County Cricket Team of the Year 2026

So endeth the driest and hottest summer on record and, whilst hillsides blazed and crops wilted, cricket was a beneficiary. I don’t think it is a coincidence that, with fewer rain interventions, across both County Championship divisions, the number of positive results (i.e wins rather than draws) soared from 64 to 87. And this ignores the great drought of August, when red-ball cricket took an enforced break. 

Numerous former under-19 internationals or young Lions made an impact on the domestic game. Durham’s Ben McKinney was one of the few batsmen to top a thousand Championship runs and the teenage Thomas Rew emerged from the shadow of his only slightly older brother James in the Somerset engine room and behind the stumps. 21 year-old Henry Crocombe claimed a hat-trick in successive matches for Sussex and Isleworth-born Middlesex seamer Naavya Sharma took more One Day Cup wickets than anyone else in his debut season, including 3-37 in the final. 

England legends James Anderson and Ben Stokes proved there was plenty left in the tank for Lancashire and Durham, respectively. Unfortunately, the former’s fifty Championship wickets failed to lift the Red Roses to promotion while Durham’s formidable bowling unit made them Division Two’s outstanding unit. Last year’s basement county Kent completed a remarkable recovery to join them in next year’s top tier. Barring any shock U-turn on a points deduction, Leicestershire are heading back down but, to many people’s surprise (including mine), Glamorgan looked solid and it was Hampshire who made the drop courtesy of dreadful batting. However, the Welsh side will now have to replace veteran South African stalwarts Chris Cooke and Colin Ingram, which won’t be easy. 

In determining my County Team of 2026, as usual I considered consistency across each format, especially the Championship and Blast given that many of the big boys spent their school holidays playing The Hundred. I apologise for excluding the women’s game, but I confess it is not my area of expertise. 

Openers 

Keaton Jennings and Jake Libby were not their usual reliable selves in the four-day competition but piled on the runs in the fifty-over stuff. The Worcestershire opener even achieved a rare four successive centuries. Asa Tribe scored almost a thousand runs for Glamorgan and Tom Lammonby has helped Somerset make some excellent starts, bolstered in September by the form of Josh Thomas. Perhaps the top performer was Northamptonshire’s Ricardo Vasconcelos. The Portuguese-South African import enjoyed his best season in England, making 1,159 Championship runs and 439 in the Blast. 

Middle Order 

Another Saffer with a European qualification (Italy), Wayne Madsen bowed out from Derbyshire aged 42 with a century in his penultimate match, while Somerset’s Tom Abell finished the season with a superlative triple-hundred, although it didn’t result in that elusive maiden Championship crown. Instead, it was Sam Hain’s September form that helped propel Warwickshire to that title. His final batting average was a tad short of 75. Surrey endured a strangely torrid summer, but Dan Lawrence bashed six centuries in only ten outings. Jake Lehmann was a rare jewel in Hampshire’s bag of glass, Joe Weatherley topped the Blast runs table and Durham’s David Bedingham often looked too good for the second division. The Championship’s top runs scorer was Joe Clarke, whose efforts kept Nottinghamshire in the frame to retain the pennant almost to the end. His skipper Jack Haynes combined with him to make the Notts middle-order one of the strongest around.

 

All Rounders

 

James Sales was an unusual all-rounder in that he seemed to shine for Northants with the bat in the Championship and ball in the Blast, in which he aggregated twenty wickets. A regular in my Teams of the Year, Ryan Higgins was not his usual self in terms of runs, and the same could be said for Lewis Gregory whose bowling also came in under the radar, taking 487 at under twenty apiece. When you think of Yorkshire batting, Bairstow, Root, Brook and Lyth spring easily to mind but George Hill must be one of the best all-rounders on the red-ball circuit thanks also to his mean seamers. Essex struggled at times, but no blame could be attributed to Matt Critchley whose batting seems to be eclipsing his spin bowling as he gets older. Martin Andersson sounds like he hails from Copenhagen rather than Reading but he was the stand-out performer for Derbyshire, clocking up 1,740 runs and forty wickets across all three tournaments. 

Wicket-Keeper 

Behind the stumps, Ben Brown, John Simpson and James Rew claimed more Championship victims than anyone else. Brooke Guest was a consistent gloveman for Derbyshire and notched his maiden T20 century. However, he made a pair against Gloucestershire, for whom James Bracey carved two centuries in the same match. The county suffered ten defeats to prop up Division Two but the ‘keeper passed the 1,000-run mark for the third year running. Not many can say that these days. Kyle Verreynne didn’t play throughout the summer but, in addition to catches and stumpings, he was the One Day Cup’s highest scorer. Leicestershire’s Ben Cox rarely reels off big scores but is the county’s Mr Reliable. This year, he averaged 42 in the four-dayers and had a List A strike rate in three figures. 

Bowlers 

Jamie Overton continues to pick up England caps, ostensibly because of his superior batting. However, it is his twin brother Craig whose three first-class centuries for Somerset this summer which, allied to 53 wickets, earned him the competition’s MVP award. Unusual for a big bloke, he is a pretty prolific slip fielder, too. I have watched him since he and Jamie were teenagers and nobody deserves the title more than ‘Coverton’. The evergreen Kyle Abbott may be 39 but he remains the star County Championship bowler. In 2026, his victims totalled an unassailable 64, at a paltry average of just 16. 

Hasan Ali and Sean Currie were the top wicket-takers in the Blast, but played only minor roles in other competitions. Olly Stone and Oliver Hannon-Dalby delivered again for Warwickshire (but for some reason the latter was loaned to neighbours Worcestershire early on) and Bens Aitchison (Derby) and Sanderson (Northants) each clocked almost eighty wickets in total. Matthew Potts was similarly successful for Durham but Kent’s Matt Milnes out-bowled the lot with exactly eighty victims from all three formats. My final pick is Ethan Bamber. A fellow Exeter University alumnus, he was born into showbiz but he never topped the bill at Middlesex. However, now at Warwickshire, it was his pace bowling which dominated the stage as his new county stormed to the Championship. 

Tio summarise, here is my overall County XI of 2026;- 

Vasconcelos (Nor), Lammonby (Som), Hain (War), Clarke (Not), Bedingham (Dur), Critchley (Ess), Andersson (Der), Cox (Lei +), C. Overton (Som), E Bamber (War), Milnes (Ken) 

On the reserve list: Haynes (Not), Hill (Yor), Bracey (Glo +), Potts (Dur)

County Cricket: Durham Shine amidst the Rain

The week’s rain may have benefitted the parched pitches, but did nothing for cricket as a spectator sport. The players must have been bored to tears, too, with whole days washed out entirely. Only six centuries were made, and each of those who scored them went straight in to my Team of the Week. No-brainers, the lot of ‘em! 

