And a wicket, to the first ball of the day! I must admit I wasn’t watching, hadn’t even noticed the players coming out from the silent seclusion of the Lord’s media box, but replays show Brookes pushing forward like a toddler at his parent’s bedroom door. Tom Bailey gently celebrates. That’s the second nightwatchman gone. Middx 288-7.
Updated
Roundup: Banton makes history with 344
Be gone Harold Gimblett, Viv Richards, Justin Langer – there is a new man in town. Tom Banton’s astonishing 344 not out against Worcestershire eclipsed them all, the highest score by a Somerset player – and marks the revival of a blazing young gun, whose star had dimmed but is now aflame.
It was also an innings that will have gladdened the hearts of the England selectors, with Banton said to be in their thoughts for Tests this year as they look to build a small pool who play across all formats. It wasn’t all cider and sausages, at 39 for three on Friday afternoon, concentration had been crucial. But by the penultimate ball yesterday, Langer’s 342 in sight, Banton threw caution to the wind and flat-packed a boundary to rapturous applause and handshakes all round.
“It’s a weird feeling,” he said, “and I was a bit emotional up there in the dressing room. This is the best day I’ve had in cricket and will probably be the best day I’ll ever have.
“These days don’t come along very often and you have to make the most of them. I won’t lie, I was pretty tired out there and I kept saying to myself: ‘Just keep batting, keep going’. There were a few moments when I felt I wanted to be back in the dressing room, but I wanted to go for it [the record] tonight, so I tried to play my shots when possible.”
If he was dropped in the 300s by a tiring Worcestershire, it was an aberration – this was a innings of power but also finesse. He didn’t hit a six until he had passed 200 – quite a display of discipline for a man who has graced the Big Bash, the Indian Premier League and the Pakistan Super League. He is also now the joint owner of the earliest triple in Championship history, sharing the record notched up by Sam Northeast on 5 April last year.
Banton’s partner in a record fifth-wicket stand of 371 was James Rew – whose second season last year was a more crunchy experience than the first. But his 152 was gloriously heady – and his and Banton’s efforts left Somerset fans walking away from the ground in disbelief, the scoreboard reading 637 for six.
There were runs galore at Chelmsford, where Essex’s centurions Matt Critchley and Michael Pepper tucked into Surrey – Dan Lawrence whisking down 35.2 overs against a club where he barely bowled. After the excitement of Sam Cook pinning Dom Sibley leg before in his second over, and having Ollie Pope dropped on 10, Surrey then dropped anchor, with Pope and Rory Burns adding 101 on a gentle pitch. Simon Harmer toiled away, but in sunglasses, not his customary April snood.
Edgbaston also proved rich pickings, John Simpson’s 181 helping Sussex to 528. Rob Yates’s unbeaten 113 led Warwickshire’s reply. A misbehaving sprinkler system delayed play at Trent Bridge, where Australian Fergus O’Neill duly collected his fifth wicket, on debut. Durham then picked away at Nottinghamshire’s lineup.
Jonny Bairstow made an exuberant 56 against Hampshire, the new Yorkshire captain dropped three times before he passed 20, and eventually dismissed by Sonny Baker for the second time in the match. The lead is 61, but with just four second-innings wickets left.
In Division Two, Marcus Harris made a hundred on debut for Lancashire against Middlesex at Lord’s, proving an excellent prop for the flaky middle order. Twenty wickets fell at Wantage Road, where the writing is on the wall for Northamptonshire against Kent; Derbyshire’s Wayne Madsen collected his 40th first-class century, against Gloucestershire, and Leicestershire captain’s old and new, Lewis Hill and Peter Handscomb, made hay against Glamorgan.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ll be having a glass of sparkling 2025 vintage Tom Banton tonight. Thanks for all your messages, good night!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 582-6 v Surrey 109-1
Southampton: Hampshire 249 v Yorkshire 121 and 189-6
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 297-5 v Durham 378
Taunton: Somerset 637-6 v Worcestershire 154
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 223-3 v Sussex 528
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 391 v Gloucestershire 222 and 128-3
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 229 v Leicestershire 426-8
Lord’s: Middlesex 260 v Lancashire 353-9
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 143 and 107-7 v Kent 231 and 171
And with Kasey Aldridge gone, but Banton still there (561-6), and Harmer and Critchley wheeling away at Surrey (69-1), time for me to write up for the Observer. BTL remains open, do drop in.
