Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Simon Burnton at Lord's

Middlesex v Somerset and more: County Championship – as it happened

Middlesex play Somerset stormy skys at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Middlesex play Somerset stormy skys at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

That’s all from me, join me tomorrow for more live updates on the County Championship. My report on the day’s play will be up shortly! Cheers!

Stumps!

Indeed, that was stumps at Edgbaston, where Warwickshire reached 13-1 in reply to Derbyshire’s 189. The home side trail by 176 runs.

Elsewhere, Glamorgan finished the day on 310-8 after Yorkshire put them into bat.

Hampshire made fast work of Leicestershire, with Tom Alsop and captain James Vince (168* from 167 balls) scoring tons to help them to a mammoth 431-4 from their 96 overs.

Despite that late Stewart wicket, it was a good day for Kent, who finished on 309-7 at Northamptonshire.

That bad light meant that only 81.2 overs were bowled in Essex, who reached 207-3 against Worcestershire mainly due to their captain, Tom Westley, who is unbeaten on 84.

It’s stumps here at Lord’s, where Middlesex are 293-8 largely thanks to Sam Robson’s excellent 165: nobody else has scored more than 22.

Grant Stewart b Nathan Buck 5, a classic of its type.

It’s all over (for now) at Trent Bridge, where Durham are 241-7 at stumps with key contributions from David Bedingham (57) and Alex Lees (58).

“More news in from the Northants versus Kent game, that continues its stealthy progress below the radar of the Guardian’s commentary team,” subtle-digs Colin Walker. It’s alright, I’ll take it. “Having first steadied the ship then moved things on, Robinson has fallen for 84. However, the one thing that does seem to capture the imagination of our friends at the paper - Darren Stevens and his impending 45th birthday - is still there having scored a brisk 32, including one glorious six.”

This might be that at Edgbaston. Or that this. Either way, 11 wickets have fallen, as, now, has darkness.

Play has resumed at Chelmsford after a spot of bad light. If you’re going to call your stadium the Cloudfm County Ground you’re asking for trouble, really. Essex are 207-3 there.

Hampshire have now screamed past 400 and stand on 415-4, with James Vince on 166 off 158 and Liam Dawson contributing a run-a-ball 38. It might be a long summer for Leicestershire.

After nearly an hour of frustration, Warwickshire finally finish off Derbyshire’s innings at 189 all out. The last pairing of Ben Aitchison and Sam Conners had hung around for 21 precious runs but the latter eventually chipped one to Sam Hain at short leg to give Danny Briggs his first wicket of the season. Liam Norwell was the standout with five for 32 from 18 overs and Mark Robinson, in his first outing as head coach, will be delighted with Warwickshire’s catching in chilly conditions, not least a flying effort from Briggs at gully to give Will Rhodes a wicket with his first ball. Things had looked encouraging for Derbyshire when Luis Reece (63) and Matt Critchley (68) but they could yet finish the day on a bright note with 15 overs still to bowl (the possibility of bad light notwithstanding). And as I type that, the Bears are 0-1 with Rhodes lbw second ball shouldering arms to one that straightened from Conners.

Stumps! It’s all over for the day in Bristol, where Surrey are 220-9.

“In his last match and this one so far, Tom Haines has advanced his FC average from 22 to 29,” notes Gary Naylor. He’s still going at Old Trafford, now on 154 for Sussex against Lancashire, and his team on 269-7.

Sam Robson has finally fallen here at Lord’s, cutting the ball into the hands of third slip to become Lewis Gregory’s third wicket of the day. 165 runs off 263 balls in 333 minutes is the final analysis, a fabulous way to start the season.

Half-century claxon! Glamorgan’s Don Douthwaite is on 51 at Headingley and the claxon might not be silent for long, because alongside him Timm van der Gugten is on 48. The partnership has so far contributed 99 runs to Glamorgan’s 231-7.