Only one result was possible, and inevitably it was Durham who took advantage of slightly better weather at Chester-le-Street to notch win number seven against bottom county Gloucestershire. In his final game of the season, David Bedingham struck 122 and, as part of a star-studded English seam attack, it was the unsung Kasey Aldridge who again stole the show with match stats of 9-63. If Durham beat Northamptonshire next weekend, promotion will be secured with three games in hand. 

This week, Northants and Kent shared the spoils with Kent, and stand on equal points behind Durham. Zak Crawley and Ben Compton put on 162 for the first Kent wicket, then in reply, Ricardo Vasconcelos and Nathan McSweeney each maintained their consistent summer form by reaching three figures. At Worcester, the home side’s Beyers Swanepoel combined a swift 63 not out and 4-37 against Lancashire, while at Derby, only 87 overs were possible across all four days. 

In Division One, five draws made little impact on the table. Nottinghamshire extended their lead to four points over Somerset thanks to Joe Clarke’s 150 and Olly Stone’s 5-49 against third-placed Warwickshire. Somerset struggled against Sussex on the first few days, but a strong second innings ensured there could be no defeat, even had the sun shone on day four. 

At Chelmsford, Essex had the upper hand over Surrey. Having announced his imminent retirement, Dean Elgar demonstrated his trademark grit to register his 56^th first-class hundred, and the visitors were staring down the barrel at 92-6. Luckily, Ben Foakes improved on his first-innings three-ball duck and clung on for almost five hours in eking out an unbeaten 120. There was another stalemate at Cardiff, where Hampshire seamers Abbott and Baker held sway over the Glamorgan openers, and the Bank Holiday seasiders at Scarborough saw very little action for Leicestershire’s trip to meet Yorkshire. 

In the next round of fixtures, Notts and Warwicks have on paper the easiest opposition (Leicestershire and Hampshire, respectively) but Somerset require a home victory against Glamorgan to remain in the hunt for that elusive maiden title. The winners of the Essex-Sussex clash will also be in the running, but a draw won’t help either of them. Let’s hope the showers stay away. 

Team of the Week: Elgar (Ess), Vasconcelos (Nor), McSweeney (Nor), Bedingham (Dur), Clarke (Not), Foakes (Sur +), T Clark (Sur), Swanepoel (Wor), Aldridge (Dur), Rahul Chahar (Sur), Stone (War)

County Cricket: Essex make the early running

The fielders’ sweaters may have been extra-thick this week but at least most of the Championship fixtures ended in a positive result. Essex made it two wins in three by making short work of Lancashire at Chelmsford. The Red Roses were dismissed twice for under 150, seamers Shane Snater, Sam Cook and Jamie Porter doing most of the damage. 

Surrey also triumphed by an innings, although Kent and the bad weather extended the match into the fourth day. Centuries by Dom S|bley and Dan Lawrence fuelled the champions’ charge to a total of 543-7 declared. He may be used as the fifth bowler but Cameron Steel continues to harvest the wickets, taking his tally for the season to twenty. 

Durham registered their first victory in the top division since 2016, despatching Worcestershire by 185 runs at Kidderminster with a day to spare. The real damage was inflicted on Saturday when David Bedingham crashed 138 in 99 balls. Robinson and Clark increased Worcestershire’s target to an improbable 458, but, despite fifties from Libby, Waite and Smith, the Durham seamers Paul Coughlin, Ben Raine and Matthew Potts were too strong. 

At Taunton, a ninth-wicket stand of 139 between Craig Overton and Migael Pretorius looked to have established a winning foundation for Somerset against Nottinghamshire. However, that was as good as it got. Once Joe Clarke joined Will Young early on Sunday morning, the home attack was forced to toil wicketless for more than 100 overs. Clarke reached his double-century as the pair shattered the county’s third-wicket record which had stood for 121 years. If it hadn’t been for Monday’s heavy rain, they may well have pushed on to 400, 500, 600, …. 

At Southampton, Warwickshire openers Rob Yates and Alex Davies maintained their prolific start to the county season, but at least Middleton and Gubbins kept Hampshire in the hunt on day three, by when time was running out to force a result in worsening conditions. Second time around, Rob Yates notched another unbeaten half-century and even weighed in as a spinner with 4-37. 

Only four Division One fixtures this week, the tastiest being Hampshire’s trip to The Oval and Essex schlepping all the way north to Durham. 

Meanwhile, Middlesex and Sussex earned the first 2024 victories in Division Two. Following recent run-fests, it was the batters who struggled at Lord’s. Yorkshire’s Root and Brook contributed a grand total of 40 between them and, for all the gallant efforts of seamer Ben Coad, it was Middlesex’s Ryan Higgins whose seven wickets and steady batting at the end proved decisive. 

Zafar Gohar’s Pakistan Test career may have stalled after a solitary appearance, but his pair of 50s and second-innings 5-59 probably deserved to bring Gloucestershire success at Hove. However, young Trinidadian Jayden Seales made his mark with the ball and, when it comes to anchoring a tricky run chase, nobody does it better than Cheteshwar Pujara. 2023 demonstrated that Sussex need to make hay while the Indian is available to play for them. 

On home ground, Northamptonshire racked up an impregnable 605-6. Ricardo Vasconcelos made 182, but Karun Nair went even better. The experienced Indian player doesn’t score many centuries but when he does, they tend to be big ones. They declared once he reached 202, and Saif Zaib had ben dismissed for exactly 100. Glamorgan were spared a likely humiliation by a final-day washout. 

Leicestershire were similarly robbed by the rain whilst in a commanding position against Derbyshire. Marcus Harris (214) outscored the whole of the home side’s first innings. Scott Currie’s six wickets was his best tally so far in a nascent career, but the match was called off with only four wickets to fall. 

Sussex rest next week, so Middlesex will go clear at the top by defeating Gloucestershire at Bristol. However, should they fail, Northants meet Leicestershire for a chance to take their place. 

Team of the Week:-  Vasconcelos (Nor), Harris (Lei), Yates (War), Nair (Nor), Clarke (Not), Young (Not), Robinson (Dur +), Higgins (Mid), Zafar Gohar (Glo),  Steel (Sur), Snater (Ess)

Surrey March On

While Australia were warming up for the Ashes with a comprehensive defeat of India to clinch the World Test Championship, Surrey were sweeping all before them in both the Blast and County Championship. Hot sun blazed upon most pitches last week and the champions’ batsmen responded with some fiery strokeplay. In T20, they racked up 258-6 against Sussex and 236-2 in Glamorgan, with Laurie Evans scoring a total of 211. He doesn’t play the four-day stuff much these days but Surrey nonetheless boast a formidable line-up. At Canterbury, an upset looked on the cards as Kent set them 501 to win. Such is Surrey’s form, it was never really in doubt. Dom Sibley (140 not out) anchored, Jamie Smith (114 in 77 balls) smashed and Ben Foakes steered their serene course to victory and a 31-point lead in Division One. 

