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County cricket season begins: Warwickshire v Surrey, Somerset v Notts and more – live | County Championship
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And mostly a batsman’s morning in Division Two:
Derbyshire 54-0 against Worcestershire; Middlesex 32-0 against Gloucestershire; Lancs 60-1 against Northants – Harry Singh a wicket to Sanderson for 18. Durham have lost both openers at Chester le Street, 68-2, a wicket each for Keith Dudgeon and Glenton Stuurman, and a catch for Zak Crawley
Scores on the doors after an hour:
Division One
Sussex scream past a hundred: 105-1 off 16 overs. Leicestershire plod on.
Somerset are wobbling, 34 for two, Tom Lammonby following Tom Kohler-Cadmore back into the pavilion. Many eyes on James Rew, currently 9 not out against the Champions.
Surrey are making slow progress against Warwickshire, Sibley 11 from 43 balls, Pope 10 from 35. Surrey 34-2.
And there’s play at the Rose Bowl at last, where Abbott has winkled out Dean Elgar or 2. Essex 11-1.
While going to get a tissue, I miss Jake Weatherall dropping Clark at third slip off Holland. A sitter, apparently. Leicestershire’s first morning in Div one is a trying one.
Tom Haines is still in here at Grace Road, short and street fighter-ready next to the willowy Tom Clark. 28 of his 32 runs have come in boundaries. A couple of big appeals from Green, but no joy.
With half an hour gone, let’s skip around the grounds:
Early wickets at: Chester le Street, Durham 28-1, England prospect Ben McKinney lbw for eight; Taunton, Somerset 11-1, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, opening, done by a pearler from Olly Stone; and Edgbaston where Jamie Smith, looking to build confidence after the Ashes, has followed Burns back into the pavilion, caught off Bamber for 9. Surrey 19-2.
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. He is run out, and Surrey are 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.
The family of Shaun Burton, say they are “devastated” by the loss.
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Key events
In the opening half an hour against Cape Verde, Mikel Oyarzabal, the centre-forward, did not get a single touch.
Kyle Green gets in touch: “Your highlighting of Lalas and his absurdity is something that has prevented me from wanting to watch the coverage on Fox. While every channel has its pros and cons I just can’t.
“I’m 45 and probably the youngest of anyone who remembers him as a player instead of an opinionated insert insult here. As for the match this could be more competitive than it looks on paper Spain need a win the pressure is on them. Saudi Arabia could hold out for a draw and see what happens in their last match. “
News from the England camp, and it seems to be good news on Declan Rice.
“I’m ready and fit, raring to go. I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind-the-scenes stuff but it was a smart decision.
“In the end, that last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most, and it’s where you play a 70-minute match. But that last 20 is where you really feel your body going for it. And I think it was a smart decision because the last few days I felt really, really good.”
Alex Reid has penned today’s weekend special Football Daily.
Portugal v Uzbekistan on Tuesday enticingly pits the incredibly nice, incredibly 41-year-old-superstar-tolerant Roberto Martínez against Fabio Cannavaro, who’s won a Ballon d’Or as a player and the Chinese Super League as a coach. While the fixture following that game really does see the dream of Thomas Tuchel – in his first international job with England – taking on Queiroz, who is in charge of his ninth national side with Ghana.
The expected formations are 4-2-3-1 for Spain, and 5-3-2 for the Saudi Arabians.
The Saudi team features two Donis changes: Ali Lajami, a defender, and Nasser Al Dawsari, a midfielder, are preferred to Mohammed Abu Al Shamat and Mohamed Kanno. You may recall Salem Al Dawsari, the Saudi captain, as the man who scored the winner against Argentina.
An entertaining read, even for those of us who have just seen the clips.
In a conversation where his co-panelist is casually reminiscing about his days playing alongside Messi or exchanging shirts with Ronaldo Nazário at the World Cup, what exactly is Lalas going to talk about – coming on as a second-half substitute for Earnie Stewart in a friendly against Scotland in 1998? Helping the Kansas City Wizards finish last in the 1999 MLS Western Conference? Did Lalas enjoy an elite playing career? No. But does he do the background reading that could compensate for his relative lack of standing in a conversation with titans like Henry and Zlatan? Also no. But is he charming or funny or charismatic or otherwise magnetic on screen? Eh, no.
For the record, I once interviewed Alexi Lalas on the challenge of playing against Romario in the 1994 World Cup. He had this to say:
“He could kill you in so many different ways. If you remember from that World Cup, he scored so many types of goals. That ranged from solo adventures to an outside-of-the-right-foot half-volley off a corner kick. Romario was both the most difficult to play against and the best that I have faced.
“Roberto Baggio was doing his thing, but in terms of consistency and living up to the hype, he [Romario] was the best. As with all stars, there was a moment when the fans sit up in their seats, and that was a feeling I got with Romario. When it got close to him and the potential for his involvement in a play was there, everybody sat up in their seat. They knew that something spectacular would be happening.”
Saturday’s match reports here.
The Saudi Arabia coach, and Blackburn legend, Georgios Donis, spoke about the challenges facing his team: “Spain is not the same team when Yamal or Williams are on the bench.
“While they still have plenty of possession, they lack the individual one-on-one penetration when these two are missing. I’m not saying it’s a problem for Spain, but when those players are missing, they play in a different way. We saw this very clearly against Cape Verde.
“We are playing against one of the best teams in the world, and it’s very important that when you play against these kinds of teams, you should enjoy the experience and respect the opponent, but not too much.
“It is very hard for any team playing against Spain to have any time in possession. So what we must do is to be more in control of our movement and compact, and when the ball goes through the lines, be able to defend dynamically.
