It's down to Essex and Somerset again!

 The final round of Bob Willis Trophy fixtures offered a myriad of possible outcomes regarding qualification for the Final. What we did not anticipate was the abandonment of the Gloucestershire-Northants clash at lunch on day one, thanks to a positive Covid test result. Obviously a concern but neither side were in contention. 

The main focus in the Central group was New Road, where Worcestershire and Somerset squared up, with the winners likely to harvest sufficient points to be in the top two overall. A draw would suit neither, and it went to the final afternoon.  Yet again Somerset enjoyed a first innings lead, although they conceded the first batting point of the entire season when Worcester limped to 200. Ed Barnard proceeded to rock Somerset but Tom Lammonby carried his bat for 107 to set the home team a gettable 245. However, the opposing seam attack has been dominant all summer. Jamie Overton may have jumped ship to Surrey but Josh Davey took 3-16 to thwart a useful batting line-up and carry Somerset into a second successive Lord’s final. 

They will meet Essex on the 23rd to decide the destination of the red-ball title, just as they did a year ago. The county champions wrapped up victory over Middlesex at Chelmsford inside three days. Simon Harmer was again a key contributor but it was seamers Sam Cook and Aaron Beard who shone brightest, snaffling seven cheap wickets between them in the second innings. 

Kent also proved triumphant, but ultimately in vain. England’s new Test star Zak Crawley notched a second innings ton but much of the damage inflicted upon Hampshire was really done by seamers Harry Podmore and that man Darren Stevens, who could celebrate match stats of 9-72. Even at 44, he could still fulfil Kent’s workhorse role. Roll on 2021! 

Surrey finally clinched a consolation success at home to Sussex. Tom Haines launched the visitors to a 400+ score and not even a first red-ball century this year from Rory Burns and Will Jacks’ unbeaten 84 could help Surrey match that. New signing Jamie Overton (dammit!) weighed in with 55 but went wicketless as the spinners Moriarty and Virdi  blitzed Sussex second time around, leaving Burns et al to win by six wickets. 

Up North, Derbyshire’s hopes of a place at Lord’s were extinguished by Lancashire’s second-innings runfest at Aysgarth. I’d never heard of George Balderson and Danny Lamb but the duo shared a century stand and ten wickets in the 178-run victory. Jack Morley is even younger and, making his debut at 19, he took 5-71. Yorkshire also made short work of their opponents, Leicestershire. Jordan Thompson enjoyed his maiden five-for although old man Ben Coad (he’s 26) more than equalled that return. Amazingly his career first-class average has now dipped below 20. 

Nobody has scooped more batting bonus points than Nottinghamshire but their bowlers have been unable to capitalise. Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke each reached three figures once more, despite the efforts of Chris Rushworth whose seven victims included his 500^th for Durham who batted long enough on day four to thwart Notts yet again. The four-day winless run now extends into a third season. 

Finally, a special mention for Ian Bell. In his ultimate first-class game, the Warwickshire veteran signed off with 50 and 90, and still his critics moaned about a century-making opportunity spurned. That encapsulates for me the lame attitude towards one of the finest English batsmen of the century. That his runs this week did not earn a win owes much to Glamorgan’s rearguard action on the last afternoon, led by Nick Selman’s resolute 73 and the tenth wicket pair getting through to stumps unbroken. 

It’s been great to have some genuine county cricket in this Corona-summer and, although fans have been kept away from most of the action – and won’t be allowed in for the Final either – it hasn’t been a wasted year, offering opportunities to many young cricketers and introducing a host of new names to me. Let’s hope many can kick on to greater things. 

Team of the Week: Burns (Sur), Lammonby (Som), Duckett (Not), Clarke (Not), Bell (War), Wheater (Ess +), D Lamb (Mid), D Stevens (Ken), Davey (Som), S Cook (Ess), Coad (Yor)

The Hundred: 40 to 31

40: Garfield Sobers

As any young cricket fan in the Seventies would know, the West Indian all-rounder scored 8,032 Test runs and 365 not out, both world records lasting many years. I’m just about old enough to remember seeing him on the News tonking poor Malcolm Nash all over Wales in 1968 and his batting masterclass against England at Lord’s in ‘73. He was a bit creaky bowling Sunday League stuff for Notts but Dad would remind me I was watching one of the world’s greatest players – and he was right. 

39: Mahela Jayawardene

OK, so his record outside Asia was rather modest but the man from Colombo was one of the batsmen I most enjoyed watching this century. The adjective ‘elegant’ is normally reserved for tall men but, at 5 feet 7,Jayawardene was the exception. He could play shots all around the wicket with effortless ease and no right-hander has surpassed his immense 374 against South Africa in 2006. His century deserved to win the 2011 World Cup Final, but MS Dhoni had other ideas, and Mahela also really rocked the helmet-and-bandana look. 

38: Richard Hadlee

As a contemporary of Lillee, Holding, Marshall, Kapil Dev, Botham, Imran Khan and others, he rarely gets a look-in when it comes to video montages of 1970s/80s pacemen. However, it was the New Zealander whose new-ball pace and swing made him the first man to reach 400 Test wickets. He was the lynchpin of the Black Caps’ excellent Eighties outfit and played many county seasons for Notts. I never saw him bowl but he came on for the tourists as 12^th man at Chelmsford just after his knighthood was announced. The applause must be the loudest ever heard for a sub fielder! 

37: Gordon Greenidge

Another familiar face (and moustache) on the county circuit - for Hampshire – Greenidge was the epitome of explosive strokeplay yet calmness under pressure. I loved it whenever he strode out to the middle for the West Indies because we were usually in for a treat. He notched well over 50,000 runs in all formats and of course was an excellent catcher, too. Gordon’s final day 214 not out at Lord’s in ’84 was nothing short of sensational and to think he was once qualified to play for England…. 

36: Jonty Rhodes

I can’t think of many cricketers who people would pay to watch just for his fielding but Jonty Rhodes as certainly one of them. His Test career was delayed by South Africa’s ban but for 11 years he was one of the most electric fielders on the planet, not so much for his acrobatic catching but his athleticism and throwing from the covers or backward point. Batsmen took him on at their peril. He was ostensibly a batsman, albeit down the order, and he averaged a decent 35 or so in Tests and ODIs. However, he was worth many more runs and wickets with his stops and run-outs. I was fortunate in 1998 to witness a few of these against Essex. 

35: Virat Kohli

I remember seeing a young Virat Kohli playing in an ODI for India and wondering why on earth he wasn’t in their Test team. He wasn’t a slogger, yet scored quickly, efficiently and unflappably. Since his 2011 Test debut he has gone on to become the greatest – and richest – all-round batsman of his generation, accumulating centuries, ODI run records and a global fanbase. He may not be the best traveller but I always enjoy watching him bat as well as marshal his fielders. At Cardiff I also noted his willingness to respond to adoring crowds urging him to “Give us a wave”, the sign not only of a great sportsman but also a superior role model. Kohli has it all. 

34: Ian Bell

I often attach myself to cricketers who go about their business skilfully but without fanfare. Walking egos like Botham, Petersen and Stokes crave attention but I prefer my players to be like Ian Bell. It’s amazing to think he made his debut against the Windies sixteen summers ago, top-scoring with 70, since when he played 118 Tests and 161 ODIs. He has endured some torrid times but was imperious in 2010 and 2011, then again in the 2013 Ashes series.  I also appreciate his loyalty to Warwickshire, although he is currently woefully out of form. 

33: Hallam Moseley

At a time when I lapped up every West Indian fast bowler, it’s fair to say that Hallam Moseley didn’t exactly hog the headlines. He was no Joel Garner, but proved a great servant to the county throughout the 1970s. I saw him play live only once (in 1981) but he was a frequent fixture on TV. Besides a very useful limited-overs seamer, the bespectacled Barbadian was extremely popular for his under-arm throwing to the wicket, good humour and readiness to sign autographs on the boundary. 

32: Craig Kieswetter

A decade ago, Somerset were blessed with two classy wicketkeeper-batsmen. One was the teenage Buttler, but even he wasn’t the best. Instead the SA-born, Millfield-educated Craig Kieswetter was for a while England’s preferred option for ODIs and T20, in which he was an outstanding improviser, but it was his superior red-ball batting which led the county to sacrifice Jos at the end of 2013. This made his horrific facial injury suffered the following July all the more galling. He never fully recovered, officially quit cricket in 2016 and at Somerset has never been replaced. 

