In the first week of the 2015 County Championship, newly-promoted Worcestershire must have fancied their chances against Yorkshire. The champions were missing Lyth, Root, Ballance, Rashid and Bairstow, plus the suspended skipper Gale, yet still they enjoyed a ten-wicket win inside three days. Cheteshwar Pujara's debut resulted in a duck, but the bowlers Jack Brooks and Steven Patterson made the greatest impact, taking 9-29 between them in the second innings.
Somerset experienced their usual disastrous start at Taunton, falling to Durham for whom captain Paul Collingwood claimed a century and five-for, supported by Steve Borthwick's runs and wickets for Graeme Onions and Chris Rushworth. Hampshire at least pushed Sussex into a fourth day at Southampton before losing by 92 runs. Luke Wright and Ben Brown to a substantial first innings lead, then a solid display from all their bowlers finished the job.
Nottinghamshire had the better of Middlesex but a defensive masterclass from Nick Compton (85) and, in the last session, James Harris (36 not out in over two hours) ensured a draw. Chris Read and new opener Brendan Taylor each reached three figures for Notts.
Both Division Two fixtures were also drawn. A double-century partnership between Jacques Rudolph and Will Bragg gave Glamorgan a great start at Leicester before Angus Robson and Ned Eckersley almost matched them on day two. The home side had no time to achieve that elusive win but at lest they avoided defeat. Wooden spoon rivals Gloucestershire batted out the last day while losing only two wickets after a flurry of late Northants runs set up a safe declaration. David Willey smashed only his second first-class century to go with a similarly rapid first innings 62, but special mentions should go to Glos medium-pacer Craig Miles (6-63) and 'keeper Gareth Roderick, who notched two half-centuries and claimed six catches on the opening day.
The other counties were getting some pre-season batting practice against the universities. Kevin Pietersen made the headlines for his Surrey innings of 170 against Oxford, but we shouldn't overlook Essex batsman Nick Browne's twin centuries against Cardiff MCCU nor Martin Guptill's effortless 161 for Derbyshire at Fenner's. It's always pleasing to note good performances by students against the professionals, be they superstars or 'muppets'. So hats off to centurions Charlie MacDonnell (Durham), Nitish Kumar and Mike Burgess (both Loughborough v Kent) and Steve Leach (Oxford). Who knows? They may become England staples of the future.
Next week sees Yorkshire meet title rivals Notts, Warwickshire take on Hampshire and Sussex look to make it from two from two against Worcestershire. Hopefully Cardiff will attract crowds to see KP in action but hopefully he will be out for two golden ducks....
County Team of the Week: Lees (Yorks), Browne (Ess), Eckersley (Leic), Borthwick (Dur), Roderick (Glos +), Collingwood (Dur *), Read (Notts), Willey (Nth), Brooks (Yorks), Briggs (Hants), Miles (Glos)
