Yorkshire Defy History as Storm Clouds Gather for Essex

The Essex Perspective

Meanwhile in Chelmsford. (From Charl Willoughby's Twitter feed.)

When Essex won the toss on a grey and miserable May afternoon, it wouldn't be a surprise if James Foster let out a celebratory cheer before informing that officials that he'd like to have a bowl. It was, given the overhead conditions in East Anglia's wettest drought, a very good toss to win.

In the small number of overs which could be bowled on the first day, wickets tumbled and they tumbled quickly. Scott Newman departed second ball, hanging his bat just outside the off stump to allow David Masters to pick up his 22nd first-class wicket of the season so far. At the other end, Charl Willoughby was running in, finally making his home Championship debut for the club, and he was doing all the damage.

Ben Harmison went for 2, Rob Key soon followed for a low score and then Mike Powell went for a duck. Brendan Nash, who'd scored an unbeaten century in the rain affected draw against Yorkshire a couple of weeks ago, then had his off stump sent cartwheeling as Willoughby broke through his defences. Kent were 9-5 and it was up to Geraint Jones and Darren Stevens, who has this annoying habit of doing really well at Chelmsford, to see them through to the close.

Day two saw more rain and it meant only 10 balls could be bowled. Essex took no wickets and Kent added only seven runs to their overnight total. Essex are getting close to having played more games of cards in the dressing room than they have cricket on the field, so it's been a frustrating start. The words "hosepipe ban" don't really provide comfort either.

However, in the warm up before the deluge, there was still time for Alviro Petersen to turn his ankle over in the dread football warm up. Football as a cricket warm up has always provoked debate. In recent years, James Anderson has been forced to miss an England game after picking up an injury in a football warm up and who can forget the morning activities of the 2009 Headingley Test after Matt Prior's back spasm?

Back on the pitch at Chelmsford and Essex began day 3 searching for the sixth wicket. It wasn't coming. Darren Stevens and Geraint Jones dug in as Masters and Willoughby could not continue their effectiveness of the previous day's play. Tymal Mills was disappointing, perhaps not enjoying the soggy conditions of the bowler's run up, and it allowed Stevens and Jones to build a mammoth partnership.

The two settled in and Kent went past the one hundred mark with still only 5 wickets down. Essex's bowling was disappointing, Greg Smith failed to have an impact once again and Ravi Bopara could only manage one over before heading off the field with a thigh injury. The injury was a huge blow to Bopara himself, as he would surely have been hoping for another chance at 6 for England on Thursday. Away from Ravi's thigh, the rebuilding process of Stevens and Jones meant that Kent were able to pick up a batting point, something which looked unthinkable with the team in such a dire position on the first day.

Charl Willoughby finally got the breakthrough, and his fifth wicket allowing him to return the figures of 5-70, as Darren Stevens was caught at short leg by Billy Godleman. As with buses, wickets also come in clusters and Kent managed to book end their innings with a collapse. Tom Westley picked up the three wickets of James Tredwell, Mark Davies and Charlie Shreck to leave Kent 206-9. It allowed Geraint Jones to go on the attack as the young debutant of Ivan Thomas was at the other end. Jones was eventually out to Dave Masters for 88, bringing Kent's innings of 225 to a close.

Essex's innings started in yet another disappointing fashion. Cook departed for another low score. In the two first-class matches he's played for Essex since his return from England, he's yet to get into double figures. Naturally, he'll probably get man of the series against the West Indies and Essex won't see him again until next May. 

In the Chelmsford late evening sunshine, Tom Westley picked up another duck, his second golden one of the season. Westley's half century against Glamorgan probably saved his place in this match, but perhaps Essex may consider Jaik Mickleburgh, who has seemed in decent touch for the 2nd XI, or hand Adam Wheater a return to the side.