31: Greg Chappell

The Aussie also played briefly for Somerset but a few years before my time. Then, during the ‘70s, Greg became one of the most prolific Test batsmen in the world. He was very hard to get out and always looked so upright and elegant at the crease. He blotted his copybook in a 1981 ODI by, with a six needed off the last ball, instructing his brother Trevor to bowl a sneaky daisy-cutter. I recall as a boy trying to copy his tidy medium-pace seam-up bowling action but it’s for his imperious batting – and he scored centuries in his first and last matches - that he should be remembered.

County Cricket Team of 2018

2018 will long be remembered for its long, hot, dry summer across much of Britain. I suspect this may have been a factor in the dramatic reduction in the number of drawn matches in the Championship from 45 to 25. Perhaps pitch preparation also came into the equation as first inning batting bonus points were as rare as a downpour in July. Across both divisions, there was little to choose between all counties with regard to bowling points but Surrey and Warwickshire really made their batting strength count in their respective campaigns.

There were stark contrasts between white and red ball formats. For all Surrey’s dominance in the four-day game, they were mediocre in limited-overs cricket. Worcestershire wasted little time in being relegated back to Division Two but were able to celebrate success in the T20 Blast that same week. Their 20 year-old medium-pacer Pat Brown proved to be a revelation in the 20-over stuff but barely featured in the Championship. Meanwhile, Glamorgan endued a year to forget but  Somerset confounded my worst fears with another runners-up finish and surge to the Blast semi-finals. So near, yet so far, yet again. Will Marcus Trescothick finally give up on waiting and give his creaking body a well-earned retirement? 

Sadly he didn’t feature in any of my County Teams of the Week but who were the men (or women) who contributed most to domestic cricket across all three formats?

Openers:

Last year it was Mark Stoneman but in 2018 his Surrey colleague and captain Rory Burns dominated the Championship run table, accumulating 1,359 at 64.71. Lancashire’s Alex Davies was promoted to specialist opener with considerable success, especially in T20, Daryl Mitchell was predictably consistent in four-dayers but I’ve gone for Kent’s Joe Denly. The only survivor from my 2017 XI, he usually batted at three in the Championship but was probably the best all-rounder in domestic cricket, adding 57 wickets to a notable haul of 1,729 runs. Could he get back in England’s ODI set-up after a nine-year absence?

Middle-order:

Champions Surrey didn’t miss the retired Sangakkara and there were no truly dominant middle-order strokemakers this summer. Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes were prolific early on, before the former was granted a Test debut against India in July. At 36, Ian Bell who truly rolled back the years for Warwickshire. Several years ago he was criticised by England for slow scoring but now he is reborn as a heavy-scoring T20 Blaster. Only two men surpassed his 580 runs, at a decent rate of 139, to accompany his 1,027 in the Championship. James Vince may not have nailed down an England spot but he can still do the business for Hampshire, as does James Hildreth for Somerset. His hopes of international recognition are long gone but Hildy was brilliant for us in all competitions this year. Indeed, he was the all-round top scorer in domestic cricket. 

With Denly available as a spinner, I am also including his Kent team-mate Heino Kuhn. I confess I’d never previously heard of him but the 34 year-old South African racked up the hundreds in the Royal London One-Day Cup and took the gloves when Sam Billings was absent.

All-Rounder:

As ever, Darren Stevens is in contention but he was never going to replicate his 2017 achievements. Ed Barnard enjoyed another fine season despite Worcestershire’s relegation and Somerset’s Lewis Gregory had probably his best year yet, assuming the onerous roles of opening bowler and late-order six-hitter. Messrs Raine, Higgins and Harris had their moments but my primary all-rounder slot goes to another veteran Surrey man, Rikki Clarke. Aged 36, he snaffled 47 Championship wickets at 21.53 and scored 500 valuable runs. Never write him off!

Wicket-keeper:

Ben Cox’s batting has come on leaps and bounds for Worcestershire, Tom Moores looked a reasonable replacement for the retired Chris Read at Notts and Ben Foakes made excellent contributions to Surrey’s title chase. I’ve already mentioned Alex Davies but for most matches he ceded the Lancashire gloves to South African import Dane Vilas. He proceeded to take more Championship dismissals than anyone else and struck Division One’s highest individual score, 235 not out.

Bowlers:-

The evergreen Jimmy Anderson may have continued breaking records for England but the county game was the stage for some lesser-known bowlers. Essex duo James Porter and Simon Harmer were again quite prolific in first-class cricket; ditto for Tom Bailey and Graham Onions of Lancashire. Tim Murtagh seamed away in his usual mean style for Middlesex and Ollie Robinson’s 74 wickets took Sussex very close to Division Two promotion. However, Kent beat their neighbours to it, thanks in no small way to their New Zealand paceman Matt Henry. He was superb in the first half of the season and came back to give the county vital impetus. Another import, Morne Morkel was also superb, grabbing 59 wickets at 14.32 in only ten Division One fixtures. Finally, another thirty-something, Chris Rushworth was a rare jewel in a drab Durham season, accumulating 80 wickets across all three formats.

In summary, based on stats and my Teams of the Week, my County Team of 2018 is:-

Burns (Sur *), Denly (Ken), Bell (War), Vince (Ham), Hildreth (Som), Kuhn (Ken), Vilas (Lan +), Clarke (Sur), Henry (Ken), Morkel (Sur), Rushworth (Dur); 12^th Man: A Davies (Lan)

Surrey make it Eight wins from Ten

Gutted! Somerset deliver yet another brilliant victory, only for Surrey – yet again – to do the same. It’s turning out to be a right battle royal for the Championship but it’s definitely Surrey’s to lose. At least I’m confident Somerset won’t be in a relegation battle this year.

At the Oval, Nottinghamshire asked the home side to bat and allowed Mark Stoneman to reach three figures for the first time this season. After being bowled out for 375 on day two, they proceeded to dismiss Notts twice in under 92 overs. With brother Sam on England duty, Tom Curran took 5-32 in the first innings, while 20 year-old Conor McKerr weighed in with match figures of 7-47.

A day later Somerset completed a 224-run victory over Yorkshire, Jamie Overton wrapped up four of the last five wickets on the final afternoon after a fine 132 by Tom Abell and a second rapid half-century by Lewis Gregory set up the declaration. The in-form Gregory also took six wickets while leading the seam attack.

Champions Essex advanced to third after hammering Hampshire by an innings at Chelmsford. David Lawrence top-scored with 124 but Tom Alsop’s second innings 51 was the highest a Hants player could manage. Peter Siddle was the pick of the Essex bowlers, ending the match with 7-70. At Southport, Lancashire came from behind to beat bottom-club Worcestershire by four wickets. Dane Vilas and Bolton lad Josh Bohannon shared a stand of 139 to push Lancs over the line.

This week Surrey face a trip up the A12 to Essex while Somerset host Lancashire at Taunton. If Surrey win their next two games they can probably afford to lose to their rivals and still take the title.

In Division Two, Sussex lost ground in the promotion chase after losing a close encounter with Middlesex. Runs were in short supply at Lord’s, so Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan and Ollie Robinson helped themselves to eighteen wickets between them. Warwickshire remain top after Glamorgan crumbled to another innings defeat. At least they passed 200 twice, but Ian Bell also did so all on his own. The ex-England star is enjoying a renaissance this summer. and his 2014 was his 56^th first-class century of a 20-year career. Jeetan Patel’s spin did most of the damage with the ball, taking ten wickets.

Kent leapfrogged Sussex into second following a six-wicket triumph at Derby. Crawley and Denly put on 170 for the second wicket, then Grant Stewart and Matt Henry beefed up the tail to record a total of 561. Spin twins Adam Riley and an unwell Joe Denly restricted Derbyshire to 270 second time around and the match was as good as won.

At the other end of the table, Gloucestershire easily outscored Leicestershire at Bristol. Skipper Chris Dent’s second innings 214 not out was the critical difference between the teams. Northamptonshire had already despatched Durham inside two days, registering only their third win of the Championship. The ever-reliable Ben Sanderson took 4-34 to leave his batsmen a simple target of 65.

