Dan Lawrence eases back into the groove after busy winter

HUW TURBERVILL AT CHELMSFORD: The reigning champions got the defence of their County Championship title underway with a slow but steady opening day against Worcestershire

Scorecard

‘But can they do it on a wet Wednesday night in Stoke?’ was always the question about mercurially talented footballers.

It came to mind when watching Dan Lawrence return to the county circuit after a promising winter with England.

His last innings was at Ahmedabad. It was approaching 40 degrees, and the pitches were, to put it mildly, a bit dusty. Fast forward a month and here he was batting for Essex at Chelmsford in about 10 degrees, thermal long-johns under his whites no doubt, beanie under his helmet, the surface a bit green to match the trim on the visitors’ kit.

That temperature plunge didn’t seem to unduly affect him, however, and his 46 on the first day of the County Championship match against Worcestershire was a fluent affair, shot through with crisp boundaries. His lbw verdict was harsh. Of course it was a shame no fans were there to see it.

The most famous sportsman to come out of Chingford since Teddy Sheringham, David Beckham and Harry Kane had his ups and downs during England’s trial by spin in Sri Lanka and India but emerged with credit.

He made a fighting 73 in his maiden Test innings at Galle, had three lean matches thereafter, but ended strongly with 46 and 50 in that aforementioned fourth Test.

He showed good technique and courage against Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar (off-spin), and Axar Patel (slow-leftie); here different skills were needed against Worcestershire’s battery of quintessentially English seamers, and a leg-spinner in Brett D’Oliveria.

To be honest it was a surprise to see the latter on as early as the 23rd over - early-April surfaces at Chelmsford are not renowned as ‘bunsens’.

Lawrence is strong off the back foot and nimble, like a fleet-footed boxer. He clipped Ed Barnard through mid-on for his first boundary, and a later punch off Dillon Pennington through the same area was the shot of the day. 

A couple of square drives for four highlighted another of his strengths, one of them hitting the advertising board with a satisfying thud, but his wagon wheel highlighted he doesn’t hit as much between cover and mid-off. 

He also edged three times, each time the ball just falling short of slip.

The ball that dismissed him seemed to hit him outside the line, but umpire Neil Mallender was convinced.

County cricket has changed, thanks to streaming of course. No doubt he would have logged onto the club’s website or the ECB app and reviewed his dismissal. Journalists likewise were freeze-framing the moment when his promising innings was frustratingly cut short. There is no hiding place for umpires these days.

^{Sir Alastair Cook was dismissed for just 15}

Lawrence has a long wait to add to his five Test caps, if he makes the England line-up for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2, 22 days before his 24th birthday.

Essex have eight Championship matches before then - potentially 16 innings... that is a long time to play yourself out of form.

Potentially he could bat at No.3 for England, with Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler to come, or he could even stay at No.7, where he ended up at Ahmedabad.

If he keeps his place, his participation in The Hundred with London Spirit could be in jeopardy, of course, when England play five Tests against India.

The day actually belonged to captain Tom Westley, who also has five Test caps, but does not seem likely to add to that haul this summer. 

The 31-year-old had a lean Bob Willis Trophy last year, averaging 17, but was superb here, driving through extra cover and pulling crisply.

The surface looked benign before lunch, but acquired some spring just after; Westley remained unflustered, however, on his way to an unbeaten 84.

^{The day belonged to Essex skipper Tom Westley}

There was a rare failure for Sir Alastair Cook, though, lbw to Charlie Morris for 15. It is his final season under contract and Essex fans will be praying he carries on.

It was a joy to hear that great sage Keith Fletcher sitting behind us, ruminating about his protégés. Graham Gooch was also in situ, but out in the cool Chelmsford air. No doubt he walked home, such is his enduring appetite for exercise.

The day was temporarily halted at 5.10pm thanks to the gloom, despite the floodlights being on, highlighting what a silly decision it is to have these matches so early. Worcestershire wicketkeeper Ben Cox’s sunhat seemed anachronistic. 

Players returned for another seven balls and a wide before the close was finally called.

After last summer’s frustrations, though, not to mention the £2.4m Essex lost because of the absence of fans, it was good to see any action at all. 

At 207 for 3, the red-ball champions for three of the last four years will reflect on a satisfying day’s work. 

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