International Team of 2025

Despite all the dire predictions of its imminent demise, I applaud the persistence of international cricket, in particular the traditional red-ball formats. The franchise stuff continues to rake in sponsorship and TV cash but when leading countries accept the opportunity and challenge of a series spanning more than three Tests, cricket invariably rises to the occasion. If only other nations could embrace take note of England’s battles against India at home and the ongoing Ashes barney in Australia, producing high drama and great entertainment lasting several days, although a few Aussie groundsmen seemed hell bent on preparing Test match pitches geared to a T20 duration. 

Australia ended the year atop the ICC Test rankings but were undone in the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s. In a low-scoring encounter in June, South Africa, fired by Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada, at last scooped a major trophy. Both sides defeated India in five-day cricket series, while the Aussies inflicted an ignominous humbling of West Indies in Kingston, reducing their second innings to 27 all out. Mitchell Starc took 6-9. At the other end of the scale, England took the Indian attack for 669 at Old Trafford and Australia plundered their Sri Lankan hosts for 654-6 at Galle. 

I am amazed and encouraged by the plethora of nations participating in T20 internationals around the world. Many of them rely on the Asian diaspora but it’s great to see the likes of Austria, Bahrain and Rwanda playing so much cricket. However, I am not sure what their attendances are like. 

In women’s cricket, Australia barely broke sweat to take the multi-format Ashes without a single victory for England. However, Alyssia Healy’s squad were unexpectedly defeated by Harmanpreet Kaur’s India in the World Cup. The delight on their faces in triumph was a joy to behold. 

India also picked up the ICC Champions Trophy, but only after being allowed to play their fixtures in Dubai rather than Pakistan. The small-scale tournament contained its share of surprises, not least Afghanistan’s historic victory over England, whose Bazball boasting produced not silverware but nul points. Perhaps England weren’t as good as they thought they were…. 

So what about my Team of the Year? In first-class cricket, nobody outscored KK Nair or took more wickets than Mohammed Abbas. West Indian batters Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope seemed to be everywhere in T20. Compatriot Jason Holder garnered 97 T20 victims, the most by anybody in a single year.

Neither South Africa nor New Zealand played much Test cricket but their players nonetheless made an impact on the world stage. For the Proteas, Markram and Rickelton made runs, while Jansen and Maharaj looked dangerous with red ball in hand. The Black Caps’ Matt Henry was the top wicket-taker in ODIs and Daryl Mitchell proved himself one of the best batters. 

A new record was set by NZ openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham when they each scored a ton in both innings against the Windies in December, and Wiaan Mulder opted to avoid what he considered an undeserved place atop the list of individual Test match innings. On 367 not out, and Brian Lara’s world record at his mercy, he declared South Africa’s first innings against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. Many criticised him, and I understand why, but to cricket fans, any record achieved against a side as weak as Zimbabwe’s would inevitably come with a mental asterisk against it. 

For openers, KL Rahul and Travis Head are leading contenders. The Indian remained a formidable scorer in Tests and ODIs, and the South Australian proved to be a brutal hitter in any format. He may be inconsistent but saves his best performances for the biggest stage, not least when promoted as emergency opener in the ongoing Ashes series. NZ’s Rachin Ravindra announced himself in the Champions Trophy, nailing down the opener’s spot. 

Shubman Gill was a revelation with the bat in England and was by far the most prolific batter in men’s Tests, albeit 17 shy of the 1,000 mark. Who needs Rohit or Kohli? Harry Brook is clearly hammering on Joe Root’s door as the premier Yorkshireman in cricket but 2025 was the senior man’s year. His 805 Test tally was pretty useful but he surpassed that in ODIs: 808 was superior to anyone else’s. The unbeaten 138 at Brisbane filled a glaring gap in his CV and only Tendulkar has more Test career runs. Root’s average tops 50 and he now claims 22,000 runs in England colours across all senior formats. I don’t normally dwell long on T20 specialists but even I cannot ignore the splash created by Indian Abhishek Sharma, who ended the calendar year with a T20 strike rate above 200. Not even the likes of Gayle or De Villiers managed that but, as boundaries shrink, scoring continues to accelerate. 

