MCC seamers make strong impression

MCC 7 for 1 (Bopara 5*, Panesar 1*) trail Nottinghamshire 191 by 184 runs
Scorecard

Monty Panesar appeals for an lbw ... but he was the only MCC bowler to go wicketless © Getty Images

Early season is all about making the right impression and with Geoff Miller, one of England's selectors, watching on at Lord's this was the perfect time to shake off the winter cobwebs. Tim Bresnan and Rikki Clarke impressed with the ball while Steven Davies, Worcestershire's wicketkeeper, shone behind the stumps on the opening day as MCC took control of proceedings with a committed display in the field.

For most of the morning it appeared that the official start of the season would have to wait another day as heavy drizzle surrounded the ground and even blocked the view of nearby flats. However, shortly after midday spring decided to make an appearance and play started at 2pm, and continued in glorious conditions, with a decent smattering of spectators in the Grandstand and members in the pavilion.

Nottinghamshire start the defence of their Championship title against Yorkshire on Wednesday and Jason Gallian's decision to bat first indicated a desire for his team to get some time in the middle before the real contests begin. They showed early-season rustiness, although better to fail here than against Yorkshire, but MCC's attack made life difficult for the batsmen with all the seamers maintaining a probing length. Bresnan picked up the rewards with three scalps, but Clarke was equally impressive with his first spell of 9-5-14-1, which backed up the progress he made on the A tour of West Indies.

Each of MCC's four main seamers is an interesting story. Bresnan and Mark Footitt, playing against is own county, were late call-ups for this match while Clarke is eager to show he has matured and is again ready to push for higher honours. With the England one-day squad currently in a state of flux the progress of Clarke and Ravinder Bopara, the Essex allrounder, who produced a nippy spell of medium pace, will be watched closely. Bresnan, too, is a player with plenty of allround talent and his seam bowling was on the mark throughout the three spells he sent down.

Clarke recovered from a shaky start and picked up his first wicket when Darren Bicknell, who had played solidly for his 36, failed to withdraw his bat against a delivery that seamed away. He later removed Mark Ealham through a sharp catch at square-leg by Alex Loudon and maintained his aggression throughout the afternoon.

After play Clarke said: "The A tour was a massive step for me and my career and hopefully today wasn't a one-off, I need to do it in the second innings and continue through the season. For me now the key is to stay fit, stay strong and bowl the overs. I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself and just trying to enjoy my cricket."

The first four wickets to fall were all courtesy of catches by Davies, the 19-year-old wicketkeeper, who is beginning to find himself talked about as an England prospect. He replaced Chris Read on the A tour and today clung onto nearly everything that came his way. His one mistake came when he shelled David Hussey, diving across low in front of first slip, but made amends by holding another chance 10 runs later.

Most of MCC's team certainly have the chance of England careers ahead of them, some are there already, but one certainly doesn't - John Stephenson, now MCC's head of cricket. However, he rolled back the years, late in the day, by claiming the last three wickets. Stephenson led the side in this match last season, against Warwickshire, and his first three overs went for 32, so this was certainly an improvement. Alastair Cook has just started out on what should be a long career, but couldn't start this season the way he did 2005, with a century in the corresponding fixture, as he fell for 1. There is plenty of time to make amends.