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The Bangladesh Cricket Board has offered annual contracts to 105 first-class cricketers in addition to the 15 national cricketers

Mohammad Isam28-Aug-2012The Bangladesh Cricket Board has, for the first time, offered central contracts to 105 players from outside the national team, taking a major step towards decentralisation of the game from its present Dhaka-centric structure. The decision is aimed at increasing competition in the NCL, long called a “picnic tournament” because of the lack of seriousness among players preferring the Dhaka club circuit.The list includes cricketers from each of the eight designated regions of the country – Barisal, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rangpur, Dhaka and Dhaka Metropolis – that take part in the NCL.Cricketers with more than 11 years of first-class experience will be paid Tk 25,000 (approx $300) per month under Catergory A. Players with 6-10 years of experience will receive Tk 20,000 (approx $240) per month in Category B and Tk 15,000 (approx $180) per month in Category C for players who have played for 1-5 years.
The 2012-13 domestic season will begin in the second week of October, but the contracts will be effective on January 1, 2013. These salaries will be in addition to the match fees that the players will continue to receive.The BCB chief AHM Mustafa Kamal made the announcement at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur during a function attended by BCB directors, national selectors and some first-class players, who were handed the contracts.”This is just the beginning. We have given the players the contracts and soon we will be able to put in place the infrastructure across the country,” Kamal told ESPNcricinfo.Hannan Sarkar, who has played 17 Tests, 20 ODIs and 92 first-class games, spoke on behalf of the players and talked about the need for such a system.”We have waited a long time for such an initiative. We always wanted to be under the BCB’s contracts. We thank them on behalf of the players,” Sarkar said. “Every player now will want to be under the BCB’s contract. This is a big recognition for a professional cricketer. The competition that I felt as a salaried national cricketer will be replicated at the first-class level.””This is the start of a journey, so for those who are going to be enrolled in the future, it will be much better for them. And I also think the careers will be longer from now on,” he said.Former national captain Habibul Bashar, who is now a national selector, underlined the importance of this contract to the players. “From my personal experience, I have often seen that it is hard to motivate players in first-class cricket. We have talked about the lack of professionalism in this format, but from now on, I hope this question will never arise,” Bashar said.”The standard will be higher because everyone will be serious from this point onwards. I think this step will take Bangladesh cricket a long way ahead,” he said.First-class cricket began in Bangladesh in 1999 with the six divisional sides taking part in the NCL, which is now in its thirteenth season, and it is the only first-class competition in the country.List of cricketersCategory A (playing experience of 11 years and above): Tk 25,000 ($300) per month.Category B (playing experience between 6-10 years): Tk 20,000 ($ 240) per month.Category C (playing experience between 1-5 years): Tk 15,000 ($180) per month.Barisal: Shahin Hossain (category A); Syed Rasel, Nasiruddin Faruque, Shahfaq Al Zabir, Monir Hossain, Abul Bashar, Iftekhar Nayeem and Shahriar Nafees (category B); Ishraq Sonet; Tariqul Islam, Fazle Mahmud, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Bikash Sharma, Mohammad Sajib and Sohag Gazi (category C).Chittagong: Nafees Iqbal and Faisal Hossain (category A); Aftab Ahmed, Gazi Salahuddin, Yasin Arafat, Kazi Kamrul Islam, Raihanuddin Arafat and Rezaul Karim (category B); Sadid Hossain, Mahbubul Karim, Mominul Haque, Iqbal Hossain Rony and Noor Hossain (category C); Tamim Iqbal and Nazimuddin (central contracts).Dhaka: Imran Ahmed (category A); Mahbubul Alam, Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Sharif, Anwar Hossain, Mosharraf Hossain, Uttam Sarkar, Raqibul Hasan and Shahadat Hossain (category B); Nazmul Hossain Milon, Rony Talukder, Saikat Ali, Taibur Rahman, Nazmul Islam (category C); Shuvagata Hom (central contract).Dhaka Metro: Mohammad Ashraful, Tareq Aziz Khan, Arafat Sunny, Arafat Salahuddin, Nadif Chowdhury, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Talha Jubair, Shamsur Rahman, Marshall Ayub, Arman Hossain and Sharifullah (category B); Asif Ahmed and Tasamul Haque (category C); Elias Sunny and Mahmudullah (central contracts).Khulna: Tushar Imran (category A); Nazmus Sadat, Sahagir Hossain, Ziaur Rahman and Nizamuddin (category B); Dolar Mahmud, Taposh Ghosh, Murad Khan, Mithun Ali, Anamul Haque (category C); Mashrafee Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Abdur Razzak, Imrul Kayes and Rubel Hossain (central contracts).Rajshahi: Anisur Rahman (category A); Mohammad Shahjada, Farhad Hossain, Junaid Siddique, Farhad Reza, Saqlain Sajib and Delwar Hossain (category B); Jubair Ahmed, Mizanur Rahman, Sabbir Rahman, Mukhtar Ali, Sanjamul Islam (category C); Mushfiqur Rahim, Jahurul Islam and Shafiul Islam (central contracts).Rangpur: Naeem Islam, Dhiman Ghosh, Sajidul Islam and Sohrawardi Shuvo (category B); Ariful Haque, Shuvashish Roy, Mahmudul Hasan, Tariq Ahmed, Tanveer Haider, Alauddin Babu, Saymon Ahmed, Naeem Islam Jr, AR Rahman Rony and Liton Das (category C); Nasir Hossain (central contract).Sylhet: Rajin Saleh and Imtiaz Hossain (category A); Ezaz Ahmed, Tapash Baisya, Alok Kapali, Enamul Haque Jr, Nabil Samad, Golam Rahman, Golam Mabud and Robiul Islam (category B); Abul Hasan, Sayem Alam, Abu Jayed and Shaker Ahmed (category C).

