United by tragedy

Frizzell County Championship Division One, day one, The Oval: Surrey v Sussex

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The new County Championship season began in a sombre atmosphere at The Oval as the two teams joined together to remember Ben Hollioake and Umer Rashid.

The players, wearng black armbands, stood together for a two minute silence as a mark of respect for the pair, who were recently killed in tragic accidents.

Surrey and England all-rounder Hollioake died in a car crash during a visit to his parents in Australia.

Rashid drowned during Sussex's pre-season tour to Grenada while trying unsuccessfully to save the life of his brother who had got into difficulties while swimming at Concord Falls.

The match scorecard carried a tribute to "two young men so curelly taken from us in the prime of their lives".

And England and Wales Cricket Boiard chief executive Tim Lamb and chairman of selectors David Graveney were present to pay their respects.

Surrey were led by England batsman Mark Butcher, who is captaining the club in the absence of Hollioake's elder brother, Adam, who is still in Australia.

Following the silence, he won the toss and chose to bat first.

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Surrey: M A Butcher (Capt), I J Ward, A J Stewart (Wkt) M R Ramprakash, A D Brown, N Shahid, Azhar Mahmood, M P Bicknell, I D K Salisbury, A J Tudor, J Ormond.

Sussex: R R Montgomerie, M W Goodwin, C J Adams (Capt), P A Cottey, M H Yardy, R S C Martin-Jenkins, M J Prior (Wkt), M J G Davis, J D Lewry, P M Hutchison, R J Kirtley.