Harris fires, Marnus strikes with his medium pace

Australian Marcus Harris has wasted no time in endearing himself to his new county side, Gloucestershire, notching an impressive hundred on his first day of the new season.

After a difficult few months that saw him lose both his Test spot and his Cricket Australia contract and also miss the Marsh Sheffield Shield final due to a COVID-19 infection, Harris was the only Gloucestershire batter to score more than 21 on the opening day of their match against Yorkshire.

Against an attack featuring Pakistani Haris Rauf and England Test bowlers Dom Bess and Matt Fisher, Harris stuck 22 fours and a six in his innings of 136 from 231 balls.

His contribution saved Gloucestershire from disaster in front of their home fans as they crept to a total of 227 from 78.1 overs.

Having only arrived in the UK on Monday, meaning he missed the opening round of the season, Harris shook off any jet lag and stood firm as his side slumped from 3-152 to 8-183 in bowler-friendly conditions.

With batting partners running out, the left-hander upped the tempo after he brought up his century from 200 balls and was eventually the ninth man out with the score on 226.

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Dropped off the bowling of Rauf when on 18, the left-hander made the most of the let off as he looks to build another strong county season ahead of next year's Ashes campaign.

Harris averaged almost 55 in eight innings for Leicestershire last season before making the move to Bristol.

Meanwhile, at Trent Bridge, Marnus Labuschagne picked up two wickets with his medium pace as he and Michael Neser helped Glamorgan restrict Nottinghamshire to 302 on the opening day.

Labuschagne took 2-11 from five overs, including the wicket of century-maker Ben Duckett, while Neser grabbed 3-56, including James Pattinson for 20.

Glamorgan moved to 0-33 at stumps, with Pattinson conceding 23 from three overs in his first match of the season.

Elsewhere, Queensland fast bowler Mark Steketee claimed three wickets for Essex on the same day Sir Alastair Cook passed 25,000 first-class runs.

Essex had Somerset on the back foot at Taunton from the moment opener Ben Green, on 15, aimed a loose drive at Steketee, who claimed his first wicket for the county thanks to wicketkeeper Adam Wheater's catch.

Image Id: 253BBCCD990242B4B3CAA244F9694FD5 Image Caption: Steketee strikes for Essex // Getty

James Hildreth was third out, caught behind off Steketee as he pushed forward as Somerset slumped to 5-70 at lunch.

And Craig Overton was bowled by the impressive Steketee as Somerset were skittled for 109 in just 45.4 overs.

The Australian ended with figures of 3-47 off 13 overs.

That gave Cook the chance to reach yet another milestone in his illustrious career, with the former England captain passing 25,000 first-class runs in his 59 not out as Essex matched Somerset's total of 109, but for the loss of just two wickets.

Cook passed the 25,000-run landmark with a cut to the boundary off Ben Green, which took him to 35.

Matt Renshaw scored just seven in his first game of the season for Somerset, while Peter Siddle is wicketless so far in Essex's innings.

Australians in 2022 County Championship

Essex: Mark Steketee

Glamorgan: Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser

Gloucestershire: Marcus Harris

Kent: Jackson Bird

Middlesex: Peter Handscomb

Northamptonshire: Matt Kelly

Nottinghamshire: James Pattinson

Somerset: Matt Renshaw, Peter Siddle

Sussex: Josh Philippe

Warwickshire: Nathan McAndrew

Get the full rundown of Australians playing county cricket in 2022