Three hundred for Tom Banton!
And with a canter through the off side, there it is: 300 from 351 balls, 46 fours, one six. He lifts his arms, balancing his helmet on his bat, and looks towards the dressing room. In the words of Anthony Gibson: “A cricketer reborn.”
A hundred for Marcus Harris
Lancashire have found a good un: 106 and counting.
Matt Henry's arrival at Somerset delayed
Taunton will have to wait for Matt Henry, who was supposed to be with Somerset until June 7. He is still rehabing from injury in New Zealand. On the pitch James Rew has been out for 152 – a record partnership of 371. Tom Banton, though, approaches 300.
A little light reading with your tea. Ying or yang? Farhan Ahmed interview from cricinfo and Carl Hooper in his own words:
Northants need 260 to win!
Kent have folded for 171 – Evison (52) the only man to get over 36. Odds on a first win for head coach Hollioake?
Asitha Fernando, who took five wickets against England at Lord’s last year, has picked up a third for Glamorgan. Leicestershire 309-7, lead Glamorgan by 80. Lewis Hill was run out for 96, Rehan Ahmed caught at square leg for 2.
WICKET!!! Asitha Fernando takes his third of the innings 🔥
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏆 (@GlamCricket) April 5, 2025
Leicestershire 308/7 as Ben Green is caught behind for 10
WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/uif2btMC6r #GLAvLEI #OhGlammyGlammy pic.twitter.com/qR625iF02l
At Lord’s Lancs are proceeding very nicely thank you, Marcus Harris, a very helpful prop for the flaky Lancs middle order, unbeaten on 77. Lancs 257-4 with a tender three run lead over Middlesex.
Five wickets for the Price brothers at The County Ground, but Wayne Madsen’s 118 has taken Derbyshire to a first innings lead of 169. Gloucestershire have already lost Chris Dent in their second innings: 29-1.
Tea-time scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 582-6 v Surrey 28-1
Southampton: Hampshire 249 v Yorkshire 121 and 91-3
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 166-2 v Durham 378
Taunton: Somerset 482-4 v Worcestershire 154
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 109-0 v Sussex 528
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 391 v Gloucestershire 222
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 229 v Leicestershire 288-6
Lord’s: Middlesex 260 v Lancashire 241-4
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 143 v Kent 231 and 164-8
Switched the BBC commentary from Southampton, to listen to YJB flail away, but on the field in front of me, Ollie Pope is dropped, on 10, a dolly, to huge sighs, by Critchley at midwicket. Tea approaches.
In Division Two: Kent have a lead of 233, but are not altogether at ease. Evision and Dudgeon inching them towards 150, currently 141-7, a lead of 229 over Northants. Three wickets to 20 year old Raphy Weatherall.
And here at Chelmsford, with four overs remaining till tea, Simon Harmer – who would definitely have been wearing a snood this time last year – gets a bowl into the dust.
Big bad Dom trudges off, lbw to that man Sam Cook. Second over. Surrey 8-1. Well, well.
I heard a rumour that Keaton Jennings was mic’d up for the first session yesterday. Did anyone eavesdrop on his pearls of wisdom?
This insight 😍
— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) April 4, 2025
Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings mic'd up for the first session of the summer!@lancscricket @countychamp pic.twitter.com/A6TKYOyaBS
And here from the Graham Gooch end comes Sam Cook, on whom Rob Key is said to be very keen . Maybe this year… And his first ball is, of course, on the button. The next zips into the pads and a stifled appeal.
Updated
First double century of the season: Tom Banton
I’m such a sucker for Somerset batting well. Tom Banton zips past 200, off 243 balls – with not a six in sight. Red ball wisdom. Rew 117 not out. Somerset 405-4.