It was a mixed week for Somerset. Hampshire handed them a first defeat in the Blast after throwing away a winning position in the final overs before taking it out on Gloucestershire. Sadly, in red-ball cricket it was the same old story. Essex dominated at Chelmsford, where Alastair Cook and all-rounder Matt Critchley provided the runs, Porter and Harmer most of the wickets. 

At Trent Bridge, Warwickshire enforced the follow-on, emboldened by a 416-run lead, only for Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clarke to remember how to build an innings. His first Championship century was a double. At Southport, Lancashire also established a solid first-innings advantage over Hampshire, despite Felix Organ’s 6-67. A Gubbins-Vince rally made the home team bat again, only for Dane Vilas to guide them to the sixteen points. 

In the second tier, Yorkshire finally opened their account by defeating Derbyshire by three wickets at Chesterfield. On the first morning, the home county were mauled by Fisher and Coad, slipping to 15-4 and only just reaching three figures by the end of the innings. Second time around, a slaughter looked certain as they plunged to 17-4. This time, the rest of the side didn’t go down s easily. Captain Leus du Plooy and Haider Ali shared a stand of 277 and Yorkshire’s victory charge looked decidedly ropey. In the end it was Yorkshire’s own captain Shan Masood who grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck with an unbeaten 95. 

Leicestershire came away from Gloucestershire with a valuable 5-wicket triumph. Colin Ackermann and Rehan Ahmed had to step on the gas to reach the 215 target before time ran out. There were runs galore at Chester-le-Street where Durham and Glamorgan traded centuries en route for a draw. Kiran Carlson stroked 162 for the Welsh, then Bedingham (151) and Robinson (102) helped Durham to a mighty 630, leaving Chris Cooke (134 not out) and Van Gugten (55 not out) to see the side to stumps. 

The most exciting conclusion was witnessed at Hove, where Sussex and Worcestershire slugged it out to the bitter end. Worcester opener Jake Libby was in imperious form, hitting 198 and 97, but Sussex’s Carson, Haines and Alsop set their opponents a formidable target of 386 in 79 overs. At 317-3, it looked gettable and, even after Azhar Ali fell for a well-paced ton, Worcester required only eight off Nathan McAndrew’s final over. Remarkably, he conceded just three, Leach swinging and missing for the six needed off the final delivery. The draw meant it was Sussex who sit in second place behind Durham. 

Back to the Blast for the next few weeks…. 

Team of the Week:- Libby (Wor), Evans (Sur), Clarke (Not), Bedingham (Dur), Carlson (Glam), Du Plooy (Der), Foakes (Sur +), Critchley (Ess), Fisher (Yor), Porter (Ess), Cook (Ess)

Somerset clean sweep, Glamorgan make hay

Can’t believe I am saying this but Somerset are actually getting me quite excited about the Blast. Three more wins this week extended their 100% record to six. Of course, it could all still go horribly wrong and even if we make the knockouts, a quarter-final defeat by then wickets is a strong possibility. The batters didn’t see much action, and it was the bowling which inflicted the greatest damage upon Kent, Middlesex and Essex. In particular, the 25-year-old Devonian seamer, Ben Green, mopped up ten wickets, including 4-20 against Middlesex who have been as abject as Somerset have been supreme. 

Surrey stand second in the South table, but it took a last-ball single from Jamie Smith to clinch the points in Canterbury on Sunday. Glamorgan supporters enjoyed plenty of runs this week, twice passing 200. It was the old double-act of Colin Ingram and Chris Cooke who were in superb form, especially in harness. Each of them amassed 200 runs from the three fixtures, Cooke’s unbeaten 113 off just 51 balls against Middlesex the highlight. In that game, the pair plundered 187 in a 79-ball partnership, with Helm and Higgins consistently conceding boundaries. 

Hampshire picked up two resounding victories, against Essex and Sussex. In the latter, opposing skipper Ravi Bopara arrived at the Ageas Bowl too late to play but unfortunately home captain James Vince was present, correct and able to extend his week’s run tally beyond 260. He now has more than 20,000 runs for his county, a record he shares with Derbyshire’s Wayne Madsen, whose dismissal for ‘only’ 44 against Yorkshire was the first time he had failed to make 50 in this year’s competition.

In the North division, Worcestershire’s perfect start to the Blast was ruined by Northamptonshire, who pipped them at New Road by six wickets with only two balls remaining. That result notwithstanding, Brett D’Oliveira and Pat Brown were in good form this week. Whilst mediocre in the Championship, Yorkshire claimed three successive T20 wins, Dawid Malan exceeding 80 on each occasion. He top-scored in the Roses clash with Lancashire at Headingley, despite the arrival from India of Jos Buttler. The England star, one of many in the Lancs line-up, failed to arrest a decline in fortunes. 

Another former T20 icon, Alex Hales, achieved just one half-century for Nottinghamshire, easily outscored by fellow opener Joe Clarke and Colin Munro. The latter pair were instrumental in the crucial triumph over former leaders the Birmingham Bears, firing fifteen sixes between them. 

In the next few days, Worcestershire travel to both Yorkshire and Lancashire while Somerset’s winning streak will be sorely tested at Hampshire and local rivals Gloucestershire. 

Team of the Week:- Clarke (Not), Vince (Ham), D Malan (Yor), Madsen (Der), Ingram (Gla), Cooke (Gla), Dawson (Ham), Narine (Sur), Payne (Glo), Sama (Ess), Green (Som) 

T20 Blast off for Surrey, Sharks and Bears

The confusing melange of T20 Blast fixtures has been going for a week and a bit now and still I can’t really get a handle on it. Covid, CPL, injury and potentially greater Hundred rewards have robbed the competition of numerous international stars. Indeed I am familiar with only a small proportion of those who have signed contracts and a few of those, like the reliable big-hitter Paul Stirling of Middlesex, have already been and gone. 

In any case, the best performers of the early group exchanges have been of the home-grown variety or foreigners who were already involved in the Championship. In the North Group, reigning champs Nottinghamshire haven’t exactly set the tournament alight, despite Alex Hales’ 54-ball 96 not out against Durham and Joe Clarke’s stunning 136 to beat Northamptonshire, the highest score of the week which featured 11 sixes. 

