Root gets in a tangle against Warwickshire
Joe Root and Harry Brook pulled on their Yorkshire boots to warm up for the Zimbabwe Test.
It didn’t go entirely to plan on a 16-wicket day at Headingley. Root fenced uncharacteristically at Ed Barnard and was caught for a 17-ball one and Brook ran through a spicy repertoire before he was caught for 33. Jonny Bairstow hustled to 47 before being bowled in a blaze of exploding stumps, but he and the tail had ushered Yorkshire past 200. Ethan Bamber finished with five for 47. Warwickshire then lost six wickets in the evening session.
Gloucestershire completed their 100% losing record at the toss in 2025 and were invited to bowl at Old Trafford. The energetic and swift figure of Ajeet Singh Dale soon removed George Bell and Keaton Jennings, but Marcus Harris had arrived with his overnight bag.
Harris started with neat accumulation but rolled out his greatest hits once he’d passed his hundred – a glide through midwicket, a whip to the rope through backward square, a glorious flick off the toes for six. At stumps, he was 165 not out and the leading scorer in the country with 559 runs.
Somerset prepared an emerald pitch at Taunton but it was Jack Leach, wheeling in for 30 overs from the River End, who caused havoc, inducing a mid-innings collapse and picking up three for 35. Essex squeaked past 200 before Sam Cook, freshly called up by England, removed Archie Vaughan in the first over of the Somerset reply.
There was a return to form for Rishi Patel at Grace Road, his 105 a model of patience and skill as wickets fell about him. The South Australian Harry Conway grabbed five for 68 on his Northants debut.
Toby Roland-Jones, the Middlesex captain, (five for 33) skittled through Kent, who were dismissed for 129. Poor Zak Crawley’s early season woes continued when he was lbw for six. Graham Clark’s unbeaten 110 put Durham on top against Hampshire. And there were fifties for the Jersey international Asa Tribe, Sam Northeast and Colin Ingram as Glamorgan passed 300 for the first time this season against Derbyshire.
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Sixty-seven wickets pocketed across the Championship today, with the batting medals going to Marcus Harris for a fabulous unbeaten 165 against his old club Gloucestershire, to Rishi Patel for 105 against the odds. and to Graham Clark’s unbeaten 110 at Southampton. We’ll be back tomorrow, have a lovely evening!
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Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire v Durham 330-5
Taunton: Somerset 9-1 v Essex 206
Headingley: Yorkshire 205 v Warwickshire 157-6
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 336-6 v Derbyshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire 342-5 v Gloucestershire
Grace Road: Leicestershire 304 v Northamptonshire 6-0
Lord’s: Middlesex 158-4 v Kent 129
I must now write up for first edition but, if your Friday evening plans permit, do carry on BTL.
A hundred for Rishi Patel
An excellent innings from Patel, whose innings so far this season had brought nought, one and nought. Took Leicestershire to a stout position at Grace Road before being lbw to Sales for 105.
Also on Harris and Patel’s century tail are: Graham Clark (74) and Sam Northeast (63).
A hundred for Marcus Harris
With a flying single! Would have been tight if the fielder had hit. Cracking innings, 176 balls, eleven fours. A second hundred of the season – some excellent winter shopping by the Lancs hierachy.
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Greenest Ground competition
Please pass on ! We’ve had some wonderful winners who have transformed their grounds for nature. A shout out to the previous winners: Fillongley CC (2024), Langside Sports Club (highly commended, 2024), Corbridge CC (2023), Valley End CC (2022), Whalley Range CC (2021) and runner-up Eight Ash Green CC (2021).