James Vince is still scoring at more than a run a ball, and he’s now on 152 off 140. But Tom Alsop has now fallen, caught by Ben Mike off Alex Evans for 119. Liam Dawson is the new man in for Hampshire.

Bad light in Chelmsford and more rain in Bristol have stopped proceedings there. Essex are looking brighter than those skies at 206-3 with Tom Westley on 84; Surrey’s wickets have fallen only slightly slower than the rain, and they’re at 220-9.

Sam Robson has moved to 150 here at Lord’s, off 234 balls in 300 minutes. A splendid effort, particularly in these conditions. As I type that, he plays another fabulous drive through midwicket. “His leg-side play has been sumptuous!” exclaims a colleague. The next goes through the covers, another four.

Play is back on and Surrey are now nine down at Bristol, with only the Topley-Virdi partnership remaining. Topley-Virdi is a name too close to an artist I like to let it go without at least a video link. Quixotic was a superb album.

Barney Ronay’s dream is coming true in Northampton. Four leg byes off the over.

Whose will be the first innings to end? Derbyshire looked strong favourites, but bad light has stopped play at Edgbaston with their score at 175-9. Surrey are 207-8 against Gloucestershire in Bristol, but rain has interrupted proceedings there. So it’s all to play for!

I’m going to put this photo here because I like it. It’s the guy in the background, head in hands, who makes it.

Steven Mullaney of Nottinghamshire against Durham.
Steven Mullaney of Nottinghamshire against Durham. Photograph: Robbie Stephenson/JMP/REX/Shutterstock

It’s tea at Lord’s, and in the final over before the break Martin Andersson smote - yes, smote - two fabulous boundaries off Marchant de Lange, pinged past point for a pair of sumptuous fours. I’ll be savouring those over the tea break, the only remnants of the packed lunch being two rather sad Jaffa Cakes.

Lightning century alert! James Vince has completed an 81-ball century for Hampshire, and Tom Alsop isn’t far behind - he’s on a slightly more pedestrian 95 off 149. Ben Mike has been taking some serious punishment, the 22-year-old’s 11.5 overs going for 70, with one maiden. That is Vince’s fastest ever first-class hundred.

And that’s the first five-wicket haul of the new season, as Liam Norwell gets another to whizz through second slip off the outside edge. And it’s a big one too, with Matt Critchley’s eye-catching innings ended on 64. Norwell has figures of five for 25 - his 12th first-class five-fer - and Derbyshire find themselves 162 for seven in the 58th.

Five-fer claxon! Liam Norwell is the first bowler of the new season to claim five wickets in an innings, and Matt Critchley has been dismissed for 64, one more than Luis Reece managed. The other five Derbyshire batsmen so far dismissed contributed 17 runs between them (and Wayne Madsen got 15 of those).

Fetch that!

Belated half-century claxon! “Haven’t seen a mention of Northants v Kent yet,” writes Tim Keward. Apologies. “Kent have performed something of a recovery after losing messers Bell-Drummond, Crawley, and Denly before lunch for a combined total of 38 runs.

Fortunately Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning steadied things to take Kent to 127 before Cox hoiked one into the deep and was caught close to the boundary for a sturdy 62 (surely deserving of a belated half-century klaxon?).” Certainly is, Tim.

Liam Norwell has bowled beautifully all day but it feels like he’s found another gear after lunch, ending a 93-run stand between Luis Reece and Matt Critchley by removing the former for a hard-earned 63 and then new man Harvey Hosein four overs later. Both caught in the slip cordon through good pace and a hint of movement. Derbyshire 147 for six in the 54th. Paul Farbrace, the Bears DoC sat to my right, says Norwell is a mild mannered chap off the field but this all changes when he crosses the line. And apparently his team-mates call him Pasty (Dorset-born but Cornish raised).