Instead, Birmingham Bears and Lancashire Lightning are leading the way. The Warwickshire outfit have excelled with three half-centuries from Sam Hain and frugal spin bowling by Jake Lintott and Danny Briggs. Liam Livingstone’s all-round consistency and a few Jos Buttler cameos have driven the Red Roses, whose only defeat came against Worcestershire. Another England ‘keeper, Jonny Bairstow, has starred for Yorkshire, the only team so far to beat the Bears. Sadly the Leicestershire Foxes have been hunted to defeat in all their four matches. 

As of Tuesday night, the South division’s top three was identical to how it finished last season. Sussex and Surrey each enjoyed three comprehensive victories. The Sharks’ George Garton has eight chap wickets to his name but special mention should go to his slow bowling team-mate Archie Lenham. The son of a former Sussex favourite of mine, Neil, he captured three Hampshire wickets and is only sixteen! Their 100% records are on the line when they meet on Thursday. Something has to give. 

Kent Spitfires are hot on their tails, thanks in large part to Jack Leaning’s runs and Fred Klaasen’s wickets. They aren’t resting 45 year-old Darren Stevens either, and he hasn’t disappointed with the ball. Other notable performances in the first Blast week include a 5-32 against Kent by Middlesex import South African Chris Green – whose mum incidentally is Billericay-born tennis player Lisa Gould! – and three big scores from Marnus Labuschagne in Glamorgan’s colours. At this early stage he’s the Blast’s top scorer. 

Team of the Week: Clarke (Not), Livingstone (Lan), Bairstow (Yor +), Labuschagne (Gla), Hain (War), Howell (Glo), S Curran (Sur), Garton (Sus), Klaasen (Ken), Briggs (War), Lintott (War)

2020 County Cricket Team of the Year

What a weird summer it’s been. Covid has left thousands dead, many more struggling to get over the disease and its impact on society. Sporting arenas remain empty, and rightly so, given the importance of social distancing to keeping us all safe. I must admit I feared for domestic cricket but credit to the ECB, clubs and broadcasters for squeezing in so many meaningful matches in only a few months. 

Of course, England played their part, along with their opposition who had to sacrifice so much in order to get the show on the road in the safe bubbles of Southampton and Manchester. Buttler, Broad, Stokes and Woakes did their thang, but this is about the county game. 

A full Championship was out of the question but the makeshift Bob Willis Trophy, complete with a five-day final, turned out to be a success with clubs and online fans alike. As last year, Essex and Somerset were a class apart but the experience of the former ultimately held sway at Lord’s, but it was close. The abbreviated T20 Blast was harder to call but it was the superior all-round quality of Surrey and Nottinghamshire which produced the finalists last week, and the insanely enthusiastic skipper Dan Christian carried the Outlaws to victory. So who makes my county team of the year?

Openers:

The previous years’ stars Burns and Sibley seemed to establish themselves at international level, allowing others to shine for their counties. Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond was the T20 top scorer and another ex-England player Adam Lyth scored consistently in both formats. Sir Alastair Cook proved that class is permanent by scoring the century which clinched another red-ball title for Essex but another of Somerset’s recent rash of talented Toms, Tom Lammonby, announced himself with almost 600 runs in total. 

However, it’s another pair of ‘L’s who make my XI. Alex Lees didn’t quite fulfil his potential at Yorkshire but he enjoyed a very successful 2020 at Durham, accumulating more than 350 runs in each competition for a struggling team. Then there’s another 27 year-old, Jake Libby, who scored runs for fun in August for Worcestershire. Nobody scored more than the Devonian across the whole season. 

Middle-order:

A number of young players seized their opportunities created by the absence of overseas recruits, especially in the Blast. Zak Crawley’s season will be remembered for his mighty Test 267 for England against Pakistan but he proved a highly effective weapon in T20 for Kent, too. Joe Root was apparently a bit miffed at being omitted from England’s T20 squad but he responded in style, reinventing himself in Yorkshire towards the end of the season as a solid off-spinning all-rounder. However, I’ve picked Leicestershire’s one-man middle-order, Colin Ackermann for my team of the year. Once more he has combined first-class batting with white-ball bowling to keep his county’s had above the water. 

My other two are the Nottinghamshire pair, Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke. The former appeared in a record four Teams of the Week this year, producing big innings when it mattered, including the Blast Final against Surrey. Clarke was quick off the blocks when cricket got the go-ahead in August, the highlight being a 44-ball ton against Durham in T20. 

All-Rounders:

2020 wasn’t a vintage year for genuine all-rounders in the county game. Ed Barnard (Worcestershire), Graeme van Buuren (Gloucestershire) and Jamie Overton (Somerset/Surrey) were in the mix but my first choice was also in my 2019 Eleven, Ryan Higgins. The Gloucester man doesn’t rip up any trees with either bat or ball but is a huge asset in all formats, playing a major role in his county’s march to Finals Day. Amidst all Surrey’s international stars, Will Jacks could easily be missed but his hard-hitting and economic T20 bowling were probably more influential than Amla, Roy, Pope, Foakes, Plunkett et al. Given a good run in next year’s Championship the homegrown 21 year-old could join the county’s list of England caps. 

Wicket-keeper:

Worcestershire’s Ben Cox claimed more dismissals than anyone else in the Bob Willis Trophy while Middlesex’s John Simpson and Nottinghamshire’s Tom Moores also combined runs with decent performances behind the stumps. Had Alex Davies been a regular ‘keeper for Lancashire he may have taken a slot but instead I’ve plumped for Glamorgan’s Chris Cooke. The Johannesburg-born 34 year-old rarely reaches three figures but in a side frequently short at the top of the order the skipper has shorn up the innings, made vital catches and as captain brought on some of the county’s young prospects. 

Bowlers:- 

Let’s get the no-brainer out of the way. Simon Harmer goes straight into the side for a third successive year. He took 38 red-ball wickets at under 16, along with ten in the Blast, pushing Essex towards another title. Team-mate Jamie Porter was also in the wickets, as were fellow seamers, David Payne (Gloucestershire), George Garton (Sussex), Jake Ball (Notts) and the incredible 44 year-old Darren Stevens (Kent). However, I have opted for another veteran paceman, Tim Murtagh of Middlesex, whose 25 four-day wickets came at just 12.72 and seven Blast victims at an economy rate of 6.61. When Jamie Overton switched mid-season to Surrey, Josh Davey stepped up admirably but it’s the other twin, Craig Overton who was even more instrumental in blowing away the opposition in August. It was only in the final that Somerset conceded a single batting bonus point and Craig was the man who led that formidable seam attack. One to watch is definitely Surrey’s 21 year-old left-arm spinner, Dan Moriarty. If he works on his batting, he could well be a future star. 