The search for the UK's Greenest Cricket Ground is back for 2025! 🍃
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) May 2, 2025
Win £500 for your club with Ortus Energy!https://t.co/f752hHQTn7
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Tea time-ish scores
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire v Durham 223-5
Taunton: Somerset v Essex 155-7
Headingley: Yorkshire 205 v Warwickshire 9-0
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 234-3 v Derbyshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire 189-3 v Gloucestershire
Grace Road: Leicestershire 211-6 v Northamptonshire
Lord’s: Middlesex 17-1 v Kent 129
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If Harris gets to 106 he will have 500 runs for the season, joining only Max Holden and Tom Haines. Durham’s Graham Clark has fifty too, Durham 219-5. They stroll off for tea here at OT, Lancashire 189-3.
Marcus Harris is wearing a very long jumper as he leans into another four and moves into the 80s. I say jumper, but it is one of those thin nylon things, maybe like a fleece. A reader wrote to ask me which counties still wear cable-knit: we think Somerset, Middlesex, Warwickshire (started this year), but can anyone add to that?
Kent are all out for 129. Not much help from extras either, just three from the miserly Middlesex bowlers. Muyeye top scored with 29. TRJ 5-33. They’ve taken tea at Lord’s to mull it all over.
YJB exits as he should, in a blaze of flying stumps, for 47.. Yorks 185-9. Bamber 4-47, Barnard 3-53.
Jack Leach is running through Essex in a way that suggests that Simon Harmer too might be about to hit his straps. Essex 138-7. Extras, at 21, the third highest score.
Mike Daniels has the prime seat at top of the table Grace Road:
“This is easily the best day’s cricket I’ve seen here for a while.
“The wicket has offered help for the bowlers if they get the ball in the right areas, generally a bit of bounce, and the batters have had to work for their runs and be positive.
“Good partnership from Patel and Cox after Northants hit back to reduce Leics to 119-5.
“Interesting afternoon/evening ahead.”
Cox (25) and Patel (76) have put on 78 and counting for the sixth wicket, inching Leicestershire towards that first batting point.
Another fifty for Lancashire’s Mr Relaible, Marcus Harris, his fifth fifty in seven innings. Neat and effortless accumulation. Lancs 155-3.
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Bohannon falls to Ollie Price for 56, an ugly kind of pull that leaves him standing like an open chest of drawers. Lancs 125-3.
In Division Two:
Northeast and Carlson have capitalised on a decent start by Glamorgan, who are now 151-2 against Derbyshire. Asa Tribe was a second wicket for Luis Reece, but not before he’d made 58 in his first match of the season.
Bohannon (55) and Harris (37), are formidable middle-order for any opposition to chew on, and have put on 94 against Glos here at OT. Lancs 117-2.
Rishi Patel has 56 but none of his Leicestershire teammates seem very keen to keep him company. Leics 135-5 against Northants. A duck for Rehan Ahmed.
And FIVE wickets for TRJ as Kent’s trousers fall down at Lord’s. Kent: 105-8. Just six for Zak Crawley, who hasn’t found his mojo yet this season. I wish him bags of runs in the second innings.
And at Headingley, though Warwicks have Yorks on the ropes, they drop another catch, this time Jordan Thompson the man given another life.
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Woakes and Carse eye return from injury
Ali Martin is on the bat phone: Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse are targeting the round that starts 16 May for their comebacks. Watch out Hampshire and Notts.
Four wickets for Bamber now, at Headingley. Harry Brook gone for a boundary-laden 33, Hill soon following for a five-ball duck. YJB now has Jordan Thompson for company. Yorks 118-6.
Josh Bohannon has, during this innings of 38 not out, become the seventh fastest (in terms of innings) man to pass 5000 runs for Lancashire – 120 innings. The quickest is Stuart Law (98). (Thank you Ken)
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This was a nice touch by Somerset this morning.
🎥 Ahead of the match, Tom Banton was honoured with a special token in recognition of his phenomenal 371-run innings against Worcestershire 👏#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/pHEzzqhSJF
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 2, 2025
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A sweet moment on a lunch-time stroll round the ground – Rocky Flintoff signing an autograph for one of the young boys here on a school trip. The boy, who presumably had no idea who this tall, smiling, rosy faced teenager in whites and pads was, bounced away, happily clutching his prize.
