Porter: We Can Learn From Our 2018 Mistakes

IF Surrey are the team to beat in this year’s County Championship, Essex are the ones most likely to overhaul the current title-holders at the top of the Division One table over the coming months.

- Chris Stocks

The return of Alastair Cook to Chelmsford on a full-time basis following the opener’s retirement from international cricket will no doubt be key to the chances of the 2017 champions. But Essex have a strong squad overall, with a decent blend of youth and experience in both the batting and bowling departments.

Dan Lawrence is perhaps the young batsman who is expected to go onto the next level this year after a poor 2018, when he averaged just 23.40 in the Championship. The 21-year-old, who had starred in the 2017 campaign, will be ably supported by old heads in Cook and Ravi Bopara, while Nick Browne, free from the broken finger that marred last summer, will be among a clutch of opening batsmen across the country eager to stake an England claim before the Ashes.