England Under-19s kept their hopes of levelling the limited-overs series against South Africa Under-19 alive with a two-wicket win in a low-scoring match at Canterbury

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2011
ScorecardEngland Under-19s kept their hopes of levelling the limited-overs series against South Africa Under-19 alive with a two-wicket win in a low-scoring match at Canterbury. Kishen Velani, the 16-year-old batsman who made his Under-19 debut at Taunton, guided England’s pursuit of 177 with a 60-ball half-century but it still took a late cameo from Jamie Overton to secure a vital victory in the 36th over.Quinton de Kock once again kept the tempo up despite wickets falling at the other end after South Africa had been put in to bat, striking five fours in his 40. His innings was complemented by Shaylin Pillay’s patient 30 and James Price’s typically adventurous 48, but there was precious little else from South Africa’s batsmen and had it not been for Prenelan Subrayen’s 25 South Africa would have been shot out for under 150.As it was, Peter Burgoyne had plenty to do with their sub-par total, snatching 4 for 8 in just over six overs as South Africa collapsed from 140 for 4 to 147 for 7. He had Pillay caught behind to spark the capitulation of the lower order, and followed that up by dismissing the dangerous Price, ending Subrayen’s cameo and trapping Lizaad Williams lbw to end the innings.Williams was soon getting his own back, picking up four quick wickets in his opening spell to reduce England to 25 for 4. Sam Wood, in partnership with Velani, helped England recover but Wood fell to South Africa captain Keaton Jennings for a 40-ball 48 and when Velani was dismissed by Duanne Olivier for 54 the home side were eight down with 21 still needed.Overton struck four fours to see them home in the tight finish, however, and with the scoreline now 3-2 England have the chance to level the series at Canterbury in two days time while South Africa will also be confident of ending their trip on a triumphant note.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has called up 21 players for a conditioning camp starting Wednesday at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium

Cricinfo staff04-Aug-2010The Bangladesh Cricket Board has called up 21 players for a conditioning camp starting Wednesday at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium. Most of the country’s first-choice cricketers are on a break after a packed season, and the camp is mainly for players hoping to either break into the national team or looking to cement their place in it.With Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons on vacation, his deputy Khaled Mahmud, the former national captain, will oversee the camp. “Basically the board arranged the camp for the players who were out of the national team and as well as players like Mohammad Ashraful who didn’t play enough matches in the last few tours,” Mahmud said.Mashrafe Mortaza, the captain, had said last month that he was ‘concerned’ by the performance of the bowlers after the side slid to embarrassing defeats against Associate nations Ireland and Netherlands. Mahmud said the camp would lay emphasis on bowling skills. “We will mainly focus on the fitness but work on the skill as well, especially with the bowlers. Our bowling has been struggling in the last couple of series and I believe this was because of the inexperience.”A preparatory camp for the World Cup will be organised for the national team players later this month, most likely starting from August 20.