Aussie Alex Carey‘s brilliance behind the stumps and decent return with the bat cemented himself as the best ‘keeper in Test cricket and, for me, Ravi Jadeja retains his all-rounder spot in 2025, although he seemed to improve his batting at the expense of his left-arm spin. Ben Stokes demonstrated that he is not finished yet, but fitness issues restricted his appearances to major Test series. 

Last year, bowlers could claim to receive a bum deal. Jasprit Bumrah was given some much-deserved breathing space, allowing Mohammed Siraj to capture 43 Test wickets. Jofra Archer’s return to England’s attack was hailed as the Second Coming but, although miracles weren’t forthcoming, the old fore and pace were much in evidence. However, that old Aussie warhorse Mitchell Starc was relentlessly brilliant, hoovering up 55 wickets in eleven Tests at barely 17, driving the Barmy Army nuts. 

Amongst slower bowlers, it was also nice to see Simon Harmer back in the South African Test fold at the age of 36. In the series success against India, he finished with a superlative seventeen wickets at a mere 8.94 apiece. However, my attention has strayed to the women’s game for my final pick. England may not have enjoyed the best year but Sophie Ecclestone had no peers when it came to limited-overs spin bowling, and she is still only 26. 

My 2025 Team of the Year:

Ravindra (NZ), Head (Aus), A Sharma (Ind), Shubman Gill (Ind), Root (Eng), Carey (Aus +), Jadeja (Ind), Starc (Aus), Henry (NZ), Siraj (Ind), Ecclestone (Eng). 12th: Rickelton (SA)

Somerset's Record-breaking Blast

I wouldn’t normally go overboard on Twenty20 but after Somerset converted a Finals Day appearance into the Blast trophy for the first time since 2007, I am willing to set aside my contempt for the format and celebrate my county’s success. The other three counties at Edgbaston last weekend had all proved troublesome in recent years, not only in the Blast but also in the all-important Championship, so it was especially cheering to clinch the title by defeating both Surrey and Essex. Indeed, they did so by bowling both of them out. 

James Vince may have topped the runs table but nobody took more wickets than seamers Matt Henry and Ben Green and Craig Overton’s twenty catches in the outfield set a new record. Somerset also surpassed the tournament record of victories, losing just two out of sixteen matches. While the bowlers clearly did their job, the strategy of frontloading the batting order with white-ball specialists Banton and Smeed, plus new recruit, Tom Kohler-Cadmore. 

Unfortunately, the elusive Championship pennant is already out of reach in 2023. That familiar trio of Surrey Essex and Hampshire all won their four-day fixtures this week to occupy the leading places in Division One, with only Warwickshire preventing Somerset joining the top four as in the Blast semis. With rain forecast for the fourth day, a good deal of accelerated scoring was required to secure the sixteen points for winning.

 At Chelmsford, Essex needed only thirty to beat Kent, but needed to embark on a three-over thrash to beat the weather, too. Three wickets tumbled, and Matt Critchley followed his first-innings century with a first-ball duck but Paul Walter was there to reach the target. Surrey also had an easy ride against neighbours Middlesex. Sean Abbott and Jamie Smith starred with seven wickets and a century, respectively. 

Somerset’s fine week was completed by a straightforward nine-wicket triumph at Northampton. Their first-choice seam attack of Henry, Overton, Aldridge and Gregory were utterly dominant against the bottom side. At Trent Bridge, fifteen wickets crumbled on the first day, before Ian Holland, Liam Dawson and James Fuller set the scene for a likely third-day denouement. Tom Moores’ 81 merely delayed the inevitable as Fuller’s 4-59 and Mohammad Abbas’ 3-48 wrapped up victory by 116 runs. The Birmingham rain prevented a positive result, although Lancashire’s George Balderson struck his maiden ton. 

In Division Two, three of the four fixtures were draw, including runaway leaders Durham’s run-fest against Derbyshire. The home team’s wicketkeeper, Brooke Guest, enjoyed a career-best 197 but the in-form Alex Lees and David Bedingfield more than compensated with hundreds of their own. Lees’ old opening partner at Yorkshire, Adam Lyth also reached three figures at Headingley against Sussex. White Rose paceman Ben Coad was as economical as ever. For someone with a career average under 20, it is remarkable that he hasn’t really entered the England conversation. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t have the all-out pace of a Tongue or Potts. The Cheltenham crowd were frustrated by a lack of action, as Gloucestershire and Glamorgan played out what was essentially a single-innings draw. 