And so, based on stats and my Teams of the Week, my County Eleven of 2020 is as follows:-

Libby (Wor), Lees Dur), Duckett (Not), Clarke (Not), Ackermann (Lei), Jacks (Sur), Cooke (Gla +), Higgins (Glo), C Overton (Sur), Harmer (Ess), Murtagh (Mid). 12^th man: Lyth (Yor)

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)

Stevens breaks records, Abbott breaks Somerset

Because of an impending holiday in Portugal, I am taking the unusual step of writing this week’s county blog before the full set of fixtures are over. However, with most of the results already confirmed, it’s not completely crazy.

Somerset’s hopes of that elusive Championship title rest entirely on beating Essex at Taunton next week after being flattened by Hampshire at the Rose Bowl inside three days. They have become accustomed to bowling sides out twice, thanks to the Overtons, Gregory, Leach or Davey but this week they came up against Kyle Abbott, who claimed the best bowling figures ever for the county and the best by anybody since Jim Laker since the Fifties.

First up he took 9-40 then, once Somerset’s openers had established a solid 86, he produced another devastating spell of 8-46. And yet Somerset may have triumphed had Hampshire not had to rely on centuries by Liam Dawson in the first innings and James Vince in the second.

Meanwhile, Essex did all that could be asked of them by routing Surrey at Chelmsford. Porter and Cook each claimed five-fors in the first innings then the spin of Simon Harmer polished off the calamitous ex-champions on Thursday afternoon. Dan Lawrence and the reliable Ryan Ten Doeschate each struck tons. As a result, a draw will be enough in the final fixture at Taunton. I think all us Somerset fans know exactly how it will play out….

Kent look set to beat Yorkshire and that man Darren Stevens has done it again. After a mediocre summer, Kent decided not to renew his contract but they may be reconsidering because he thumped a career-best 237 as part of a Kent record sixth-wicket partnership of 347. At 43, he is also the oldest double-centurion for the county for seventy years. And he’s not finished in this match because at stumps on day three he has 4-12 with the ball. What a legend! It’s rare for a man making three figures twice to be outshone, but that’s what has happened to his skipper Sam Billings.

Nottinghamshire have a chance of a first victory of the season, thanks largely to Steve Mullaney and Joe Clarke, who is seeking to emulate Billings by heading towards a second hundred of the match. Dom Sibley’s unbeaten 215 for Warwickshire may have done enough to ensure a draw.

In Division Two, Gloucestershire defeated Worcestershire despite Ed Barnard’s 6-42, and must surely be home and dry for a promotion they can’t honestly have predicted. Northamptonshire are set to join them and Lancashire in the top tier next season, barring a late-order miracle comeback by Durham. ‘Keeper Adam Rossington’s batting counter-attack and Ben Sanderson’s wickets look to have done the trick.

Sussex’s slender hopes were skittled by Derbyshire, for whom Luis Reece crafted a second innings 184 and took 5-63. White ball specialist Reece Topley enjoyed a reasonable but long-delayed first-class debut for Sussex, albeit in a losing cause. Leicestershire will definitely finish bottom of Division Two as Glamorgan are on the verge of victory against them in Cardiff. Kraigg Brathwaite earned his crust by grinding out 103.

Unless we decide to stay on the Algarve for another six years to retain EU residency, I’ll be back to report on the conclusion of proceedings next week.

Team of the Week: Mullaney (Not), Sibley (War), Clarke (Not), Billings (Ken), Dawson (Ham), Rossington (Nor +), Stevens (Ken), Simpson (Mid), Abbott (Ham), Harmer (Ess), Sanderson (Nor)

Bancroft, Banton and Ballance bat to victory

While Britain bathed in the late Easter sunshine, the batsmen made hay in the heat. The first week of Royal London Cup fixtures threw up plenty of high scores. In particular, the Trent Bridge crowd on Good Friday enjoyed more than 800 runs and a narrow victory for the home side. Joe Clarke was again in fine fettle, putting aside his infamous list of sexual conquests to complete another century for Nottinghamshire. Dane Vilas’ club record 166 and Stephen Croft’s 110 bought Lancashire close but nineteen from the last two overs proved too onerous for the tailenders. Notts also beat Derbyshire and sit atop the North division alongside Durham, who had Cameron Bancroft’s two centuries and Jason Holder’s all-round performances to thank for their 100% record.

Lancashire fared better at Headingley on Monday but it was a nailbiting climax. With ‘keeper Jonathan Tattersall at the crease, Yorkshire looked set to overhaul the 311 target but run-outs from the last two deliveries left them one adrift. Yorkshire were involved in an even tighter contest on Friday, tieing with Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Tattersall and Tim Bresnan rescued the White Roses from a miserable start but Patterson and Pillans could only scramble a bye from the final ball to finish level.  A few days earlier, Matt Pillans had excelled with the ball and, with Gary Ballance striking 156, Yorkshire crushed Leicestershire by 213 runs.

In the South, four counties claimed two wins from two. Championship leaders Somerset maintained their momentum with a crushing 264-run defeat of Kent and a much closer encounter in Cardiff with Glamorgan. At Taunton, 20 year-old Tom Banton followed his 2^nd XI century with 107 from 79 balls then Craig Overton combined a sizzling 66 not out with 5-18 to complete the rout.

There was an even worse batting balls-up at Bristol, where the fancy dans of Surrey, boasting ten internationals past and present, were dismissed by Gloucestershire for 88 in 24 overs. My sides were splitting. They lost both their matches over the week and, although Tom Curran did his best with six cheap wickets, the batting let them down. At least they weren’t the worst county on display; Kent and Glamorgan contrived to lose all three.

Essex opener Varun Chopra notched a couple of tons but against a strong Middlesex batting line-up he was on the losing side at Chelmsford. Fourth-change leg-spinner Nathan Sowter claimed 6-62 in that one. Channel neighbours Hampshire and Sussex also enjoyed winning starts, with hundreds from Alsop, Northeast and Salt.

Next week, at least two 100% records must end, as Sussex meet both Somerset and Middlesex and the latter also travel to Hampshire. At the other end of the table, one of Kent and Glamorgan will, barring awful weather (not an unlikely scenario in South Wales), pick up a couple of badly-needed points.

Further north, Nottinghamshire face some tasty ties, hosting both Leicestershire and Yorkshire as well as nipping down to Brum for a date with Warwickshire. Cameron Bancroft is also spending a few days in the West Midlands, hoping to keep the runs flowing for Durham, especially as the rest of the top order are struggling for form.