The top three counties each now play at home, Kent’s tie against Northants looking the easiest on paper, although the Sussex seamers must fancy the opportunity to get stuck into the Leicester batsmen.

Team of the Week: 

Stoneman (Sur), Dent (Glo), Denly (Ken), Bell (War), Abell (Som), Vilas (Lan +), Gregory (Som), Patel (War), Siddle (Ess), Sanderson (Nor), McKerr (Sur)

Ian Bell rings, Fuller's full of wickets

Most of the Vitality Blast action took place in the northern half of England this week. Worcestershire’s 100% record came to a crashing end, with defeats at the hands of Yorkshire and Durham. The Jets won all three of their matches, with strong starts to each innings. Captain Tom Latham and Cumbrian Graham Clark were consistent openers, Callum MacLeod weighed in with a century and a rare Ben Stokes appearance delivered a 43 and 4-16 in that Worcester fixture.

However, Lancashire top the group following three victories of their own. Last night’s thrilling one-run success over their White Rose rivals was the big one, and there was no ‘bat drop’ celebration for Joe Root, who couldn’t find the last-ball boundary Yorkshire needed. Liam Livingstone added to his considerable run tally for the season but Toby Lester’s excellent start – 4-25 against Derbyshire – couldn’t be maintained. Root and Bresnan took him to the cleaners in the exciting run chase at Old Trafford.

Even more cliffhanging was Friday’s game at Edgbaston. After suffering five successive defeats, Northamptonshire must have sensed success against Birmingham Bears once Richard Levi’s unbeaten 95 had anchored a score of 231-5. However, Ian Bell, once derided for his inability to score quickly enough for England, produced a magnificent 131, including seven sixes. He was dismissed by Buck in the last over with ten needed, then de Grandhomme fell with two to win. Unfortunately for the Bears, Aaron Thomason could only muster a single from the final ball and we had a tie. At least Northants had secured a point.

In the South division, Kent and Gloucestershire share the lead, but both were prevented from adding two to their points total by rain (yes, rain!). At Cheltenham, the weather closed in before the home team could bat, and the same thing happened at The Oval, where the Kent attack was hammered for 250-6. Inevitably, Aaron Finch led the way with a 38-ball 83.

I’m delighted that Somerset are back in the hunt. Their trips to Lord’s and Cardiff resulted in much needed triumphs, Max Waller’s leg-spin being particularly mean at the start of the innings. However, when it comes to taking wickets, James Fuller topped the bill this week. The eighth bowler used by Middlesex against Hampshire, he claimed an impressive 6-28. Nevertheless, they still contrived to lose the game and hand Hampshire a first win of the 2018 Blast.

They meet again next week, but the Kent-Sussex and Birmingham-Yorkshire clashes are the picks of the fixture list. The T20 block is also interrupted briefly by some Championship matches, including another Roses encounter and leaders Surrey travelling to Nottinghamshire. If Finch plays, it could be over in two days.

Team of the Week: 

Latham (Dur), Bell (War), Levi (Nor), Livingstone (Lan), MacLeod (Dur), Stokes (Dur), Brown (Sus +), Archer (Sus), Imran Tahir (Dur), Waller (Som), Fuller (Mid)

Renshaw runs lift Somerset to the top

Excuse me while I attempt to bring my feet fluttering back to earth but it has been a giddy day or two on the cricketing fields of England and Scotland. First there were the pictures of stony-faced Root, Hales, Ali, Rashid et al having been dealt a maiden ODI defeat by the likes of Kyle Coetzer, Calum MacLeod, Mark Watt and George Munsey in front of 6,000 disbelieving fans in Edinburgh. England may well go on to defeat Australia but the Scots can always boast of beating the world’s number one 50-over cricket nation. Next was the sight of Sarah Taylor adding another century to her effortless wicketkeeping for England against South Africa. Now the best of all: Somerset going top of the County Championship!

We’ve done it before, of course. Somerset’s problem for 120 years is never being in that position at the end of the season. With injuries and England call-ups, we ought to be at the opposite end of the table but I shall enjoy the moment while I can. Having forced the previous leading side Nottinghamshire to follow on, Tom Abell’s side must have contemplated wrapping things up inside three days. However, the Notts batting was far more resilient second time around and, with Tom Moores completing his first Championship century, they ended up setting Somerset a tricky 248 to win on the final day. I needn’t have worried. Matt Renshaw took his match aggregate to 167 and Stephen Davies and Abell compiled one of their useful fifth-wicket stands to clinch victory.

They lead the table by a single point from Surrey, who pounded Hampshire by an innings at Southampton. Rory Burns top-scored with 151 before his attack bowled the home side out twice. Rikki Clarke claimed a five-for while Morne Morkel’s debut featured two typically miserly blasts with the ball. It doesn’t get easier for Somerset because they now face a trip to The Oval and a potential dive down the table should Essex beat Notts.

The champions advanced to third having dealt Lancashire a five-wicket defeat at Old Trafford. Last year’s stars Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer were again in fine fettle, garnering seven wickets apiece. Essex may be missing captain Ryan Ten Doeschate next week after he was punished for another disciplinary indiscretion with a one-match ban.

In Division Two, Ian Bell became the first Warwickshire player to score two hundreds in a match since – er – he last did it in 2004. Strange to think he hadn’t reached three figures in red-ball cricket for two years then does it twice in a few days. Helped by Jonathan Trott and solid bowling support, Warwickshire outclassed Glamorgan to more twenty-four points clear. Kent remain second but, having amassed almost 600 in the first innings and Matt Henry proceeding to take 6-58, they must be disappointed not to have taken maximum points at Bristol. Instead, Gloucestershire fought back with Dent and van Buuren and secured a draw.

Leicestershire must be feeling dizzy in third place but they were worthy winners over Northamptonshire who can’t seem to score runs. Zak Chappell’s first-innings 6-44 and an excellent performance from medium-pacer Ben Raine, eclipsing his opening partner Mohammed Abbas, helped set up a six-wicket success. 

At Chester-le-Street, Durham contrived to beat Derbyshire despite being skittled for 96 on the opening morning, when Duanne Olivier nabbed 5-20. The inexperienced Gareth Harte’s 114 started to reverse fortunes while the very experienced Chris Rushworth completed the comeback with 5-46. 

As in Division One, next week sees first playing second so, if Warwickshire defeat Kent, Durham could enter the promotion zone should they overcome Sussex at Arundel. With no money and their best batsmen pilfered by the big boys, Durham will be relieved and proud of such an improvement. Northants will host Gloucestershire and harbour hopes of securing a first Championship triumph of 2018.

Team of the Week: 

Renshaw (Som), Burns (Sur), Bell (War), Denly (Ken), Khawaja (Gla), Davies (Som +), van Buuren (Glo), Raine (Lei), Harmer (Ess), Olivier (Der), Rushworth (Dur)

Bell and Cook Reel Back the Years

Four counties ensured their progress to the Royal London Cup quarter-finals with a game to spare. Worcestershire lead the North division despite suffering a heavy defeat to Lancashire at Old Trafford. Yorkshire slipped to second after a surprise 5-wicket loss to Warwickshire, for whom Ian Bell was in superb form all week. He passed 90 in each of his three matches, including his first century for a year. Coventry-born Grant Thornton weighed in with seven wickets but the county’s normally formidable attack has looked rather threadbare, and they could well finish bottom of their group.

Yorkshire skipper Gary Ballance thumped 152 in 118 balls against struggling Northamptonshire while Alex Hales reached three figures in Nottinghamshire’s lost game against Durham. Victory over Northants will see them safely through to the knockout stages. Despite being docked a point pre-season, Durham may yet join them, and they will have local academy product Graham Clark to thank. Opening with Jennings, he notched up scores of 93 and 114 this week.

In the South group, Somerset ceded the lead to Essex when Ten Doeschate’s men enjoyed a fruitful trip to Taunton on Sunday. Tom Westley (100) and Ravi Bopara (92 not out) dominated in that match but across the week, it was the steady influence of Alastair Cook which caught the eye. He followed a century against Sussex with 60+ scores in the next two fixtures.

