It was a day for Australian batsmen and English seamers at Taunton. Matt Renshaw, the Yorkshire-born Australian Test player, drafted into Somerset’s squad after the curious incident in Cape Town, was only announced as a replacement for Cameron Bancroft a week ago. Here, batting at No 3 rather than at the top of the order, he hit a battling unbeaten century on a pitch somewhat greener than those he is accustomed to seeing in Brisbane.
Renshaw’s debut innings enabled Somerset to reach 202. James Hildreth with a skittish 48, which was aided by two dropped catches by keeper Ben Cox, was the only other player to contribute against persistent seamers. Of these Ed Barnard, the mini-Woakes from Worcester, was bang on target in the afternoon session and he finished with career best figures of 5-52.
For a while Renshaw was matched by Travis Head, another Aussie left-hander, who struck a belligerent 49 after Lewis Gregory had snatched three early wickets, including the highly-rated Joe Clarke for a golden duck. As batsmen panicked against the moving ball the wickets kept falling. In front of more than 2,000 sun-drenched onlookers Worcestershire ended the day 49 runs behind with two wickets remaining.
Close of play
Here’s all the latest scores at the end of day one, where Yorkshire have turned their game with Notts around, taking four wickets in the 19 overs available to leave the visitors on 53-4. Yorkshire had been 93-5 before rallying to finish on 256 all out, and now lead by more than 200 runs.
Division One
- Yorkshire 256 all out, Nottinghamshire 53-4; Notts trail by 203 runs
- Surrey 211 all out, Hampshire 52-3; Hants trail by 159 runs
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Somerset 202 all out, Worcestershire 153-8; Worcs trail by 59 runs
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Essex 150 all out, Lancashire 141-8; Lancs trail by nine runs
Division Two
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Northamptonshire 147, Warwickshire 113-3; Warks trail by 34 runs
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Sussex 254-7, Leicestershire yet to bat
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Gloucestershire 236, Glamorgan 26-0; Glamorgan trail by 210 runs
- Durham 91 all out, 13-1; Kent 169 all out; Durham trail by 65 runs
- Derbyshire 265 all out, Middlesex 45-3; Middx trail by 220 runs
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Yorkshire are all out for 256, some recovery from 93/5. Andrew Hodd’s 62 led the way, while Jack Brooks finished 30 not out and shared 44 for the tenth wicket with Ben Coad (18 not out). Notts are now presented with what looks like a tricky 19 overs before close. I’m starting to think this could be Yorkshire’s day.
Take a look down the scorecards and there remains little batting success around the country, which is making me think Yorkshire are in reasonable health at 223/9, including Andrew Hodd’s 62. He has just fallen, bowled by Harry Gurney. Lancashire are 41/3 in reply to Essex’s 150, with Jamie Porter getting rid of Hameed, Jennings and Davies. That much vaunted Red Rose batting line-up under early pressure again. Worcestershire are also three down – 31/3 in reply to Somerset’s 202, while down a division Warwickshire are 38/3 in reply to Northants 147. At Durham, Kent have a lead of 40. They are 131/5 in reply to 91. Heino Kuhn is 48 not out (I was a touch concerned what spellchecker may throw up there).
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Tea at Headingley, where Yorkshire are closing in on a batting point. They are 198/8, with Andrew Hodd unbeaten on 55. If he, Jack Brooks and Ben Coad can somehow get the score up to 250, this could be a good score. Notts certainly didn’t bowl as well this afternoon, not making use of conditions – more swing than seam. It was pretty similar in the first 15 minutes of play this morning before they found their range.
Ed Barnard, the mini-Woakes of Worcestershire, rocked Somerset in the afternoon session with his first five-wicket haul in first class cricket. While Matt Renshaw enjoyed a perfect debut – he became the first Somerset batsman to make a century since Alviro Petersen in 2013 and the 14th man to achieve this feat – Barnard, with his lively seamers, tormented the rest of the batsmen. Barnard finished with 5-49 while Somerset, despite Renshaw’s best efforts, limped to 202 all out.
Barnard found a flicker of movement in the air and off a green pitch, albeit one that is beginning to lose some if its verdancy. Meanwhile the more familiar of the Somerset batsmen looked flaky against Worcestershire’s four-pronged pace attack.
Renshaw has arrived at Taunton eager to please his new employers and to gain vital experience in case he is selected for next summer’s Ashes series. On this evidence he has a fine chance of being on that tour. This was an archetypal test for an Australian playing his first first-class innings in this country with regular movement available off a juicy April pitch, though as a kid in Yorkshire Renshaw played plenty of cricket in Sheffield alongside Joe Root.