Godleman looked in good touch until he was given out LBW to Mark Davies, who was bowling incredibly economically and causing the Essex batsmen trouble. Greg Smith departed for only 4 and, like Westley, when the likes of Shah and ten Doeschate return from the IPL and Napier gets back from his injury, will surely fear for his place. James Foster came in, leading to concern over whether both Petersen and Bopara would be able to bat, but when he went for 4 and then Pettini, who has been in wonderful touch for the past couple of games, went for 92, Petersen and Bopara were at the crease.

Both of them had runners, which was always going to be a recipe for disaster, so it was understandable that the runners of Tom Westley and Greg Smith were both sent back to the pavilion. However, Bopara's injury seemed worse than he anticipated, so Greg Smith was back out and it was thought he was doing the running for both the players until it was clear that Petersen was doing the running for himself.

Bopara, predictably and amusingly, got run out and he was the last man out for Essex. To have a side 9-5 and then not reach a batting point yourself is a hugely disappointing result. Kent went back into bat and reached 92-2 before declaring, but the match was declared a draw, Essex's fourth of the season. Kent head back across the Thames with 7 points, Essex finished with 6. 

Essex's CB40 campaign finally began and it ended with a 7 wicket loss to Worcestershire. 99 for Moeen Ali, before he got out to Alviro Petersen, meant that Worcestershire always looked comfortable chasing a poor effort from the Eagles. Essex had begun brightly with Cook scoring 47 and Pettini carrying on his good form by reaching 64, but that was all that was really on offer from Essex as they limped along to 190-9 off 40 overs.

Bopara's thigh injury may keep him out for two weeks meaning that Essex now head off to Grace Road for their four day match on Wednesday without him and Alastair Cook, who has returned to the England set up. After Leicestershire, Essex head up to Lancashire for another CB40 match on Sunday. Essex will be hoping for sunnier skies up north, otherwise it may well continue to be a frustrating start to the season for the Eagles. 

Eagle of the Match: There's a case for Charl Willoughby, but once again I find myself going for Mark Pettini. Essex's batting is failing at the moment and Pettini is the one standing up and proving himself, something that must surely be pleasing to any Essex fan.

The Yorkshire Perspective

Yorkshire's horrible run of PR luck continued this week as Mitch Starc, fresh from sunnier climes, was sent packing after some paperwork was incorrectly filled out. Yorkshire's chairman, Colin Graves, handled the situation with all the gravitas one would expect - he heaped all the blame on Starc's agent, calling the issue a 'disgrace.' Nothing like a traditional warm, Northern reception to welcome Mitch to Yorkshire CCC.

Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root were both absent from Tyke duty as they headed off to Northampton to get a first look at the touring West Indies team. Adam Lyth was called in to the top of the order to replace Root, whilst Gerard Brophy took up his old position behind the stumps. Other than that, Yorkshire were unchanged as they arrived in Bristol to face Gloucestershire.

The first day was, unsurprisingly, a complete wash-out. The second day looked slightly more promising, but the weather once again turned up to ruin everyone's fun. Gale won the toss and, as is tradition at this time of the year, chose to bowl. It looked like the right decision as Bresnan removed opener Howell early to leave Gloucestershire at 9/1. This brought Gloucestershire's overseas signing, Kane Williamson, to the crease.

Having spent much of last month playing Dale Steyn's personal punchbag, Williamson took the determination of that test series out to the middle with him. There were plenty of edges and plays and misses from both Williamson and Dent, but they stayed at the crease, frustrating the Yorkshire bowlers. Patterson made the breakthrough late in the day to dismiss Dent for 62, but Williamson stuck it out.

The third day was mercifully rain free, and Yorkshire took the field looking to take early wickets. Williamson reached a magnificent hundred, an innings that will give him confidence when his native country tours England in similar testing conditions, before being dismissed by a fired up Bresnan shortly after Gidman lost his wicket.

Yorkshire's frustration at times shone through; Bresnan conceded five overthrows after a slightly over-enthusiastic attempt at a run out, and Sidebottom looked ready to kill the next batsman who played and missed at him. But both Bresnan and Patterson stuck to their guns. Bresnan picked up his 5th five-for in county cricket as he bowled the dangerous looking Hamish Marshall, before forcing Cockbain to edge to slip in his next over. But it was Patterson who looked to swing things Yorkshire's way by taking two wickets in two balls to leave Gloucestershire at 294/8.