“It’s nice to see miracles in football, and we’ve seen favourites losing against underdogs. Of course, it’s great for Saudi football to have a great memory of the result against Argentina, but we aren’t drawing anything from that.
“I think we’ll feel more pressure in that [Cape Verde] game than we will against Spain.”
The Spain coach, Luis De La Fuente had this to say in his Saturday press conference: “This generation of footballers is highly competitive and really fired up… It’s going to be a completely different story,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday. There is no drama or crisis. The bottom line is simply that we need to win tomorrow.”
Four changes for Spain: Lamine Yamal, Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena also come into the side with Marcos Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Gavi dropping out.
The teams – Lamine Yamal starts
Spain: Simon, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Gonzalez, Rodri, Yamal, Olmo, Baena, Oyarzabal. Subs: Raya, Joan Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Torres, Fabian, Gavi, Pino, Williams, Zubimendi, Munoz, Iglesias.
Saudi Arabia: Al Owais, Abdulhamid, Tambakti, Lajami, Al Amri, Al Harbi, Nasser Al Dawsari, Al Khaibari, Al Juwayr, Al Buraikan, Salem Al Dawsari. Subs: Al Aqidi, Al Kassar, Majrashi, Yahya, Al Shehri, Al Boushal, Kadesh, Al Johani, Al Ghannam, Al Hajji, Al Hamdan, Mandash, Kanno, Thakri, Abu Al Shamat.
Referee: Raphael Claus (Brazil)
Perhaps one of the Saudi -players can write themselves into this high-grade selection?
Perhaps it can be their goalkeeper.
Madrid screening of Spain v Saudi Arabia cancelled due to heat
The public screening of Spain’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in Madrid on Sunday has been cancelled because of extreme heat forecast for the Spanish capital, officials said.
The match, due to kick off at 6pm local time on Sunday, had been scheduled to be shown on a giant screen installed by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) at a fan zone in Plaza de Colón in central Madrid.
Madrid city council and the federation decided to cancel the screening after national weather agency AEMET issued an orange heat warning – the second-highest level – for the Madrid region, with temperatures forecast to reach 40C.
“The decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the health of attendees, event staff and support services involved in the event,” Madrid city hall said in a statement, apologising for any inconvenience.
Officials urged supporters to watch the match indoors in air-conditioned spaces and avoid prolonged exposure to the heat.
Large parts of Spain are experiencing unusually high temperatures for June as a mass of hot air from North Africa moves across the Iberian Peninsula.
A total of 13 of Spain’s 17 regions are on orange alert for heat on Sunday, while the northern Basque Country bordering France is on red alert, the highest level.
Authorities advised residents and visitors to take precautions during the heatwave, including drinking water regularly, staying in cool environments, limiting outdoor physical activity during the hottest hours of the day and taking extra care of vulnerable people. AFP
Can Saudi Arabia repeat the magic of 2022?
Argentina arrived in Qatar on a 36-game unbeaten run. When Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 10 minutes, a comfortable afternoon seemed in the offing. Saleh al-Shehri and Salem al-Dawsari had other ideas, Argentina had three goals disallowed for offside in the space of 13 minutes and the greatest comeback in Saudi Arabia football history was made. Argentina went on to lift the trophy, while defeats to Poland and Mexico meant the Saudis did not reach the knock-out stage.
Unai Simon over David Raya is a controversial choice for De la Fuentes. The Arsenal keeper could lay claim to being Europe’s best this season.
“Those at the Champions League final had a few more days, so I got there on the Wednesday night,” Raya says. “I arrived a bit before Fabián [Ruiz]. I was saying hello to some of the others in reception when he arrived. I went to say congratulations; that was almost the first thing I did. I couldn’t really talk [to him] after the final; I just didn’t have it in me. The next day we talked about the game properly. Just two mates chatting … I was happy for him that he could lift the trophy for a second time.”
A high pressure game for the European champions, as Sid Lowe reports.
“If we had scored one, the game would have changed,” Martín Zubimendi said. Immediately after the game, De la Fuente had offered a simple analysis: when the ball doesn’t want to go in it doesn’t want to go in, he insisted. Spain had racked up 27 shots, after all. Ferran Torres had hit the bar and seen another clear opportunity saved. Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who stopped that, saved six more and was named the man of the match. “There’s nothing to reproach the team for,” Rodri said. “We generated chances but couldn’t put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing.”
We wait to see what role Lamine Yamal will play today. His coach would surely like to be able to use him.
The worst mistake we could make would be to compare him to anyone. He is the midst of a process. He has exceptional footballing maturity and lives it all with total naturalness. He has great serenity and strength. We have to let him follow his path but those players who have something different are ready for that. They’re geniuses, like Dalí [who] can paint a picture, or Michelangelo. They’re different. What is exceptional to us, isn’t to them. In those extremes, they feel comfortable. Why? Because they are different. What we think is exceptional, they consider normal.
Preamble
Spain’s campaign did not get off to a flying start, and Luis de la Fuentes may wake up in the night to visions of Cape Verde’s Vozinha. He will have Georgia on his mind ever since Monday. Saudi Arabia are no pushovers and gave Uruguay a scare in their opening match. Memories of downing Argentina four years ago still abound, and so Spain might beware. They can ill afford to go into the final game with Uruguay at a disadvantage. All eyes on Lamine Yamal, whose fitness situation remains opaque, though Spain need their other forwards to come to the party.
Kick-off 5pm UK, 1pm ET, 2am AEST. Join me.
A topless man can be seen driving erratically in Edinburgh before abandoning his car and attacking a black man and a delivery rider.
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