Lanky wins, when the bee pauses to celebrate before the line. Much joy from the primary school children as Lanky is given an inflatable cup.
But most importantly of all, the mascot race. The lineup Lanky the giraffe, All starts, a robin, a dog, a bear and a bee.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire v Durham 80-3
Taunton: Somerset v Essex 81-2
Headingley: Yorkshire 97-4 v Warwickshire
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 105-2 v Derbyshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire 79-2 v Gloucestershire
Grace Road: Leicestershire 95-3 v Northamptonshire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Kent 75-4
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In Division One: Durham, without Ben McKinney (back spasm) are 77 for three against Hampshire, all three to Kyle Abbott. Essex have lost both openers on the green seamer at Taunton, 74-2, and Warwickshire have had the best of the morning at Headingley. YJB and Harry Brook are batting together, Joe Root was out for one. Yorks 84-4.
Apologies to Tim Maitland, whose email I’ve only just discovered in my inbox:
“Greetings from Hong Kong where I hear today’s high of a pleasantly dry 32 barely tops the freakish temperatures you’ve been getting.
“In an attempt to distract myself from getting overly excited about Joe Root and Harry Brook making guest appearances at Headingley, I’ve been trying to get a sense of what Yorkshire Aussie debutant Jordan Buckingham brings to the table. Do any of your cosmopolitan group of followers have first hand knowledge of him?
”I’ve seen him described as “a quick” and as “fast-medium”, and he was part of South Australia’s Sheffield Shield winning side this year. His recent bowling figures don’t scream off the page at you: 4-70 against Victoria including getting Marcus Harris for a four-ball duck and a starring 4-41 in England Lions’ second knock in their innings defeat in Sydney. Among his victims that day was the England Lions skipper Alex Davies, who closely resembles the Alex Davies captaining Warwickshire these days.”
As a reluctant Adam Lyth trudges off the pitch at Headingley, caught in the slips off Hannon-Dalby, time to see what’s been happening round the grounds. Yorkshire a not ideal 75-4 in the first morning’s play.
Hello Mike Daniels! in the Grace Road scorebox “Thankfully it shouldn’t be as hot in here as Alec Guinness’s box in Bridge Over the River Kwai. The Flying Foxes will be looking to maintain their strong start to the season against a winless Steelbacks side.
“Will Rishi Patel get his season up and running? If he can then Leicestershire’s chances of promotion will be boosted as they already boast a deep batting line up and a roster of experienced seam-bowling all-rounders.
“Spin, or a lack of it, might be a weakness later in the season but currently the bowlers are doing the business.”
The ECB updates its transgender policy
The supreme court’s clarificaton on the law continues to make waves. As expected, the ECB has followed netball and football and reverted to a single sex category for women and girls, (protecting the female category which exists because of male physical advantage) with transgender women welcome in mixed/men’s teams.
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Singh Dale is quite a sight in the flesh – a rapid scampering approach, a slingy action and really quite quick.
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Thank you to Ken Grime for pointing out that a hundred years ago today was the first match of the 1925 Championship season .
Sam Cook picked for Zimbabwe Test
Ben Stokes (Durham) - Captain
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Jordan Cox (Essex)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)
Root out!
Root fences, uncharacteristically, and this time second slip takes the chance. Ed Barnard, who has just signed a new contract with Warwickshire, has now bowled two overs, two maidens, and has the best batter in the country in his pocket.
Root dropped
Alex Davies makes a horlicks of a catch at first slip at Headingley. Ball in, ball out, like a man surprised by a jack in a box. Unfortunately the man at the crease was Joe Root, on one.
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Joe Root is batting at Headingley, one not out from 12 balls, after the Bess experiment came to a premature close, caught behind for 16. Wharton didn’t last long, out the same way in Bamber’s next over.