He wasn’t exactly hammering sixes. That was left to Darren Stevens, who struck fourteen of them in his brutal innings of 147 for Kent against Glamorgan. And yet he finished on the losing side! Chasing a testing target of 357, he was out with seventeen overs remaining, and the tail couldn’t quite finish what he started. Credit to the Welsh side, for whom Chris Cooke took five catches and the in-form South African Colin Ingram contributed eight sixes and his second successive century. Glamorgan have an outside chance of reaching the last eight, with David Lloyd and paceman Marchant de Lange also shining.

Gloucestershire’s Chris Liddle claimed a couple of five-fors, including 5-52 against his old mates at Sussex, and left-arm seamer Paul Walter took 4-37 for Essex against Middlesex. In only his second List A appearance, the 22 year-old who went to school in my old town of Billericay removed Compton Voges, Simpson and Franklin in a decisive victory.

Elsewhere, the pick of the batting performances must be the 138-ball 178 produced by Hampshire captain James Vince at the Rose Bowl versus Glamorgan. This eclipsed the previous Hampshire limited-overs best by Gordon Greenidge but, like Stevens’ incredible blitz for Kent, was in a losing cause as that man Ingram cleared the boundary a further seven times en route to 115. It was probably the most exciting encounter of the week, as Cooke steered the Glammies to a 3-wicket win off the penultimate ball.

Surrey will progress if they beat Gloucestershire at Bristol while other contenders Sussex and Hampshire meet at Southampton on Wednesday.


Team of the Week: Clark (Dur), Cook (Ess), Bell (War), Vince (Ham), Ingram (Gla), Thakor (Der), Cooke (Gla +), J Overton (Som), Walter (Ess), Liddle (Glo), de Lange (Gla)

Durham back in the Hunt, and Trescothick back in Form

Most of Division One’s nine counties have been in the frame for the Championship pennant this summer, and now it’s Durham’s turn to post a genuine challenge. They enjoyed a brief burst of hot sunshine by sneaking a two-wicket win over former leaders Lancashire at Southport. Adam Hickey and Chris Rushworth saw them to the finish line despite a five-wicket haul from Tom Smith. Ben Stokes and Jimmy Anderson each bowled tidily in opposition to each other, although the latter was excused duties on the last two days.

Lancashire now sit in fourth, only a few points ahead of Somerset who enjoyed a ten-wicket trouncing of Nottinghamshire, many people’s tip for the title. The Cidermen’s tail is longer than a gibbon’s these days but it didn’t matter when Marcus Trescothick is in this form. Now 40 and sporting spectacles, the opener struck a splendid 218 in the first innings and helped Johann Myburgh knock off the hundred-odd runs on the final afternoon when the weather was on the verge of breaking.

Accompanying that Somerset performance, Surrey dumped Notts into the bottom two and made Hampshire’s task of avoiding the drop even tougher, beating the latter by an innings. No fewer than three men made three figures, including skipper Gareth Batty, whose maiden hundred formed half of a record-breaking double-century eighth wicket stand with Ben Foakes. Batty then took 6-51 to round things off nicely.

It’s getting even closer in Division Two. Leicestershire prevented Gloucestershire going top by winning at Cheltenham and did their promotion chances no end of good, too. Just eleven points separate the top four. Ben Raine enjoyed a good all-round game although Paul Horton’s final day 73 proved to be the highest individual score.

At the other end of the table, Glamorgan finally secured a victory in an exciting encounter at Colwyn Bay. Teenager Aneurin Donald not only achieved his maiden hundred but also converted it into the joint fastest ‘double’ in first-class cricket history! No matter that he went for a duck second time around. His 234 included fifteen sixes! 341 adrift, Derbyshire did make a game of it in the second innings, as Chesney Hughes and Billy Godleman also made tons, but Rudolph and Meschede steadied a rocky ship to claim a four-wicket victory.

In the Tunbridge Wells derby, Kent’s Sam Northeast’s 190 bested Ross Taylor’s 142 not out in a drawn encounter. Sussex were made to follow on but they comfortably avoided defeat on the final day.

After the week’s Twenty20 fixtures, Nottinghamshire and Gloucestershire sit atop their respective leagues, while Glamorgan’s easy win over struggling Somerset ensured a quarter-final place. Middlesex won London bragging rights after edging Surrey in front of a record English county T20 attendance at Lord’s. Elsewhere, Ian Bell biffed fifties in each of Warwickshire’s three matches, although they won only two of them.

The knockout qualifiers will be decided next Friday evening while the Championship takes a fortnight’s break.

Team of the Week: Trescothick (Som), Bell (War), Hughes (Der), Northeast (Ken), Taylor (Sus), Donald (Gla), Foakes (Sur +), Raine (Lei), Batty (Sur), Higgins (Mid), Payne (Glo)

Notts enjoy a perfect start

The County Championship’s mid-April launch inevitably led to tougher contests against the weather than between the teams. It was also the first week without the traditional toss of a coin to see who gets to choose who bats or bowls, but the rains which affected most parts of England determined most of the results.

In Division One, Nottinghamshire overcame the permanent loss of star player James Taylor to a heart condition by beating newly-promoted Surrey by three wickets. Steven Mullaney scored 113 on day one but when the visitors followed on, a 142-run stand between Arun Harinath and Kumar Sangakkara kept them in the hunt. However, Hutton and Ball held on to secure maximum points for Notts.

At Chester-le-Street, the second half of the match was lost to rain, but somehow there was still time for Keaton Jennings to score centuries in each innings for Durham against a weak Somerset attack. Only three days’ play were possible at The Rose Bowl, but Warwickshire had the better of proceedings in the draw with Hampshire. Skipper Ian Bell compiled a patient 174 and Keith Barker’s 5-53 was the pick of the week’s bowling stats.

In the second tier, opening batsmen were again in the ascendancy. Essex demolished Gloucestershire by ten wickets thanks to centuries by Alastair Cook and Tom Westley, and seven wickets from Jamie Porter. At Northampton, the home side couldn’t even finish their first innings because of the wet conditions, leaving Ben Duckett high and dry on 282! There was nothing dry about the New Road outfield, so the Worcestershire-Kent fixture was a total washout!

At least the ground has an extra week to recover as neither side are scheduled to play next week. The Sussex-Essex contest looks a juicy one in Division Two. Notts head to Lancashire while double champions Yorkshire host Hampshire to kick off their latest title defence. However, the north winds are forecast to bring frosts and showers. Expect three-sweater fielders and a dearth of positive results!

Team of the Week:
Jennings (Dur), Duckett (Nor), Westley (Ess), Sangakkara (Sur), Bell (War *), Roderick (Glo +), Napier (Ess), Barker (War), Gregory (Som), Porter (Ess), Rampaul (Sur)

3rd Ashes Test: Aussies Tamed and Test Cricket Shamed

A great result for England at Edgbaston but I don’t know which was worse: Australia’s capitulation or the longer-term impact on five-day Test cricket.

In terms of the competition between the Ashes adversaries, I’m not sure what this match means. So far this year, England have been on a recent rollercoaster ride in Tests: four wins but none back-to-back. All three in the current series have been one-sided affairs and none have lasted until the fifth day. Australia may have been seriously damaged by the Birmingham defeat but if the sequence continues, they could perk up at Trent Bridge. Unfortunately for them, that would mean England winning at The Oval and taking the urn 3-2!

Jimmy Anderson was supreme on the first day, nabbing 6-47, then the returning Steve Finn ripped the heart out of Australia’s batting on the second. A great achievement for England’s seamers, but the contribution of Ian Bell cannot be forgotten. His selection was derided by many but, like me, the selectors hoped the home pitch would bring out the old Belly. It did. And he did it not by careful consideration but by counter-attacking.

First time out he struck ten boundaries to make 53 from 56 balls, then on day three he scored an unbeaten 65 from 90. In such a low-scoring contest, two half-centuries must be admired. Ian Bell must also have rescued his Test career, at least for this summer.

Adam Lyth failed twice but, without any obvious replacement, could be given another chance. Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes (second ball) were despatched by snorters from Mitchell Johnson so Jonny at least can’t be written off just yet, especially after his prolific season for Yorkshire. The Durham all-rounder might be more vulnerable but, with Trent Bridge likely to be prepared for another three-day seam-fest, he may be safe.