Team of the Week: Chopra (Ess), Clarke (Not), Croft (Lan), Ballance (Yor), Bancroft (Dur), Vilas (Lan), Tattersall (Yor +), Holder (Dur), C Overton (Som), T Curran (Sur), Pillans (Yor)

Hampshire off to a Flying Start

In the first round of County Championship fixtures, Hampshire made April fools of Essex at Southampton. They taught my picks for title contenders an early-season lesson with victory by an innings and 87 runs, collecting maximum points en route. Sam Northeast’s 169 led the run charge before bowlers Kyle Abbott and 37 year-old Fidel Edwards carried on where they left off in 2018. Ravi Bopara (107) showed some second innings resistance but there was too much to do.

Somerset sit second (just for a change!) after clawing their way back to beat Kent on the final afternoon. Somerset’s George Bartlett struck the game’s only half-century, then Lewis Gregory nabbed Dickson first ball and the visitors crumbled to 131 all out.

The other first division match saw Joe Root face Stuart Broad and receive an ego-denting whack on the helmet for his troubles. Nottinghamshire’s new-look batting line-up took control, especially Joe Clarke, who came within three runs of securing two centuries on his county debut. I wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t playing alongside his Yorkshire opposite number for England in the not-too-distant future. Root and Gary Ballance each reached three figures as Yorkshire easily avoided defeat.

Two of the Division 2 promotion favourites slipped at the first hurdle. Sussex were well beaten by Leicestershire at Hove. Ollie Robinson took six wickets but the victors’ Tom Taylor starred with the ball, his first innings 6-47 doing the most serious damage. Middlesex were also playing catch-up at Northampton despite Tim Murtagh’s splendid efforts. Nathan Buck captured 5-54 to force the follow-on but Dawid Malan’s rearguard century rescued the situation.

Elsewhere, Derbyshire survived the shock of losing two wickets in the first three balls of the season to defeat Durham by 125 runs. ‘Keeper Harvey Hosein top-scored in each innings then Alex Lees’ side were eventually ground down by Rampaul, Critchley et al on a tough final day.

Next week Middlesex get another opportunity at home to rivals Lancashire, while Leicestershire can make it two wins from two against Worcestershire. In the top flight, Hampshire will probably in pole position throughout the month-long Championship break should they beat Yorkshire. Somerset face a tricky trip to Trent Bridge while champions Surrey launch their defence at The Oval against Essex, surely eager to make amends for their thumping at the hands of Hants at the weekend.

First 2019 Team of the Week: Lyth (Yor), Duckett (Not), Clarke (Not), Root (Yor), Malan (Mid), Bopara (Ess), Hosein (Der, +), Gregory (Som), Edwards (Ham), T. Taylor (Lei), Claydon (Ken)

Morkel and Trott ride to the front

Surrey ensured they remained at the top of the pile by beating Yorkshire at Scarborough, but they had to come from behind to do so. The home side enjoyed a 75-run first innings lead but after Morne Morkel (5-39) and Jade Dernbach (3-34) ripped through them on the third day, skipper Rory Burns led the charge to the target.

Neither Nottinghamshire nor Somerset could keep up with the leaders. At Trent Bridge, the Notts openers were in fine form. Chris Nash and Jake Libby each made centuries then, with Stuart Broad leading the attack, declared with the expectation of bowling Worcestershire out in just over a day. They failed. The England seamer had an ankle niggle and Joe Clarke had a point to prove. He was still there on 177 at the very end as the bottom side avoided defeat.

When Essex roared to 517-5, Somerset’s chance of winning shrank to almost zero. Ravi Bopara and the returning Ryan Ten Doeschate shared a 284-run partnership but in reply Somerset managed to accumulate more than 400. On the final afternoon, Essex set an ambitious target of 319 and credit to the visitors for seeming intent on accepting the challenge. However, when the top four fell cheaply, the shutters came down and Abell and Gregory dug in for the draw.

There were neither winners nor losers at Old Trafford either. Batsmen were in charge, and no fewer than five reached three figures. Lancashire’s current ‘keeper Dane Vilas top-scored with 134 but Hampshire opener Joe Weatherley showed admirable patience to survive the whole of day four to attain his maiden hundred.

Both Warwickshire and Kent each achieved their fifth victories of the season in Division Two. Ian Bell’s run of form was halted but his ex-England colleague Jonathan Trott racked up more than 200 in the leaders’ visit to Durham. Jeetan Patel’s nine wickets and Tim Ambrose’s ten catches did the rest. Meanwhile at Canterbury Kent flattened Middlesex by 342 runs. Grant Stewart’s 6-22 helped bowl out Malan’s men for 56 first time out, with Eskinazi the only one reaching double figures. Batting at ten, Stewart proceeded to crash a 74-ball century before Middlesex struggled again. When Tim Murtagh top-scores you know you have big problems!

Leicestershire advanced to third, defeating Derbyshire with thanks to Mohammad Abbas’ decisive 6-54, and Northamptonshire leapt from the bottom by putting Glamorgan to the sword. The Welsh, despite the best efforts of Usman Khawaja, are having a nightmare summer so far, so must hope Colin Ingram can resurrect some pride in the T20 Blast which starts next week. If not, 2018 will be a long, agonising road.   

Team of the Week: 

Nash (Not), Libby (Not), Clarke (Wor), Trott (War), Bopara (Ess), Ten Doeschate (Ess), Ambrose (War +), Patel (War), Podmore (Ken), Stewart (Ken), Mohammad Abbas (Lei)

Derbyshire and Glamorgan Hold Firm

Championship strugglers Derbyshire and Warwickshire continued to rule the roost in the T20 North division, each recording their fifth victories of the season. Luis Reece’s best T20 score of his short career, 97 not out against Lancashire, was instrumental in their win over Lancashire, while New Zealand paceman Matt Henry’s six wickets also proved vital in their progress this week.

Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire also picked up two more victories, thwarted by the weather from making it a 100% record for the week. Alex Hales was arguably the county player of the past seven days, improving his scores steadily, culminating in his 101 against Yorkshire. Their mighty top four batsmen make it easier for the relatively weak attack, although Samit Patel, Steven Mullaney and Jake Ball chipped in.

At the other end of the table, Durham finally achieved their first T20 success of the season. Their fixture at Leicester may have ended up as a seven-over thrash but a six-wicket win is still a win. The two Pauls Coughlin and Collingwood each scored rapid 30s to clinch the two points. A couple of days later, when the latter raced to his first T20 century at the age of 41, a second victory looked on the cards. However, Worcestershire’s Joe Clarke, 20 years Collingwood’s junior, trumped him with a dazzling 124 not out from just 53 balls, and his team reached their huge 200+ target with eleven balls to spare.