Patterson completed a very successful return to the Sheffield Shield side with twin half-centuries

AAP04-Nov-2024Former Test batsman Kurtis Patterson underlined his successful return to the Sheffield Shield, helping New South Wales bat out a draw against Queensland.After NSW were asked to start their second innings with a 167-run deficit on Monday morning, Patterson’s 66 helped the Blues to 256 for 4 when both sides agreed to end play.Ollie Davies also thrived for NSW, caught in the deep hooking in the final session for 88 after being measured early and taking the game on more late.The result left both teams without wins from the opening three rounds, with two draws each.But this fixture was an undoubted personal victory for Patterson.NSW’s captain as recently as two seasons ago, the left-hander was only picked for three Shield matches last summer and again started 2024-25 out of the side. But with a raft of players unavailable through Australia and Australia A commitments, selectors were forced to bring him back in, at No.3.And the two-time Test representative delivered, after admitting he once feared his first-class career was over. The 31-year-old played a lone hand with 91 for the Blues in the first innings, before again shining bright on Monday.Patterson played one of the shots of the day with a flourishing square-drive off Mitchell Swepson, as one of six boundaries in his innings.And he barely looked troubled until rain briefly interrupted play in the second session, and Swepson ripped one back between bat and pad to bowl him on his first ball back.But by then, the game had been saved for NSW, with Patterson and Davies’ 117-run third-wicket stand counteracting Queensland’s rain-interrupted first-innings total of 406 for 5.Davies’ runs also marked his best outing so far this summer, before he enters Australia A’s camp later this week to face India A in Melbourne.

Teams in India’s domestic T20 tournament will have to select their playing XIs and four substitute players before the toss

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2023The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) – India’s domestic T20 tournament – will see three changes from the upcoming season: two bouncers allowed per over and minor tweaks to the Impact Player rule, which was trialled last season. Previously, the Impact Player could only be used before the 14th over of an innings in SMAT, but now the rule can be used at any time during the match, like it was in the IPL this year.The other tweak is that teams will now have to announce their playing XIs and four substitute players before the toss, unlike in the IPL where captains brought two team sheets for the coin flip and finalised the XI after the toss.Bowlers being allowed to deliver two bouncers in an over is “to balance the contest between bat and ball,” according to a BCCI release after its 19th Apex Council meeting held in Mumbai on Friday. The T20 tournament is scheduled to be held from October 16 to November 6 this year, after the Irani Cup and before the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50-over competition).Related

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The Apex Council meeting also confirmed India’s participation at the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou in September, for both men’s and women’s teams. “Considering the overlap of schedule of the Asian Games with ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, BCCI will select from the players not participating in the World Cup to play in the Asian Games,” the release said.The BCCI also plans to formulate policies around the participation of Indian cricketers in overseas T20 competitions. Currently, only players retired from all forms of Indian cricket can feature in overseas leagues but recently there have been a string of retired cricketers who have opted to play overseas.There was also a two-pronged proposal to upgrade the stadiums in India. While the grounds hosting the ODI World Cup games will get immediate attention, rest of the venues will be upgraded in the second phase of the upgradation plan.

