Aussie batters stumble early in county debuts

Captain Peter Handscomb made a duck in his first game for county side Middlesex as four Australians began their first game of the English season on Thursday.

Handscomb made his Middlesex debut in the London derby against Surrey at Lord's, receiving his cap from former England skipper Mike Gatting before play.

The Victorian's decision to bowl first was justified as a Surrey top order featuring five current or former Test players was bowled out for just 154, with Irish veteran Tim Murtagh taking 4-28.

But three early wickets to England left-armer Reece Topley, including Handscomb bowled for a three-ball duck, saw Middlesex slump to 3-16 before they recovered to be 3-114 at stumps.

Handscomb had signed on to captain Middlesex in both first-class and one-day cricket last year, but the deal was postponed for 12 months due to the pandemic.

Handscomb's state teammate Marcus Harris was also unable to get going in his debut for Leicestershire against Somerset, with the left-hander striking three boundaries before he was bowled by Lewis Gregory – the allrounder who played for the Brisbane Heat in BBL|10 – for 19.

Leicestershire were dismissed for 233 after electing to bat first at Grace Road before Somerset moved to 3-53 at the close.

In Southampton, Redbacks swing bowler Dan Worrall played his first game of the new season for Gloucestershire, taking one of just three Hampshire wickets to fall on the opening day.

Opener Ian Holland – the former Victoria allrounder and winner of 2021 reality show Cricket Superstar – scored his second century in as many games for Hampshire before Worrall (1-38 from 19 overs) trapped him in front for 114 as the home side finished on 3-292.

At Edgbaston, Peter Siddle will return to the bowling crease for Essex on Friday after they were bowled out for 295 on the first day of their match against Warwickshire, with the former Test seamer making 14 with the bat.

A total of 35 Australians – 24 men and 11 women – are signed on to play domestically in England this winter in either the new Hundred competition or county cricket.

Queensland trio Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser (both Glamorgan) and Billy Stanlake (Derbyshire) are expected to soon join their respective sides for the first-class season following their Marsh Sheffield Shield win, while Cameron Bancroft (Durham), Travis Head (Sussex) and Sean Abbott (Surrey) are also signed on to play in the County Championship this year.