It was then that the entertainment started. Gale replaced Bresnan with Lyth, who merrily let the Gloucestershire tail smack him around for 26 from two overs, before bringing himself on at the opposite end for his first bowl in three years. It was obvious that Yorkshire were planning to forfeit the innings - which they did, before sending Gloucestershire back out to bat. It was an incredibly competitive decision from the two captains, who came together to agree to firstly let Gloucestershire reach 300 and claim the batting points, before then settling on a target for Yorkshire to try to reach.

Last season, Yorkshire didn't play enough attacking cricket; and at times in the early stages, they've let the momentum slide. But Gale's decision showed how much Yorkshire wanted victory. The game could easily have tailed off towards a draw, with both sides pocketing the points - but the two captains forced the game back onto track, in order to give one a chance of winning. 

Yorkshire's reply started off on shaky grounds, as Sayers was removed late on the third day. Jaques and Lyth guided Yorkshire to 30/1 at the close, and although Lyth fell early on the fourth day, Jaques once again took centre stage. It was a big ask for Yorkshire; Gloucestershire may not have the most vivacious bowling attack in the county, but batting dominoes has become a feature of Yorkshire's game play over the past season. Yorkshire needed 370 from a minimum of 96 over, and Jaques, given a life after a drop in the slips, took his attacking nature to Gloucestershire. Delicate strokes were mixed with punchy pulls and elegant drives through the covers. He was joined by Gale, who also took the attack to Gloucestershire, striking Young for two, six and four in his first over. Gale's attack misfired as he sent one straight down McCarter's throat at mid-on, which brought Ballance to the crease.

Ballance and Jaques made quite the partnership at the crease; their combined stance of 213 saw Jaques take the lead as Ballance quietly accumulated, whilst at the same time dispatching the looser deliveries. Jaques reached his second hundred of the season for the Tykes from 160 balls -and more importantly, he was still there as Ballance reached his 50. Their combined partnership, the perfect example of the senior/junior roles at the crease, pushed Yorkshire into a stronger and stronger position.

There were wobbles as Jaques was dismissed for a hugely impressive 160, leaving Yorkshire with 80 to chase. McGrath came and went without making a huge impact. Ballance begun to hit out as he was joined by Bresnan, who thrashed the Gloucestershire bowlers around for a while, before being bowled by Young, after making 38 from just as many deliveries. Ballance, however, stuck around; he reached his 100, the first of the season for him, before striking 4, 6 and 6 to seal the game for Yorkshire.

It could have, to coin a charming Yorkshire phrase, all gone tits up for the Tykes this week. Whilst Yorkshire were charging for the win, Shahzad took a wicket with his first ball in a Lancashire shirt, and added two more to his total. But the attacking cricket that fans had been promised reared its head in this game. The decision to chase down a total, and force a result, swung the game in Yorkshire's favour. They are now joint top of Division Two, and will be looking to carry on the unbeaten streak against Hampshire next week.

Tyke of the match
Jaques. Jaques was there in the morning, the afternoon and half of the evening session. It was a classy 160, with a balance of aggression and finesse that he carries off so well. Yorkshire were in need of a big score if they planned to chase down such a huge total - and Jaques provided them with the perfect platform.

Around the Country

The Yorkshire win was the only game across the two divisions that produced a result. In Division One, leaders Nottingham amassed their biggest batting total of the season so far against Middlesex. Michael Lumb's 162, his first for his new county, was well supported by the middle order. The England seamer shoot-out continued, as Finn took 7 across the board, whilst Broad took one, but managed to do so without having a hissy-fit. The game was drawn after Strauss spent some valuable time at the crease.

Three days of Lancashire v. Sussex were rained off. New Lanky, Ajmal Shahzad, took a wicket with his first ball, taking three overall in the game, but Lancashire were unable to bowl out Sussex after declaring for 144. Durham and Somerset was also massively rain affected. Durham's woeful season with the bat - naturally, I've tipped them to win the first division - continued as Somerset's last eleven men standing produced an excellent performance with the ball.