Nottinghamshire reassert status to take unlikely 159-run lead on first innings

Paul Edwards09-Apr-2022Spring is nature’s con-artist and every cricketer knows it. Two weeks ago in The Parks she was summer with its thin frocks and picnics; two days ago in Hove she was winter with thick scarves and steaming tea. This morning, though, there was no disguising the season or the pleasure derived from it. “Good morning, Paul,” said Sam, the tall, rubicund, limitlessly cheerful steward, who is so much a part of this ground that one might believe his ancestors were here when Duleep almost took the county to the title in 1932. That was the season in which Sussex cricketers became Alan Ross’s first gods, though the 10-year-old Ross little guessed they would also be his last. It was not much different for the folk who watched Tom Clark make his maiden hundred on Friday morning. Among them were his parents.Sussex supporters, though, were concerned, even as they queued to get into the ground today. The first half of this match had gone wonderfully well but surely at some point Nottinghamshire, the divisional favourites, would slip themselves and demand a reckoning.Such apprehensions proved well-founded. Much of this day’s play was disconsonant with the leisured ease that lay only a good hit from the County Ground. Steven Mullaney made the highest score of his career and 20-year-old Joey Evison his maiden century as Nottinghamshire’s batters overhauled the home side’s total and then built the 159-run lead that will determine the character of the final three sessions. The cricket was brutal at times and one was reminded that if you added together the first-class matches played by ten of this Sussex team, the total would not come close to the 158 appearances made by Mullaney.Related

• Ben Compton finally lives up to billing with hard-won maiden county hundred

Left to weather 15 overs, the home openers batted capably until Tom Haines pulled Lyndon James straight to Liam Patterson-White at midwicket. And the last day’s play will be affected by injury. Danial Ibrahim has damaged his shoulder and will take no further part in the match and Luke Fletcher bowled only one over this evening before leaving the field with a tight hamstring. “Whatevs” as the kids say. The pitch looks true and flat but Sussex folk are surely set for a few hours that will trample on their nerves.But, in truth, the worries of home supporters had been deepened as soon as the 17th ball of the morning, when Delray Rawlins dropped Mullaney on 86, a low chance at cover off Steven Finn and one he should have taken; anxiety was then eased a shade when Rawlins made amends by having Tom Moores caught at slip by Tom Alsop for 43 two overs before the new ball was due. But that latter change only sharpened the visitors’ appetite for quick runs. Patterson-White heaved Henry Crocombe over the short boundary for two sixes and had also hit five fours in his 45-ball 44 before he was leg before to a full-length ball from Clark just before lunch.Throughout the session Crocombe and Jamie Atkins were receiving advice and encouragement from Finn at mid-off but nothing could prevent Mullaney reaching a fine century or Nottinghamshire scoring 118 runs in the session’s 29 overs. (It should be noted, though, that if Kevin Pietersen had his way, lads like Crocombe and Atkins would probably not have the chance to learn their trade. And there are players like them in all 18 counties. When people talk about “reforming English domestic cricket” their plans often entail denying opportunities and messing with young people’s lives.)Perhaps supporters of both counties and none were wise to stroll to the esplanade at lunchtime. For the light was resplendent across Brighton and Hove this afternoon. The sun shone on the tall, squashed terraces in Russell Square and the high-ceilinged apartments in Portland Place with their Greek salads and double-walled cafetières. More obviously, it shone on the many blues of the endlessly glittering sea and on the bathers who braved the Channel. “That blue is all in a rush / With richness,” wrote Gerard Manley Hopkins, and so it was again. Mysteriously, some folk sought refuge in the subterranean style of Hove Place, where the locals drank Harvey’s Sussex Best and the visitors sampled the cheeses.The cricket after lunch was nothing like so nourishing for Haines and his players. Fifty minutes after the resumption Nottinghamshire gained a first-innings lead and by then the spinners were on. Mullaney lifted Rawlins over mid-on to go to 150 and then over the long-on boundary to give his side their fifth batting point. It was ruthless stuff and all the more so because there was little obvious striving about it. Twenty-four hours previously Nottinghamshire had been 52 for 4 yet by this third mid-afternoon Sussex did not look like taking a wicket. Both Mullaney and Evison, his eighth-wicket partner, made career-best scores, and for the skipper this meant overhauling the 179 he made against Warwickshire three years ago. The contrasting ages and experience of the teams were suddenly stark.Three balls after tea Mullaney finally miscued a pull and was caught by Crocombe off Atkins for 192. He had batted five minutes over seven hours and one suddenly noticed that Nottinghamshire’s captain is 35 years old. Will he get another opportunity to score a double-century? Then Archie Lenham came to field below the press-box. He looked about 12 but was actually 22 months old when Mullaney made his championship debut for Lancashire in 2006.Our attention switched to Evison, who was suddenly addicted to smacking Rawlins for boundaries, either down the ground or into the Sharks stand at extra-cover. But he brought up his maiden first-class hundred in what is his seventh first-class match with a cut to the backward square boundary off Atkins who, along with Rawlins, had reached his own century shortly before. Crocombe joined them a few overs later and Mullaney declared. We resettled ourselves for what would surely be the tensest cricket of the day…And now the players have left the field and each side knows what it must do tomorrow. Brighton’s ubiquitous restaurants are preparing for their Saturday trade. The April evening settles down with smells of fries in passageways. But in Portland Place and Burlington Street a quiet evening in may be preferable; perhaps an act or two of on Radio Three. The newly washed morning, so recent, so distant, beguiles the memory. “Spring is here and they can’t stop you enjoying it,” wrote George Orwell in 1946. “The earth is still going round the sun, and neither the dictators nor the bureaucrats, deeply as they disapprove of the process, are able to prevent it.”