But what about Australia? Michael Clarke was honest when admitting his batting woes had left his team playing ten against eleven. However, he is unlikely to be jettisoned mid-series. Adam Voges looked poor once more while Chris Rogers (first innings) and David Warner (second) provided more backbone. Steve Smith had an off-week, but Clarke should be thanking his wicketkeeper Peter Nevill and Mitchell Starc for at least taking the fight to the third day.

It wasn’t just England’s bowlers outplaying the opposing batsmen; it was the way the Aussies got out. It looked as if they were playing one-day cricket, not five-day stuff. Mind you, that was what England did at Lord’s! In summary, I would be seriously worried had I bought a ticket for a fourth or fifth day in either of the next Tests. It’s a shame because in the past year the world has witnessed some excellent Test matches, including those played between England and New Zealand a few months ago.

I gather that Ricky Ponting has advocated doing away with the toss and allowing the away side to choose whether to bat or field. I think that could be a good way forward without compromising the integrity of Test matches. I don’t want to see a game of two 600-4 declareds but neither do I want two-and-a-half-day affairs. Batsmen also need to remember how to bat, not merely throw the bat. They could do worse than watch and learn from Joe Root! Taking a T20 approach to the fifty-over format is one thing; applying the same attacking ethos to Tests is frankly ridiculous. David Warner, like the Sehwags and Gayles, can get away with it, but he needs Smith, Clarke and co to provide solid support. That didn’t happen at Edgbaston but it needs to happen at Trent Bridge, or the Ashes are lost.

First Ashes Test: Bayliss 1 Boof 0

After all the hullaballoo, the latest of an increasingly frequent Ashes contests finally got under way with a straightforward England victory. Given that it’s very rare for a side leading 1-0 to lose an Ashes series, New England are already looking a good bet to regain the urn.

It does seem odd to hear an Antipodean accent playing up England’s chances but, even though Jason Gillespie ruled himself out, fellow Aussie Trevor Bayliss has made a best possible start to his reign. I’ve no doubt that the confidence developed during the recent series against New Zealand under the fledgling Strauss/Farbrace regime played its part. There will be strategies, grand and individual, but batsmen will enjoy having the opportunity to go for their shots without fear. The return of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad on home pitches is also vital not only to a harmonious England dressing room and fanbase, but also to upsetting the opposition.

England pretty much led from start to finish, or at least from the time Joe Root came in at 43-3 to accompany Yorkshire colleague Gary Ballance. Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Lyon were clearly targets for the strokemakers, and Joe Root led with finesse. I said it four years ago and will say it again: Joe Root is the real deal at Test level. His proven ability in ODIs and T20 is a bonus. In 28 Tests, he has aggregated well over 2,000 runs at 56. Ballance’s averages also stands above 50 but I suspect that will decrease in time, just as Ian Bell’s has. I fancy Root to advance to three in the order, nudging Bell and Ballance down a slot.

There were breezy half-centuries from Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali, surely the best number eight in recent memory, as England advanced to 430 at more than four an over. Only Mitchell Starc’s five-for gave Australia much to shout about, but at least they didn’t let England get out of sight. Chris Rogers responded in the right manner, and was unfortunate not to reach a deserved hundred. He fell to a Buttler catch from a Mark Wood delivery that moved and bounced.

Aussie coach Darren Lehmann cannot have been pleased with the rest of his batsmen. No other man managed 40 in the first innings. Needing 412 to win, and Sunday heading for a likely washout, all Michael Clarke and co needed to do was bat out the fourth day to ensure a draw and re-group for round two. Given all the reports of a ridiculously placid Cardiff pitch, this shouldn’t be too difficult for a classy, experienced team. Yet they failed. Badly.

England bowled and fielded with admirable discipline, while the batsmen generously threw away their wickets at regular intervals. David Warner did at least get to 52 before Ali trapped him just before lunch. Johnson had suffered a miserable match with the ball but he could now open his shoulders and counter-attack. That’s fine, but he needed the top order to provide the ballast at the other end to ensure they had wicket in hand come close of play. They didn’t. Clarke, new old boy Adam Voges and 2013 hero Brad Haddin fell in single figures and Shane Watson’s LBW trials persisted. Game over.
I’d be surprised if Mitchell Marsh didn’t replace Watson at Lord’s but there’s no real need for England to tinker very much. Leave Cook and Bell alone but I’d promote Ali to six ahead of Stokes and Buttler. The bowlers stuck to their task although there may be a case for introducing Steve Finn on his home ground. Having a ‘Dad’s Army’ isn’t necessarily a weakness for Australia but the old heads and hearts need to be more in evidence if they are to salvage the Ashes in the next few months.

Glamorgan on the Glory Trail

While the endless stream of sixes sailed into the stands in the England v NZ ODIs, runs were harder to come by in the County Championship and Nat West Blast.

In Division One, Durham owed much to Gordon Muchall for their defeat of Sussex. He contributed almost 200 runs while most of the top order struggled. Chris Rushworth took 6-49 in the first innings then, following Muchall’s lead, Hastings and Coughlin weighed in with valuable late runs to make Sussex’s job even harder. Luke Wells reached three figures, but it wasn’t enough.

Warwickshire kept in touch with Durham by slamming neighbours Worcestershire by an innings. Ian Bell enjoyed a rare run-out for his county, hitting 111, while Keith Barker combined an unbeaten 50 with seven wickets. At Taunton, Somerset looked down and out yet again after conceding a 200-run first innings deficit to Nottinghamshire. Surrounded by a ridiculously ageing team (what is going on in the new regime?), Tom Abell looked the most mature batsman of all while Abdur Rehman’s spin was completely outclassed by Notts’ 19 year-old debutant Matthew Carter who took 7-56. That’s the best first innings haul by a first-time slow bowler for eighty-odd years! Sadly for him, it was all in vain – as was Brendan Taylor’s opening 152 - as Somerset at last showed some resolve. Trescothick, Abell, Myburgh, Trego and Allenby each scored half-centuries to reach the 402 target with two wickets to spare. Phew! Had we lost that one, we really would be checking out the route to Leicester next year!

Lancashire continued their promotion procession with an innings defeat of Leicestershire at Old Trafford. Ashwell Prince added his fourth hundred of the season and Kyle Jarvis was the pick of a solid attack. Leicester spinner Jigar Naik claimed 8-179. Behind Lancashire, Glamorgan closed the gap on Surrey with a seven-wicket victory at leafy Guildford. The horrific T20 fielding collision which hospitalised Burns and Henriques allowed Arun Harinath to be promoted from the Surrey Seconds. He grasped his opportunity pretty well by scoring a century in each innings. Nevertheless, despite being useless at T20, Glammie bowler Graeme Wagg took 4-64 then struck 11 sixes in a score of 200, by far his best with the bat. He and Michael Hogan shared a century stand for the tenth wicket before Hoges produced another five-for to speed the Welsh club to their third win of the campaign. Alongside their two T20 wins, it’s been a good week for Glamorgan and their results are finally reflecting the quality of their squad.

Their was another innings triumph in Division Two, this time for bottom-placed Essex. Well, they’re up to sixth now after hammering Derbyshire. Alastair Cook top-scored with 80 while young James Porter helped himself to six cheap wickets. In his short first-class career he has taken 32 at barely 20 apiece!

In last weekend’s T20 fixtures, Gloucestershire’s Michael Klinger made identical three-figure scores – 104 – against Essex and Glamorgan while in the latter match, Jacques Rudolph also thrashed a ton. In Hampshire’s defeat of Kent, James Vince was stranded on 99 not out and they are now at the top of the South group with Kent.

Team of the Week: Harinath (Sur), Klinger (Glo), B Taylor (Not), Bell (War), Prince (Lan), Muchall (Dur), Wallace (Gla +), Wagg (Gla), Carter (Not), Naik (Lei), Hogan (Gla).

World Cup ODI Warm-Ups: What have we learned?

The Carlton Tri-Series has ended with a trophy for Australia but does this merit the World Cup favourites tag? Well, yes, in my view. They are top of the ICC rankings, unbeaten in this series and hosting the tournament, so what can go wrong?

