White gets Strauss - but Ashes men in form

Date: Tuesday 28 April 2009

Close of Day One: Middlesex 281-2 (Strauss 150, Hughes 99*) v Leics

Leicestershire felt the full wrath of two Ashes opening batsmen on the first day of the Championship game against Middlesex at Southgate.

England captain Andrew Strauss made 150 and Australian Phil Hughes – batting at three in this game – was unbeaten on 99 as the hosts made 281-2 by tea.

The heavens opened at the interval, and although rain can often fall at frustrating times, this time it was a blessing in disguise to allow County to regroup.

The day had started well as AJ Harris struck an early blow after Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat.

England under-19 batsman Billy Godleman was the man to fall, trapped lbw by the opening bowler for a single.

It was a welcoming sign to see Harris and Iain O’Brien take the new ball, but Hughes is used to being in early and settled in alongside his Ashes rival.

Strauss took the initiative, carrying on his recent good international form. The England skipper had made an unbeaten 95 by lunch, and went to a century shortly after from 112 balls with 16 fours and a six.

Hughes has also been in fine international nick over the winter after becoming the youngest Australian test debutant since Craig McDermott in the 1980s.

He also became the youngest ever international batsman to score a century in each innings of a test match in just his second game against South Africa.

Taken with the fact Hughes also scored a debut Championship hundred against Glamorgan, he clearly likes to make an early impression.

And the talented left-handed had his sights on another ton here, making 99 not out by the close.

County did claim the important wicket of Strauss during the afternoon, but only after he had bought up his 150.

Wayne White made the breakthrough, having the batsman caught behind by captain Paul Nixon.

By that time, Strauss had shared 244 for the second wicket with Hughes, just 33 short of the record held by Bill Edrich and Denis Compton at Grace Road in 1947.

Neil Dexter was unbeaten alongside Hughes at the close at the home side eyed up full batting points.

Overall, it was a tough bowling assignment for County, whose balance was affected by the absence of Jim Allenby with a side strain.

With Nadeem Malik also injured and Claude Henderson omitted due to Leics’ overseas policy this season, it was always going to be a big ask for the four frontline bowlers on show.

And so it proved. But Harris, O’Brien, White and Carl Crowe battled gamely on the good deck for little reward.

In terms of selection, James Taylor, O’Brien and Crowe came into the side from the opener against Northants for Allenby, Henderson and Sam Cliff.