Despite, or because of, their four no-results, Glamorgan advanced to the summit of the South group. Coincidentally their winning margin against both Gloucestershire and Kent was 25 runs. In each game, Jacques Rudolph hit a half-century and new arrival David Miller produced a rapid cameo, whilst the bowlers all contributed, too.

Somerset climbed to third behind the Welsh and Surrey, thanks to triumphs over South Coast neighbours Sussex and Hampshire. All the squad played their parts but Stephen Davies was the most consistent cameo batsman. The ever-reliable Gloucestershire opener Michael Klinger scored 52 and 101 but was deprived of continuing the sequence at Chelmsford when rain intervened.

Next week includes a host of potentially money-spinning local derbies on Friday evening. Warwickshire host Worcestershire, Sussex nip along to Kent, Somerset travel a few junctions on the M5 to Bristol, Durham and Yorkshire battle for the North East spoils, but the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire duel could be the most interesting in relation to the North group qualification places.

Team of the Week: Hales (Not), Klinger (Glo), Clarke (Wor), Davies (Som +), Denly (Ken), Northeast (Ken), Collingwood (Dur), Mullaney (Not), Rashid (Yor), Henry (Der), Parkinson (Lei)

Harmer Hammers Warwickshire

In a week when much of England and Wales sweltered in record June temperatures, four counties rediscovered the knack of racking up a commanding score then bowling the opposition out twice. Indeed, all three Division One fixtures resulted in innings defeats.

Essex extended their lead at the top after thrashing Warwickshire at Chelmsford. The long-serving duo of Ravi Bopara and wicketkeeper James Foster each struck centuries in an innings of 542-9 declared before South African spinner Simon Harmer produced career-best match figures of 14-128 to consign their visitors to bottom place for another week.

Lancashire leapt to second with a comfortable win over former leaders Hampshire at Old Trafford. It wasn’t all plain sailing. George Bailey (127) and Kyle Abbott (97 not out) took Hants to the verge of 400 but the Red Roses response included no fewer than three centurions: Alex Davies, Ryan McLaren and Dane Vilas. The latter ended up on 244 from only 275 balls and bossed a 231-run stand with fellow countryman McLaren, who then, wth Anderson and Jarvis, ran through the Hampshire line-up inside 57 overs to clinch maximum points.

At Lord’s Middlesex claimed their first victory of the summer, handing Yorkshire a rare hiding. Sam Robson made 159 and Paul Stirling took his chance in the first XI with 111. With Ireland handed Test status for the first time, he must be a shoo-in for his country’s first-ever five-day squad, whenever that might be! Anyway, all the Middlesex bowlers chipped in, Ollie Rayner’s second-innings 4-35 being the pick of the performances.

Division Two still has a four-horse race look about it. Nottinghamshire notched up win number five, cleaning up against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge. In terms of runs, Samit Patel almost outscored the opposition on his own, striking a second double-hundred in succession. After his 247, he left muh of the bowling to the seamers, the pick of whom was neither Ball nor Broad but James Pattinson.

At New Road, Worcestershire stole a march on rivals Kent in a much closer encounter of swinging fortunes. Kent struggled early on but only Joe Clarke, with his first three-figure score of the season, made much impact for Worcestershire in reply. It was in the second half of the match when the runs began to flow. Joe Denly’s 227 helped Kent to a lead of 398 but on the final day, Daryl Mitchell and Clarke again struck tons, ably assisted by Moeen Ali’s swift 63, and Kent subsided in the sun by four wickets.

Further north, where the weather was less fierce, Durham finally entered the black with their first Championship success of 2017. They prevented Glamorgan from achieving a third consecutive victory thanks largely to Chris Rushworth’s eight wickets and a 185-run partnership on the second day between Graham Clark and the ageless Paul Collingwood.

Now for the groundbreaking set of day-night matches! Let’s hope they pull in some badly-needed crowds to enjoy proper first-class cricket. Pick of the fixtures must be Kent’s trip to Nottinghamshire and Essex’s hosting of Middlesex. I will be hoping that Somerset enjoy a rare celebration in Hampshire but I don’t hold out much hope, especially with half their team on England Lions duty!

Team of the Week: Davies (Lan +), Mitchell (Wor), Denly (Ken), Clarke (Wor), Patel (Not), Vilas (Lan), McLaren (Lan), Leach (Wor), Harmer (Ess), Pattinson (Not), Rushworth (Dur)

Roland-Jones rolls Middlesex to the Top

After looking to be a protracted war of the Roses, the Championship battle has suddenly become a five-army contest. By losing by an innings to Middlesex, Yorkshire slipped to fifth in the table. However, their victors leapfrogged Lancashire and currently stand at the summit by a single point!

Toby Roland-Jones thumped a sizzling 79 and captured six wickets, advancing his reputation sufficiently to earn a place In England's Test squad to face Pakistan on his home ground. Credit for the Middlesex win should be shared with Stevie Eskinazi, whose 157 was a second consecutive hundred in only his third first-class match. Clearly the selectors (Angus Fraser?!) were at this match because only that can explain why Gary Ballance, who made 132, also received the call-up.

Warwickshire are only a point behind after a ten-wicket demolition of Surrey. Ex-England star Jonathan Trott hit 123 while Surrey's latest big-money recruit Aaron Finch scored 110 in 98 balls in a rare four-day start. Jeetan Patel grabbed a pair of five-fors to wrap up the win. The Midlanders are looking a good bet for the title, with only Chris Woakes in contention for England duty.

Lancashire could only draw with Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge but at least a second innings hundred from 19 year-old opener Haseeb Hameed prevented a potential embarassment. Further north, Keaton Jennings racked up his fifth county hundred of the summer in Durham's draw with Hampshire, who were their hosts' equals in the game.

In the Division Two top-of-the-table clash, Essex thrashed Kent by ten wickets at Chelmsford. Their first innings of 569 all out contained no three-figure scores but four of 80+, led by 94 from Ravi Bopara, who also took five wickets. It would have been an even more emphatic result had captain Sam Northeast and James Tredwell not put on a mightily impressive 212 for the eighth wicket!

Worcestershire progressed to third position after an entertaining three-wicket triumph at home to Leicestershire. In a match full of runs but a great contest, they had to score over 300 at a gallop in barely two sessions on the final day. Fortunately for them, another half-century from number eight Joe Leach and Joe Clarke's 123 saw them home. It was also encouraging to see Tom Fell back in action after cancer treatment. Dexter, Cosgrove and Horton each struck centuries in Leicester's losing cause.

