DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex 272-4 v Kent

The Rosebowl: Hampshire 216-4v Lancashire

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 223-4 v Worcestershire

The Oval: Surrey v Somerset 231-8

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 346-1 v Durham

DIVISION TWO

Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 172-4 v Derbyshire

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Yorkshire 243-6

Grace Road: Leicestershire 227-5 v Sussex

Northampton: Northamptonshire 183-6 v Middlesex

A wicket, a wicket!

Ali Martin

A wicket at Edgbaston! Rob Yates, who looked to be crashing his way to a double century, finally holes out off Colin Ackermann’s part-time spin nine short of his latest milestone. Still, at 343 for one from just 61.5 overs it’s been some start for Warwickshire and, as mentioned, a record partnership - any wicket - for them against Durham.

Now Ali has whetted the knife, time to go round the grounds. To Division Two first, where Kiran Carlson’s nice start to the season continues, 68 not out. Glamorgan 147-3, a couple of wickets for Tickner.

Shan Masood has pulled Yorkshire up by the collar with 103 off 142 balls after an attack of the middle order collywobbles, mostly induced by Zaman Akhter (3-53).

No hundred for Rishi Patel (87), but Handscomb (51) and Trevaskis helping Leicestershire build nicely. 206-4.

And Gay and Procter still going great guns at Wantage Road – Northants 154-1.

Ali Martin

Just applying the jinxing knife to the whetstone by looking up record partnerships for Warwickshire against Durham. Davies and Yates have long since surpassed Nick Knight and Mark Wagh making 207 for the first wicket at the Riverside in 1997, currently sitting on 272, and now sit 50 short of the unbroken 322 made by Brian Lara and Keith Piper in the old world record 501* for the former. Warwickshire’s all time best for the first wicket is 377* made by Norman Horner & Khalid Ibadulla versus Surrey at the Oval in 1960. Dennis Amiss, to my right in the press box, points out that was his first-class debut, with his one contribution in the match being the wicket of Eric Bedser. And he’s not wrong.

Hundreds, hundreds everywhere , Elgar doing exactly what Essex hoped he’d do and out-Alastair Cook Alastair Cook. A partnership of 159 with Critchley (67). Essex 219-3, a couple of wickets for Garrett.

And with a little tuck of a single, Lammonby – star, as noted wisely BTL, of the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy – gets his hundred off just 132 balls. Lovely to see him back looking so effortlessly fluent. Ah, and 100 is all he’ll get, lbw to Clark.

A century for Rob Yates!

Ali Martin

And now Rob Yates has joined Alex Davies on three figures at Edgbaston, launching Callum Parkinson down the ground for his first six and sparking a crackle of applause and cheers from the members beneath us. He’s looked as good as he’s ever been here, a lovely compact left-hander’s innings of 15 fours and one six. Warwickshire 224 for no loss, already a record opening stand in this particular fixture. Brydon Carse, who has been mucking about with peroxide recently, is currently charging in with purpose but the Kookaburra ball is doing very little now and fresh plans are being deployed.

A hundred for Alex Davies!

Ali Martin

A wonderful century for Alex Davies at Edgbaston, who drives Matty Potts through the covers to get there in just 102 balls and celebrates with a passionate punch of the air. A strong statement from the new Warwickshire club captain - 16 fours, one six - on what is turning out to be a tricky first day for Durham back in Division One. I reckon there was one chance on 74, a possible edge off Callum Parkinson that deflected off Ollie Robinson’s gloves (?) only to wrong-foot first slip.Otherwise he’s been maddening to bowl at for what is his first hundred since the opening round of last season and eighth overall. Warwickshire 186 for none...