Complacency is one possibility, injuries to Steve Smith or the Mitchells Starc and Johnson another. Of course, 50-over matches can be won and lost in a few overs, but the Aussies must be highly fancied to reach the semis. Smith, Maxwell and Marsh have made useful runs, Finch, Warner and Watson are always dangerous, and they have the bowlers to exploit the bouncy pitches Down Under. Oh, and Michael Clarke hopes to return from injury, too.

What about England? Reeling from the Pietersen saga and the sacking of captain Alastair Cook, I'm unconvinced by the promotion of Eoin Morgan to the leadership role. One good hundred, two ducks and a 2 don't build confidence following a poor 2014 in ODIs. On the plus side, I'm pleased to see Ian Bell show what he's capable of, finishing the tournament's top scorer. James Taylor produced two good half-centuries, James Anderson remains one of the most dangerous and economical fast bowlers in one-day cricket and Steve Finn's woes may be behind him at last. Nevertheless they were soundly beaten twice by Australia, once batting first, then in a doomed chase during the final. Johnson still seems to possess the fear factor, at least where England are concerned.

It's easy to forget India are the reigning champions. They lost all three of their completed matches, twice easily dispatched by England. Virat Kohli endured a nightmare few weeks, and his colleagues fared little better. Nevertheless I'd expect them to pick up when the World Cup excitement kicks in later this month.

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka 4-2, and like the Aussies the men in black have a new-found confidence thanks to some great Test results and now coming out on top against Sangakkara and co in Sri Lanka's preferred type of cricket. Williamson, McCullum, Southee and Boult are capable of mixing it with the best of them, but never write off South Africa....

Is Cook's time up?

Three Tests, three huge victories for England. Three ODIs, three massive defeats for England. Anyone would conclude that the five- and one-day formats are completely different ball games. To some extent, of course, they are. Yet they are both cricket, and the England and India protagonists are basically the same in each series. So why the sudden reversal of fortunes?

It may just be that India have become more comfortable in the 50-over game by sheer weight of experience. Tendulkar, Dravid, Zaheer Khan and co have passed the baton on to Kohli, Raina, Kumar et al, whil the super-cool MS Dhoni provides the link spanning the 'generations'. India are world champions and ranked top of the ICC ODI league, and they look as lively, committed with bat, ball and especially in the field as they appeared lacklustre in the last three legs of the summer's Test series.

On the other hand, there is England's situation. India have a more-or-less settled team while I think it's fair to say that Peter Moores and his selectors have no firm idea of who will take the pitch come next year's World Cup. The past week's performances surely indicate that the current line-up is not up to the task, but, no matter what Graeme Swann may say, the answer is not straightforward. Cook's slow scoring wasn't the issue yesterday; he just got out too early, and Hales and Ballance also lost their wickets quickly, leaving the rest with too much to do. Joe Root and Eoin Morgan steadied the ship yet also failed to impose themselves on the Indian bowlers. Moeen Ali demonstrated how to attack spin bowling but by then the damage had been done.

When India batted, England just could not break through and Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan were merciless. They showed how to set a foundation then accelerate to reach a target - and so with twenty overs to spare. Astonishing stuff! Even though Rahane gave away his wicket, it was special that, with the crowd baying for him to win the game with a six, Dhawan was able to oblige off the hapless Harry Gurney.

Of course the microscope is focussed on the captain Alastair Cook. One of his great strengths is his unflappability, a quality which has made him one of the world's foremost opening Test batsmen. While he is no Jayasuriya or Sehwag, neither is he a hopeless plodder in the one-day game. That he is out of form is not in dispute. Nevertheless, is it too late for him to step down and, if not, who should replace him in the team and as leader?

I feel vindicated that he wasn't sacked as Test captain. I don't like knee-jerk decisions like that; form is temporary and class is permanent, and Cook is a class Test run-scorer. But...this is one-day cricket and there is still time for England to find the right blend of experience, skills and tactics to forge a team capable of doing well in Australia and New Zealand, if not actually to win the trophy.

There are options for bolstering the batting but captaincy potential is more limited. Bell, Morgan and Broad are the main contenders from the current squad and, while James Taylor and James Vince merit opportunities in the side and have county and Lions leadership experience, is it too soon to expect them to take on both roles six months ahead of the biggest competition in cricket? Personally I am not a big fan of either Morgan or Broad and think Bell may be our best chance.

So what about the future for the rest of the team? The new guard of Root, Ballance, Buttler and Moeen Ali are high-class players with a solid claim for tickets Down Under in February, while the swing and seam stars, Anderson and Broad, should also travel. Ian Bell's net injury spared him any connection to the Edgbaston nightmare but he also needs to find some form in the forthcoming practice internationals. The jury is out on Hales but on 2014 form should be given more chances. The aforementioned Taylor and Vince have the ability to build and attack, and we shouldn't write off Ravi Bopara or even Samit Patel, both of whom remain consistently good all-rounders on the domestic circuit.

England's biggest problems are possibly in the bowling support for Anderson and Broad. Ali is an OK spin option, but used even by Worcestershire until 2013 only as a part-time bowler. It's great to see him progress this summer with England and only James Tredwell seems to be in the frame when it comes to slowing down scoring rates. Monty Panesar is out of the question, Simon Kerrigan's form has suffered, Ravi Patel is too raw and Adil Rashid perhaps too expensive.

I'm still a fan of Chris Woakes but Chris Jordan was hopeless at Cardiff and Steve Finn's drop in pace has reduced his effectiveness as a strike bowler. Harry Gurney is there only because he is the only left-armer around since Ryan Sidebottom. Is that a good reason for picking him, that 'he gives us different options'? Perhaps. If it's about extending the batting, then Woakes and Jordan are still worth a punt, and the likes of Tim Brasnan and David Willey (fitness permitting) plus Jack Brooks must be on the radar. Forget Dernbach and Meaker. Please!

Let's see what happens in the final dead rubber against India. A consolation victory will at least raise the spirits if only to paper over the ominous cracks which have appeared in the edifice which only a few years ago had England rated number one. If England don't conjure up a victory, then let us at least admire the Indians, from the bouncy Bhuvy, vibrant Raina, arty Ajinkya to the artful Ashwin and ooooh Ravi Jadeja. At least in ODIs, they seem to know what their roles are, and are capable of fulfilling them to the letter.

Team of the Week: Cook and Bell back in business

One-dayers ruled this week, and so did the batsmen. The sun shone (mostly) in Britain and the runs flowed accordingly. For once, the Caribbean didn't get much of a look-in, but I'll start with an A team one-day series Down Under. In recent years, Phil Hughes has been in and out more than the world hokey-cokey championship where CA has been concerned. However, he had a great week for the 'A's, starting with an unbeaten 202 (yes, that's not a typo) against South Africa A, followed by two further half-centuries. His aggregate far outweighed the 165 accrued by Alastair Cook, but the embattled England skipper also makes my Eleven for showing the character in adversity to not only score much-needed runs but also to lead his side to their first Test victory in almost a year. And to blunt the knives of the media and tongues of ex-captains who should know better!

The big centuries scored in that Third Test against India by Gary Ballance and Ian Bell also propel those two into my team of the week. The Zimbabwean has been in good form all summer but when Bell is firing on all cylinders, England normally do well. Last year, Derbyshire captain Wayne Madsen enjoyed his best season for the county bt so far in 2014 runs have been harder to come by. Normally better suited to first-class cricket, Madsen surprised me by striking not one but two hundreds this week in the new 50-over One-Day Cup.

There were numerous other excellent middle-order innings in this trophy. Karl Brown, Glen Maxwell and James Hildreth particularly impressed but I've gone with consistency over one-off brilliance. Ex-England leader Paul Collingwood produced a 92-ball 113 against Somerset and 77 versus Warwickshire, also contributing a few wickets to Durham's cause. The century shold have been enough to win the game but Somerset were to compete in three thrilling contests. They came from behind to win that one, then tie the fixture at Nottingham and lose by just two runs in an incredible finish at Taunton after Kent compiled 383!

Lewis Gregory has been a godsend for Somerset when he's been fit this summer, and he scored 105 not out in 71 deliveries against Durham. However, he took a pasting in the Kent match, in which young Sam Billings thumped 135 off just 58 balls. The wicketkeeper also notched 64 in 54 earlier in the week, so he beats England debutant Jos Buttler to the gloves.