The only win came at Oakham where Worcestershire had the better of a low-scoring encounter with Leicestershire. Forty wickets fell in just over two days, with Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington making the difference between the counties. 

In the last round of matches before the One-Day Cup and Horrible Hundred take over for the school holidays, Division One sees those four southern stars paired off again. The Blast semi-finals are replicated with the red ball – Hampshire v Essex and Somerset v Surrey – which will have a major bearing of where the pennant is heading in September. 

Team of the Week:- Holland (Ham), Lees (Dur), J Smith (Sur), Bedingham (Dur), Guest (Der +), Critchley (Ess), Balderson (Lan), S Abbott (Sur), C Overton (Som), Henry (Som), Pennington (Wor)

County Cricket: Surrey Crippled, Bell-Drummond Tripled

This week’s County Championships fixtures produced a satisfying mixture of shocks, record performances and heart-pounding finishes. Before this week, both Surrey and Lancashire were unbeaten and, at The Oval, you’d expect the former to retain that sequence against the latter. Thanks to a last-wicket stand of 130 between Sean Abbott and Dan Worrall, a first-innings lead was duly established. On day three, the Surrey seamers picked up regular wickets, leaving their batters a comfortable target of 208. However, Tom Bailey ran through the formidable top-order, including Tom Latham first ball, and Will Williams finished the job. 

With the counties behind them also lacking consistency, Surrey are still looking good to retain their title. Essex advanced to second at the expense of Warwickshire at Chelmsford. Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence put on 227 for the third wicket before bowlers Porter and Harmer left the opponents facing the follow-on. Late flurries from Bess and Lintott forced the Essex openers to bat again but victory was achieved inside sixteen overs. 

Hampshire made short work of Middlesex at Southampton, where Liam Dawson became the first Hampshire all-rounder to score a century and take ten wickets in the same match. The Londoners have only one batting bonus point on the board all season, a disturbing state of affairs. Kent also won by an innings, at the expense of bottom side Northamptonshire. Last week, Daniel Bell-Drummond was by far the leading T20 run scorer and this time he repeated the feat in red-ball cricket. He joined the select few Kent batsmen to strike a triple-century, moments before his tail-end partner was last man out. 

At Taunton, Somerset made a dreadful start to their fixture against Nottinghamshire, for whom Brett Hutton took 5-34. However, Matt Henry began the turnaround with 6-59, his work continued by George Bartlett and teen sensation James Rew whose tons took the second innings total beyond 500. Notts had well over a day to compile 492 to win but they failed to survive even a few hours. Somerset’s pace attack was ruthless, Josh Davey’s 4-17 the most eye-catching figures. The enormous winning margin of 399 runs was Somerset’s second largest runs victory in their Championship history.

 

In Division Two, leaders Durham were frustrated in their push for a fifth triumph of the season. Their contest at Leicestershire yielded six centuries, two of them from the Durham opener Alex Lees but the most crucial turned out to come from Leicester’s Aussie Peter Handscomb. While all around him floundered, he avoided the temptation to dig in, instead peppering the boundary twenty-one times on the way to an unbeaten 136 and dominating a match-saving ninth wicket partnership lasting twenty overs.

Leicester’s superior batting bonus points helped them leapfrog Sussex, who also required a desperate rearguard action to avoid defeat at the hands of Glamorgan. With nine wickets down, Oli Carter and Henry Shipley somehow managed to last more than twenty-one overs, the latter making only two scoring shots (both boundaries) from the 56 deliveries faced. 

Bowlers struggled, too, at Headingley. The first-innings totals surpassed a thousand runs, including centuries by Bean, Hill and Revis (Yorkshire) and Oliver Price (Gloucestershire) and a draw was inevitable. It was the same outcome at Worcester, where winless Derbyshire looked likely to break their duck after skipper Luis Du Plooy shared partnerships of over 250 with each of Wayne Madsen and Anuj Dal. However, their bowlers were less successful, as Garth Roderick (123) and Ed Pollock (56 in almost four hours) anchored a dogged last-day dig-in to attain a draw. 