Renshaw reached his century with an emphatic lofted drive off Travis Head, who bowled the solitary over of spin in the match so far. Soon after he was stranded but contented, having proven his worth to his new colleagues at the first opportunity.
Renshaw would not be here without those shenanigans with the ball by the Australians in Cape Town last month, which had so many consequences. One of the smaller ones was that Cameron Bancroft’s contract with Somerset was terminated and he was replaced by Renshaw. It may be that Somerset have been done an unwitting favour by David Warner and Steve Smith.
Smith is England's new selector
Ed Smith, the former cricketer, broadcaster and journalist, has been confirmed as England’s new national selector and will now head up a restructured scouting system for identifying the best players in the country, writes Ali Martin.
The 40-year-old replaces James Whitaker in the top role and will be given licence to appoint a deputy to sit alongside himself and the head coach, Trevor Bayliss, on a new three-man panel that picks the men’s national teams.
You can read the full story here.
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Essex 150 all out against Lancashire at Chelmsford, including Peter Siddle’s 33 from number 10. Joe Mennie led the way with three wickets for Lancs, while Onions, Clark and Bailey all adding a couple apiece.They are the third of three teams to have already been bowled out today, the other two being in Division Two. Durham were 91 all out against Kent, who are 88/4. I can’t see that one going to the final session of day four. Northants were bowled out for 147, with Warwickshire 14/0 in reply. Here, Yorkshire are edging towards a batting point thanks largely to Andrew Hodd. He has 47 of 184/7.
Luke Fletcher, the pick of the Notts attack, has taken his second and third wickets in the last half hour or so, with Yorkshire now 161/7. Jack Leaning was caught at second slip and Tim Bresnan lbw. Andrew Hodd is Yorkshire’s biggest hope of a recovery – he has 37. Wickets continue to tumble around the country, with Essex 150/9 against Lancashire. In fact, only Surrey, Kent and Sussex have had what you would describe as a successful day with the bat.
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The title defence hasn’t started so well for Essex. Frustrated off the field here at Headingley last week, they are being frustrated on it this week at Chelmsford. They are currently 105/8 against Lancashire, including two wickets apiece for Graham Onions and Jordan Clark, who has picked up his wickets either side of lunch. Australian Joe Mennie has claimed three-for … he was their standout performer in the Notts defeat by all accounts.
No further alarm for Yorkshire after lunch, who are 135-5 with Andrew Hodd on 28 and Jack Leaning on 12. They have shared 42 unbroken.
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Lunch round-up
Talk about a hectic morning. I make that 37 wickets falling before lunch across the country, with 23 of those being in Division Two. Mind you, I certainly didn’t get an A in GCSE maths, so please don’t shoot the messenger.
Here at Headingley, Yorkshire are in a spot of both at 107/5, losing two of those to Jake Ball – loose shots from Alex Lees and Gary Ballance. The hosts have had their moments, however, through Adam Lyth’s eye-catching 45 and a good looking 22 from teenager Harry Brook before he was yorked by Luke Wood’s left-arm seam. Much like Yorkshire, it has been a pretty frustrating start to the campaign for champions Essex. Washed out at Headingley last week, they are four down for 65 against last season’s runners up Lancashire. Jordan Clark removed Ravi Bopara on the cusp of lunch.
Much more sedate at the Oval and Taunton, where Surrey are 83/2 against Hampshire and Somerset are 102/3 against Worcestershire. Down in Division Two, most of the action has come at the Riverside, where Durham have been bowled out for 91 by Kent. Five for New Zealander Matt Henry and a cheeky three-for for Darren Stevens. Northants, Sussex and Derbyshire all three down in their respective games, while Gloucestershire are 86/4 against Glamorgan at Bristol.
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Renshaw impresses for Somerset
Somehow Somerset took lunch contentedly. They were 105/3 which is a fine outcome for them. The pitch was green, the ball darted around and vital catches were spilt. In the seventh over Somerset were 7/2, with old Trescothick and young Byrom back in the sheds (sorry, not been long back from New Zealand).