Surrey celebrating having KP back in the side by collapsing to 43/8. Jacques Rudolph stuck around long enough in the first innings to push Surrey over the 100 line, before they were unsurprisingly invited to follow on by Worcestershire. Worcestershire, who were without county hero Alan Richardson for the second innings, were unable to maintain any real pressure on Surrey, as captain Hamilton-Brown and Tom Maynard both made centuries to guide Surrey to the draw.

In Division Two, Matthew Hoggard celebrated his return to Leicestershire by doing what he does best - blocking the ball in the last few overs. Leicestershire, after rain affected the majority of the game, declared their first innings at 38/2. Northamptonshire then declared their second innings on 26/0. Sarwan made 94 in the second innings, and Josh Cobb continued his impressive start to the season.

In Group A of the CB40, Gloucestershire managed to pile on the runs against Leicestershire, thanks to another century from Kane Williamson. They handed the Twenty20 champions a 164 run defeat. The Netherlands were searching for their third win in as many games against Middlesex, but they ended up losing by 8 wickets as Joe Denly and Chris Rogers guided the Panthers home.

Group B saw a no result in Glasgow between Scotland and Glamorgan. In Group C, there was a 144 run victory for Sussex over the Unicorns. Derbyshire were handed a 9 wicket defeat at the hands of Warwickshire as the Bears managed to bowl the Falcolns out for a pitiful 122. Despite the early loss of Chopra, an unbeaten 81 from William Porterfield and 41 not out from Jonathan Trott saw the Bears home with 15.3 overs to spare.

Around Cricket

The majority of the West Indies Test squad has now arrived, but it still couldn't stop them from suffering a 10 wicket defeat at the hands of the England Lions. Yorkshire's Joe Root scored an unbeaten century as the Lions chased down their 197 target at the County Ground in Northampton.

Misbah-ul-Haq has stepped down as Pakistan's Twenty20 captain, but remains captain of the Test and ODI side. Their squads for the tour of Sri Lanka have been announced, with Mohammad Sami and Faisal Iqbal being recalled after a couple of years in the wilderness. 

Meanwhile, Australia have announced their touring squad for the ODI series this summer, with Barmy Army favourite Mitchell Johnson returning after a winter nursing injury and Steve Smith, who has impressed at the IPL, also coming back into the fold. Highly rated youngster Patrick Cummins also returns from injury as Australia look to give their youngsters a chance to play in English conditions before the Ashes next summer.

The ICC are considering a switch hit LBW rule change, which prompted Kevin Pietersen to go off on one on Twitter before donning a beanie and sitting in the dressing room waiting for Surrey to collapse. The ICC have also picked Haroon Largot's successor as former South African wicketkeeper, Dave Richardson, has been voted as the new chief executive.

Finally, England's squad for the Lord's Test has been announced. Graham Onions returns and Ravi Bopara's thigh injury opens the door for Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow, who impressed in the England Lions match. The number 6 position has been a much talked about point for England in recent years, but there's something reassuring about having a northern ginger in the middle order.

Frosty May for Ajmal despite the continuing rain

The Yorkshire Perspective

Yorkshire went into the Leicestershire game under a cloud of their own making, after Ajmal Shahzad was sent packing on the eve of the game. Moxon and Graves gave a press conference later in the week, explaining Yorkshire’s divorce from Shahzad was down to irreconcilable differences. Although Shahzad was someone who let his mood be known – it was easy to tell when he was miserable in the field, judging by how far his shoulders would slump and how heavy he’d stomp his feet – he started this season on a much more positive note than 2011, and personally, I think he’ll be missed.

The signing of Mitchell Starc was confirmed just hours before the Shahzad news, to the surprise of no-one. He should arrive in time for the Gloucestershire match, hopefully with handwarmers aplenty. Following Shahzad’s departure, McGrath returned from the seconds to take his place, and Yorkshire were otherwise unchanged, with Bressy lad having time off from being England’s talisman to freeze his extremities off in Scarborough.