Gregory is also eclipsed by Steven Mullaney for the all-rounder of the week position. The Notts man has been batting low in the order in recent weeks but it hasn't prevented him making vital quick runs. IN total, 103 came in 66 balls, alongside 6-59 with his medium pacers. A greatly under-rated member of the Nottinghamshire squad.

James Anderson has to be there, too. Unlike the previous game, he deserved to be the Man of the Match at the Aegeas Bowl, claiming 5-53 and 2-24 to thwart a lacklustre India. His acquittal on disrepute charges in the Jadeja 'handbags' incident polished off a great week for him. Now Ian Botham's longstanding England Test wicket record is there for the taking.

My line-up is completed by two spinners. Jeetan Patel has done wonders for Warwickshire in the Championship and this week he was Mr Consistent in the Royal London tournament, with figures of 4-24, 2-36 and 2-43, adding a few runs, too. He didn't have to bowl as much as Rangana Herath, though. Having already sent down 45 overs in the first innings and now with South Africa under the cosh, he opened the bowling in the second innings with Perera and flogged a dead pitch for another 45. Two in three were maidens, and he finished with stats of 45-30-40-5. It wasn't enough to win as Amla and co defended splendidly to defy SL, draw the match and win the series. Sometimes a backs-to the-wall performance can deliver a dramatic cricket match just as much as a runfest.

My team: Cook (Eng *), Hughes (Aus A), Ballance (Eng), Madsen (Der), Bell (Eng), Collingwood (Dur), Billings (Ken +), Mullaney (Not), Patel (War), Anderson (Eng), Herath (SL)

Chris Rogers prompts a Middlesex great escape

When Ryan Sidebottom and co dismissed Middlesex for just 123 in the first innings, it looked as if Yorkshire were heading for top spot in the County Championship. However, a superb double-century from Chris Rogers, ably assisted by Robson and Dexter, ensured the home side reached their immense target of 472 for the loss of only three wickets, one of the highest fourth innings winning scores in Championship history. Earlier Gary Ballance had struck another hundred for the White Roses but Rogers' chanceless 241 made it 1-0 to the Aussies!

Of course, this run chase was nowhere near as incredible as the 479 made against Yorkshire by Somerset five seasons ago. What made that one so special was that it was achieved inside a day! Somerset were again in winning form today, beating Sussex by an innings at Hove. Players and fans were delighted at Marcus Trescothick's first century for yonks but every bit as encouraging was Luke Gregory's second excellent performance in successive matches. Match figures of 9-97 and a brisk 47 with the bat confirmed the Devonian seamer is back after anm injury-racked 2013. Sussex remain top of the table, but by only three points from Middlesex.

Northants lost their third game on the trot. In a low-scoring contest, 240 wasn't an impossible target for Lancashire, and while James Middlebrook was at the crease, there was a chance. However, James Anderson recorded his second five-for, Kabir Ali chipped in with 3-17 and the rest of the Northampton batsmen capitulated leaving them 70 runs short. Coach, captain and number two fast bowler Glen Chapple will be happy with this result, although his side will face stiffer competition than this, and without Anderson too when England resume action next month.

Warwickshire's victory over Nottinghamshire lasted barely two days, prompting a special inspection of the Trent Bridge pitch. No penalty was issued but if the home groundstaff had been instructed to help Siddle, Fletcher et al it backfired. The returning Chris Wright and in-form Chris Woakes were the pick of the bowlers, and only Ian Bell showed how batting should be done, producing twenty boundaries in his 122 out of 263 on the way to Warwicks' 98-run success.

In Division Two, Worcestershire went top, their innings defeat of Derbyshire giving them a second triumph of the season so far. As last year, skipper Wayne Madsen held the visitors' batting together, top-scoring in both innings. However, Worcester's 432-9 declared was simply too much. Moeen Ali was unfortunate to be caught on 99 but Alexei Kervezee struck a rare hundred, although perhaps the major difference between the two sides was Saeed Ajmal. Returning to New Road, the Pakistan superstar made a mockery of the seam-friendly conditions to capture eight wickets in all.

Southampton fared badly with the weather, and so Hampshire experienced another draw, this time against Surrey. James Vince's 159 did at least offer something to relish for the hardy souls who popped along to the Rose Bowl. The showers were also prevalent at Bristol where Essex dominated the early stages against Gloucestershire but missed the chance to go second. Ben Foakes struck an excellent 132 and David Masters took 6-48 but an unbeaten double-century partnership from Will Tavare and Alex Gidman staved off defeat on the last day.

There was far more cricket played at Leicester. Niall O'Brien's rapid 133 led the way for the home team in the first innings but Glamorgan managed to pass 350 in reply. Greg Smith was run out for 97 on the last morning and Leicester scraped enough runs to make a fairly safe declaration on 179-8. Needing 320 in around 70 overs, the departures of Rudolph and Goodwin prompted the Welsh to shut up shop and play for a draw.

Pick of the fixtures next week in Division Two is probably Worcestershire's visit to Cardiff while the close state of the top tier makes all the games potentially interesting. Leaders Sussex travel north to Lancashire while Middlesex travel to Warwickshire. Durham could be back in the mix if they overcome Yorkshire, and Somerset return to their Taunton home to host Notts.

Cook and Bell find form, Sussex on song

Sussex made it two wins out of two, and skipper Ed Joyce also achieved a double; two centuries against Warwickshire's lauded attack which secured a seven-wicket win. His opposite number Ian Bell had a mixed match, starting with a duck but redeeming himself with an unbeaten 189 which at least gave his bowlers something to aim at. After a poor opening performance, Middlesex showed what they can do in dominating their home fixture against highly-fancied Nottinghamshire. Sam Robson continued his hot winter streak, contributing more than 200 runs to the cause, while Steve Finn took another nine wickets. At this rate, both could find themselves in the England team next month. Notts' marquee signing, Peter Siddle, ended his debut with figures of 0-113. I'm sure he'll do better next time out.

Down in Taunton, the sun shone on a batting belter. Just 24 wickets fell in four full days. There were twelve half-centuries but only Yorkshire's Adil Rashid went on to reach three figures. Somerset went for an extra batsman but their bowling looked really thin with no Kirby, Trego, Jamie Overton or, on he final day, his twin brother Craig. When I peeped through the Garner Gates this lunchtime all I saw were South African spinners Myburgh and Petersen in action. Even James Hildreth delivered six overs, but he did capture the wicket of Adam Lyth. It was a draw, of course.

In Division Two, Essex achieved a remarkable turnaround at Chelmsford. Skittled on the first morning for just 94, Footitt and Groenewald each claiming a five-for, Essex fought back with David Masters' 6-46. Alastair Cook then led from the front, striking 181 out of a total of 425, and the bowlers did the rest. Napier and Mills each took 3-49 to help Essex take their first victory of the season. Hampshire lead the table thanks to an eight-wicket, maximum-point defeat of Gloucestershire. James Vince and Michael Carberry each scored centuries against a patchy attack but Gloucester's Will Tavare, a chip off uncle Chris' old block, produced his first career hundred in senior cricket.

It was a relatively low-scoring affair at Worcester. The home side's 'keeper Ben Cox was a surprising high scorer with a second innings 89, while the most notable bowling performance came from Kent's Doug Bollinger. Gareth Andrew's match analysis of 8-85 was also eye-catching and and, with Jack Shantry and Charles Morris, he humbled Rob Key's men who lost all wickets still 125 runs short. Hampshire have a third consecutive match next week and, if they beat Derbyshire, can open up a substantial lead even at this early stage in proceedings.

In the top flight, Sussex will remain top this time next week without playing, regardless of results elsewhere. It will also be interesting to see which other players step up to the plate and establish their England credentials in the wake of Vince, Robson et al.

Trott's absence leaves a gaping hole

Was I alone in complete ignorance of Jonathan Trott's illness? It was certainly a shock to read that he had returned home following the Brisbane debacle, a game in which he had copped the worst of the sledging and indeed criticism by the more discerning journalists.

That the news of Trott's longstanding battle with his own demons as well as the world's best bowlers proved so surprising is a credit to the ECB and the player's friends, family and team-mates. In some ways it's a shame that such an illness has to be kept secret. Should depression really be treated as a 'weakness', there to be exploited by the opposition, bloggers and tabloid 'papers? If it had been, say, diabetes or cancer, I'm willing to bet he would have been lauded to the skies, labelled a hero and a symbol of sporting courage above any sessions facing 90mph bouncers from Mitchell Johnson.

