The 2024 County Championship got underway with the first round fixtures last week (April 5-8), with most matches losing considerable amount of time to rain. Here’s how those who’ve been in England squads over the last year got on in what play was possible.
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Dan Lawrence
Playing his first game for Surrey, Lawrence starred with a four-for in the only complete innings possible after rain washed out the first three days at Old Trafford. He first caught Keaton Jennings off his own bowling and got three of the other top six batters. He finished the innings with 4-91 for his 28 overs.
Tom Hartley
Picked in the side alongside Nathan Lyon after concern about how much match-time England’s young spinner would get, Hartley came in at No.7 as Lancashire batted on day four. He finished unbeaten on 16 as the lower order collapsed around him, and sent down one over in Surrey’s 8.3 over-innings which went for a solitary four hit by Dom Sibley.
Ben Duckett
Nottinghamshire’s fixture against Essex at Old Trafford was the only fixture that didn’t end in a draw in Division One. Duckett scored 21 off 25 balls in the first innings before bng bowled by Shane Snater. He was bowled by Jamie Porter in the second innings for five as Notts collapsed to 80.
Ollie Robinson
In his return to action following a disappointing India tour, Robinson put in a positive performance. He took two wickets in each innings at hove against Northants and sent down a fearsome yorker to take out Ben Sanderson’s middle stump.
Harry Brook
Brook’s was the most emphatic of the England players in the opening round. On his return to professional cricket following missing the India Test series and the IPL, he struck a rapid century in the second innings at Headingley, reaching three figures off 69 balls. He struck 16 boundaries in his innings finding fluency straight away, and was largely untroubled by the Leicestershire attack.
A 12th first-class century for Harry Brook on his return to professional cricket 👏
It took him just 69-balls with 14 boundaries.#CountyChampionship pic.twitter.com/VemkTJTjTI
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 8, 2024
Rehan Ahmed
Rehan was one of those put to the sword by Brook, who hit six fours off the young leg-spinner. He was also hit for a six by Adam Lyth and conceded 43 runs off his only five overs of the match. He scored 28 in Leicestershire’s first innings coming in to bat at six.
