the carvery I shall be skipping tea, reports Vic Marks in Taunton.
Out in the middle the game has taken a curious turn. Paul Collingwood, now a senior citizen, is supposed to be a bowler of the last resort. He captains, he bats, he coaches Scotland, he gets touted as some sort of saviour of English cricket because he is a good bloke and canny and he will be a very fine coach, I’m sure. But bowling? Surely he has done bowling? Obviously not.
Collingwood’s seamers and cutters contrived four wickets in the afternoon session, an outcome that puts his Durham side in charge of the game at the tea interval.
First Cooper was lbw to Paul Coughlin for 47. There followed a century partnership between James Hildreth and Johann Myburgh who hit his first Championship hundred for Somerset. At 223-2 Somerset appeared to be cruising. By tea they were 249-6. Collingwood had struck.
Myburgh prodded to extra cover, Hildreth and Peter Trego were lbw and Alex Barrow bowled and suddenly the Durham captain had 4-33. He varied his pace cleverly and extracted sufficient movement for a gaggle of hardy spectators to stride out to the middle at the interval to inspect the small patch of turf upon which Collingwood had kept landing the ball. It’s a mystery how he conjured such a transformation (I’m sitting side on, which only really allows me to tell you that he was not bowling at Michael Holding’s pace). In April express pace is not essential.
By the way the National selector James Whitaker has chosen to come here rather than the Parks. He has made the journey partly to watch Somerset’s young bowlers. Perhaps he may see them in action before the day’s out.
The Kevin Pietersen show is no more here at The Parks as he finally perishes for 170 from 149 balls, 24 fours, two sixes, one dented car and an elderly gentleman knocked off his fishing chair in the process, writes Ali Martin. That last 70 runs came from 39 deliveries of pure carnage before he skied one to midwicket off fast bowler and St John’s College student Abidine Sakande leaving Surrey 316-6. Things have taken a turn for the Baltic here too as tea beckons with Surrey 348-6 and Gary Wilson 84 not out.
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After an expensive start to the afternoon, Yorkshire have turned things around, writes Graham Hardcastle at New Road.
Two wickets for Tim Bresnan and one for Jack Brooks, who has three in all, means Worcestershire head into tea having slipped from a position of strength at 129 for two. They are 190 for five ahead of this evening’s session.
Unbeaten Tom Fell is two away from an eye-catching hundred, and his presence at the crease will be key to the chances of a healthy total on a pitch which is expected to take turn as the game goes deeper, suiting the two Worcester spinners in Moeen Ali and Sachithra Senanayake. Moeen was the first of Bresnan’s two wickets this afternoon, caught behind for 62.
Two quick wickets for Tim Bresnan has stopped Worcestershire in their tracks somewhat, writes Graham Hardcastle at New Road.
Although Yorkshire have been far from their best today, they have chipped away and are now very much in the contest when it had looked like getting away from them. The mark of champions you might say!
Bresnan has removed Moeen Ali and Alex Gidman inside eight overs to reduce the score from 129 for two to 159 for four in the 51st over. Moeen (62) edged behind to Andrew Hodd, who has dropped two chances, and Gidman was lbw stuck on the crease.
Fell was one of those drops on 66 this afternoon, although he has otherwise looked secure and fluent.
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Kevin Pietersen brings up his first century in any form of cricket since Old Trafford in 2013, as the diminutive Matt Hughes comes on for his first bowl today and is creamed through extra for four, writes Ali Martin.
To be honest, it has looked inevitable from the moment he walked out to bat this morning. There was an element of streakiness in the 60s when two fours flew over wicketkeeper and slip but generally, against a rookie attack, he’s been dominant. And as I type that he’s dropped the following ball at deep point attempting a big mow.
It’s been witnessed by what the local sat on the bench next to me is calling “the biggest [crowd] since the Aussies in 93” (he has since told me the Guardian is too left wing for him and the students aren’t getting through their overs quick enough today).
On the not-so-quiet, Gary Wilson has been enjoying himself at the other end - he’s one short of fifty from 53 balls - and these two have added 111 runs from just over 18 overs. Surrey now 225-5.
Yorkshire have leaked 43 runs in 10 overs since lunch, writes Graham Hardcastle at New Road. Moeen Ali and Tom Fell have posted unbeaten fifties, with the former’s coming off 100 balls on the way to a score of 120 for two from 40 overs. Jack Brooks and Ryan Sidebottom, who started the morning so well, have not been able to build the same kind of pressure at the start of the afternoon. This has been some recovery from 11 for two.