Four Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is now make up the tour earmarked for February-March 2021

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2020England men’s upcoming tour of India in February-March 2021 will feature four Tests instead of the five originally, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly confirmed on Tuesday.With 2021 being a T20 World Cup year – India is slated to host it in October-November – the extra Test has now been scrapped to accommodate two additional T20Is. That means the tour, which the BCCI hopes to host entirely in India, now comprises four Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is.England were earlier scheduled to tour in India for three T20Is and as many ODIs in September, but it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainty over the status of the 2020 T20 World Cup, which was scheduled to be held in Australia in October-November.”England is touring India for four Test matches, three ODIs, and five T20Is,” Ganguly said at a virtual event. “It is easier to have bilaterals than having eight-nine-ten teams, which gets difficult, but we have to keep assessing the situation.”A lot of people are talking about the second Covid wave. We’re already hearing of cases being on the rise again in Mumbai and Delhi, so we have to be careful and make sure everything is in order.”As such, the UAE, which hosted IPL 2020, continues to remain a back-up venue, not just for the England series but also IPL 2021 that will follow immediately.”The next IPL is five months away and we’re very much trying to have it in India,” Ganguly said. “I always tell people that they need to be here to see what the IPL means to India. We’re also going to be hosting domestic cricket in India.”The details of the domestic season haven’t been announced yet, although it is understood that the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the domestic T20 competition, and the Ranji Trophy, the first-class competition, are the only two tournaments that can be accommodated in a short window. Plans for Under-19s and the women’s season are still being worked out.”We have had extensive discussions on domestic cricket and we have tentatively decided to start the competitions from January 1, 2021,” Ganguly had told PTI in October. “We will certainly have the full-fledged Ranji Trophy. [But] it will probably not be possible to hold all tournaments.”We also have elaborate plans for our age-group and women’s cricket. We will start with the Ranji Trophy and then we will also have the other tournaments between March and April.”

Imran Tahir six in the final over helps Surrey scramble to level the scores off the last ball

ECB Reporters Network26-Jul-2019Twelve days after his heroics in the World Cup final, Jofra Archer made a highly impressive return to action with two wickets as Sussex Sharks tied with Surrey in a Vitality Blast thriller at Hove.The 24-year-old showed no ill effects from the side injury which troubled him throughout the World Cup during four hostile overs, bowled in three spells at a cost of 21 runs, during which he picked up the wickets of Aaron Finch and Surrey’s top scorer Ollie Pope, who was dropped on 16, for 43.Fifteen days after removing him for a golden duck in the World Cup semi-final, Archer had Finch well caught on the square-leg boundary by Delray Rawlins. He returned in the 14th over with a superbly disguised slower ball to dismiss Pope, who had just hit four boundaries in an over off Danny Briggs and appeared to be guiding Surrey to victory.Archer had bowled in the nets under the supervision of England’s medical staff earlier in the day and could now be in the Ashes squad when it is named on Saturday.A 6000 sell-out crowd had given Archer a standing ovation when he went out to bat earlier in the evening and they were treated to a thrilling finale. Surrey looked favourites with 29 needed off the last five overs with five wickets in hand but Tymal Mills dragged Sussex back into contention when two searing yorkers accounted for Tom Curran and Ryan Patel in the 18th over.Then off the final ball of the 19th Rikki Clarke holed out to long-on leaving ninth-wicket pair Gareth Batty and Imran Tahir with the task of scoring 12 from the last over from David Wiese, who was bowling his only over of the night.Wiese conceded singles off the first two balls then Tahir stylishly uppercut a full toss for six. One run came off the next two deliveries, leaving Batty to score three to win off the final ball. He drove to long-on and the pair scrambled back for a second after Sussex missed with two throws at the stumps, either of which would have run him out had they been on target.Earlier, Sussex had finished on 144 for 8 which was something of a disappointment after skipper Luke Wright and Phil Salt had smashed 50 in the first four overs.Salt, dropped by Curran off his second ball when on nought, hit 27 off ten balls including successive sixes off Jade Dernbach. But the Sharks were never the same when he holed out later in the same over and it needed an unbeaten 76 from skipper Wright to get them to a competitive total.Sussex only managed six boundaries after the sixth over with Wright unable to go onto the offensive because wickets were falling too regularly at the other end. Veteran offspinner Batty had figures of 3 for 8 at one stage while only Ben Brown got into double figures. Wright hit 14 off Jordan Clarke in the 18th over and finished with 76 off 59 balls including a six and nine fours.

