Ollie Pope’s bid to regain his England place got off to a disappointing start as under-pressure Test opener Zak Crawley fell for just nine on the opening day of the County Championship season.
Pope, who was dropped after the third Test of England’s desperate 4-1 Ashes defeat over the winter, was trapped lbw for just 20 in his first match since Adelaide against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
England’s drubbing Down Under has placed extra emphasis on county performances, which have largely been disregarded in recent years, with a number of places seemingly up for grabs in the first Test of the summer against New Zealand in June.
Surrey’s Tom Lawes batting on day one of the Rothesay County Championship
Dom Sibley played the last of his 22 Tests in 2021 but top-scored in Division One last season to put himself in contention for a recall. He fell for just 25 and wicket-keeper Jamie Smith – under serious pressure to keep hold of his Test spot – made just nine batting at No 3 as Surrey struggled to 65-6.
Former England keeper Ben Foakes led the recovery in a 165-run stand with Tom Lawes (83) before going on to make a brilliant 128 as Surrey were all out for 328 at the close.
Tom Westley became the County Championship’s first injury substitute
The County Championship’s new replacement rules were immediately in play at Hampshire as Essex’s Noah Thain replaced Tom Westley after he was hit on the hand.
As part of a new trial, fully participating players can be used as replacements for the first time in the event of injury, illness or significant life events.
Matt Critchley was left unbeaten on 97 when bad light ended play with Essex 219-3, while Tom Clark led the way with 101 for Sussex as they made 361 all out at Leicestershire – who closed on 15-1.
Somerset’s Tom Abell celebrates scoring a century on day one of the Rothesay County Championship match against Notts
Somerset finished the opening day on 292-6 against reigning champions Nottinghamshire at Taunton, as Tom Abell hit 108 and England hopeful James Rew made 64.
Glamorgan slipped to 28-4, after a delayed start to their clash against Yorkshire, before rallying to 99-4 at the close.
England’s incumbent openers Crawley and Ben Duckett come into the season with their places under threat. Duckett is not part of the Nottinghamshire team at Somerset while Crawley was made to wait to get the bat in his hand as Kent bowled first in the Division Two clash at Durham.
Durham’s Emilio Gay, who made four centuries in Division One last season before touring Australia with the England Lions over the winter, showed why he is being tipped for a Test call with a brilliant century.
Nottinghamshire’s Olly Stone celebrates taking the wicket of Somerset’s Tom Kohler-Cadmore
Gay was the first man of the season to reach three figures, from just 111 balls, and eventually fell for 128 as Durham reached 335 all out.
All eyes then turned to Crawley who walked to the crease to start a testing 16-over spell for Kent.
He put two wide, full balls away before Matthew Potts – who struggled after being drafted in for the final Ashes Test – nipped one back and trapped Crawley lbw. Kent finished the day on 50-2.
Leus du Plooy was two runs short of a century when bad light ended the day with Middlesex 279-5 against Gloucestershire, while James Anderson’s Lancashire racked up 346-7 at Northamptonshire.
Martin Andersson was unbeaten on 134 amid a 210-run stand with Luis Reece as Derbyshire finished on 391-4 against Worcestershire.