Hampshire are absolutely motoring at Grace Road, scoring at well over four an over while James Vince has a 69 (and counting)-ball 79 (and counting). He has just overtaken the score of Tom Alsop, who has faced nearly twice as many deliveries (131) for his 78. And as I type that Vince hits Callum Parkinson for six! Make that a 70-ball 85!

Hampshire’s James Vince batting
Hampshire’s James Vince batting Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

Updated

Tom Haines has his ton for Sussex, a remarkable innings of 104* given that the next highest score among the first five batsmen was four and nobody else has scored more than the 19 of his current partner, Ollie Robinson.

Billy Root is limping on at Headingley, but ... nope ... hang on ... Billy Root is out, and Glamorgan are 132-7, two quick wickets have fallen, and Dan Douthwaite and Timm van der Gugten have faced one ball between them.

Surrey are 154-6 at Gloucestershire, with Jamies Smith and Overton now at the crease, while Sussex are 146-6 with Tom Haines seven away from becoming the summer’s second centurion.

At Edgbaston Derbyshire are 146-5 and Liam Norwell has just taken the wicket of Luis Reece, his third of the day, for 19 runs and from 11 overs. Oliver Hannon-Dalby has taken the other two, and Ali will no doubt be along shortly to put some flesh on those bones.

The first century of the summer has been scored in front of my very own eyes by Sam Robson of Middlesex, off 139 balls. There’s been some lovely straight driving along the way, and a couple of drops in the cordon, before he scurries three to reach triple figures. Robson averaged 23 last summer, with a top score of 82*. Middlesex are 150-3.

Sam Robson of Middlesex celebrates reaching his century
Sam Robson of Middlesex celebrates reaching his century Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Updated

Half-century claxon! Hampshire’s Tom Alsop has reached 58 off 93 balls against Leicestershire, and Hants are 180-3, the day’s fastest scorers by a margin. James Vince alongside him has 37 off 31.

Good little fightback after lunch from Derbyshire, who have raced past 100 thanks to Matt Critchley striking four successive fours off the bowling of Craig Miles. On drive, straight drive, cover drive and an uppercut mean he’s now overtaken Luis Reece (41) and sits 44 not out, with the visitors 106 for four ... and here comes the first over of spin today, with Danny Briggs into the attack.

The lack of mentions for Essex has not gone unnoticed, and I can only apologise for the lack of attention lavished on the serial champions. They won the toss at Chelmsford, chose to bat and have chuntered along so far without any great milestones or humiliations. Alastair Cook got off the mark with a four but made only 15, and at the moment they are 106-2. Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence have put on 49 runs and counting for the third wicket.

Glamorgan are five down at Headingley, their wicketkeeper-captain Chris Cooke falling for one. Billy Root is sticking around though, currently on a 94-ball 32, with Joe among the opposition.

Hashim Amla has now gone, pinned lbw to become Josh Shaw’s second victim (for nine runs off 8.1 overs). Jamie Smith then comes in and hits his first ball for four.

Half-century claxon! Hashim Amla has passed 50 for Surrey at Bristol, and he and Ben Foakes have righted the ship there with a partnership of 56 (and counting). Surrey are 104-3 as I type.

Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar has shared this:

BIG NEWS AT LORD’S! We have discovered a switch in our box labelled “heater”, and have used it to turn on the heating. This is a gamechanger.

Also at Lord’s, Stevie Eskinazi is into double figures. It took him 56 balls to score 10 runs. He’s in short sleeves, so it’s no surprise he’s taken a while to warm up.

We’re back underway at Lord’s, and Middlesex have reached triple figures. Sam Robson has had a little luck along the way, being dropped in the slips a couple of times, but is 70 off 88. Middlesex only got one century in last season’s Bob Willis Trophy. Could they equal that on the first day of this cricketing summer?

