As the English domestic season gives way to miscellaneous internationals and the T20 Champions League, I think it's time to look back on the summer and select the players who I think made the biggest impression on cricket in this country, both for county and country. Starting with the batsmen.....
As openers, there are honourable mentions for Ed Joyce - who seemed to switch seamlessly from Ireland to Sussex and back, scoring runs in both first-class and one-day cricket - Warwickshire's Virun Chopra and Joyce's Sussex partner Chris Nash who saved his best performances for the CB40 competition, in which he scored more than 600 runs. However, they are beaten by two outstanding batsmen, one playing out of his skin for England and the other doing what comes naturally, namely compiling stacks of runs at a rate of knots in all forms of the county game. Alastair Cook proved that a great cricketer can succeed in Tests, ODIs and probably T20s given half the chance. His 294 against India was phenomenal but don't forget he scored heavily in ODIs, too, deservedly winning the captaincy. Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick aggregated over 2500 runs during the summer, even more impressive given his absence through injury for much of September. However, he remains the most consistently destructive batsmen in England and possibly the world and walks into my team of the summer.
I could have mentioned Alex Hales, the Nottinghamshire PCA Young Cricketer of the Year and now torturer of the Windies in T20. However, that doesn't mean I don't rate him. It just means that he gets into my side at number three! His season comprised more than 2000 runs, including the English Lions, and he could prosper on the Test scene. When Strauss retires, England have a ready-made replacement. His Lions captain James Taylor also makes my XI. So often his runs dominated a pathetic innings total for Leicestershire in the Championship and, while T20 isn't really his bag, he is a quick and clever scorer in the 40-over stuff. Bopara just beat him to the England team at the end of the season but I hope Taylor gets his chance soon.
A number of players passed 1000 first-class runs for the season, including perennial favourites Vikram Solanki, Murray Goodwin, Dale Benkenstein and Zander de Bruyn. Hampshire's Michael Carberry made a mark soon after returning from life-threatening illness, notching the summer's only triple-century, while Rahul Dravid was the sole beacon of light in India's dark and dismal tour. Two years ago, Wes Durston was released by Somerset and started 2010 representing the Unicorns. Mid-season, he was signed by Derbyshire and in 2011 was in the form of his life, scoring runs for fun in all competitions and contributing wickets, too, in one-dayers. He was always a West Country favourite so good to see him playing well at the age of 30. However, he was eclipsed by Ian Bell. I have always rated him while others doubted his guts in Test matches and scoring rate in ODIs. This summer, he surely removed both those doubts as he averaged more than 90 in all first-class cricket and scored 325 at a decent rate 86 in one-dayers. The 159 at Trent Bridge and 235 at The Oval were both masterclasses in batting and would have earned more plaudits had it not been Cook's aforementioned 294.
Another batsman who scored runs a-plenty in the middle order just happens to be a useful wicketkeeper: Jonny Bairstow. I wrote a lot about the young Yorkshireman recently so I'll just add now that he is a huge talent and will push Craig Kieswetter and maybe even Matt Prior all the way if he develops his glovework at the same rate as his batting.
I'll move on to the rest of my team of the summer next time....