Leicestershire won the toss and stand-in captain Sarwan, owner of the best accent outside of Yorkshire, elected to bowl. It looked like a good decision, with Yorkshire soon teetering at 33/3. Sayers fell first, LBW to White, with Root departing not long after to a catch in the slips. Jaques proved that an inability to sweep is not just an England thing, as he got down on one knee to Henderson and was pretty plumb LBW.

It was then that Bairstow and Gale took centre stage. Bairstow does take time to settle in at the crease, and this was no different – he was nervy and flashing at nearly everything. Leicestershire put down two chances for each batsmen and were punished by Gale, who took on the elder statesman role to keep Bairstow’s nerves at bay. It evidently worked. By the time he reached the 80’s, Bairstow looked settled. Gale fell on 80, which was hugely disappointing given the way he had guided Yorkshire out of a tough spot. He couldn’t have too much to complain about – his 160 partnership with Bairstow had put Yorkshire in a much stronger position. It was then left to young Jonny, whose aggressive style led to two huge sixes, to reach his second century of the season, and his fifth in all first class cricket. He was joined at the crease by McGrath, who had clearly been working on his footwork problems, and he was stoic in defence and careful strokeplay.

Day Two saw the North Sea attempt to freeze everyone in the ground to their seats, but it was an absorbing day’s play. Bairstow picked up from where he left off and reached his 150, before targeting Malik’s medium pace, driving him for two perfect on-drives and a slash through the covers. He fell to White, by far Leicestershire’s best bowler, and a man who has a bit of pace about him, just going for a shot too many. However, his score of 182 had undoubtedly put Yorkshire in front. McGrath reached his 50 and then steadily accumulated to 90, as batsmen came and went. Bresnan was run out from overthrows from a great direct hit from the boundary, and trundled off looking every bit the disgruntled Yorkshireman. Rashid struggled to get off the mark, prompting a cry of “get on with it or get out!” from one chilly spectator, and eventually, whether through impatience or genuine misjudgement, left a straight one that clattered into his stumps. Sidebottom came and did what he does best – block, poke around and then thwack a boundary, and Yorkshire were all out for a hugely respectable 447, by far their most complete batting performance of the series.

Shazhad is a huge loss to a bowling line up that has struggled to make consistent breakthroughs, but Yorkshire took to the field clearly determined. Sidebottom, as he nearly always does, snared the first two wickets, before Patterson chipped in after an excellent spell of consistently testing deliveries, to leave Leicestershire toppling at 12/3. It was then the turn of the often maligned McGrath to pitch in. 

After his solid batting, his pace completely fooled the Foxes, who either offered their pads to the delivery, or couldn’t get the bat down in time. LBW is McGrath’s best friend and his worst enemy; it torments him in his batting and makes his bowling legitimate enough to justify the all-rounder tag. Bresnan, who spent much of the day in an unfortunate looking beanie hat, dropped a straightforward chance in the slips, before chipping in to break Leicestershire’s 9^th wicket partnership. Patterson was rewarded with another, giving him 100 first class wickets, before McGrath fittingly took the last wicket, leaving him with figures of 4-20 and Leicestershire 116 all out.

The Foxes were unsurprisingly “invited to follow on,” as the polite announcer termed it, and ended a horrible second day in the worst possible fashion, as Smith fell LBW to the last delivery of the day from Patterson. The third day was just as cold, and Leicestershire set off in typically hesitant fashion. Du Toit drove Mags’ second delivery for a beautiful cover drive to the boundary, before Patterson had him dismissed LBW off his third delivery. It was then that the rain came – and come down, it did. Scarborough ground, as vintage and picturesque as it is, does not keep one sheltered from the rain or particularly warm. 

Despite hand claps, booing and an array of witty (‘witty’ is used here loosely) comments from the crowd, the rain persisted and there was no real play until late afternoon. Patterson picked up his third as he dismissed Sarwan LBW, but whether down to cold weather or a full day of being mucked around by the umpires, Yorkshire lacked the killer instinct that had been present on the second day. Leicestershire started to rebuild.