Steve Magoffin, who has a fine record at Taunton, was making the ball talk. Batting was a trial despite a cloudless sky. James Hildreth in particular was in skittish, scatty mood. He clipped one straight ball from Magoffin for six over square leg and failed to middle anything else for about half an hour. On 13 he offered a tall skier from a leading edge. Keeper Cox, normally so reliable, circled as Hildreth headed for the pavilion; he barely laid a glove on the ball. When Hildreth was on 20 he edged a fine delivery from Josh Tongue, offering another tricky yet routine catch to the keeper and the ball fell to ground. There was another six from Hildreth from an upper cut, but he could not quite make it to lunch. He was caught at slip for 48 just before lunch.
Meanwhile Matt Renshaw, the Australian opener and a late replacement for Cameron Bancroft, proceeded in more orthodox style. Not always pretty, not always at ease on such a green surface, he battled impressively. Eventually he was clipping the ball off his hip with increasing certainty and delivering a few meaty on drives. He was 45 not out at the break. Over 2000 spectators are engrossed and enthralled by this old fashioned game.
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Wickets tumbling up and down the country, including a fourth here at Headingley – Adam Lyth lbw to Harry Gurney for a breezy 45, including a pulled six off the other left-armer, Luke Wood. If Yorkshire can take anything from this morning, it’s that their teenager Harry Brook has settled nicely at the crease and has 22 of 91/4. Elsewhere, champions Essex are 54/3 against Lancashire at Chelmsford, with Tom Westley the latest to go to Tom Bailey for 17. Other wickets for Onions and Mennie.
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Yorkshire are in a spot of bother now, at 47/3. Gary Ballance was the latest to fall for a nine-ball duck, caught at point off Jake Ball. Having seen Alex Lees caught at third slip following a loose shot to Ball, Ballance steered a short ball straight to point. Teenager Harry Brook has come in and played a lovely back foot punch through the covers to get off the mark, however. Adam Lyth is with him on 25. Jeepers, Durham are 46/6 against Kent!
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Wickets everywhere but Grace Road in the opening 45 minutes of the day, with Sussex 17-0 against the Foxes. Surrey are 28/2 against Hampshire at the Oval, having lost Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick lbw to Fidel Edwards for four and five. Oh, hang on, just as I finished that paragraph, the full house is complete as Luke Wells is caught behind off Leicester’s seam bowling all-rounder Ben Raine. Here at Headingley, we have just seen a second wicket go, that of Che Pujara – or Steve to his Yorkie mates – lbw to Luke Fletcher for two. It’s 36/2.
Early action at Durham as they lose two in the third over to Kent’s overseas New Zealander Matt Henry, leaving them at 4/2. That has included Durham’s overseas Aiden Markram lbw for an eight-ball duck. Will Smith, bowled, followed him back to the hutch. Quiet but steady start here by Yorkshire, who are 14/0 in the fourth. Ed Smith, meanwhile, has been announced as England’s new national selector, replacing James Whitaker.
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Good morning from Taunton
A cloudless sky, Quantocks fully visible and the Marcus Trescothick Stand is almost full at 10.40am. It seems to be farewell – or at least au revoir – to Ciderabad. The grass is green and there was no toss so Somerset are batting first against Worcestershire with Matt Renshaw on the card at number three, preparing to make his debut. Dom Bess is twelfth man and Jamie Overton is not fully fit, which may not please the new chief selector. So off we go. Let’s enjoy it while we can.
Good morning all from Headingley
We are set for a start on time here for the opening day of Yorkshire’s season as Nottinghamshire visit. After seven straight washed out days against Leeds/Bradford MCC Universities and Essex, the wet outfield has dried thanks to the last few days of sunshine.
“Someone told me it’s going to be warmer than Ibiza this week,” smiled Andrew Gale on Monday, shortly after the Championship game against Essex fell by the wayside. Thankfully the warm weather arrived, while the outfield was also subject of deep spiking aeration work on Tuesday via a Verti Drain machine (never thought I’d be looking that up when I started out on the county circuit!). The same work had been done approximately a fortnight ago as well before more wet weather came.
Notts arrive here on the back of an impressive opening round victory over Lancashire at Old Trafford, inspired by seamers Jake Ball and Harry Gurney. They will be hoping to catch the Yorkies cold.
Elsewhere, champions Essex are in a similar boat to Yorkshire having been kept in the starting blocks last weekend. They face Lancashire at Chelmsford …
Down at Taunton, Somerset host Worcestershire, where Vic Marks is on duty, while it’s Surrey against Hampshire at the Oval.
In Division Two, Northants host Warwickshire, Leicestershire face Sussex, Gloucestershire face Glamorgan, Durham host Kent and it’s Derbyshire versus Middlesex.
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