Lancashire v Essex
LV= Insurance County Championship
Emirates Old Trafford
Thursday 19 – Sunday 22 May
11am start
After a week without a game, Essex make the journey to Manchester to play a high-flying Lancashire team.
Essex’s last game finished in a draw against Yorkshire in a match where the batters once again flourished at Chelmsford. A debut first-class hundred for Paul Walter and twin centuries for Alastair Cook were the highlights of a game that left Essex on 54 points.
While Essex remain unbeaten at home this season, fortunes on the road have been mixed with a remarkable victory at Somerset and defeat at Warwickshire.
Squad:
Dan Lawrence has made a full recovery from the hamstring injury he sustained in Essex’s last away game at Warwickshire. He returns to the squad alongside Aaron Beard, who impressed during his short loan stint with Sussex.
Mark Steketee will miss what was scheduled to be the final game of his spell with the Club due to an injury he picked up in Essex’s last game against Yorkshire.
The Opposition:
Lancashire enjoyed an excellent start to the 2022 campaign, winning their opening two matches in convincing fashion. They have drawn each of their three fixtures since, despite being in a strong position last time out against Yorkshire. Their early season form has left them sat second in the LV= Insurance County Championship Division One table on 85 points with only Surrey in front of them.
They have benefitted from strong batting performances from the likes of Keaton Jennings (348 runs at 174), Captain Dane Vilas (362 runs at 72.40) and Josh Bohannnon (308 runs at 61.60). While their bowling unit, at it’s strongest, comprises of James Anderson, Hassan Ali, Saqid Mahmood and the legspin of Matt Parkinson.
Saqib Mahmood, however, has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2022 season with a stress fracture to his back.
Lancashire squad: Dane Vilas (c), James Anderson, Tom Bailey, George Balderson, Jack Blatherwick, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Hassan Ali, Keaton Jennings, Matt Parkinson, Phil Salt (wk), Luke Wells, Luke Wood.
Last time out:
Somewhat surprisingly, Essex haven’t played Lancashire in first-class cricket in 4 years.
The last time these two teams met was at Manchester in June 2018. Essex ran out winners by 5 wickets thanks to 7-wicket match hauls for Simon Harmer (7/69) and Jamie Porter (7/98).
Batting first, Lancashire managed 301 all out in their thanks to half-centuries for Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Jordan Clark. Wickets for the Essex bowlers were spread between Sam Cook (3), Simon Harmer (3), Jamie Porter (2) and Neil Wagner (2).
Essex one-upped Lancashire’s first-innings effort with a score of 302 all out. Alastair Cook top-scored with 58, but there were contributions from Tom Westley, Ryan ten Doeschate, Adam Wheater and the Lancashire bowlers, who added 42 in extras.
It was in Lancashire’s second-innings when Porter (5/30) and Harmer (4/34) sprung into action, routing their batting line-up for 105. This left Essex requiring 104 to win, which was managed for the loss of 5 wickets.
How To Watch:
Our hosts will provide a live Stream service that will be available across all four days of this game from 10:30am, which also includes player stats, scorecards and clips throughout the day.
The broadcast can be accessed via the Essex Cricket Matchzone here.