An illness is an illness. Mike Yardy and Marcus Trescothick have suffered similar meltdowns in recent years, although everyone is different, affected in a variety of ways. Should anyone be in any doubt that 'stress-related illness' is an affliction of the weak-willed, a sign of losing your bottle, all in the mind, just read Trescothick's excellent autobiography Coming Back to Me. The Somerset and former England opener fought and fought against it and ended up in pieces and floods of tears. Had the likes of Hussain, Vaughan and Duncan Fletcher not fallen into the trap of believing depression to run counter to the masculine world of professional cricket, maybe Tres's international career may have been extended.

Fortunately, he could continue to develop his legendary status at Somerset without the need to take his kit bag to an airport and board a plane. The current England administration seems more enlightened and have allowed Trott to have the recuperation his illness requires. Possibly the epitome of calmness, even temperament at the crease, Jonathan Trott has never been my favourite player. However, in the four years since he made his late debut for his adopted country he has taken the rankings by storm and made the number three position his own in Tests and ODIs. In the latter his average is more than 50, a rarity even in these days of batting-friendly rules and conditions.

So what can England do in his absence for the rest of this tour? If KP refuses to step up and Alastair Cook can't vacate his opener spot, then the number three position surely rests with Ian Bell, Joe Root or even Gary Ballance. Bell is England's best batsman, a more assured performer after last summer's successes. However, does that mean he should expose himself earlier to a swinging, bouncing new ball and deprive the side of his skill and strokeplay further down the order?

Root was drafted into the Test XI on the basis of his runs as a county opener, as was Michael Carberry. For the sake of balance I'd prefer to see Carberry complementing Cook at the top, with Root returning to three. There's no Nick Compton, James Taylor or Moeen Ali in the current squad so I reckon there could be a place for Ben Stokes to come into the reckoning at number six as all-rounder. If Matt Prior fails again, then Jonny Bairstow would have the opportunity to don the gloves and add strength to the middle order. Why not? If players are picked for the tour they ought to be good enough for Test cricket.

Yes, it would be better to experiment when one up in the series instead of trailing but Jonathan Trott's absence leaves the selectors with no choice. After all the speculation about Cook's poor form, Carberry's suitability, KP's injury, Bell's technique and Prior's form, it's ironic that it's Trott who is out of the side. Whatever happens in the Ashes, I hope he is allowed time to relax and not think too much about his cricket. Warwickshire would be delighted to see him back at Edgbaston next summer but I'm not sure if the man himself would see himself back in regular county cricket so soon. I reckon he'll be back at some point but not until after a well-deserved winter break.

England's Ashes but Aussies can hold heads high....-ish

After bad light brought a promising series finale to a ludicrous and disappointing anticlimax, the urn may have been presented to Alastair Cook but Australia can take some heart from the 2013 Ashes. A 3-0 defeat sounds pretty emphatic, and the score was fairly predictable given the sides' respective rankings and recent performances. However, despite the change of regime in mid-tour, there are soe groumds for optimism in the Lehmann camp.

Michael Clarke and Shane Watson rediscovered the art of scoring big hundreds and I commend the skipper's courage to turn a near-certain rain-affected Oval draw into a thrilling series climax. Chris Rogers showed the skill and patience of an old-school opener that had been missing in the T20 era, and Steve Smith's first Test century, which I witnessed at first hand on Thursday, will dampen criticism of his Test credentials. Brad Haddin contributed a few important fifties and broke Rod Marsh's world record for dismissals in a Test series.

With the ball, Ryan Harris proved conclusively, in spite of the many young pretenders, he is Australia's premier fast bowler by taking 24 wickets at under 20 apiece. That's McGrath-esque! Seeing his line and length should prove a lesson to Starc, Bird and Pattinson. I remain a fan of Peter Siddle, at least in English conditions, and Nathan Lyon probably justified his place as his team's main spin option.

Australia held a first-innings lead in four of the five matches yet they contrived to lose twice and draw twice. That is where they were out-fought and perhaps out-thought in the second half of games. England played to the bitter end, and their bowlers were simply too good for the Aussie batsmen when called to arms for a second time. If it wasn't Jimmy Anderson, it was Stuart Broad or even Graeme Swann who ended up the leading wicket-taker from either side with 26. Tim Bresnan, too, proved his worth as a supporting act to the big three before injury presented Chris Woakes with his opportunity at The Oval. The latter's time may yet come again, but it will take a lot to allow Onions or Tremlett to add to their Test appearances. Steve Finn is a more credible alternative on conducive pitches.

England's batsmen did not enjoy a particularly successful series, with the notable exception of Ian Bell. He was a revelation. If he doesn't now get the recognition of being a world-class willow-wielder, I don't know what else he can do. Apart from Woakes in the single game he played, Bell was the only one on the home side who averaged 40+. Pietersen and Root made some telling hundreds but more than half of the young opener's 339 runs came in a single innings. His list of failures is more worrying, although selectors should definitely persevere with him. In the absence of any credible competitor, he should be retained as partner to Cook, whose moderate aggregate of 277 was one of the Ashes surprises.

So congrats to both teams on making the 2013 Ashes a closer contest than I had feared, even if the 3-0 result suggests otherwise. My combined team of the series reflects this:-

Rogers (A), Root (E), Pietersen (E), Bell (E), Clarke (A *), Watson (A), Haddin (A), Broad (E), Swann (E), Harris (A), Anderson (E)

A Bell and Broad-side give England the edge

So after four of the five Tests, England have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead, the Ashes well and truly won and their opponents totally demoralised. Or are they? I don’t feel they ought to be. Cricket Australia has done more to undermine confidence than anything Andy Flower or Alastair Cook’s squad have done. My evidence being the Mickey Arthur dismissal mid-tour, the constant team alterations and the David Warner disciplinary case, although the batsman’s behaviour was clearly to blame for the latter.

Player for player, the team averages look pretty close. On either side, only three front line batsmen have averaged 30 or more, while on the positive side five bowlers average around 30 or below. Where they diverge is by Ian Bell’s three centuries and 500 runs and the main English attack of Anderson, Broad, Bresnan and Swann claiming 67 wickets between them. For the Aussies, only Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle are in double-figures in the Wickets column, with the rest contributing a few here and there before and after being dropped or injured.

Clarke’s class was underlined by his performances at Old Trafford, which unfortunately didn’t result in the victory they deserved. At Chester-le-Street, Chris Rogers showed what they had been missing at the top of the order, alongside a few tantalising glimpses of David Warner’s strokeplay. Steve Smith and Brad Haddin have produced two half-centuries each, but mixed with an unhealthy glut of single-figure scores. Cowan, Khawaja, Watson and Hughes have been outshone even by their own tailenders Agar, Starc and Pattinson although maybe Ed, Phil and Usman should have been given the chance to bowl instead!

England have won because they seem to have more of a winning mentality, believing in themselves even when under the cosh. For years they were prone to batting collapses under pressure but now it’s the turn of Australia, whose lack of depth and consistency has perhaps covered up England’s own deficiencies. Anderson and Broad have won two of the three games, if not single-handedly then largely through some inspired spells when they were most needed. Graeme Swann has claimed 23 wickets already, with Joe Root’s part-time spin making the occasional vital breakthrough, while bustling Tim Bresnan perseveres as ever. The normally reliable Cook and Trott have failed miserably this summer, leaving it up to Bell, KP and some lower-order fortitude to drag them back into positions from which victories were fashioned.

Apart from at Lord’s, England may easily have lost the games. They can breathe a sigh of relief that the men in the green baggies haven’t held their nerve to the bitter end, many chucking away the wickets with poor strokes. A regular, injury-free Aussie bowling attack of Harris, Starc, Siddle, Lyon and Bird or Pattinson would be pretty good, I reckon, but for England to be 3-0 up despite so many batting failures there has to be something for Clarke and the support team to work on, mentally as well as physically, if they are to reclaim the Ashes next winter. Keeping the same side for The Oval might be a start. They’ve nothing to lose and plenty to gain.