Essex declare! 582-5
After an entertaining bit of biffing, Thain is neatly caught by Kemar Roach for 26 and Essex declare. Critchley not out 145. The groundsstaff are out brushing the pitch and we have a quick changeover.
Lancashire have wobbled at Lord’s, losing Bohannon – who Jimmy Anderson tipped for a big year this year, to Gohar -a first wicket for Gloucestershire’s migrant. The openers and Hurst gone too. Lancs 187-4, trail by 73.
A century for James Rew
A ninth first-class century for Rew, who made two hundreds last year at 36, following five at 57 in 2023. Somerset making hay – 387-4. At Edgbaston, Yates and Davies have got Warwickshire off to a non-fretful start: 14-0.
Pepper out for 109
And Pepper falls, for 109, caught by Dom Sibley, with barely a murmur from the Surrey side. It brings in young Noah Thain, who sounds and looks as if he should be hitting the ball with agricultural abandon. Essex, a heady 535-5.
Updated
A century for Michael Pepper!
A third century of the innings on this friendly track, Pepper joins the Essex party.
I’m reminded that in the first (soggy) round last year, there was only one result – Essex beat Notts.
The first oh Has of the season, lbw to Matthew Potts for 27 – Notts 67-1.
At Edgbaston, John Simpson has moved onto 180, but Taz Ali, Warwickshire’s young leggie , has removed Lamb and Robinson in consecutive balls. Sussex 528-9.
So, when do Brook and Root come back?
I thought it might be famine then feast for Crawley, but it’s famine then small snack. Out for 31, which precipitated the loss of four wickets for ten runs. Kent now 76-4, Bell-Drummond and Muyeye out for ducks, Muyeye’s golden.
Just a little sit in the sun in Central Park. Back in time to half-see Matt Critchley hit Dan Lawrence for the first six of the match. Lazy-days at Chelmsford. And hello Sumit Rahman.
“ “I was slow to check in on the live coverage today, but was very struck by your admiration of Chelmsford. Lovely ground and yes, conveniently close to the town centre. Means that I can pop to the local mosque at lunchtime - not, admittedly, the sort of thing John Arlott would usually write about but very handy anyway. (A couple of years ago they hosted Ireland v Bangladesh for some ODIs and the crowd was full of Bangladeshi fans, and they opened up the indoor nets facility so we could all pray there. I was really touched by that.)
PS It’s gonna be Essex’s year again!
That’s lovely to hear! I didn’t spot the mosque on my jaunt this morning.
And, oh dear, Yorkshire. Now four for two in their second innings – Bean and Wharton gone.
Going to grab some lunch, back shortly.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 466-4 v Surrey
Southampton: Hampshire 249-9 v Yorkshire 121
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 44-0 v Durham 378
Taunton: Somerset 318-4 v Worcestershire 154
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Sussex 477-7
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 271-3 v Gloucestershire 222
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 229 v Leicestershire 166-3
Lord’s: Middlesex 260 v Lancashire 129-2
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 143 v Kent 231 and 60-0
A hundred for Matt Critchley!
And that’s lunch! Scores to follow.
Updated
And with morning just about to slip into lunch, Ryan Patel parries Critchley over the bar on 92.
150 for Tom Banton
He’s back! 27 fours in that 153 and counting. Rew 74 not out, Somerset 314-4
And something strange is happening at Wantage Road, Zak Crawley (18 from 41) is being out scored by Ben Compton (31 off 49).
Hello Nat Goodden!
“After some years of gently chiding the Guardian and you especially for not getting out to Chelmsford, I just wanted to say – welcome to Essex! And aren’t they putting on a show for you! Though contra someone’s point earlier, it does grate somewhat that Foakes and Lawrence were seduced away by the visitors. I can never stop noting in that connection that the Oval gets far more Guardian attention year in year out than Chelmsford,. But maybe you’re on a newfound mission to change that perspective? Optimistically then…”
I promise to try and come down again this season – if signed off by the bean-counters. Dan Lawrence wheels away, Critchley defends.
There’s a Sunday morning feel to Chelmsford this morning, hot enough to read a newspaper in the sun with a murmur of contentment coming from the stands. And there’s the Critchley-Pepper hundred partnership in 211 balls.