There's no way to say this without it sounding like a cheesy line from a crap ITV drama - the fourth day was make or break for the Tykes. They needed to prove that not only were they capable of breaking a partnership, but they were capable of putting the PR messes of the last week behind them. 

It didn't start well. Boyce scored the slowest century of the season so far to put Leicestershire cautiously back into the game. Patterson dislodged Cobb, who made 69, but it took Sidebottom's breakthrough in the 92nd over to push Yorkshire on to victory. After White and Boyce fell in successive overs, the Leicestershire tail crumbled, making a total of 309 and handing Yorkshire their first win of the season, by an innings and 22 runs.

Tyke of the Match: Without sounding all sentimental, this was Yorkshire's first genuine team performance of the season. Maybe the Shahzad mess had spurred them on to work as a unit - but for the first time, the batting fired, with superb cameos from Bairstow, McGrath and Gale, and the bowlers worked well as a group to not only skittle Leicestershire for a low total, but to put Yorkshire back in the driving seat when things looked to be slipping.

The Essex Perspective

After the rain soaked draw against Northants, it was down to Cardiff for Essex's fourth Championship match of the season. Last year, Essex managed to scrape a draw after an uncharacteristically defensive knock from all-rounder Graham Napier and Tim Phillips as they managed to see out the final 20 overs of the match.

There was a boost for Essex before the match as Alastair Cook returned to the team from chasing sheep around fields or being used as the poster boy for everything to do with England. He slotted in at the top order alongside Billy Godleman. Alviro Petersen moved down to three and the young reserve wicketkeeper, Adam Wheater, was ruled out due to illness. Glamorgan won the toss and, as would be expected at this time of year, decided to field first.

Even the return of Cook could not stop the plot line of Essex's batting story being recycled. Early wickets, including Cook for only 9, left them tottering at 65-4. Godleman struggled with the slower bowling of Cosker, something that is definitely a weakness of his, to allow Cosker to reach his 500th first class wicket. Concern over Ravi Bopara's form has flared up again as he went for another low score. Early on in the innings he is always vulnerable and at the SWALEC he was no different. Walking across his stumps and missing a straight one, Bopara was plumb LBW to Moises Henriques.

Alviro Petersen had somehow survived the early conditions. There had been some huge LBW shouts against him but he was still there, playing some gorgeous cover drives on his former ground.  He played magnificently for his 145, something that was greeted with a smattering of applause from the members of the club he'd broken his promise with over the winter. However, he needed a partner and it came in the form of Mark Pettini. Pettini, who has had a fairly torrid two years after relinquishing the captaincy in 2010, played tremendously well. He anchored one end and allowed Petersen to attack. Pettini was in the strange position of hitting more sixes, which came from the hook shot, than he did fours in his 166 ball 56. His and Petersen's 5th wicket partnership was worth 181 and Essex looked likely to be heading towards at least 3 bonus batting points.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, the new ball sparked another collapse. Greg Smith continued his struggles as he was out for 1 to Graham Wagg. James Foster quickly followed and the tail didn't contribute much. Fearing the rain on day 2, Foster declared with Essex on 259-9, to leave Glamorgan with a tricky 3 overs to face before the close. They survived. 

The weather, as expected because it's Wales and no trip to Cardiff is complete without experiencing the fine Welsh mizzle, was the winner on day 2, so the players came back for day 3 with Glamorgan trying to show that their breaking the 200 barrier in their match against Hampshire wasn't a one off.

Charl Willoughby finally had his first proper bowl for the club. He'd bowled about 6 overs against Cambridge MCCU, but had come off with an injury. He, like Dave Masters, provided control and the two experienced seamers made early in-roads into the vulnerable line up. Greg Smith picked up another two wickets, although what happens when Napier returns from injury and ten Doeschate from the IPL is anyone's guess. Tymal Mills had started expensively and later stated that he wasn't really having an enjoyable time of it. However, he then returned to pick up his, current, career best figures of 4-25, bowling with pace and aggression to leave Glamorgan all out for 187.