Very much Warwickshire’s morning at Edgbaston, with Derbyshire reduced to 57 for four at lunch. Oliver Hannon-Dalby struck just before the interval too, the ball leaving Wayne Madsen (15) and flying to third slip off the edge to end 73 minutes of defiance. Excellent catch by Rob Yates, whose fingers must have felt like popsicles out there. It was OHD’s second, having earlier followed Liam Norwell’s two-wicket maiden first thing with the removal of Leus du Plooy, bowled off the inside edge. It’s been a very probing first session all told, with Luis Reece having watched the wickets tumble from the other end while compiling an unbeaten 36. We have to bring our own vittles and - happily for me, less so for her - have plumped for leftovers from the Korean stir-fry that my daughter declared was far too spicy yesterday. Kids today, tsk.

Lunch

Time for a break. The lunchtime tally is 26 wickets, which is 7.2% of the theoretical maximum number of wickets available in this first round of fixtures. I’m going to crack open* my lunchbox, back in a bit.

* finish off

A match scorer inside the scoreboard during match between Leicestershire and Hampshire at Grace Road
A match scorer inside the scoreboard during match between Leicestershire and Hampshire at Grace Road Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Updated

Durham’s David Bedingham is second to a half-century. As I type they’re 92-2 at Trent Bridge, he and Alex Lees have both faced 79 deliveries, and Bedders is on 56, his partner on 33. Jake Ball has taken both wickets and is going at 1.66 an over, everyone else is a bit leaky.

Two hours in, 25 wickets down. Every team is at least two down, with Hampshire the first batting team to reach triple figures: they’re 107-2 at Leicestershire having chosen to bat, and Tom Alsop, who did the choosing, is running at a run a ball.

Sussex have lost another wicket, the captain, Ben Brown, departing for a 21-ball four. Tom Haines is unbeaten on 31, and has scored 77.5% of his team’s 40 runs.

A dramatic over here at Lord’s, Lewis Gregory to Sam Robson, after a couple of maidens. Robson drives down the ground for four, nice shot. Then he edges to second slip but it goes down. Next ball goes for four as well, and that’s the first half-century of the season. He’s scored a 58-ball 50, while at the other end Stevie Eskinazi has one off 18.

Excellent leave, sir.

“Lancashire’s phalanx of Lancastrian bowlers using Lancastrian conditions well at Old Trafford,” notes Gary Naylor. “I wonder what the split of wickets will be today between bowlers raised north of Birmingham and those raised to the south.” I don’t think Cricinfo has a tickbox for that.

“Getting the sandwich out of the way early clears the rest of the day for the whiskey/vodka. Sensible,” says Andrew Benton. The closest thing I’ve got to alcohol is grapes, but there’s no time to ferment them before lunch.

We are one hour and 16 wickets into the new season.

The carnage continues at Edgbaston. After Liam Norwell’s two-wicket maiden first-up, Oliver Hannon-Dalby has now bowled Leus du Plooy for a 22-ball duck. The left-hander tried to leave one wide-ish delivery and it cannoned off the bat and into the stumps. Derbyshire are eight for three and the number of ducks (three so far) is starting to rival the pond at Cannon Hill Park across the road.

Dalby of Warwickshire celebrates capturing the wicket of du Plooy of Derbyshire
Dalby of Warwickshire celebrates capturing the wicket of du Plooy of Derbyshire Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Updated

Derbyshire have lost a third wicket, and are 8-3 after 9.4 overs as I type. Leus du Plooy was the third to go, for a 22-ball, 31-minute duck. Luis Reece has scored 100% of their runs so far.

“Packed lunches are always tricky,” writes Dan Rickard. “When I take my son to Chelmsford (he was nine last time, he’s 11 now) he’s into the sandwiches by midday. So I have to take extra sandwiches, otherwise we’re queuing for chips at lunch! When my Dad comes he brings enough for the whole stand, so we can just graze all day. I’ll definitely be picking the old man up on the way when they finally open the doors again.”

Surrey have lost both their openers already, with Rory Burns going for four and Mark Stoneman for eight, both off 16 balls.

