Worcs ride Jones injury

Stephen Moore followed up a ton with a fifty © Getty Images

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Worcestershire overcame a setback for Simon Jones to build a strong position against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in their opening LV County Championship fixture.

Jones, starting life with a new county after injuries halted his England career, was unable to bowl on the second day because of a stiff neck but Worcestershire's attack shrugged off the handicap and dismissed their neighbours for 215.

Gareth Andrew, the former Somerset paceman who moved to the midlands in the winter, secured a lead of 34 when mopping up the last three wickets in seven balls without conceding a run.

Worcestershire finished 184 ahead on reaching 150 for two by the close on Thursday after half centuries by Stephen Moore (66) and Vikram Solanki (75 not out) in a stand of 141.

Moore, a century maker on the first day, hit 13 fours from 107 balls and made 175 in the match before he was out attempting to cut Ant Botha shortly before the close.

Having worked hard to take a grip on the game, Worcestershire will want Jones fit again in time to lead a bid for victory on their return to Division Two for a seventh season out of nine at the lower level.

Jonathan Trott hit 13 fours in his innings © Getty Images

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Director of cricket Steve Rhodes is hoping he will recover after 24 hours’ rest.

He said: “He woke up with a stiff neck this morning. It wasn't too bad at first but when he tried to bowl later it locked up on him.”

Worcestershire handled Jones' absence reasonably well but Warwickshire's problems were partly self-inflicted.

After losing nightwatchman Lee Daggett to a slip catch in Kabir Ali's first over of the day, Jonathan Trott triggered a strong recovery with 13 boundaries in a typically forceful innings.

The early struggle at 59 for four seemed to have disappeared when he was supported by Navdeep Poonia in a fifth-wicket partnership of 82 in 26 overs.

Poonia, a World Cup batsman for Scotland last winter, played well for 50 from 76 deliveries on his Championship debut but he was out next ball when Graeme Hick held a catch at slip off Gareth Batty.

The same combination accounted for Luke Parker and Warwickshire were on the slide when Trott failed to end a run of 41 innings since his last Championship century in May 2006.

Having reached 80 from 145 bowls, he was called for a single by Tony Frost and run out by Moore's throw from square leg.

Frost remained unbeaten with 18 but Andrew banged the ball in to rout the tail.

Botha, Tim Groenewald and Neil Carter gave chances behind the wicket, two taken by the keeper, Steven Davies, and the other by Ben Smith at first slip.