In conventional style, there have been sufficient April showers round to place a dampener on the beginning of the English cricket summer time – but it surely wasn’t sufficient to cease Australian Marcus Harris opening up with a half-century.
The ever-reliable left-hander shortly demonstrated why he was the person Leicestershire despatched an SOS to final month after his fellow Victoria batter Will Pucovski needed to pull out of his take care of the county following one other concussion.
Despite a rain-delayed begin at Headingley attributable to a soggy outfield, Harris, again with the Midlands group he beforehand performed for in 2022, proved Leicester’s mainstay on a shortened day in opposition to Yorkshire, scoring a fluent 56 as they stuttered to 5-164.
Harris, who’s at all times been prolific with the bat for each Gloucestershire and Leicestershire, may have been run out on 23 when Matt Milnes missed with a shy on the stumps however went on make his 50 off 93 balls with the eleventh of his dozen boundaries.
He was finally snaffled at slip by England batter Harry Brook within the slips off the spectacular George Hill, who took 3-25.
But Harris’s Victoria colleague Peter Handscomb was nonetheless there on the shut, 20 not out.
Elsewhere, Nathan Lyon’s eagerly-awaited debut for Lancashire was washed out for the day at Old Trafford the place they’d been attributable to play Surrey.
But it was revealed the veteran spinner will not get his probability of a dream link-up with England paceman James Anderson till the top of May on the earliest.
Anderson, at 41, is seeking to prime himself for Test responsibility and says he’ll sit out Lancashire’s early matches
“With the Tests being in July, it’s tricky,” stated Anderson. “It’ll probably be June before I play, or maybe the end of May.”
Lyon had stated earlier within the week how a lot he is wanting ahead to enjoying alongside Anderson, and the sensation’s mutual.
“It was nice to actually have a civil conversation with him!” smiled Anderson. “I think he plays seven out of the first nine games, so hopefully I’ll play one or two, either at the end of May or in June.”
There was some motion at different grounds, with former South Africa captain Dean Elgar shortly stamping himself as an excellent substitute for the retired Sir Alastair Cook together with his spectacular debut knock of 80 for Essex of their 9-244 in opposition to Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
The summer time’s first century maker was Glamorgan captain Sam Northeast, a person not averse to an enormous first-class rating as a one-time quadruple-centurion.
This time, he was left unbeaten on 186 within the the division two conflict with Middlesex at Lord’s because the Welsh county, who may also have Marnus Labuschagne of their ranks quickly, completed on 3-370 on the shut.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