Essex, sadly predictably, started their second innings disastrously. Godleman, Cook and Petersen all departed for single figures. Bopara didn't get a pair but only got 10 and then Pettini was gone for 2. Essex were 37-5 and not very many ahead, so it was left to James Foster, Tom Westley and Greg Smith to guide them to some kind of credible score. Essex declared their second innings on 166-9 and set Glamorgan the target of 239 runs in around 50 overs.

Graham Wagg had picked up an ankle injury so was unlikely to bat, so Essex were in the hunt for 9 wickets. They started well. Willoughby picked up Nick James and William Bragg in consecutive deliveries to leave Glamorgan 6-2. He then picked up Stewart Walters for 2. David Masters chipped in with the wicket of Ben Wright and Glamorgan were struggling at 37-4. Gareth Rees and captain Mark Wallace combined to try and dig Glamorgan out of trouble, but Rees succumbed to Willoughby too to leave them 79-5. 

With 8 overs left in the day and Glamorgan 99-5 with Essex chasing 4 wickets because of Wagg's injury, bad light stopped play and ultimately led to the match being declared a draw. Essex leave the Welsh valleys with 8 points, Glamorgan with 6.

Essex's CB40 campaign got off to a damp squib of a start at Grace Road. The match was abandoned without a ball being bowled midway through the afternoon. However, the squad for the match did see the return of Reece Topley, who at the tender age of 17 caused a bit of a stir on the county circuit last season. Here, I am regionally obligated to mention that he was born and educated in Ipswich, because it's nice that Suffolk is producing things other than sugar beet and sheep. Freshly off the plane from his ventures with England under-19s in Australia, Essex will be taking care of Topley this summer but hoping that he can continue to show great potential. Should he be heading off to Australia for the Under-19s World Cup in August, his time with the club will be limited this year, but if he can repeat some of the performances from last year, it may be a big year for another Essex youngster.

Eagle of the Match: It would be easy to go for Alviro Petersen or even Charl Willoughby, but I'm going for Mark Pettini. Pettini's had a rough couple of years and whilst he failed in the second innings, his first innings 56 off 166 was just the type of gritty innings that cricket lovers admire. Petersen may've had the shots, Willoughby may've had the wickets, but had Pettini not anchored the other end, Petersen's innings may well have not got that far.

Around the Country

Worcestershire's New Road once again began a victim of the British summer for the third time in five years earlier this week. Double the average of rain fell last month and on Tuesday, pictures from the Worcestershire Twitter feed showed that New Road was once again at the mercy of the weather. Their CB40 match against the Netherlands will now be played at Kidderminster.

Luckily for Worcestershire, they had a trip to Lord's for their Division 1 clash. Unfortunately for Worcestershire, the rain followed them and it washed out the first day. When play eventually got under way, Andrew Strauss got probably the most written about 49 he'll ever get. At the other end, Sam Robson got a 50 and Joe Denly got a superb 134 not out as Middlesex posted 327-7 declared. In search of a positive result after more rain, Worcestershire declared in their first innings on 45-2, then Middlesex forfeited their second innings. It left Worcestershire chasing 283, but they could only muster 150 as they crashed to their second defeat of the season.

Anderson, far right, hands in pockets, looking delighted to be on the field at Old Trafford on Thursday.

In the other matches in Division 1, the England trio of James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad returned to the country circuit with Lancashire and Nottinghamshire's clash at Old Trafford. Lancashire's season has not started well and their collapse on day 2 after the lunch break was one of epic proportions. Andre Adams claimed a career best 7-32, which allowed Notts to build a substantial lead and bowl Lancashire out for a paltry 142 to condemn them to their third defeat of the season. There were fitness and illness concerns over James Anderson, but his thumb injury shouldn't be of too much concern before the West Indies series begins on 17th May.