The Mirror’s Dean Wilson is first (in my box of four) to fold: he’s cracked open his supermarket sandwich. A long and sandwichless day lies ahead for him now.

Meanwhile in Brighton, Sussex have lost a couple of early wickets and stand at 7-2. Aaron Thomason was the first to go, and Stiaan van Zyl followed soon afterwards without scoring.

The big question this morning is, how long can I keep my hands off my packed lunch? For Covid-related reasons there is no catering happening at Lord’s (except, presumably, for the players), and packed lunches have always posed questions that my self control can’t handle.

Morning Simon and everyone. Have taken a stroll through leafy south Birmingham this morning and ended up at Edgbaston, where Warwickshire have won the toss and asked Derbyshire to have a bat. The sun is shining but it’s pretty chilly out there, so much so it took an age for my temperature to register as “alive” when I checked in at reception.

No Henry Brookes or Olly Stone in the Warwickshire attack, which consists of Liam Norwell, Craig Miles, Oliver Hannon-Dalby and ... because Tim Bresnan balances out the side these days, a spinner in Danny Briggs. Luis Reece and Billy Godleman the openers looking to repel the Bears first up.

The players earlier emerged from dressing rooms at either end of the ground and lined up out in the middle for a moment of unity. As per the ECB yesterday: “It is intended that these moments will provide a point at which the game comes together and shows solidarity in its commitment to eradicate any form of discrimination from cricket.”

Here’s Liam Norwell and some first-over carnage:

I say, I do believe the sun is shining.

Derbyshire have scored a run! It took them 29 deliveries and the loss of two wickets, but it is now 1-2 at Edgbaston.are now midway through their fifth over and they still haven’t scored, though

Wicket! Max Holden is the first to go here at Lord’s, edging into his pad and sending the ball looping to Banton at square leg.

Chaos at Edgbaston, where Derbyshire are 0-2 after two overs and Liam Norwell has started his season with a two-wicket maiden. Billy Godleman and Anuj Dal are the batsmen to fall.

Before play gets under way, both teams and umpires and stuff stand together for what I believe is being termed a moment of unity.

A moment of unity before the start of play at Lord’s.
A moment of unity before the start of play at Lord’s. Photograph: Simon Burnton/The Guardian

The covers have come off! And the players are on their way out. Some short sleeves among them, for the brave or foolhardy. Booth is wearing two jumpers!

It is proper cold here. Genuine where’s-my-gloves chilly. Ever the optimist, I foolishly wore a light jacket, where the Mail’s Lawrence Booth has arrived and parked himself to my left in full coat and scarf. I am jealous. The souvenir shop isn’t even open for me to procure a ghastly but in the circumstances increasingly tempting Middlesex bobble hat.

... and the covers are coming on at Lord’s, in response to some very light drizzle.

Here’s a full who’s-won-the-toss update:

Group One
Essex v Worcestershire (Chelmsford)
Essex have won the toss and will bat.
Nottinghamshire v Durham (Trent Bridge)
Notts have won the toss and will field.
Warwickshire v Derbyshire (Edgbaston)
Warwickshire have won the toss and will field.

Group Two
Middlesex v Somerset (Lord’s)
Somerset have won the toss and will field
Leicestershire v Hampshire (Leicester)
Hampshire have won the toss and will bat
Gloucestershire v Surrey (Bristol)
Gloucestershire have won the toss and will field.

Group Three
Northamptonshire v Kent (Northampton)
Northants have won the toss and will field.
Lancashire v Sussex (Old Trafford)
Sussex have won the toss and will bat
Yorkshire v Glamorgan (Headingley)
Yorkshire have won the toss and will field

Looks like Middlesex have been told to bat first here. Action is just 25 minutes away.