Back to T20 mode now, where Worcestershire have much more chance of silverware… 

Team of the Week:- Muyeye (Ken), Lees (Dur), Bell-Drummond (Ken), Du Plooy (Der), Robinson (Dur +), Handscomb (Lei), Dawson (Ham), Abbott (Sur), McAndrew (Sus), Williams (Lan), Henry (Som)

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)

Worcestershire Up…. Then Down

It all started so well for Worcestershire. Last weekend, a combination of Ben Cox’s new-found finishing skills, Pat Brown’s mega-mean spin and Moeen Ali’s allroundership propelled the Royals to their first T20 Blast title. However, they knew that their stay in the Championship’s top flight was tenuous at best. Needing to beat Essex at Chelmsford, it all went pear-shaped straightaway as Jamie Porter ripped through them before lunch. Ravi Bopara then starred as Essex established a 380-run first-innings lead. There was no coming back from that. When asked a direct question, Daryl Mitchell had professed a preference for the Finals Day success even if his side were relegated so at least he and his mates will have to live off the Edgbaston euphoria.

Champions-elect Surrey were thwarted in their effort to make it ten consecutive wins by the impact of Storm Bronagh. Gales and torrential rain combined to render the Taunton pitch unplayable on day four, with Somerset struggling to avoid an innings defeat. Surrey’s top four had piled on well over 300 runs before the home team were bowled out for a mediocre 146. His hopes of a Championship already dashed poor Marcus Trescothick bagged a pathetic ‘pair’. I hope his Taunton career doesn’t end in such a manner.

The weather messed things up at Headingley where Adam Lyth had reached three figures in the Championship for the first time in over a year. Tim Bresnan also rolled back the years, taking 5-28 but a final day washout gave Hampshire the draw they needed to preserve Division One status. The White Roses are almost certainly safe and need just five points from their final fixture against Worcestershire to be 100% sure. Lancashire must win at Southampton to stand a chance of relegating Nottinghamshire who host Somerset.

The Division Two promotion places were confirmed when Kent annihilated Glamorgan with five sessions to spare. They notched their tenth victory and the Welsh side their tenth defeat, which says it all. Matt Henry and Darren Stevens took nine second-innings wickets while 20 year-old Zak Crawley completed a maiden century. With Warwickshire and Sussex playing out a high-scoring draw – a rarity this month – Sussex saw their fading hopes evaporate completely.

If Glamorgan thought they had it bad, Durham suffered the ignominy of being bowled out twice by Leicestershire for under 70 inside 52 second day overs. Mohammad Abbas achieved a couple of five-fors, including five clean-bowleds en route for a fifth win of the summer.

Middlesex beat Derbyshire despite a Matt Critchley century and, in a last day rearguard action, Billy Godleman carrying his bat for 105. The Gloucestershire-Northants action was severely curtailed by the weather. There’s not a lot to play for next week so expect a few first-class debuts around the country and maybe the launch of future stellar careers.

Team of the Week:

Robson (Mid), Crawley (Ken), Godleman (Der), Trott (War), Hain (War), Cox (Wor +), Critchley (Der), Stevens (Ken), Henry (Ken), Mohammad Abbas (Lei), Porter (Ess)

Somerset Challenge thwarted by Dramatic Tie

What a weird week in the County Championship! It experienced its first tied match for fifteen years, no fewer than six bowlers took ten wickets and only four centuries were scored in the nine fixtures played.

Surrey romped to a ten-wicket victory over Essex at Chelmsford, that man Rikki Clarke combining a half-century with eight cheap wickets. He’s the Darren Stevens of 2018! Their only feasible challengers for the title, Somerset, were involved in a low-scoring spin-fest against Lancashire at Taunton. Jack Leach had captured twelve wickets to leave the home side needing only 78 to win. However, on the second afternoon, fellow left-arm slowie Keshav Maharaj carried on where Leach left off, and the wickets tumbled. Somerset scrambled their way to 77, needing one to win with two wickets remaining. Dom Bess went for glory and was duly stumped. Jamie Overton and Leach played it cool for ten whole deliveries but then Leach was caught by Bailey and it was all over, scores level: a tie!

Hampshire defeated bottom club Worcestershire by 114 runs, who at least took the match into a third day. As at Taunton, neither side managed an innings of 200. Worcester all-rounder Ed Barnard took 6-50 on the first day but bagged a pair as Kyle Abbott and Dale Steyn ripped through the home county’s batting in under 42 overs.

