James Anderson celebrates England return with trio of wickets for Lancashire

James Anderson celebrated the news his England exile was set to end by taking a trio of wickets as Lancashire bowled Hampshire out for 246 on day one of their LV= Insurance County Championship Division One clash.

After being left out of the tour to the West Indies, Anderson was given the green light to return to the England side by new Test captain Ben Stokes and new managing director Rob Key.

At the Ageas Bowl, he produced a flawless new-ball spell on his way to three for 24, and there was also five for 45 from Hassan Ali, with Nick Gubbins’ 101 not out saving Hampshire after they had slumped to 40 for five. Lancashire reached the close 37 for one, 209 runs in arrears.

Haris Rauf was front and centre at the outset of a new era for Yorkshire at Headingley before Daniel Bell-Drummond’s century wrestled back the initiative for Kent.

Rauf, the poster boy signing as Yorkshire teamed with Pakistan Super League side Lahore Qalandars, took three wickets in the space of nine balls to light up a grey morning in the county’s first home game since the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal erupted.

But the hosts were unable to capitalise as Bell-Drummond (109) orchestrated Kent’s recovery from 20 for three to close on 270 for six.

Matt Renshaw produced a fluent century as Somerset made 351 for four against champions Warwickshire at Taunton.

The Australia Test player’s superb 129 featured 19 fours and two sixes, while skipper Tom Abell contributed 70 and Tom Lammonby 56.

Jamie Smith registered a hundred as Surrey gained the upper hand against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Smith raised 111 not out from 239 balls to help the division leaders recover from a poor start and reach the close on 294 for four.

Ollie Pope weighed in with 84, while Sam