Joy for Ed Barnard on return of county cricket

Shrewsbury-born Barnard trapped Lawrence lbw for 46 as Worcestershire restricted Essex to 207-3 on the opening day of the County Championship.

Lawrence made his Test debut over the off-season with appearances in Sri Lanka and India, and recalibrated himself to English conditions quickly at the Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford.

He put on 73 for the third wicket with captain Tom Westley, who starred with an unbeaten 84, before bad light stopped play, with almost 15 overs lost in the day.

Essex, who lifted the inaugural Bob Willis Trophy last year and had won in the Championship in two of the three previous campaigns, elected to bat first in freezing conditions.

Alastair Cook and Nick Browne were the other batsman out on day one.

Cook was plumb lbw to a Charlie Morris delivery which appeared to nip back a touch and Browne loosely drove Barnard on the up to Jake Libby at cover.

Worcestershire captain Joe Leach said: “It has been an attritional day’s cricket, probably not what you would have expected at this time of year.

“I think we have bowled really well and Essex were outstanding. It has been a good day’s cricket.

“It isn’t a wicket you can blast people out so we had to hang in there. We all did a very good job, especially Brett D’Oliveira as a spinner to go at around twos – which is exceptional.

“Getting Dan Lawrence and Alastair Cook were very important. You don’t get much better than the second name! To win, or even compete, in a game of cricket you have to take key wickets like that.

“It is a big first session tomorrow and hopefully we can take advantage of our good bowling today by taking some early wickets.”

Meanwhile, a five-for from Liam Norwell powered Warwickshire into control against Derbyshire at Edgbaston

Norwell launched the campaign in the most spectacular style with two wickets in his first over and bowled with sustained hostility for figures of 18-7-32-5 as Derbyshire were bowled out for 189.

Luis Reece (63, 144 balls, ten fours) and Matt Critchley (64, 97 balls, 11 fours) offered defiance for the visitors but they came in under par on a decent batting pitch before Warwickshire reached 13-1 at the close.

Warwickshire were without overseas signing Pieter Malan, whose arrival has been delayed by visa issues. The Bears have signed India Test batsman Hanuma Vihari as a replacement for the early rounds of the championship.