Varun ready to be Mr Versatile

Essex v Hampshire May 19-22, County Ground, Chelmsford, 11:00

CRICKET is all about playing well as a unit and in Varun Chopra, Essex have the very definition of a team player.

The erstwhile opening batsmen has slotted into the No.4 berth during Essex’s One-Day Cup exploits.

With the return of the County Championship today, Essex will be looking to build on what has been a positive start to the four-day tournament when they face Hampshire.

And Chopra is solely focused on helping his team get their second win of the league season and will happily bat wherever.

“I’ll go in where the team needs me to bat,” the 29year-old said. “I feel like I’m experienced enough and adaptable in my game. So I don’t mind coming in against spin or if we’re two for two.

“It’s an exciting new role for me. It’s a challenge and one I look forward to.”

Essex turned over Somerset in three days during their only County Championship win so far.

Former England Test captain Alastair Cook made 51 in the first innings and a century in the second to help Essex win by eight wickets.

Chopra opened the batting in Essex’s first match of the season against Lancashire but has made his best return of the campaign from No.4 when he scored 124 in a narrow One-Day Cup defeat by Glamorgan

The former Warwickshire batsman added: “Wherever the team needs me to bat, whatever the team needs me to do at that particular time, I’m confident I can do it.”

Meanwhile, Hampshire go into the match at Chelmsford with the same record as Essex, having beaten and drawn with Yorkshire and drawn against Middlesex.