Edgbaston (day one): Middlesex 285-9 (E T Smith 85, E C Joyce 60, D L Maddy 4-25) v Warwickshire

If it is in adversity that a team's true character is evident, then Warwickshire's future may be a little brighter than has been anticipated.

Faced with a series of devastating setbacks in the early minutes of this game, an unproven attack responded with an encouraging display. There is much cricket left in this game, but Warwickshire had the best of the first day and if the batsmen can find form at last, they have a golden opportunity to build on that today.

The day started with grim news. First Warwickshire lost Monde Zondeki to a groin strain before it emerged that Sanath Jayasuriya had changed his mind about retiring from international cricket and, as a consequence, will not be available for Warwickshire's Twenty20 campaign.

A scan revealed that Zondeki will be absent for between ten and 14 days. That means he could play one more championship game before his likely departure to join the South African tour of England. Bearing in mind his lacklustre performances to date, however, he may well have already bowled his last delivery for the club.

Jayasuriya's announcement is more of a blow. It appears he informed the president of Sri Lanka that he felt he could still perform well in international cricket and the president ensured he was selected for the Asia Cup tournament that starts at the end of June.

The fact that he signed a contract with Warwickshire months ago seems to have meant little. He did not even bother to inform the club but, when his agent was contacted, he had the gall to say he would be available for Warwickshire's first four Twenty20 games, all of which are away. The club declined the offer.

All that left Warwickshire director of cricket, Ashley Giles, on the phone to agents looking for replacements. It will not be easy.

"I do feel a bit let down," Giles said, with some understatement. "It's a blow and, with only two weeks to go [before the Twenty20 Cup begins], it's going to be very difficult to find a high quality replacement. The lure of Indian money has made playing here less attractive than it was and it can take a couple of weeks to get a work permit. It may be that we have to go with the squad we have."

There are few available Twenty20 candidates. The Australians, West Indians, New Zealanders and Asian countries are all in international action, though Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Lou Vincent and Harborne's Ian Butler are all playing club cricket in England at present. Cameron White is another possibility, though Worcestershire recently described his salary demands as ridiculous. Chris Martin remains the favourite to replace Zondeki at the start of July.

When Zondeki limped off after just 13 deliveries, a hard day looked in prospect. Giles had decided to rest Neil Carter to help him through the season, leaving Warwickshire reliant on two uncapped seamers and two uncapped spin-ners on a first day pitch assisting fast bowlers. It could have gone horribly wrong.

That it did not was partly due the spirited response of the bowlers and partly due to some feckless Middlesex batting. Perhaps only three men - Eoin Morgan, Ben Scott and Billy Godleman - could claim they did not play the dominant role in their dismissals - and it took a belligerent Shaun Udal (40 balls, six fours) to help them to even a second bonus point.

The response of Naqaash Tahir was particularly pleasing. The figures may not show it, but he was by far the pick of the attack, maintaining a challenging line and finding movement off the pitch and in the air. The wicket of the left-handed Godleman, edging one angled across him, was scant reward.

He lacked consistent support, however. Though Jimmy Anyon showed admirable persistence in delivering almost 23 overs, much of his effort was wasted by a line too wide of off stump. Ant Botha was punished with dispiriting ease, Ian Salisbury looked more threatening, but it was left to Darren Maddy and Jonathan Trott to take up the burden left by Zondeki's absence.

Maddy's figures might suggest he bowled beautifully, but he would be the first to admit that was not quite so. He bowled few poor balls, but three of his wickets owed much to poor shots and he resumes the second day with 199 first-class wickets and in sight of a career-best return. His best at present is five for 37.

He struck with his first delivery, a long-hop that Owais Shah obligingly pulled to mid-wicket, before Ed Smith's scratchy innings ended when he carved a wide ball to point. Eoin Morgan was beaten by a good ball that swung back to trap him leg before while Vernon Philander's awful innings was mercifully ended when he clipped to mid-wicket.

Perhaps Smith should never have made nearly as many as 85 (145 balls, 16 fours). He never looked comfortable outside off stump and was dropped by Jim Troughton, a high sharp chance, at third slip off Anyon when he had just 16.

Ed Joyce (114 balls, eight fours) was more impressive. Though it took him 22 deliveries to get off the mark, he then leant into some typically well-timed cover drives. It was some surprise when he guided a wide ball to slip as if giving catching practice.

Ben Scott was run out, Tim Murtagh was beaten by a full inswinger, and Dirk Nannes, a truly awful batsman, finally managed to edge one of his loose drives. Warwickshire, despite all the setbacks, are well on top.