“From your view in the vanguard of sports journalism (I’m guessing this is the first despatch since the Lord’s redevelopment), how do the Compton and Edrich Stands look?” asks Seth Levine. Really very handsome, I think. Still work ongoing, mainly glazing and roofing. Here’s the view from my box:

The Compton and Edrich stands at Lord’s.
The Compton and Edrich stands at Lord’s. Photograph: Simon Burnton/The Guardian

Hello everyone. I’m at Lord’s, getting to grips with a new laptop (what could possibly go wrong?), in a repurposed hospitality box containing three other desks but no other people, and watching cricketers in bobble hats preparing for action.

The scene at Lord’s before Middlesex v Somerset.
The scene at Lord’s before Middlesex v Somerset. Photograph: Simon Burnton/The Guardian

Hello world!

Summer is coming! The clocks have gone forward, the last (STC) snowfall has melted away, and it is time to don cable-knitted woollens and prepare for red-ball action. Today it begins, with the following fixtures:

Group One: Essex v Worcestershire (Chelmsford), Nottinghamshire v Durham (Trent Bridge), Warwickshire v Derbyshire (Edgbaston)

Group Two: Middlesex v Somerset (Lord’s), Leicestershire v Hampshire (Leicester), Gloucestershire v Surrey (Bristol)

Group Three: Northamptonshire v Kent (Northampton), Lancashire v Sussex (Old Trafford), Yorkshire v Glamorgan (Headingley)

For mainly sporting reasons, and only very slightly because it’s much more personally convenient than any of the alternatives, I am at Lord’s to see how serial runners-up Somerset get their campaign started. I am aware that very few of us will be at the cricket today, but maybe, grim as it is, we have become accustomed to life as fans in a fan-free world, and we can always trade virtual banter below the line. Beyond these shores, you should be able to stream matches through the ECB website here (or on the England cricket app), find BBC match commentary here, and gobble up all the Guardian’s cricket coverage here.

Exactly a century ago the Manchester Guardian, as it was then, published an article by the incomparable Neville Cardus headlined The Return of Cricket. It was, to my mind, very much the second best article by Neville Cardus headlined The Return of Cricket we published, after the one he wrote a year earlier (one of my all-time favourite bits of sportswriting, that one, and if we’re lucky/unlucky enough to get some languorous moments today, or failing that tomorrow, I will serialise it here) but it is still beautifully evocative. Last year we republished it online and you can read it in its entirety here. Here’s the climax:

And so you pass into the summer. Evenings in the setting sun, the crack of the bat about you; Saturday afternoons mainly spent in perspiration at mid-on — hard work, there, but a fine place for watching the shadows fall over the cool grass at the wane of the day. And so the cricketer finds the sweet of the year — his only solicitude coming from the sense that it is all so fleeting. Too soon will August be here again, with its sad mellowness and the old cry, this time chilling the heart indeed — “Football Edition! Special!”

Updated

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Bedbug chaos sweeps multiple states, with a travel insider revealing the shocking reason why you might bring them home
Bedbug infestations linked to travel are surging in multiple Southern states, and one travel expert is pointing to budget accommodations as a major culprit for why you might unknowingly bring these unwelcome guests home. This is definitely awful news if you’re planning any spring break trips or just general travel.
The Mary Sue
The Mary Sue
I’m Even More Upset About The Buffy Reboot Getting Canceled After Hearing All The BTS Tea
I didn't think this could get more annoying, then it did.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
After Calling Out Diddy's Legal Drama For So Long, 50 Cent Is Now Dealing With His Own
50 Cent has been making legal moves as of late.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
Zendaya: Many people fooled by AI-generated photos of wedding to Tom Holland
It comes amid speculation the couple have tied the knot.
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
‘Sleep divorce’: could separate beds improve your health?
They say love conquers all, but it doesn’t always conquer snoring.
The Conversation
The Conversation
Spider-Man: Brand New Day's Trailer Is Finally Coming, But With A Twist That's Got Me Scratching My Head
I... don't get it.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play