Anti-corruption officers have sought clarification from the Pakistan team management after a couple of their players were seen wearing what appeared to be smart watches

George Dobell at Lord's24-May-20180:34

Watches won’t be worn again – Hasan

Anti-corruption officials have told Pakistan’s players not to wear smart watches on the field after a couple of their players were seen with them on the first day at Lord’s.As per the ICC’s Player and Match Officials Area Regulations, wearing smart watches is prohibited on the field and areas designated as player and match official area [PMOA]. An ICC release on Friday confirmed that such devices must be surrendered, along with mobile devices, upon arrival at the ground on match days.”The ACSU officer came to speak to us and told us it’s not allowed to wear them so we won’t be wearing them,” Hasan Ali said after the day’s play.In an effort to combat corruption in cricket over the last few years, players and officials have been obliged to hand over their phones (and any other transmitting devices) to anti-corruption officials ahead of the start of play. They are then locked away and returned to them shortly after stumps.ICC regulations state that: “Communication devices are prohibited within the PMOA, barring specific exceptions. Without exception, no player shall be in possession of, or use a communication device (such as a mobile phone or a device which is connected to the internet), while in the PMOA.”Asad Shafiq checks his watch•Getty Images

An ICC spokesman told ESPNcricinfo: “Apple watches in any way connected to a phone/WiFi or in any way capable of receiving comms such as messages, are not allowed. In effect, it is considered a phone unless ‘disabled’ and just a watch.”There are several legitimate reasons to continue to wear such a watch when disabled. It still tells the time, for example – though there is also a large clock overlooking the playing area at Lord’s – while fitness data can all be recorded and stored on a disabled device.Asad Shafiq, who wore the watch on Thursday, had said in a pre-series interview with the commentator Ramiz Raja that players use the watch to track their daily exertions, and that they burn “around 3000 calories” on a regular day of Test cricket.”We definitely get an idea [of fitness measures],” Shafiq said. “If you wear it the whole day you get an idea, you get the results of your workout in front of you, and you can calculate your targets for the next day.”ESPNcricinfo understands that the ICC’s anti-corruption officer at the match, Peter O’Shea, was surprised by photographs appearing to show the devices and approached the Pakistan team management at the end of play. The ICC has the power to confiscate the devices and download all material from them in order to monitor recent activity.While there is no allegation of wrongdoing, the ICC on Friday stated that it will caution players against wearing such devices in order to avoid such confusion in the future. Their own regulations may well be tightened to reflect that stance.May 25, GMT 0600 The article was amended to include Asad Shafiq’s quotes.May 25, GMT 0745 The article was amended to reflect ICC’s PMOA regulations.

