Lyth & Bairstow hit tons as Yorks dominate Surrey

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Headingley (day one)

Yorkshire 362-4: Lyth 138*, Bairstow 116*; Fisher 3-73

Surrey: Yet to bat

Yorkshire (3pts), Surrey (0 pts).

Match scorecard

Recalled England quick Matthew Fisher removed Test team-mates Joe Root and Harry Brook just after lunch but his former county Yorkshire enjoyed much the better of day one against Surrey at Headingley thanks to unbeaten centurions Adam Lyth and Jonny Bairstow.

Fisher - in his second season with Surrey - played the key role in reducing the White Rose to 121-4 in this star-studded County Championship fixture, only for experienced fifth-wicket pair Lyth and Bairstow to turn things around through the bulk of the afternoon and evening as inserted Yorkshire closed on 362-4.

Fisher trapped Root lbw for 44 and had Brook caught at first slip for seven as he strengthens his case to play the opening Test against New Zealand at Lord's, starting 4 June.

He finished with 3-73 from 19 overs but was usurped by Lyth and Bairstow, who shared 241 and finished the day on 138 off 292 balls and 116 off 187 respectively.

Fisher, aged 28, played his only previous Test for England, against the West Indies at Barbados in early 2022. Some 13 years ago, he also made his county debut for Yorkshire.

He is one of four players involved in this fixture selected in England's squad for that opening Test of the summer. Brook, Root and Surrey wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith are the others.

Surrey made a handy start as Fisher had Will Luxton caught clipping to mid-wicket before Jordan Clark bowled Matthew Revis as he attempted to leave alone, with the hosts 38-2 in the 13th over.

This was a re-jigged Yorkshire batting line-up. Luxton was in for his first match of the season for usual opener Fin Bean, while Root returned in place of James Wharton.

Ironically, shortly before lunch, Wharton - just left out by Yorkshire, was announced by the ECB in the England Lions squad for two forthcoming four-day matches against their South African counterparts.

Root worked his second ball, from the seam of Clark, off his legs for four, and he and Lyth had shared 58 by the time lunch arrived, with Yorkshire in better shape at 96-2.