Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ben Cliff impressed with the ball today and then praised his new-ball partner Jack White.
Ben Cliff echoed George Hill’s recent comments about how impressive a bowler Jack White is after the new-ball seamer played the lead role in bowling Warwickshire out for just 147 on day one at Edgbaston today.
White’s 4-49 from 16 overs were the standout figures in helpful bowling conditions, though everyone chipped in. New-ball partner Cliff claimed two wickets, as did Hill and Logan van Beek too.
They made the absolute most of Jonny Bairstow’s decision to bowl upon winning the toss before James Wharton’s 40 and Harry Brook’s 29 not out contributed to a close of play 110-4 in reply.
Cliff was playing his second match in this season’s Rothesay County Championship, albeit his first full one. Last month, he came into the game against Hampshire at Headingley midway through as an illness substitution.
In the build-up to last week’s win over Somerset at Taunton, Hill said of White: “He’s been awesome for us – a brilliant signing – and I can’t speak more highly of him. He keeps it so simple and is so skilled at hitting one area of the wicket and nipping it both ways.”
Today, Cliff eulogised: “I said to Whitey as we came off, ‘If I ever think about what I need to do, I just look at what you’re doing’. He just doesn’t miss, doesn’t move from what he’s doing and keeps it very simple.
“It helps me out a lot.”
These were Cliff’s first first-team wickets of 2026, with him returning figures of 2-33 from 14 overs. He removed opener Rob Yates caught behind and later Zen Malik caught in the slips.
“I felt quite good,” said the 23-year-old. “I’ve had decent prep coming into this game, and I’ve been looking forward to playing.
“It’s just great to be back there with the lads and having a good day with them, helping out.”
On conditions today, Cliff said: “We maybe didn’t expect it to swing as much as it did, but the lads spoke about it being the best ball that we’ve had all season. It just seemed to shine well and kept swinging.
“It’s been a really good day for us, and I’d like to think that tomorrow – sunshine in the morning – it’ll be a good day to bat.
“I don’t think it’s new this summer for there to be that many wickets on the first day here. But I do think it’ll get better.”
Warwickshire’s Sam Hain with 57 was the only batter across either side to post a half-century, although fingers crossed that will change early tomorrow with Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow at the crease on 29 and nine respectively.
But Hain looked as if he was batting on a different pitch.
“He’s a bit of a nuisance to bowl at at times,” said Cliff. “He likes to move around a lot and put you off. But, yeah, he played nicely.
“When Jonny came and stood up to the stumps for Whitey, I did actually think that would probably be the way that we got him. Thankfully, it happened.”
James Wharton’s 40 was crucial in giving Yorkshire a useful start to their first-innings reply, with him and Brook sharing 63 for the fourth wicket from 38-3.
“It was a shame to lose Wharts at the end there,” added Cliff. “It was a good ball, though, and Brooky’s looking good.”
