Feroze Khushi's breakthrough at Essex shows Bob Willis Trophy's potential to promote fresh talent

SAM DALLING AT CHELMSFORD: Khushi's maiden first-class half century was as easy on the eye as it was deserved. Mature beyond his years, the only surprise was there was no triple-figure score to celebrate before close

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Chelmsford is a proper cricket ground. Today was a proper day’s county cricket. Feroze Khushi is a proper player.

His maiden first-class half century was as easy on the eye as it was deserved. Mature beyond his years, the only surprise was there was no triple-figure score to celebrate before close.

But for a momentary lapse of concentration on 66 it might well have done. There is still plenty of time for that yet, this boy is talented.

There were murmurs over the winter that Essex were heading into the season a batter light.

Ravi Bopara packed his bags for the south coast over the winter, and Ryan ten Doeschate won’t be far behind him.

A fine servant for Essex, Ten Doeschate skippered the club to promotion and a pair of Championship crowns. A place in the club’s all-time XI? It’s a decent shout.

What 2021 holds for the allrounder remains to be seen - that decision likely rests with the player. Either way he’s now 40 and won’t be around forever. His will be a huge hole to plug.

But what about Dan Lawrence, they cry? Is the England Lions batsman not the natural successor in the middle order?

Well Essex are bracing themselves for significant periods of time without his services.

Currently robbed of the 23-year-old due to bubble duty, it might be September before he returns.

Lawrence has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past 12 months and Essex might need the next cab off rank sooner than expected.

They might not have to wait long. Khushi has the handbrake off and is moving into first.

Sometimes there’s an unhealthy obsession with a batsman’s technique; the pursuit of textbook perfection over all else.

Khushi breaks that mould. Tap, tap, tap; a ballet-esque plie, legs bowed inside to out; then comes the trigger; a noticeable jolt forward; ready for action. 

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His Essex first team bow came last week during a narrow victory over Kent. It was a clash that displayed all the virtues of four-day cricket.

Kent somehow conspired to lose despite racking up nearly 400 first up, with Khushi earning praise for a fluent 45 in the chase.

The hosts were tettering on 61 for 4 when the right-hander strolled to the crease. A rescue job was needed and a stand of 86 with childhood idol Alastair Cook was just what the doctor ordered. Essex snuck past their 202-run target eight down.

Today, he was a joy to watch.

Plagiarism is frowned upon but sometimes the wheel doesn’t need re-inventing.

The club’s official website describes Khushi as a man capable of elegant stroke play with sumptuous timing. Someone knows what they are talking about.

Graham Gooch and Keith Fletcher were both present, deckchairs out enjoying the heat, and they were purring. The locals would have been, too.

One shot in particular will live long in the memory: a wristy whip in front of square that raced away to the leg side boundary off James Taylor. Delicious.

His innings wasn’t chanceless: he should have been heading back to the pavilion for only 16, but Will Jacks shelled what should have been a routine grab at gully. Rikki Clarke was not amused.

The drop could prove costly. Those extra 50 runs could make all the difference.

By close the game was set up nicely.

Essex had reached 253 for 7, with Adam Wheater (52) making a tidy half-century on the day he was awarded his county cap. Sam Cook got one too. He spent Saturday with his feet up. His chance to shine will come on the sabbath.

Spare a thought for Surrey who, for all their riches, needed to beg, borrow and steal to raise a side this weekend.

Their “not available” list runs well into double figures and Vikram Solanki could be found outside The Oval yesterday asking commuters if they had their whites.

In the end, Laurie Evans and Adam Finch were roped from Sussex and Worcestershire respectively at the eleventh hour.

Anyone reading the news of the loan moves would be forgiven for thinking the clubs had been mixed up.

That’s 2020 for you.