England Lions dominate first day of tour match but Jonathan Trott fails
Tuesday 6 January 2015 08:06, UK
Jonathan Trott fell for just six on his return to international cricket but England Lions dominated the first day of their opening tour match in South Africa.
Test opener Sam Robson and Adam Lyth both made centuries - and Alex Lees is closing on one - as the Lions scored 361-4 against a Gauteng Invitation XI.
It was Trott’s first match in England colours since the 2013 Brisbane Ashes Test, after which he returned home with a stress-related illness.
Robson (109) was quicker into his stride than Lyth (106) after the Lions were put in at the start of their tour-opening three-day fixture in Soweto.
Robson, who made a maiden Test hundred against Sri Lanka at Headingley for his adopted country last summer - only to finish the season less convincingly - reached three figures from 146 balls - having hit 12 fours and a six.
The Middlesex opener dominated an opening stand of 176 with Yorkshire's rising star Lyth.
Lyth will be one of those pushing hardest alongside Robson to open with captain Alastair Cook against New Zealand and then in the Ashes next summer.
After England's World Cup winter, a first full international chance to press those claims may come in three Tests against West Indies in April and early May.
Lyth did his prospects no harm in his first innings of the winter by following Robson to a century, his from 168 balls but featuring significant acceleration after taking 129 over the first 50 and going on to hit 15 fours and a six in all.
Trott, who has gradually returned to form after his much-chronicled difficulties, is Lions captain on tour. But he could not begin his campaign with significant runs - falling for just six, caught behind by his opposite number Sizwe Masondo off teenager Keith Dudgeon, who has played just one first-class match.
Just after evening drinks, James Vince was only the second authentic departure of the day - caught at cover off medium-pacer Nono Pongolo - but Lyth's fellow Yorkshire left-hander Alex Lees stayed put from No 3 to pass a 112-ball half-century.
In an unbroken stand of 86 with Jonny Bairstow, Lees finished on 82 – having survived one early chance to short-leg.