At Hove, Sussex had ensured Glamorgan remain winless. Despite hundreds from Wells, Joyce and Brown, they couldn't close out the match. This was largely due to the in-form David Lloyd's unbeaten 102. The Cardiff faithful must be wondering how their side can be so consistently strong in the T20 Blast yet consistently soggy in the Championship.
Talking of soggy, the Chesterfield pitch was so wet that not a ball was bowled in Derbyshire's fixture with Northants. Sadly not a good advert for 'festival' pitches.

This week, Essex travel to Cheltenham in the hope of reopening an ample lead at the top. I doubt the Gloucestershire ground will suffer the same fate as Chesterfield. Middlesex could also put daylight between themselves and Lancashire by winning at Taunton, although if Roland-Jones makes his England debut, Somerset will have more chance of stopping them.

Team of the week:
Hameed (Lan), Jennings (Dur), Eskinazi (Mid), Northeast (Ken), Bopara (Ess), Lloyd (Gla), Brown (Sus +), Patel (War), Roland-Jones (Mid), van der Gugten (Gla), McKay (Lei)

Lancashire and Surrey Up, Somerset Heading Down?

Last week began with Finals Day of the Nat West T20 Blast, in which the spin bowlers dominated the batsmen. Stephen Parry and Arron Lilley were particularly effective as Lancashire took the title.

Bank Holiday Monday saw the T20 double-header at Cardiff. I was there to witness two excellent and contrasting victories for England against Australia. Anya Shrubsole ripped out the first four Aussie women then Natalie Sciver took four wickets of her own before adding 47 decisive runs to earn that consolation win at the end of the Women’s Ashes series. Stars of the men’s game were Moeen Ali and Eoin Morgan for England, although Steve Smith threatened to take his side to victory. Sadly for him, he fell for 90, and Australia’s run chase went with him.

I’ll start my County Championship review in Division Two. As expected, both Surrey and Lancashire clinched promotion with two matches to spare. Surrey went top for the first time with an innings defeat of Derbyshire. Zafar Ansari did his international credentials no harm with a century and five wickets, but it was skipper Gareth Batty who concluded the win with a hat-trick.

Rain hit the other three games but Lancashire weren’t robbed of success. In fact, Kent forced them to follow on thanks to hundreds from Robert Key and his young successor as captain, Sam Northeast. At Chelmsford, Essex had the best of proceedings against Northamptonshire but a draw was inevitable. The result also hastened the sacking of the home coach Paul Grayson, paying the price for the county’s consistent under-achievement. Let’s hope the new crop of batsmen restore good times in Essex before the wealthy competitors lure them away. Leicestershire and Gloucestershire also played out an unremarkable draw.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire produced another devastating performance, twice bowling Somerset out for under 200. Ballance and Bairstow each passed 90, while Brooks and Sidebottom were the pick of the reliable seam bowling unit. Somerset were dragged back into the relegation fight as both Sussex and Hampshire enjoyed vital victories.

At Chester-le-Street, Durham succumbed to Hampshire inside three days. Ryan McLaren and Fidel Edwards each claimed seven wickets and Chris Rushworth took just two for Durham. Ryan Pringle (99 for Durham) and James Vince (16 fours in 76 not out) were the only players to make 50.

There were more runs at Worcester, where the home side were well beaten by a rampant Sussex. Luke Wright’s 226 was by far the top score of the week, and he was ably supported by Ben Brown and Chris Nash. Chris Jordan enjoyed a return to form with the ball, too. There was something for Worcestershire to savour; teenager Joe Clarke scored an unbeaten 104, his first Championship century. The loss of the first day meant Warwickshire’s contest with Middlesex was something of a damp squib.

While Worcestershire’s fate is far from sealed, just seven points from safety, they really need to win both remaining games. Somerset’s escape is in their own hands, facing both Sussex and Hampshire in the coming weeks. Yorkshire’s coronation as champions again should come this week at Lord’s. Just five bonus points will be enough to put both Middlesex and Nottinghamshire mathematically out of reach.

Team of the Week: Burns (Sur), Key (Ken), Smith (Aus), Sciver (Eng W), Wright (Sus), Northeast (Ken), Brown (Sus +), Ansari (Sur), Brooks (Yor), Parry (Lan), Shrubsole (Eng W)

Gubbins and Klinger Club the Runs

It was all about 50 overs in county cricket last week and, with some decidedly dodgy weather at times, Gloucestershire must be delighted with four wins out of four, to secure a knockout phase place. Fellow Group A front-runners Surrey also had a 100% record in the past seven days, albeit from three matches.

Surrey owed much to their batsmen, Jason Roy, Stephen Davies and the evergreen Kumar Sangakkara, with Joe Burke chipping in with valuable wickets. Gloucestershire weren’t a one-man band either, although Michael Klinger’s incredible one-day form showed no sign of waning. Two more centuries and a round 50 boosted the Bristol-based side, but ‘keeper Garth Roderick also made three figures and Geraint Jones struck three half-centries. Seamer David Payne also collected eleven scalps including five against Durham.

In Group B, Nottinghamshire rule the roost. Riki Wessels produced one of his trademark innings to defeat Middlesex today. Seven sixes helped raise his score to 131, the third highest this week. However, the star player
was probably Samit Patel. A fine century against Essex and seven wickets did as much as anybody to take his side to the top.

Middlesex experienced a mixed week but, despite a duck against Hampshire, it was a fabulous seven days for their 21 year-old, Nick Gubbins. He aggregated well over 300 runs, the best being 141 in 113 balls against Sussex. In that game, he shared a massive stand of 268 with fellow centurion Dawid Malan.

Some compensation for me came in two victories for Somerset, for whom Taunton favourites Peter Trego and James Hildreth showed what they are made of. Wes Durston (Derbyshire) and all-rounder Scott Borthwick (Durham) were also consistently excellent, but a special mention should be made of Joe Clarke.

The Worcestershire teenager plundered an unbeaten 131 in 109 balls off Gloucestershire but still finished on the losing side. Sentimentality would have placed him in my Team of the week, but there were just too many other worthy winners, especially with the bat. Maybe next week, Joe? Colleague Joe Leach also made the headlines. Against Northants, he achieved the rare feat of a hat-trick with the first three balls of the whole match. Unfortunately for him, his side's batting was even worse than the opposition's and his spectacular opening was in vain.

Team of the Week: Klinger (Glo, *)), Davies (Sur), Borthwick (Dur), Durston (Der), Gubbins (Mid), Roderick (Glo, +), Patel (Not) – two weeks running!, Trego (Som), Rayner (Mid), Payne (Glo), Hannon-Dalby (War).