Five wickets for Fergus O'Neill
A terrific debut for O’Neill, 5 for 81, with Durham bowled out for 378.
Elsewhere in Division One, Hampshire have inched their lead to 87 against Yorkshire, Dawson a second wicket for Bess for 20. James Rew, who had a tricky second season last year, has passed fifty at Taunton where Banton is not out 123. Somerset 270-4. And John Simpson has 136 at Edgbaston, Sussex crusing at 448-7.
Another ball change here at Chelmsford – so everyone takes a break: Kemar Roach has a stretch, Critchley and Pepper chew the fat, Jordan Clark scratches his head. Essex 402-4, slowly compiling the points.
“Morning Tanya from a sunny South Africa.” Hello there Ian Johnston. “Lovely to hear your descriptions of the Essex ground - one of the hidden gems being so close to the city parks.
”Plus a side full of home grown players. And 2 of the Surrey players too!”
Yes big points for Chelmsford for being so central, see also Taunton, New Road, The Oval and Hove.
A hundred for Tom Banton
at Taunton, where Somerset are making hay – 217-4. While at Wantage Road, Zak Crawley is at the crease again.
Lehmann v Hollioake has hit fast-foward at Wantage Road: Northants all out 143, trail Kent by 88. Four for Jas Singh.
Matt Hughes talks to the Northants chair Gary Hoffman – playoffs, Championship cricket during the Hundred window and more.
Fifty for Keaton Jennings
Lancashire’s opening pair are holding their own in the opening half hour at Lord’s – 83-0. Jennings slipping straight back into the groove – he was saying pre-season that realistically he thinks the England ship has sailed, but he’s ok with that. Their Roses rivals have nipped out another Hampshire batter, Albert, Hants 176-6.
Sprinklergate
More sprinkler issues at Trent Bridge, as one is dammed, another springs into life. The crowd wait (im)patiently.
Love early season enthusiasm – here was one of yesterday’s centurions, Sussex left-hander Tom Clark.
“It’s our first time in Division One for about ten years and we are very excited as a group to see what we can do at this level. If can do what we did last year and bring the same energy and skills and intent than we could do well and it’s been a good first day.
“It was a tough start with the ball doing a bit in the morning but me and Colesy knew we just had to get through to lunch and then hopefully cash in when the bowlers came on for the second and third spells. It’s the first time I have properly batted with John Simpson and he is unbelievable. He makes it look so easy. He scores so freely and takes all the pressure off you and it is great to bat with him because the scoreboard is always ticking over.
“When you come into Division One you want to prove to yourself and others that you can do it so I am probably proudest of that century. I had to fight my way through at times and took a lot of balls on the thighpad and people round the ground probably thought it wasn’t the best innings in the world but I was proud of the way I fought. Maybe at times in the past I would have given that away for 30 or 40.”
It makes you remember how important promotion is on an individual basis, it gives players the chance to test themselves against the best.
There’s no rain to delay proceedings but cricket does what cricket does and a misbehaving sprinkler at Trent Bridge has temporarily started the start.
And an espresso hit to start the day as Critchley slides the first ball away for four.
And good morning to Tim Maitland!
“A miserable, wet, wintery day in Hong Kong left me enough time ponder how Yorkshire managed to collapse for 121, while also playing some delightful shots.
”The answer, as is blindingly obvious from a scorecard showing the top six all getting into double figures and none bettering Dawid Malan’s 31, is that they were mostly the architects of their own downfall. Lyth, Wharton and Bairstow all went with negligible footwork - the skipper’s square cut perhaps the most glaring offence - and by the time Malan set off for an ill-judged single the rot had set in.
”Still, with Hampshire five down, they could conceivably keep the first innings deficit down below a hundred and tell themselves they’re still in it at the changeover. Then again, as they say in “God’s own county” pigs might fly.”