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex 123-2 v Kent

The Rosebowl: Hampshire 98-2 v Lancashire

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 83-2 v Worcestershire

The Oval: Surrey v Somerset 131-1

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 146-0 v Durham

DIVISION TWO

Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 60-2 v Derbyshire

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Yorkshire 90-5

Grace Road: Leicestershire 133-3 v Sussex

Northampton: Northamptonshire 106-1 v Middlesex

Ali Martin

It’s quickfire half-century for Alex Davies at Edgbaston, having punched his way there in 57 balls, with nine fours and six. Not a huge amount of early juice in the pitch for Durham’s seamers and Warwickshire’s new skipper has tucked in nicely (one short boundary notwithstanding). Inauspicious start from Scott Boland after I sounded the bugle yesterday, first ball driven down the ground and, despite a spot of beat-beatage, a few loose ones in his opening burst. Durham were last year’s quickest scorers at 4.39 an over .. the Bears, with Roy Yates starting to cut loose at the other end on 36, are currently taking them for 5.8 to sit 94-0 after 16 overs.

In Division Two, Joe Root’s return to runs has drizzled away, out for two to Zaman Akhter. Yorkshire not enjoying the Bristol sponge one bit, 46-3 – though Masood (31) and Brook (5) are both in.

Leicestershire were whizzing along at Grace Road, till Hudson-Prentice took two in two. Now 73-3, Rishi Patel still there on 35.

Billy Root also un-velcroeing his pads in the Glamorgan dressing room, caught for 17 against Derbyshire. Glamorgan 39-1, that hungry Northeast in.

And Northants, who lost Broad to the seventh ball, sailing along nicely now against Middelsex, 60-1.

Sitting next to Huw Turbervill, The Cricketer mag’s editor, at The Oval who has thrust in front of me the new issue of the mag. A great-looking feature on what Surrey have to do to make it three in a row, speaking to others who have managed two in a row – Chris Adams, Dermot Reeve and Phil Neale.

“It is a bit like conquering the summit of Everest,” says Adams. “You don’t have very long to enjoy it, before the hard work starts again (getting back down!)“

Ali Martin

Morning from Edgbaston, where I’m hoping the “sniffer” nickname doesn’t stick. Bonus to see Ben Stokes having a trundle before play though, with a big team of England physios and bowling coaches looking on. There’s talk he might have a bat in the nets at some point but he’s not in the XI to face Warwickshire, Durham having won the toss and opted for a bowl on a dry, slightly chilly day (with blue starting to creep on to the canvas overhead). Championship debut for Scott Boland, who seemed a friendly, do my talking with the ball kinda guy when chatting from the team bus yesterday, Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse also in the attack, and it’s a chance for the visitors to announce their return to Division One after last week’s quagmire at the Riverside.

Ali “sniffer” Martin always where the story is at.

1 Sussex 15

2 Glamorgan 13

3 Northamptonshire 13

4 Leicestershire 13

5 Yorkshire 12

6 Middlesex 11

7 Derbyshire 8

8 Gloucestershire 8

1 Essex 20

2 Somerset 15

3 Worcestershire 14

4 Warwickshire 13

5 Kent 12

6 Surrey 11

7 Lancashire 8

8 Durham 8

9 Hampshire 8

10 Nottinghamshire 4

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex v Kent

The Rosebowl: Hampshire v Lancashire

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Worcestershire

The Oval: Surrey v Somerset

Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Durham

DIVISION TWO

Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Derbyshire

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Yorkshire

Grace Road: Leicestershire v Sussex

Northampton: Northamptonshire v Middlesex

Good morning from The Oval where the sun is shining and hello from Ali soon- to-be at Edgbaston where it may not be.

Firstly, the weather: The met office reports “mostly dry with warm sunshine” round the grounds, though we wait to see whether things have dried out everywhere, particularly Bristol.

News in brief: assistant coach Azhar Mahmood has left Surrey to join Pakistan – Jade Dernbach to step into his shoes for now; Somerset have signed South African quick Migael Pretorius for six red-ball matches starting today against Surrey; while Derbyshire have signed another South African quick Daryn Dupavillon from the start of May till mid September. And in a bitter blow, Warwickshire’s Liam Norwell is out of action again after missing the whole of 2023. His last bowl in anger was his 9-62 to keep Warwickshire up at the end of the 2022 season.