The umpire suddenly takes a keen interest in Josh Bohannon’s bat and tests it with his gauge – it passes – and shortly afterwards KJ edges Singh Dale to Bancroft at slip. Lancs 23-2.
Hoards of seven and nine year olds are in at Old Trafford today, sword fighting with balloons and, if they looked up, watching George Bells kick Ajeet Singh Dale’s second delivery onto his stumps. Lancs 16-1.
No wickets to report so far this morning!
Good luck to SACA graduate Zen Malik on his first-class debut, he was picked up by Warwickshire after a cracking season with Glamorgan second XI last year.
Two reasons for @WarwickshireCCC to celebrate before a ball was even bowled 🙌
— PCA (@PCA) May 2, 2025
Best of luck to Zen & Beau on their milestone appearances 🧢#CountyChamp pic.twitter.com/TvbK7VWSxR
An interesting read on Cameron Bancroft, the third of the sandpaper gate Australian trio, whose fledgling career never quite recovered in the same way as those of David Warner and Steve Smith.
One to keep an eye on as play starts round the grounds. Craig Overton returns after his back spasm.
Here we go!
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 2, 2025
LIVE STREAM ➡️ https://t.co/XI0fZ6gXAA#SOMvESS#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/JNBfJ7EAEP
Yorkshire are batting, with Lyth and Bess opening – perhaps in Rehan Ahmed mode.
ECB and BBC announce extended partnership
More of the same as far as I can see: the Beeb will continue to show highlights of England Men’s and Women’s internationals and live coverage of The Hundred in a deal running 2025-2028.
BBC sport will show eight double-headers each season, including the opening matches and the finals of the Hundred across TV and iPlayer. This will see more live women’s games screened on the BBC than previously.
Here is the, er, emerald, pitch spotted BTL at Taunton.
An early look at today's surface 👀#SOMvESS#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/3jR6RySjWZ
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 2, 2025
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Surrey have signed Australian left-handed Kurtis Patterson as batting cover for their three County Championship matches in May.
Patterson has played two Tests for Australia, with a top score of 114 against Sri Lanka in 2019. Last season, Patterson hit 743 runs in eight Sheffield Shield matches for New South Wales at an average of 57.15.n
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No Jimmy Anderson, but Brook and Root play
Lancs are still without Jimmy, who is “champing at the bit” but not quite match-fit. Rocky Flintoff is apparently back to hitting balls and looking to play some one day cricket in June. Yorkshire are strengthened by the return of Root and Brook, as well as Australian Jordan Buckingham, who has signed for five games. WArwickshire also have an Australian, Beau Webster.
DIVISION TWO
1 Leicestershire (played 4) 74
2 Derbyshire (played 4) 53
3 Kent (played 3) 52
4 Middlesex (played 4) 38
5 Gloucestershire (played 4) 38
6 Lancashire (played 3) 34
7 Northamptonshire (played 3) 34
8 Glamorgan (played 3) 15
DIVISION ONE TABLE
1 Nottinghamshire (played 4) 70
2 Surrey (played 4) 60
3 Sussex (played 4) 52
4 Essex (played 3) 47
5 Warwickshire (played 3) 46
6 Durham (played 4) 45
7 Hampshire (played 3) 43
8 Yorkshire (played 3) 40
9 Somerset (played 4) 33
10 Worcestershire (played 4) 18
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire v Durham
Taunton: Somerset v Essex
Headingley: Yorkshire v Warwickshire
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Derbyshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Gloucestershire
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Northamptonshire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Kent
Preamble
Good May morning! With a quarter of the Championship season already gone, the cherry blossom falling but the swifts not yet here, patterns are starting to emerge. But patterns can be undone. Four teams take a rest this bank holiday weekend: the top three in Division One, Notts, Surrey and Sussex, and the April wooden spoonists, Worcestershire. Play starts at 11am, please join us!
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