'I’m not missing any of the season': Lawrence confident of quick recovery from cracked knuckle

Dan Lawrence expects to be fit for the start of the County Championship season despite being sent home from the England Lions’ tour of the Caribbean with a fractured hand

^{Essex batsman Dan Lawrence is recovering from a fractured knuckle}

Dan Lawrence expects to be fit for the start of the County Championship season despite being sent home from the England Lions’ tour of the Caribbean with a fractured hand.

Lawrence had been due to feature in the Lions’ third ‘Test’ against West Indies A, only to sustain a blow to his knuckles in the nets, with an X-ray later revealing the extent of the damage.

The 20-year-old’s problem digits remain strapped up with a month to go before the start of the new campaign but he is confident of being able to play a full part in both the opening match against Yorkshire and the MCC Champion County showpiece game in Barbados from March 27-30.

“It’s not that bad,” Lawrence told The Cricketer.

“It’s obviously unfortunate timing. I was batting in the nets and the ball just bounced at me and caught me on a tough part of the knuckle but it’s not that bad.

^{Lawrence should be fit to face Yorkshire in April}

“The bone is still in place so I should be back playing the MCC game for Essex and I’m not missing any of the season.”

Lawrence, who made 761 runs at 44.76 as Essex claimed the County Championship title last season, has been dealing with a broken hand for the first time in his short career.

“I carried on batting, went to the spin net, faced six balls and I couldn’t grip the bat so I knew something wasn’t right,” he said.

“Having not cracked a knuckle before I didn’t really know what was going on.

Lawrence, who attended the official presentation of the Lord’s Taverners ECB County Championship trophies at the Home of Cricket on Monday, remains upbeat.

“To be sent home was gutting because I was going to get a chance and probably play the rest of the tour but it is what it is and it could have been worse,” he said.

ESSEX'S NEXT FIVE FIXTURES (all four-day unless stated)

Mar 27: MCC (Barbados)

Apr 7: Cambridge MCCU (a, three-day)

Apr 13: Yorkshire (a)

Apr 20: Lancashire (h)

Apr 27: Hampshire (a)