Dane Vilas top-scored for Lancashire with 74 while Haseeb Hameed proved his fitness after suffering an injury scare

Alan Gardner at Chelmsford07-Apr-2017
ScorecardThe first day of the season is as good a day as any to be reminded that Championship success is usually hard-won. Both Essex and Lancashire could feel satisfaction come the close at Chelmsford; both will know that further unstinting effort will be required to sway this contest over the coming days.Lancashire may feel they had the best of it, particularly after recovering from 160 for 6 to pass 300, thanks to a 51-run last-wicket stand between James Anderson and Kyle Jarvis, who then took a wicket apiece before the close. Nevertheless, Essex’s new-look attack acquitted themselves well by bowling out Lancashire after being put into the field. All but two Lancashire batsmen made starts but only Dane Vilas managed to pass fifty, as Neil Wagner and Aaron Beard – overseas pro and homegrown tyro – collected six wickets between them.No one faced more balls than Haseeb Hameed, who provided some proof of his fitness after sustaining a hand injury in Lancashire’s university match. Hameed was watched by James Whitaker, the national selector, and Mark Ramprakash, England’s batting coach, as well as his parents during his first significant innings since making a highly regarded Test debut in India over the winter.Hameed’s tour of India was cut short by a fracture to the little finger on his left hand, which required the insertion of a metal plate. He sustained a blow practising his fielding at short leg before play against Cambridge and then had to leave the field while batting; however, a scan detected no further damage and he batted without discomfort for just over two hours here before falling three runs short of fifty.”The finger’s fine, it was a bit of a freak incident, trapping it in the warm-up and then I tried batting and it got quite painful. So I think we made the right decision in getting it checked out and thankfully it was all okay,” he said.”The surgeon suggested, when there’s a bit of time off, it might be worth getting [the plate] out. But I think there’s a six-week recovery period from having that surgery to remove it, so it wouldn’t make sense now. If I’ve got a bit of time in the future, I probably will take it out.”Ryan ten Doeschate, Essex’s captain, suggested before the game that Lancashire’s batting might present a “chink in their armour” and that looked a shrewd assessment as the visitors experienced a middle-order slide of 4 for 42 on a pristine afternoon. However, Vilas, one of three new Kolpak signings on show, provided the grit that Lancashire desperately needed with 74 before a ticklish thrash between Anderson and Jarvis lifted them towards a more competitive total.For all the topics being discussed at the newly anointed Cloudfm County Ground on the first day of the new season – Hameed’s availability, Alastair Cook’s absence (depriving the crowd of a head-to-head with Anderson), the Kolpak issue, Essex’s survival chances (or Lancashire’s for that matter) – perhaps the closest to local hearts was the decision to drop James Foster for the first time in his 17-year Essex career. Adam Wheater, his replacement behind the stumps, has pedigree as a Division One batsman, as well as the advantage of being from the same east London manor (aka Gooch Country) but it will not be an easy gig.It is accepted around Chelmsford that Foster cannot go on forever but there were rueful shakes of the head when Wheater failed to get a hand on a stumping chance provided by Steven Croft in the first over after lunch. Croft and Hameed had quieted a healthy crowd during a third-wicket stand of 68 but there was a notable frisson of disappointment as the opportunity for Simon Harmer’s first Championship wicket zipped by.By then, Hameed had set about reassuring those nervous about the state of his delicate hands during a composed innings that featured several sumptuously timed drives. Barring a skittish swipe at the first ball he received from Wagner – a team-mate last season, back when Hameed was still a precocious talent smarting at missing out on the U-19 World Cup – he seemed to have everything in the right place, a sort of batting feng shui as he lined up the bowling with the precision displayed during his debut Test series in India. That is, until he fractionally misjudged a delivery from Jamie Porter that kept coming back in at him to clip the top of off stump the over after Croft’s reprieve.For a brief while, there was a vision of England’s possible batting future in the middle, as Liam Livingstone joined Hameed. Livingstone, now at first drop and with a chance to impress after batting in the lower-middle order during his debut season, showcased his revolving-door wrists with a second-ball four that rattled away to the deep midwicket rope and he stroked five more boundaries in between ducking Wagner’s head-hunting bouncers.Livingstone’s attacking instincts eventually got the better of him, a wild flash providing Beard with his first wicket – via a goalkeeper save from Tom Westley (second slip) that was collected on the dive by Varun Chopra (first). Beard also removed Vilas, as a leading edge sailed to mid-off, while Harmer did eventually get Croft, taken at short fine leg when sweeping. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, in his 43rd year and only in the country a few days, was run out after a mix-up with Vilas.