Like many fans, we were all geared up to welcome the new county season with exaggerated enthusiasm as a means of defending it from threats pressing in on all sides. Until the first weekend threw up a series of excellent games that were their own best advert.
“It was portrayed that Northants didn’t help me with my England career, but they did. I think for whatever reason things have been written to create a difference between me and Northants. It’s my home club. Northants have done an awful lot for me and have always been really supportive” – New Sussex signing Monty Panesar, speaking to Alison Mitchell, moves to avoid a rift with his former club.