Ben Duckett made his first half-century of the season for Nottinghamshire to help strengthen his position at the top of England’s Test order.
The left-hander failed to make a fifty and averaged just 20.20 during the Ashes, with his off-field indiscipline also making headlines, putting his place for the first Test of the summer against New Zealand in June in some doubt.
His first County Championship match of the season yielded scores of 25 and one against Glamorgan but Duckett played patiently at Trent Bridge to help the defending champions respond to Warwickshire’s commanding first-innings total of 459 in the Division One clash.
Haseeb Hameed’s hopes of an international recall appear slim as his tough start to the campaign continued with a 14-ball duck, as Ben Slater soon followed for 26.
But Duckett and Joe Clarke shared a 116-run stand to steer Notts away from trouble. Duckett gifted his wicket away for 62 on the stroke of tea, driving loosely at a looping delivery from Rob Yates and picking out Chris Woakes at mid on.
Ollie Pope continued to press his claims for a Test recall with 69 for Surrey at home to Essex.
Pope also endured a difficult Ashes series and was dropped after the third Test in Adelaide, with his replacement Jacob Bethell making a brilliant century in the final match in Sydney.
The 28-year-old said ahead of the season that he was told to “go back and score lots of runs” and he followed up scores of 103 and 83 not out against Leicestershire with another impressive display against Essex.
In response to Essex’s 409 all out, Surrey lost Rory Burns and in-form England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith cheaply but Pope rebuilt alongside Dom Sibley – also hoping to put himself in the Test frame.
The pair shared a 105-run stand before Pope miscued a drive straight back to Jamie Porter.
