The most dramatic performance came at Northamptonshire, where the county's overseas professional Curtly Ambrose took five wickets for 15 runs while helping to blast out visitors Derbyshire for just 98.

The Derby innings lasted all of two and a half hours.

In return, Derby opening bowlers Dominic Cork (4 for 63) and Devon Malcolm (4 for 59) made life equally uncomfortable for the Northants batsmen, though the home team was rescued from disaster by a fighting 68 from skipper Rob Bailey. Northants ended the day all out for 210.

Umpires Allan Jones and John Holder, officiating in the match, said they would be discussing the pitch with TCCB secretary Tim Lamb.

Meanwhile at Chester-le-Street, 15 wickets fell on the opening day of the match between home side Durham and Gloucestershire.

Durham were shot out for 175, and in reply the visitors were 57 for five at the end of the first day's play. For Gloucester, Mike Smith took four for 39.

The nature of wickets prepared for this season's games has caused controversy, with critical opinion being that the wicket for the first Test at Edgbaston between India and England was far below Test standard.

The bowling blitzes of Thursday now seem certain to spark an investigation into the nature of county wickets.

The bright spark for batsmen on a day of predominantly low scores came from England number three Graham Thorpe, who became the first English player to register 1,000 first-class runs this season. Thorpe ended the first day unbeaten on 137, as Surrey hit up a formidable 345 for three against Essex at Southend.