Three of the four hundreds scored this week came at Trent Bridge, the only place where bowlers struggled. While other teams were being bowled out inside a couple of sessions, Nottinghamshire openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Ben Slater were putting on 182 for the first wicket alone. In reply, Ballance and Kohler-Cadmore ground out centuries as the pitch and weather ensured a draw.

Surrey now sit 43 points clear and facing the less-than-arduous trip to Worcester, while Somerset travel to Hampshire. The Roses match at Headingley is but a sideshow in comparison.

The Division Two promotion battle remains an exciting three-horse race. Warwickshire’s lead was sliced to a mere seven points having been held to a draw by Durham. Olly Stone starred with the ball but on the final afternoon, Poynter and Salisbury held on for the last six overs, defying the bowlers and claustrophobia, surrounded by close fielders, and avoided defeat.

Kent are still in second place, the returning Matt Henry back in the wickets (11-114 for the match) as they dealt with Northamptonshire quite easily. Meanwhile at Hove, Sussex rediscovered their mojo. After their reverse against Middlesex, Chris Jordan (68 and 54) and Ollie Robinson (5-24 and 5-43) starred in a 274-run thrashing of Leicestershire. Credit, though, to the opposing Ben Mike. The 20 year-old debutant aggregated 9-94 with his medium pace, deserving a better result for his efforts.

It was nice to see a Hammond making three figures for Gloucestershire again, almost a century after namesake Wally first played at Bristol. This time it was former under-19 international Miles who struck an unbeaten 123 in the second innings. Nevertheless, the game with Middlesex ended in a draw. As for Glamorgan, their disastrous batting record continued, Derbyshire the lucky beneficiaries, especially Tony Palladino who finished with 10-81.

Next week, Warwickshire, Sussex and Kent are all on the road, while Gloucestershire will lick their lips at a drive across the Severn Bridge to Cardiff. Can Glamorgan garner any batting points, let alone a victory? Don’t bet on it. They’ve acquired only nine batting bonuses all summer.

Team of the Week: 

Slater (Not), Hammond (Glo), Denly (Ken), Ballance (Yor), Billings (Ken +), Clarke (Sur), Jordan (Sus), Henry (Ken), Stone (War), Robinson (Sus), Leach (Som)

Lancashire Upset the Leaders and Leicestershire finally win

In the final round of Championship matches before the first summer break, Lancashire and Surrey blew the race for the pennant wide open. The former went to Trent Bridge and came away with an innings victory over the leaders inside seven sessions. With Keaton Jennings scoring the runs and Jimmy Anderson and Graeme Onions taking the lion’s share of Nottinghamshire wickets, it was a surprisingly easy victory. Stuart Broad took a commendable 4-41 for the home team but Test hopeful Jake Ball blotted his copybook with 2-101 at more than five an over.

At the Oval, Surrey enjoyed a similarly decisive success over Yorkshire. First of all, back-up ‘keeper Ollie Pope maintained his excellent form with the bat, striking 27 boundaries in an innings of 158, ably supported by Dean Elgar and Rikki Clarke. Sam Curran then snapped up ten wickets in two days, taking his first-class tally into three figures while still a teenager. Yorkshire’s Gary Ballance was missing and it has now been revealed he is taking a break “for personal reasons”. A shame, because his county needs him, especially when Jonny Bairstow return to England duty.

Essex were also winners, but were made to work hard by Worcestershire in a low-scoring game at New Road. Joe Clarke’s second successive century and nine wickets for Josh Tongue deserved more but, needing only 215 to win, Worcester were bowled out for 182, thanks to five-fors from both Peter Siddle and Simon Harmer. The Aussie seamer leaves Essex with a lot of wickets and even more goodwill, but the return of Neil Wagner should keep the county’s seam attack in fine fettle.

In the other Division One fixture, the batsmen were very much in control at Taunton. Somerset established a huge first innings lead thanks to James Hildreth’s 184 and late-order runs from internationals past and future, Craig Overton and Dom Bess. However, Hampshire made sure they didn’t fail again, as Hashim Amla (107) and James Vince (201 not out) saved the game. Vince’s double-hundred has also probably saved his Test career.