Second over after lunch at The Parks, Oxford and Kevin Pietersen brings up his fifty with a flicked four down to fine-leg off Sam Weller, reports Ali Martin. Cajun chicken flatbread and an orange San Pellegrino thing put away before the resumption, since you ask.
A 1.15pm lunch here at the The Parks sees Surrey 122-5 against Oxford MCCU, writes Ali Martin. Kevin Pietersen is 47 not out ... and putting on a bit of a show. An assertive drive over the head of off-spinner Jack McIver, a whipped - bordering on flamingo - flick through mid-wicket off jerky left-armer Jack Grundy and a meaty pull off seamer Abidine Sakande through the same region have been the pick so far. 58 balls faced, seven fours in total.
Since the early departures of Zafar Ansari and Rory Burns, both removed by Sam Weller - a young Kent seamer of some promise I must say - we have seen Vikram Solanki caught at slip off (Reg?) Grundy for 21 and Steven Davies bowled by McIver for nine. Jason Roy joined his hero KP at the crease and effortlessly plopped McIver over mid-wicket for a six. But the later lunch meant enough time to see him pinned lbw by the returning Sakande. Two noises said some, out said the ump. Gary Wilson is unbeaten on seven, flashing a four through slips to round off the session.
Right, to find some vittles from somewhere ... no carvery here.
Worcestershire have recovered nicely from their shaky start, writes Graham Hardcastle at New Road.
Moeen Ali and Tom Fell have shared an unbroken 66 for the third wicket through to lunch, with the score at 77 for two from 30 overs. Although Moeen has played some eye-catching strokes, a drive down the ground for two and a cover driven four off Steve Patterson the pick of them, he has also survived a couple of scares.
It seems as if his edged four to third-man in getting off the mark went between keeper and first slip at catchable height before, on 21, he saw Will Rhodes let slip a sharp two-handed chance at short cover off Patterson. He has reached lunch on 31 with Fell on 40, who took three boundaries in 14 off Rich Pyrah’s first over shortly before the interval.
An early lunch report since the carvery at Taunton, which now has quite a reputation among the cricket writers, is not to be missed, writes Vic Marks. It has been a keenly contested morning – just as well, really, since this is the first day of the season.
Trescothick was out for 11, driving. But it was not a case of Banger c Mustard b Onions since the catch went to Paul Collingwood at slip. Thereafter Somerset have progressed steadily rather than smoothly with a pair of much travelled cricketers at the crease. Johann Myburgh is in his second season here and has picked off his runs neatly, often square of the wicket on the off-side.
Meanwhile Tom Cooper, an Aussie, who has played 38 international matches for the Netherlands, has hinted at what he might achieve in his first Championship outing. Timing has been elusive but then suddenly there were two crisp boundaries, which had eyebrows rising with approval among the locals. Much to savour there. Rather like the carvery. Must dash.
Some trademark exaggerated leaves and defensive strokes from Kevin Pietersen early in his innings, reports Ali Martin. He has copped ball in the ankle courtesy of a return throw from Oxford MCCU (and Kent) seamer Sam Weller, got off the mark from the eighth ball he faced with the traditional sharp (crazed) single, and was then squared up and beaten in his second over from Weller. Rough estimate is of a 300-400-strong crowd to watch this friendly match, who delivered a polite and welcoming applause for the main attraction as he sauntered to the crease.
Worcestershire’s decision to bat first upon winning the toss looked a brave one at 10.30am, and it is now looking a questionable one some 90 minutes later courtesy of two early ones for Jack Brooks, writes Graham Hardcastle at New Road.
With movement off the pitch prevalent, Brooks has taken advantage and snared the wickets of left-handed Richard Oliver and captain Daryl Mitchell, caught behind and at second slip respectively, leaving the home side at 11 for two.
Only Sussex’s veteran Aussie Steve Magoffin was a more prolific wicket-taker than Brooks in Division One last season, with the ex-Northamptonshire new ball seamer taking 68.
Moeen Ali, currently in the early stages of his innings, got off the mark in streaky fashion by edging Ryan Sidebottom for four low down between keeper and first slip. He is looking more at ease now, though.
Two wickets have fallen at The Parks, writes Ali Martin. Ansari was caught behind for a duck off Weller and now Burns at second slip has been caight off the same man. Surrey are 31-2 and Kevin Pietersen arrives at the crease ...
Greetings from Taunton to one and all, writes Vic Marks, but especially to Ali Martin, who, you may have noticed, has been quite busy before the county season starts. But this is his first time taking control of the blog.