Not so many here today, I’m knowledgeably told that’s because everyone is off to see Millwall, Ipswich, Leyton Orient, West Ham and Colchester.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 356-4 v Surrey
Southampton: Hampshire 164-5 v Yorkshire 121
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Durham 370-9
Taunton: Somerset 187-4 v Worcestershire 154
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Sussex 386-5
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 127-2 v Gloucestershire 222
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 229 v Leicestershire 65-1
Lord’s: Middlesex 260 v Lancashire 68-0
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 118-7 v Kent 231
Friday's round-up
The first day of the cricket season in early April isn’t supposed to feel like this. T-shirts, ice-creams, arm-crispingly warm. At Chelmsford, where nearly 2,500 came through the turnstiles, feet in the queue before half past nine, the champions were in town.
But Surrey, seeking their fourth title on the bounce, didn’t have things their way against Essex. They lost the toss on a flat pitch, and first Paul Walter, then Jordan Cox, batted with a bounce and a song. Cox, who was due to make his Test debut in the winter at Christchurch only to be thwarted by a broken thumb, played with bellicose beauty. He drove Dan Lawrence into the boundary boards with a thud to reach his century, watched with purring admiration by Graham Gooch. When he was finally out for 117, including 21 fours, Chelmsford rose. As they did for Walter, the stand-in opener while Dean Elgar is on paternity leave, who fell five short of a hundred – a first Surrey wicket for Matt Fisher. The home side ended the day on 356 for four.
Things weren’t going so well for England’s Zak Crawley, who lost his stumps in spectacular style to the Northamptonshire new boy Liam Guthrie, out for one. Tawanda Muyeye’s 72 then helped Kent to a respectable 231, before Northants were fleeced to 118 for seven.
At the Rose Bowl, Jonny Bairstow’s first day as Yorkshire captain didn’t unfold entirely as planned as they were skittled for 121 by Hampshire. Shadow in the corner Liam Dawson snaffled three for eight, and there was a first wicket for Sonny Baker, who had Bairstow caught flaming to third man, bothered by an insect. In reply Hampshire were 165 for five at the close of play.
It was shaping up to be Ethan Bamber’s day at Edgbaston when Warwickshire’s winter signing from Middlesex burst out of the traps with three new ball strikes. But bar a wicket on debut for the 18-year-old leg-spinner Tazeem Ali, things took a downward turn for the hosts thereafter as a succulent career-best 140 from Tom Clark, and a pugnacious 116 not out from the captain, John Simpson, bent the script the way of Sussex, who finished on 386 for five. A statement day for the Division One newcomers; a slightly concerning one for the more established hosts without the injured Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Chris Rushworth.
Colin Ackermann had some birthday luck on his way to the first century of the year, bowled for 80 only for the bails to settle back in their groove. Durham ploughed on towards 400 despite four wickets for Nottinghamshire’s Australian Fergus O’Neill.
At Taunton, Kasey Aldridge’s five wickets ruined a good Worcestershire start as they lost nine for 52 and were all out for 154. Half centuries from the Toms Abell and Banton then rescued Somerset from a precarious 39 for three to finish on 187 for four.
The big name Division Two game at Lord’s swung merrily; Sam Robson and Max Holden easing Middlesex to 127 for one before the Lancashire debutant Ollie Sutton (two for 57) and Tom Aspinwall (four for 32) took charge. Leicestershire bowled out Glamorgan for 229, the on loan Shoaib Bashir bowled by Rehan Ahmed for 20 while Derbyshire’s Luis Reece grabbed six for 52 against Gloucestershire before Caleb Jewell’s 61 from 48 balls showed why he was in Mickey Arthur’s little black book.
Preamble
Hello! Welcome to day two. It’s beautiful – again. Unseasonably so perhaps, my friend at Whalley Range CC in Manchester tells me that they’re watering the pitch today - unheard of at this time of year. But climate apocalypse aside, yesterday was a warm hug of a reintroduction to the season.
I’ve been won over by Chelmsford this morning, who knew it had a gorgeous airy cathedral? Also a town centre with real shops, cycle routes everywhere, an old fashioned park with a lake and a cafe serving homemade pilchard cake to lucky pooches.
Hope your Saturday mornings have been as contented. Play starts at 11am, do join us.