In Division Two, Leicestershire’s latest head coach, Paul Nixon was celebrating a first Championship win for two years. It was a nail-biting finish, though. Hunting 251 on the third day, Glamorgan subsided to 139-8 and all looked lost. Marchant de Lange decided that he may as well go out in a blaze of glory and instead took his side to the brink of an unlikely triumph. He had plundered eight sixes in a 45-ball 90 when he hoisted a full-toss high for the winning hit only to be caught on the boundary. The result leaves the Welsh side second from bottom, above only Northamptonshire, who were trounced by leaders Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Olly Stone was the pick of the bowlers but it was Will Rhodes’ first career century which anchored the second innings chase.

Kent overtook neighbours Sussex by beating them in a short and sweet encounter at Canterbury. Matt Henry was again the star of the show, ending any Sussex resistance with 6-53, taking his Championship tally to 37 in only four matches.  I’m not sure what Kent will do without him.

Derbyshire’s clash with Durham easily went the distance but finished as a tame draw. Stuart Poynter (170) and Michael Richardson (115) put on 275 for Durham’s sixth wicket, then Mark Wood’s fine 6-46 hurt Derby’s batting on the final day but it was all too late to secure a result after the home team’s 427 on the first few days. They meet again when the Championship resumes in four weeks.

Middlesex’s bid to bounce back into the top tier was dealt another blow when their bowlers couldn’t hammer home the follow-on advantage over Gloucestershire. Even Eoin Morgan scored 76 red-ball runs alongside Dawid Malan in the first innings but 21 year-old Bristolian James Bracey led the fourth day resistance with an unbeaten 125.

So now it’s off to the Royal London Cup. While some players are off to play against Pakistan and others head across the world after serving their short-term contracts, the 50-over competition offers a stage for those remaining and for whom four-day cricket is too onerous or simply cramps their style. Over to you, Messrs Rashid, Hales et al….

Team of the Week:

Jennings (Lan), Bracey (Glo), Vince (Ham), Hildreth (Som), Pope (Sur), Poynter (Dur +), Henry (Ken), S Curran (Sur), De Lange (Gla), Tongue (Wor), Onions (Lan)

Essex back on the title trail

All the counties were in action this week and mercifully all were able to play, catching the end of an unseasonal hot spell across much of Britain. After their week one washout, both Essex and Yorkshire took their second opportunities in style. At Headingley, seamer Ben Coad was the home side’s star man, tang ten wickets as Nottinghamshire succumbed by 164 runs.

Down in Chelmsford, it was 2017 all over again when Jamie Porter and Steve Harmer dismissed Lancashire for only 144 first innings runs to keep them in the hunt. It was Porter again who snuffed out the visitors’ chase on day three, consigning Liam Livingstone’s side to a second defeat.

I am delighted to report a Somerset victory in their opening fixture, a rarity these days. It was a tough few days for batsmen in Taunton, and Worcestershire all-rounder Ed Barnard took eleven wickets. However, first Matt Renshaw, then James Hildreth reached three figures while colleagues struggled, and Luke Gregory was the pick of the bowlers who ensured the Worcester tail didn’t rescue their top-order failings.

Surrey also wrapped up a home win, defeating Hampshire by 139 runs. The main damage was done by their two wicketkeeper-batsmen, Ben Foakes and Ollie Pope in the second innings. They shared a century partnership, with 20 year-old Pope making 145 and taking his first-class average to almost 50. In reply, Sam Northeast compiled a hundred for Hampshire but nobody else could reach even 40 as teen spinner Amar Virdi took four wickets.

Warwickshire sit atop Division Two after thumping Northamptonshire by an innings. Tim Ambrose top-scored as they passed 400 but the Wantage Road side had no answer to Ryan Sidebottom: not the recently-retired ex-England man, but the injury-hit Aussie right-armer. His 6-35 and 4-61 proved decisive, while England under-19 medium-pacer Henry Brookes picked off the final pair.

The Derby faithful probably fainted when, after a 23-match barren spell, Derbyshire finally secured a home victory. It was particularly surprising given that their opponents were Middlesex. Duanne Olivier boasts a world-class bowling average of under 22 and the South African claimed eight wickets. In the second innings, openers Ben Slater and Luis Reece shared a 210-run partnership, taking took Derbyshire towards the rarified heights of 333-3, whereupon skipper Godleman declared to set a challenging target of 442. Once the Middlesex top-half had been despatched for below 100, that was always out of sight despite late hitting by James Harris and Tom Helm.

