Ben Foakes doesn’t slip comfortably into contemporary boxes. He stays away from social media and plays his game, his way. And on the first day of the Championship season, a bitter wind screaming across Old Trafford, he played a crucial innings as Surrey began their title defence against last year’s runners-up, Lancashire. His careful 76 spanned a partnership of 87 with Jamie Smith and 75 with Cameron Steel after an early Surrey wobble – Rory Burns, the season’s first wicket, affronted to be given out caught behind for one. Steel also played astutely and cutely to be unbeaten on 86 at stumps as Surrey closed on 340 for seven.
A stop-start opening day at Lord’s was still positive for Dan Lawrence. After two Tests as a drinks waiter in New Zealand he was back with a bat in hand, holding firm between the breaks to give Essex a promising early platform against Middlesex.
