ROOT HIT BY A HAT-TRICK OF FAILURES

JOE ROOT fell cheaply for the third time in as many innings this season as the England skipper continues to search for his early-winter form. Root was visibly annoyed with himself as he hung his bat out to a ball outside the off stump that he should have left well alone from Matt Milnes, only to edge behind for 11 at Canterbury. He was one of five catches for keeper Ollie Robinson as Yorkshire still managed to reach a decent total of 358-8 on day one against Kent. “It is nice to get a catch when it is a big name but Joe Root is like any other player,” said Robinson. “I would give us a seven out of 10 today. We let them get away a bit this morning but pulled it back.” Former England opener Adam Lyth is the man who got away from Kent, racking up 97 before he became Milnes’ first victim. The evergreen Darren Stevens, 44, added another three wickets to celebrate being named one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year. Reigning champions Essex had a far more difficult day at the office after being dismissed for just 96 before returning Durham skipper Scott Borthwick went past them on his own. Borthwick hit 100 out of 148-8 as Durham took advantage of Essex’s slow start, but only just. Over in India, Rajasthan Royals got their first win of the IPL with Ben Stokes watching on from the dugout as his replacement David Miller clubbed 62 to help them overhaul Delhi Capitals’ total of 147-8. Fellow all-rounder Chris Morris got them over the line with two balls spare and 36 not out, courtesy of a waist-high full toss from Tom Curran that he swatted for six to finish the game. Stokes was due to speak with a hand surgeon following the game after a third scan on his broken left index finger had been assessed. STUART BROAD took a late wicket on his return to county action for Notts. The England paceman removed India Test batsman Hanuma Vihari without scoring as Warwickshire slipped to 24-2 in reply to Notts’ 273. Fellow paceman Olly Stone, who made his England Test debut in India in the winter, earlier took two wickets from five sharp spells for Warwickshire.

OFF YOU GO Joe Root was out for 11