Stripped of their top players, Durham look like being the new Derbyshire in 2018. They were knocked over twice within two days by Kent, for whom Matt Henry harvested twelve more wickets. James Weighell weighed in with a defiant 84 before he became Henry’s sixth victim of the second innings. Kent’s Bell-Drummond and Kuhn finished the job a few hours later.

Glamorgan enjoyed their short trip over the Severn Bridge to Bristol, where they plundered a six-wicket victory over Gloucestershire. Marchant de Lange followed his five-wicket haul with an unbeaten 50 but it was the centuries from Shaun Marsh and David Lloyd which did most to take the Welsh beyond 500 and a lead of 290. 20 year-old James Bracey led the charge with 120 not out and, assisted by spirited tailenders, forced Glamorgan to bat again. However, Donald and Lloyd smashed seventeen from Worrell’s seventh over and the job was done.

There were plenty of runs at Leicester, too and, unlike every other match this week, not enough wickets to produce a result. Colin Ackermann compiled an excellent 186 but the Sussex opener Luke Wells played out for a draw with 102 not out. 

Leicestershire host a buoyant Derbyshire in an East Midlands derby next weekend, while Middlesex will want to get their season back on track at home to Glamorgan. In Division One, the Hampshire v Essex encounter looks the pick of the fixture list but could Somerset make it two from two at Taunton? I can but dream.

Team of the Week: 

Wells (Sus), Reece (Der), Ackermann (Lei), Bracey (Glo), Hildreth (Som),  Foakes (Sur, +), Pope (Sur), Barnard (Wor), Henry (Ken), Sidebottom (War), Porter (Ess)

Middlesex win a Thriller

Middlesex have extended their lead at the top of the County Championship, but they were pushed to the penultimate ball of the four days by Somerset at Taunton. On day two, Middlesex were struggling to match their hosts’ mediocre total of 236, but then James Harris and James Fuller posted a mighty ninth wicket stand of 162, putting them in the driving seat. Centuries from Marcus Trescothick (his 48th first class effort for the West Countrymen) and Peter Trego turned things around, leaving the league leaders 46 overs to score 302. Acting skipper James Franklin accepted the challenge and it needed some superb knocks by Nick Gubbins and ‘keeper John Simpson to conquer it in the very final over. Simpson also took nine catches in the match. Indeed, Middlesex were very much Somerset’s nemeses this week, also winning their T20 fixture, dammit!

Warwickshire’s attempt to match the Londoners foundered in the Edgbaston rain. Hampshire racked up more than 500 thanks to Liam Dawson’s 116 and an unbeaten 204 from Adam Wheater. However, having lost the third day to the weather, Sam Hain and Tim Ambrose achieved three-figure scores of their own to play out a draw. Even less cricket was possible at The Oval where Yorkshire had the better of their contest with Surrey. Adam Lyth starred with a double-hundred.

Division Two is really hotting up, too. Gloucestershire are definitely in the promotion race after defeating leaders Essex by 61 runs at Cheltenham. Apart from centuries from David Lawrence and Gloucestershire skipper Gareth Roderick, it was a game for the seamers. Essex’s Kiwi, Matthew Quinn captured 11 wickets yet still finished on the losing side, while the home team’s trio of Payne, Norwell and Miles ripped through Essex on the final day. Gloucestershire have also leapfrogged Glamorgan in the Blast’s South Division so happy times at Bristol again

Worcestershire now sit only seven points behind Essex after thumping Northamptonshire by 311 runs at Wantage Road. They twice bowled out their opponents for under 150, the bulk of the wickets falling to Matt Henry and Joe Leach.

There’s more festival cricket this week as the county circuit says a summer hello to Southport, Colwyn Bay, Tunbridge Wells and, again, Cheltenham. Lancashire look to revive their title bid against Durham while Hampshire and Surrey meet in a relegation clash. Notts and Somerset both need a win to keep out of trouble. Gloucestershire can go top if they overcome Northants and Kent are back in the mix if they beat Sussex in the local derby.

Team of the Week: Lyth (Yor), Petersen (Lan), Roderick (Glo *), Dawson (Ham), Wheater (Ham), Simpson (Mid +), Trego (Som), Leach (Wor), Fuller (Mid), Quinn (Ess), Henry (Wor)