The emergence of Tom Hartley during the Test tour of India, months after the acquisition of Nathan Lyon, provided a new perspective on the ongoing debate about the responsibility of the domestic game to develop English spinners. While Hartley and Lyon remained sensible, many others had their say. Looking ahead to the 2024 county season, all eyes were fixed on Lancashire's teamsheet, with fingers on triggers and hot takes at the ready.
Just over 26 hours later than expected, an XI arrived with Hartley and Lyon bowling together, as head coach Dale Benkenstein had suggested on Tuesday, especially with the Kookaburra ball in use. They finished the first day of County Championship cricket at Emirates Old Trafford bowling in tandem. There is no need to worry, unless you are a Lancashire fan. The phrase 'in tandem' referred to each bowler bowling one over to close out the day's play that began at 1.10 pm. Surrey dismissed Lancashire for 202. Skipper Rory Burns and Dom Sibley saw out five overs to go in at 11 for no loss. Despite rain delaying the opening day and first session of day two, the two-time defending champions have regained control. They did so with their own pair of complementary spin bowlers.
Cameron Steel achieved his first five-wicket haul, taking 5 for 25 and blazing through Lancashire's lower order like a legspinner, which was unexpected of him. Dan Lawrence's offspin exposed the tail, marking his Surrey debut with career-best figures of 4 for 91 from 28 overs delivered at the James Anderson End. The unlikely duo was responsible for the collapse that saw the hosts' last seven wickets fall for just 42 runs, which vindicated Burns' decision to bowl first.
Lawrence caused the collapse by taking the crucial wicket of Josh Bohannon. He surprised the top-scorer of the 2023 Division One with more turn and bounce than expected. The straightforward fend to short leg required two grasps from Jamie Smith under the helmet. Bohannon left slowly, disappointed about falling 16 runs short of his 12th first-class century and annoyed at being dismissed by a bowler he had easily hit for two sixes.
The irritation was further compounded when Matthew Hurst was given out leg before wicket without playing a shot off the next delivery, underestimating the turn, resulting in the score being 150 for 6. Hartley had to face Lawrence's hat-trick ball, which he defended soundly. It was hard not to consider the peculiarity of their respective England careers as they faced off in that moment. In their own ways, they are both embarking on similar journeys.
Lawrence's quest in India to add to the 11 caps amassed over the last three years could be seen as the collateral for Hartley's performances. Once the left-arm spinner had shown enough aptitude with the bat while picking up 22 wickets, Ben Stokes' compulsion to pick Lawrence, who has three Test dismissals, dulled.
Surrey head coach Gareth Batty highlighted Lawrence's all-round skills, partly out of necessity with Will Jacks at the IPL. Lawrence's introduction in the 10th over proved Batty's point.
On his 10th delivery, he achieved his first dismissal for the club since moving from Essex. He took a smart return catch, diving to his left, to remove Keaton Jennings, which got Surrey off to a good start. He appeared once more on the scorecard when Luke Wells flicked Tom Lawes lazily out to deep square leg. It was only when Steel spun a delivery through the bat and pad of left-hander George Balderson from over the wicket that Surrey really gained an advantage, with the score at 150 for 3 in the 55th over.
Lawrence's classiest dismissal of the day was a sharp delivery that took the inside edge of Kiwi Tom Bruce's bat and was cooly pouched by Ben Foakes. This dismissal paved the way for Steel to remove the final four batsmen, all caught by Jamie Overton at first slip except for Tom Bailey, who scuffed high to cover.
Steel had the honour of being the team's leader and the keeper of the ball, and Lawrence would have been delighted with the quality and quantity of his work. This was the most overs he has bowled in an innings, surpassing his previous high of 24.3 overs, which he bowled in April 2022 for Essex against Kent. On that occasion, he took 3 wickets for 98 runs. This was only the sixth time he has bowled in 42 red-ball innings.
Steel acknowledged that it was one of his best days, but he reserved special praise for his partner's workload in the face of a gale-force wind. At times, they seemed to exaggerate Lawrence's windmilling action to resemble the chaotic flailing arms of the inflatable men found in front of American used car lots.
A 15-minute delay occurred when the makeshift tarpaulin sightscreen hung on the pavilion blew off, and umpire Peter Hartley's hat flew most of the way to the boundary. These events served as reminders that conditions might have the final say in this encounter. That being said, the tacky pitch has already shown enough for the spinners in its first 76 overs.
At the very least, Hartley and Lyon should get the chance over the next two days to construct their own response to Steel and Lawrence, as well as the discourse.