The Dukes ball had its first outing of the 2024 County Championship for the third round of fixtures, generally ending bat’s nationwide dominance over ball. Here are nine talking points from the first day’s action from round three.

Middlesex silence Yorkshire’s star-studded middle order

The Dukes’ impact was most obvious at Lord’s where Middlesex ran through Yorkshire’s middle order. It was in stark contrast to Middlesex’s previous outing with the ball at the Home of Cricket, where Sam Northeast’s unbeaten triple hundred took Glamorgan to a mammoth first innings total of 620-3. On this occasion, Yorkshire were rolled for 159 as Joe Root and Harry Brook scored eight runs between them.

Notts continue stuttering start to the season

Nottinghamshire were fortunate to emerge from their fixture against Worcestershire last week with a draw; a final day washout most likely spared their blushes. There was little improvement on the opening day at Taunton where Somerset bowled them out for 193. Notts, whose top seven contains two Test batters and several other highly rated prospects, are once more on the back foot, even after benefitting from a couple of marginal umpiring decisions that fell in their favour.

Davies cashes in once again

One batter to carry over their excellent form against the Kookaburra was Warwickshire captain Alex Davies. The Bears’ top three put on an astonishing 625 runs between them last week and they were in a similarly ruthless mood against Hampshire’s storied attack at the Utilita Bowl. Davies tonned up for the second game in succession while Rob Yates and Will Rhodes both passed fifty to leave Warwickshire in a commanding position early in the contest. Davies has 441 runs from his first three hits of the year.

Crawley makes muted return to action

Will Zak Crawley rue not cashing in on against the lifeless Kookaburra? The England opener missed the first two rounds of the season with the ECB managing Crawley’s workload, only for his return to action at Canterbury to last just five deliveries after the fit-again Dan Worrall nicked him off with the brand new Dukes. Worrall also picked up the early wicket of Crawley’s opening partner, Ben Compton, before Daniel Bell-Drummond steadied the ship for the hosts with a fluent half-century.

Robinson’s quiet early season continues

Speaking at Sussex’s pre-season media day, Ollie Robinson did not shy away from the potential significance the early stages of the 2024 campaign may have on the remainder of his career, admitting that he faced a “make or break” season. Three rounds in – a third of the pre-Test summer action – Robinson has made an uneventful start to the 2024 home summer. He took four wickets across both innings in the opening round – a decent return relative to others with the Kookaburra – before being rested last week at Grace Road. Back in the side for round three, Robinson bowled 17 wicketless overs. It’s not a return worthy of concern but historically, this is a level that Robinson dominates – over the past six years, he averages 17 with the ball in Division Two. With competition for selection fierce, Robinson will need to return to that sort of form sooner rather than later to protect his place in the England set-up.

Essex seamers dominate on home turf

Essex are well placed to double their tally of wins after a dominant opening day at Chelmsford. Shane Snater and Sam Cook in particular were too hot to handle. England hopeful Cook now has 13 wickets at a preposterous average of just seven so far this season.

Boland injury concern looms over Durham

A competitive opening day in the battle between the two promoted sides. Durham overcame a difficult start – they lost both openers inside the first six overs – to post 244, before their new-ball bowlers took three early wickets. Durham were without the services of overseas seamer Scott Boland whose heel injury may bring about a premature end to his stay at the club.

Ingram arrests Glamorgan collapse

At 27-4, Glamorgan were in real trouble against Northants at Wantage Road before veteran Colin Ingram prevented the home side from running riot.

Harris in the runs

Marcus Harris is one of the more dependable overseas signings on the circuit and he was resolute on a damp first day at Derby, passing fifty for the second time this season.