County Championship

Essex grateful for England captain Alastair Cook

by AFP

London: Essex were glad to have England captain Alastair Cook on board for a rare County Championship appearance as 15 wickets fell on a dramatic first day against Hampshire at Chelmsford on Monday.

The opening batsman finished the opening day of this four-day Second Division clash unbeaten on 25 in an Essex total of 5 for 72 after the hosts had dismissed Hampshire for a seemingly meagre 197 featuring 60 from former Zimbabwe international Sean Ervine. And Ervine then rocked Essex with the ball, taking two for 10 in two overs, after Tom Westley had been run out and Australia's Rob Quiney fell lbw to seamer James Tomlinson.

Left-hander Cook, seeking some first-class form ahead of the start of next month's Test series against New Zealand, has so far faced 71 balls including two boundaries in 109 minutes at the crease. Veteran Essex seamer David Masters did the bulk of the damage when Hampshire batted, with line and length swing bowling helping him to a return of 4 for 29 in 16 overs.

Teenage left-arm seamer Reece Topley weighed in with three for 66. Elsewhere 22-year-old West Indian batsman Chesney Hughes struck the highest first-class score of his career to leave Derbyshire well-placed against Yorkshire in a First Division clash at Headingley....more

10:00 AM, Apr 30, 2013

Debut woe continues for South Africa's Smith

by AFP

London: Graeme Smith's first innings as Surrey captain ended in disappointment as the South Africa star was dismissed for just two against Somerset at the Oval on Thursday. Smith was forced to watch South African team-mate Alviro Petersen hit 167 after losing the toss on the opening day of the English County Championship First Division clash 24 hours earlier. And the South Africa captain's luck was out again as he...

06:48 PM, Apr 18, 2013

Smith forced to toil in field on Surrey debut

by AFP

London: South Africa star Graeme Smith suffered a frustrating debut as Surrey captain as his compatriot Alviro Petersen hit a superb 167 to put Somerset in a strong position in their County Championship match at the Oval on Wednesday. Smith knows all about Petersen's strengths and weaknesses after batting alongside him at the top of the order in the South Africa team. But he couldn't make that inside knowledge pay...

01:12 AM, Apr 18, 2013