I see he invites us to mock his predictions. Well, obviously Somerset have no chance here against mighty Durham. He has Somerset finishing seventh in the Championship this summer, Durham fourth … If he had gone any lower I might have printed his observations out and stuck them on the dressing room wall at the County Ground.
Here it is sunny and chilly. Somerset have won the toss and are batting and two wonderful old pros are treating each other with respect.
Graham Onions is bounding in and Marcus Trescothick is having a good look at him. I know Trescothick is wary of Onions because he bowls from so close to the stumps and is always in the market for lbws. Over the years Onions has been prolific in April. So far he has been on target on a green tinged pitch.
There is a good crowd in, searching for a suntrap somewhere on the ground, which has a building site at one end. The press box for this year is a portable building, but I’ve steered clear of there for the moment.
Latest from the Parks, writes Ali Martin. Surrey have won the toss and are batting. Expected first four over the top of the trench are Ansari, Burns, Solanki and Pietersen. Sunny but with a chill in the air. Heard good things – from their coach admittedly – about Oxford MCCU opening bowlers Sakande and Weller. Oh, and Jade Dernbach scored a volley a la Tony Yeboah for Leeds against Liverpool in the warm-up.
Things could hardly have gone better for Yorkshire last summer, writes Graham Hardcastle. Things could have gone better for Yorkshire during the winter, however.
The county champions’ preparations for the new campaign have been disrupted somewhat by the call-up of six of their players to England’s ongoing Caribbean tour, while an even later decision by Younus Khan to pull out of his early-season overseas contract was far from ideal.
They were at least able to act quickly in finding a replacement, and India’s Cheteshwar Pujara debuts on a bright and chilly morning at New Road, where Alex Lees captains the side in the absence of Andrew Gale - serving the last match of his ECB improper conduct ban.
As a result of Yorkshire’s patched up side, Worcestershire will fancy their chances of marking their return to Division One with a victory that little bit more. Moeen Ali returns to action after suffering a side strain at the World Cup.
This could be a brief foray into county cricket for Moeen as he could yet join the Yorkshire six in the Caribbean should things go well this week.
Moeen is inked in at number three on the Worcester card and Rich Pyrah, who has batted at 11 in Championship cricket for Yorkshire in the past, is in at four for the champions.
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Greetings all and a very warm welcome to the first day of the 2015 County Championship season (and the Guardian’s blog thereof), writes Ali Martin. The venerable Andy Wilson, I’m afraid to report, is no longer of this parish and so instead you find myself in his place, hoping to be more towards the Tip Foster (287) end of the debut spectrum than the Gavin Hamilton one (a pair).
That said, this first round of matches should probably not count as my blogging bow, with the rampant beast that is the news agenda finding me currently en route to The Parks to watch Kevin Pietersen attempt a spot of student-bashing as Surrey take on Oxford MCCU. I know, I know … please roll your eyes and tut at me in the comments section below.
But at New Road, watching some proper championship creekeet, is Graham Hardcastle - aka @Tykestravels - covering day one of newly-promoted Worcestershire, who feature straight-of-the-plane Sri Lankan mystery spinner Sachitra Sennatake and fit-again Moeen Ali, against the champions Yorkshire, shorn of six England cricketers and suspended captain Andrew Gale. I watched them close up in Abu Dhabi and have little doubt they will cope.
Vic Marks, fresh from being highly commended by the judges of the SJA Awards, will be on his old stomping ground at Taunton to report on Somerset v Durham, a fixture is very much unknown quantity versus tried-and-tested. Somerset are in the process of a reboot under new coach Matthew Maynard, who has been busy recruiting the likes of Jim Allenby, Abdur Rehman and Dutch-Australian Tom Cooper, while Durham are essentially going with the squad that swerved relegation in style and tasted 50-over silverware last season, minus England duo Ben Stokes and Mark Wood today of course.
Elsewhere in Division One, Middlesex take on Nottinghamshire at Lord’s and Hampshire host their soon-to-be-merged-with EPL T20 neighbours Sussex at the Ageas Bowl. And in Division Two the defending wooden-spooners Leicestershire, themselves under new stewardship in coach Andrew McDonald and captain Mark Cosgrove, play Glamorgan at Grace Road (free entry, get down there) and Northamptonshire start life in the second tier at home to Gloucestershire.
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So mock my season predictions here
- Read Vic on Yorkshire and the season ahead
- And join the conversation below …
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