\u201dTo those who are naturally suspicious of leopards who show up sporting stripes, it might ring a few alarm bells. Stokes\u2019 response offers no details and, to a cynic, might suggest that while England\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n
\u201cAfter 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.<\/p>\n
\u201dIsn\u2019t it great to be back?\u201d<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n As the sun briefly shows its face, Haines and Hughes are really getting stuck in. Yadvinder is taken off after two torrid overs \u2026 replacement Ben Green is hit for another four but, just as things were starting to look desperate for Leicestershire<\/a>, a wicket, Hughes caught just out of my eyeline at third man for 19. Sussex 57 for one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n As Sussex<\/a> flay Yadvinder Singh around, good morning Mike Daniels, back in the Grace Road scorebox.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cLeicestershire will be hoping that the late withdrawal of Peter Handscomb and the earlier one of Keshav Maharaj don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s thank our lucky stars that we can take such frivolous matters (semi)seriously in these turbulent times.<\/p>\n \u201cHappy New Season to one and all.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a> We\u2019ve had the first wicket of the season here at Edgbaston and the replay<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.22 EDT<\/p>\n 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<\/a> 8 for 1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Greetings from Edgbaston and season\u2019s tidings. Grey overhead but we\u2019ve started on time, with Ed Barnard winning his first toss as Warwickshire<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n ..the ball was dabbed away by Hughes and we\u2019re off. Round the grounds, no wickets have yet fallen.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.06 EDT<\/p>\n 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\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ali Martin spoke to Shoaib Bashir. I really hope he finds the pastures welcoming at Derby \u2013 must have been a topsy-turvy few years.<\/p>\n and pre-season bits and bobs:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.52 EDT<\/p>\n Starts delayed<\/p>\n At Sophia Gardens and Southampton.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, everyone who has won the toss is having a bowl \u2013 apart from Lancashire<\/p>\n Leicestershire won the toss and will field.<\/p>\n Notts won the toss and will field.<\/p>\n Warwicks won the toss and will field<\/p>\n Worcs won the toss and will field<\/p>\n Kent won the toss and will field<\/p>\n Gloucs won the toss and will field<\/p>\n Lancs won the toss and will bat<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Made it to Grace Road. It isn\u2019t raining and they\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019t yet fit enough to play.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Weather watch<\/p>\n The calm before Storm Dave. The Met office says:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n An early one for the hive mind \u2013 sitting with David and Val on the train who were once given a premium bond for their daughter by a tall Nottinghamshire<\/a> and England fast bowler in the late 60s. Might be called Alan. Any ideas?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>“He’s made a bit of an error in hindsight”<\/p>\n Worcestershire\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Olly Hannon-Dalby on a two-week loan to fill the hole. \u201cBeyers would probably say he\u2019s made a bit of an error in hindsight,\u201d said Worcs chief exec Ashley Giles.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Surrey to win it…Lancs and Durham to be promoted<\/p>\n Or is there another way?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Fixtures – round one<\/p>\n DIVISION ONE<\/p>\n Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Yorkshire<\/p>\n Southampton: Hampshire<\/a> v Essex<\/p>\n Grace Road: Leicestershire<\/a> v Sussex<\/p>\n Taunton: Somerset v Nottinghamshire<\/p>\n Edgbaston: Warwickshire<\/a> v Surrey<\/p>\n DIVISION TWO<\/p>\n The County Ground: Derbyshire v Worcestershire<\/p>\n Chester le Street: Durham<\/a> v Kent<\/p>\n Lord\u2019s: Middlesex v Gloucestershire<\/p>\n Wantage Road: Northamptonshire<\/a> v Lancashire<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Good morning! The sky is slate, the grass is lush, there\u2019s a spot of rain on my cheek \u2013 welcome back!<\/p>\n And hello to readers new and old, it\u2019s lovely to have you with us.<\/p>\n Fifteen Championship rounds lie ahead (16, if you count Surrey\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n I\u2019m at Grace Road (at least I will be soon, only I forgot to change trains at Nuneaton) to watch injury-plagued Leicestershire<\/a> 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\u2019ll be here every day until the end of the season, on Sunday September 27. The kettle\u2019s on, grab a mug. It\u2019s going to be fun.<\/p>\n![\"Ali](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ali_martin3,_L.png\")
Ali Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\n