Swann left with nothing to show on his return

Smith, promoted to open in place of Keaton Jennings, scored his first hundred in 25 first-class innings at Trent Bridge and closed on an unbeaten 119 off 308 balls to lead the visitors to 297-6 – 23 runs adrift of Nottinghamshire’s first-innings score.

Despite beginning his career in Nottingham, the 30-year old right-hander had often struggled in previous visits and even lost the Durham captaincy after a heavy defeat at Trent Bridge in 2010.

Taking his lead from the way that James Taylor batted on the opening day for Notts, Smith defended resolutely, adding only 40 during the morning session and a further 30 between lunch and tea.

His century arrived during his 12th consecutive hour on the field, having faced 270 deliveries.

Nottinghamshire’s Stuart Broad left the field late in the day with groin pain for the second day running, while fellow England bowler Graeme Swann toiled.

On a surface that offered him little assistance, England bowler Swann bowled 20 tidy but wicketless overs on his return to competitive action. However, all eyes were on his team-mate Broad.

In Division Two, England captain Alastair Cook made a gritty 59 in more than four hours while Graham Napier top-scored with 74 to guide Essex to a first-innings total of 254 at Chelmsford.

Hampshire reached 77-2 in their second innings at the close of the second day after David Masters removed the Hampshire openers cheaply before they staged a recovery, with Liam Dawson and George Bailey posting a 56-run stand.

Hampshire lead by 20 runs with eight wickets remaining going into day three.

Benny Howell claimed career best figures of 5-57 as Gloucestershire dismissed Leicestershire for 250 on the opening day at Grace Road.

At one stage Leicestershire were 52-5, before a stand of 125 between Shiv Thakor and Matt Boyce sparked a recovery. Thakor top scored with 75 and Boyce also made a half century.

Veteran Claude Henderson then fired 33 off 30 balls to help earn Leicestershire two batting points, with Gloucestershire 31-2 in reply after losing the wickets of Chris Dent and Dan Housego.