Key events
And hello Tim Maitland (still in Hong Kong)!
“Hi Tanya and a belated Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and everything else we missed during the dull void that isn’t the cricket season.
”And if that sounds a bit dark and depressing, wait til I get started.
”I couldn’t help but notice an air of optimism permeating through the county championship preview material I scoured, as if the policy wonks at Lord’s have magically healed the rift between the county game and the England set-up by hauling Brendon McCullum in front of the headmaster to rake through the ashes of the calamitous Ashes series.
”Then I clicked on the 56 second clip of Ben Stokes that sits in a prominent position on the ECB homepage. It’s cobbled together from a series of answers and basically says that the County Championship is a great opportunity for players. Repeatedly.
”To those who are naturally suspicious of leopards who show up sporting stripes, it might ring a few alarm bells. Stokes’ response offers no details and, to a cynic, might suggest that while England’s MAGAesque approach to international cricket needed to sound contrite to survive the review process, no further thought has been given to how repairing the ties with the county circuit will work or what success will look like.
“After all, this is the same England leadership that, to paraphrase the great philosopher Nigel Molesworth (and to show my age by referencing St. Custards), had long given the impression that county cricket, as any fule knos, is, like preparation, detailed planning and spending the eve of an elite international sports event stone-cold sober, for weeds and gurls.
”Isn’t it great to be back?”
As the sun briefly shows its face, Haines and Hughes are really getting stuck in. Yadvinder is taken off after two torrid overs … replacement Ben Green is hit for another four but, just as things were starting to look desperate for Leicestershire, a wicket, Hughes caught just out of my eyeline at third man for 19. Sussex 57 for one.
As Sussex flay Yadvinder Singh around, good morning Mike Daniels, back in the Grace Road scorebox.
“Well, back in the Grace Road box to see whether a creaking, well-worn anachronism in need of investment can see the season through. Anyway, enough about the County Championship.
“Leicestershire will be hoping that the late withdrawal of Peter Handscomb and the earlier one of Keshav Maharaj don’t threaten the excitement and enthusiasm engendered last season. The head says that the Foxes will need all of their cunning to survive what is likely to be a tough season. A seam attack which looks a bit military medium will look to youngsters Josh Hull and Alex Green to add some pace and a point of difference, whilst the signing of Ajaz Patel could go either way between inspired and desperate.
“The batters will need to dig deep and bat long to make the team competitive and everyone is hoping that Rehan Ahmed can continue his progress after a stellar season in 2025.
“Let’s thank our lucky stars that we can take such frivolous matters (semi)seriously in these turbulent times.
“Happy New Season to one and all.”
Ali Martin
We’ve had the first wicket of the season here at Edgbaston and the replay needs the Benny Hill music over the top of it. Complete mix-up, with Burns plinking a drive past mid-off … or so he thought … and Ed Barnard sweeping up with a tumble. Burns was halfway down the pitch at this point, the throw to Kai Smith behind the stumps was not the best. But the young keeper recovered well to whip off the bails. A bit of a bonus for the Bears, Burns gone for four and Surrey 8-1.
Ali wins the first wicket of the year competition, as Rory Burns charges up the pitch for a quick single only to meet an unmoveable object in Dom Sibley. Surrey 8 for 1.
Ali Martin
Greetings from Edgbaston and season’s tidings. Grey overhead but we’ve started on time, with Ed Barnard winning his first toss as Warwickshire captain, looking at his phallanx of seamers, and deciding to have a bowl. Sets the day up nicely, Chris Woakes to take the new ball against a Test-capped Surrey top six: Dom Sibley, Rory Burns, Jamie Smith (hello…), Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence and Ben Foakes. In other news, the ground this summer looks like a ring doughnut after the first bite: a big chunk missing and a crane towering where it was, as work continues on the new hotel.
..the ball was dabbed away by Hughes and we’re off. Round the grounds, no wickets have yet fallen.
A smattering/ripple/slurp of applause as the players take the field. Tom Haines and Daniel Hughes in the middle. A windswept Ian Holland with the ball, the umpire in gloves. Here we go…
Ali Martin spoke to Shoaib Bashir. I really hope he finds the pastures welcoming at Derby – must have been a topsy-turvy few years.
and pre-season bits and bobs:
Starts delayed
At Sophia Gardens and Southampton.
Elsewhere, everyone who has won the toss is having a bowl – apart from Lancashire
Leicestershire won the toss and will field.
Notts won the toss and will field.
Warwicks won the toss and will field
Worcs won the toss and will field
Kent won the toss and will field
Gloucs won the toss and will field
Lancs won the toss and will bat
Made it to Grace Road. It isn’t raining and they’re expecting around 700 through the turnstiles. One of the groundstaff is hurriedly running around with the mower on the far side, while the players warm up. Bobble hats all round.
Leicestershire have won the toss and will field. They are without the injured Ben Mike, Josh Davey and Alex Green and Josh Hull, who made the squad but isn’t yet fit enough to play.
Weather watch
The calm before Storm Dave. The Met office says:
Cloudy and breezy with rain and drizzle slowly clearing, but lingering in the south. Some brighter spells developing in the north with sunshine and scattered showers, some heavy and wintry over higher ground. Feeling warm in the south.
An early one for the hive mind – sitting with David and Val on the train who were once given a premium bond for their daughter by a tall Nottinghamshire and England fast bowler in the late 60s. Might be called Alan. Any ideas?
“He’s made a bit of an error in hindsight”
Worcestershire’s South African signing Beyers Swanepoel, whose desperation to get to New Road was such that he left for the airport with seven overs of a domestic one-day final to go (his team lost off the penultimate ball, fielding only ten men), has now caused problems for his new team as well.
Cricket South Africa have withheld his No-objection certificate, and he has been charged him with bringing the game into disprepute and breaching his contract. Worcestershire have signed Warwickshire’s Olly Hannon-Dalby on a two-week loan to fill the hole. “Beyers would probably say he’s made a bit of an error in hindsight,” said Worcs chief exec Ashley Giles.
Surrey to win it…Lancs and Durham to be promoted
Or is there another way?
Fixtures – round one
DIVISION ONE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Yorkshire
Southampton: Hampshire v Essex
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Sussex
Taunton: Somerset v Nottinghamshire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Surrey
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Worcestershire
Chester le Street: Durham v Kent
Lord’s: Middlesex v Gloucestershire
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Lancashire
Preamble
Good morning! The sky is slate, the grass is lush, there’s a spot of rain on my cheek – welcome back!
And hello to readers new and old, it’s lovely to have you with us.
Fifteen Championship rounds lie ahead (16, if you count Surrey’s one off game against Hampshire). And the first seven before England start their Test summer in June – though there are a scattering of interspersed white-ball matches against New Zealand. So many runs to score, wickets to take, careers to make. Hearts to break. England say the door is open, who will push hardest?
I’m at Grace Road (at least I will be soon, only I forgot to change trains at Nuneaton) to watch injury-plagued Leicestershire and points-deducted Sussex, while big chief Ali Martin is at Edgbaston to keep an eye on his tip for the top, Warwicks, and fancied Surrey. And we’ll be here every day until the end of the season, on Sunday September 27. The kettle’s on, grab a mug. It’s going to be fun.
