England batters Joe Root, Harry Brook and Zak Crawley were all out cheaply as the County Championship returned for round three with the Dukes ball instead of the Kookaburra.
The Kookaburra, which offers less movement than the Dukes and tends to bring faster bowlers and spinners into the game, was used across the first two weeks of the season as England managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key looks at ways of making the Test attack more well-rounded.
A wicket fell every 73.7 balls in the first two rounds in 2024, compared to 54.9 balls at the same stage in 2023, with all nine matches in round two ending in draws as batters enjoyed themselves.
But there was a hatful of wickets on the opening day in round three as the Dukes were redeployed amid wet conditions, with Root and Brook making only five and three respectively as Yorkshire were bundled out for 159 by Middlesex at Lord’s in Division Two.
Crawley, meanwhile, fell for five while batting for Kent against reigning champions Surrey in Division One at Canterbury, in what was his first innings since England’s Test tour of India concluded in March, before the hosts closed a rain-trimmed day on 111-3 thanks to captain Daniel Bell-Drummond’s unbeaten 70.
Former Kent and England spinner Derek Underwood, who passed away on Monday aged 78, was honoured before the start of play, with both sets of players standing in front of the Underwood & Knott stand for a minute’s silence.
Black armbands were worn and a moment was also taken to remember former Surrey’s former England international Raman Subba Row, who died on Wednesday at the age of 92.
Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain share their memories of former England and Kent spinner Derek Underwood, who has died at the age of 78
Elsewhere in the top flight, Nottinghamshire were rolled for 193 by Somerset at Taunton before the hosts closed on 116-1 in reply, while Lancashire stuttered to 146 all out against Essex, and Durham were dismissed for 244 by Worcestershire.
Warwickshire put in by far the best batting display of the day in Division One, piling on 340-4 against Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl as opener Alex Davies plundered 149 and Rob Yates and Will Rhodes notched half-centuries.
Davies’ ton followed a score of 256 against Durham last week.
Division One scorecards
Division Two scorecards
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