Warwickshire's strong start continued as they beat Durham by 9 wickets at Edgbaston. Ian Bell returned to some kind of form as he scored a century to guide his side out of a massive hole. They had been 14-4 and wickets continued to tumble at the other end, but Bell scored 120 of Warwickshire's final 267 to allow Keith Barker to claim 10 wickets in a match for the first time.

Onto Division 2, where the theme of wickets tumbling continued down at Northampton. Northants managed to pick up a batting point in their first innings as they made 218. Hampshire could only manage 154 in reply, with James Vince providing the only resistance. Jack Brooks picked up 4 wickets in the match before he goes off to play for the England Lions and David Willey claimed a 5fer in Hampshire's pursuit of 297 runs for victory. They fell short by 117, with Michael Carberry making 61 before he departed to Willey.

There was another draw for Derbyshire as Kane Williamson's 128 and Hamish Marshall's 90 allowed Gloucestershire to reach 409-4 having been asked to follow one after their disappointing first innings total of 206, in which Derbyshire's Tony Palladino took 5-47. Derbyshire had made 388 in their first innings, with captain Wayne Marsden scoring his first century of the season. There were also fifties for Wes Durston and young Dan Redfern.

The CB40 started on Friday with a repeat of last year's final. Rory Hamilton-Brown led from the front to score 101 against a depleted Somerset attack. Somerset, without the injured Marcus Trescothick, could not respond to Surrey's 295-6 and lost by 105 runs having been bowled out for 190. Only Nick Compton passed fifty.

In the remaining CB40 fixtures, in Group A, there was a win for the Netherlands, who beat Gloucestershire by 1 run. At Old Trafford, there was a 5 run win for Lancashire over Leicestershire, who only came so close thanks to a marvellous 137 off 99 balls from Josh Cobb. It was his maiden one day hundred and it including six sixes. There was also time for an absolutely hilarious dismissal from Wayne White. He tried to play the ramp shot, but it ended up looking more like French cricket. He had no idea where it was going, stepped out of his crease and was run out by Gareth Cross. In Group B, there was another win for Surrey, this time over Scotland. They won by 18 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method. 

Group C saw the most action with Kent claiming a 4 wicket victory over Yorkshire at Headingley. Azeem Rafiq claimed 3-22 and Joe Root picked up 2-14 as Kent squeezed home with 4 balls to spare. At Edgbaston, there was another victory for Warwickshire. Ian Bell finished 82 not out and Rikki Clarke hit an unbeaten 54 as they comfortably chased down Northants' 209 with 6 wickets in hand and 15 balls to spare. At Wormsley, Derbyshire comprehensively beat the Unicorns. They scored 287-3, with Martin Guptill and Wes Durston both hitting centuries. The Unicorns could only manage 158-9 in reply, with Chesney Hughes taking 5-29.

Around Cricket

Chris Gayle ended his fourth, potentially fifth (we’ve lost count by now) feud with the West Indies Cricket Board, as he renegaded on his Somerset contract and agreed to play in the upcoming ODI and T20 games in England. Gayle, who hits a cricket ball as though it is nothing more than a speck of dust floating into his eye, will undoubtedly boost the attendance for the England games – and we include ourselves in that, given how hopelessly devoted we are to the big man. Somerset, however, are less impressed, and initially threatened to sue Gayle for turning down the contract. The man’s life is one never-ending soap opera.

Ricky Ponting’s sad puppy face will be back on English shores next year, according to Mickey Arthur. Ponting, who’s in and out of form more times than Gayle is in feuds with cricket boards, gave up the captaincy to Clarke following the Ashes defeat in Oz, and spent much of the series in the West Indies looking like he didn’t know the true meaning behind batting. Personally, I find nothing more entertaining than watching Ricky’s bottom lip stick out more and more as England edges go left, right and centre. We’d welcome him back with open(ish) arms.

The test team for the upcoming New Zealand v. West Indies series was announced this week, after New Zealand unceremoniously dumped coach John Wright for all the wrong reasons. There were no real surprises in the test team, with the possible exception of Tim Southee, who missed out on a test recall following his Stuart Broad-esque short and bouncy campaign against South Africa.