LV= Insurance County Championship Team of the Season So Far

As first-class cricket makes way for the hard-hitting and sometimes controversial white-ball formats, an invaluable opportunity for reflection presents itself to the eighteen English county clubs.

Some will be encouraged by their thriving starts to the campaign, particularly Surrey and Middlesex who sit top of their respective leagues. Others will be left with no other option but to improve on their disappointing early showings with Kent, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, and Sussex yet to record triumphs.

The commencement of England’s Test summer also means that the country’s domestic system and player development pathway will be under immense scrutiny, especially upon potential defeat.

On that note, we take a look at the best performing players across both divisions as the first block of fixtures comes to a conclusion. Compiled below is Prost International’s team of the season so far, with only one player from each club permitted.

1. Shan Masood – Derbyshire

Shan Masood’s performances under Derbyshire’s new Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur, have been a welcome revelation for the East Midlands side.

Unfortunate not to register a hundred on debut at Lord’s with scores of 91 and 62 against Middlesex, Masood impressively marked on scoring consecutive double-tons against Sussex and Leicestershire, the latter in Derbyshire’s only win to date.

He then added scores of 60 and 42 against Glamorgan before striking another century against Worcestershire at  The Incora County Ground.

An average of 93.77 from six matches will, presumably, lead to speculation of a return to Pakistan’s Test squad. Yet, the impressive form of Imam-ul-Haq may mean Masood must continue to score runs at domestic level before appearing on the international stage again.

2. Ben Compton – Kent

In spite of Kent’s aforementioned troublesome start, Ben Compton’s form has illuminated the early stages of the Spitfires’ season.

Having returned to the club following a spell with Nottinghamshire, the grandson of cricketing great Denis and cousin of former England international Nick, Compton struck a debut century against an Essex side that consistently poses a threat at Chelmsford.

This was before he ever-so nearly made the record books, almost becoming the seventh batter in history to carry his bat through both innings of a first-class game when he made 104* and 115* against Lancashire at Canterbury.

By the end of that match, Compton had made 345 runs, faced 918 balls, and batted for 20 hours and 35 minutes across only 11 days.

He continued such form by making 89 against Hampshire, 93 at Yorkshire, and scores of 47 and 63* against Surrey, prior to hitting his fourth century in just six outings with 140 against Northants.

Compton’s reward for averaging 109.75 from the opening six matches was a place in the “First Class Counties XI” to face New Zealand, where he commendably made a second-innings 119 against the Kiwis.

3. Tom Abell (c) – Somerset

Tom Abell makes this lineup with his captaincy credentials taken into consideration, as well as with those with the bat.

Having endured an underwhelming start to the season with scores of 1, 4, 11, and 12 in heavy defeats for Somerset, questions were inevitably being asked of the 28-year-old’s leadership after a disappointing 2021 first-class campaign.

However, Abell led by example to spearhead the club’s mini-revival with scores of 150*, 53, 70, and 142 against Surrey, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire respectively.

He has, crucially, also managed Somerset’s prolific attack in expert fashion, indicated by England’s continued selection of Craig Overton and Jack Leach for the upcoming series. Overton, Leach, Peter Siddle, Josh Davey, Jack Brooks, and Ben Green all average less than 25.00 with the ball thus far.

Big run scorers this season have not included a great total number three’s, leaving Abell as a trustworthy selection. Other contenders include former England batters, Ben Duckett and Dawid Malan.

4. Cheteshwar Pujara – Sussex

Overwhelming expectation paired with an absence of victories has, possibly, prevented Cheteshwar Pujara from earning the plaudits he deserves for his start to life at Hove.

If a close season that contained the departures of key players such as Chris Jordan and Phil Salt was not enough for Sussex to deal with, the club then announced in March that captain Travis Head had requested to be released from his contract due to increased international commitments and the birth of his first child.

Nevertheless, the acquisition of Pujara appears to be a smart one with runs effectively guaranteed from the 34-year-old while he has experience in abundance for Sussex’s large cohort of promising young players to lean on.

The Indian international is undoubtedly a class above any other batsman in Division Two and proved as much by scoring back-to-back centuries in his first four games in a Sussex shirt, including double tons at Derbyshire on debut and against Durham. Pujara’s average of 120.00 is just too good to ignore.

5. Harry Brook – Yorkshire

Undoubtedly the easiest selection to make for this team, Harry Brook’s maiden Test call-up to the England squad speaks volumes of his start to the County Championship season.

Considered by many as his country’s next all-format superstar with Kevin Pietersen, particularly, endorsing his international selection, from the 23-year-old’s nine first-class innings this season, Brook has only been dismissed for less than 82 on one occasion.

He has registered three centuries and posted unbeaten scores of 56*, 77*, and 82, becoming the poster boy of Yorkshire’s new era in the process. Incredibly, his average of 140.00 has come at a strike rate of 75.60, indicative of Brook’s talent and game-changing style of play.

Having carried his prolific form into the T20 Blast, there were growing calls for Brook to make his debut against Kane Williamson’s side at Lord’s despite Jonny Bairstow’s enormously productive winter. Regardless of which Yorkshireman gets the initial nod from Brendan McCullum, Brook is now firmly earmarked as a prospective international gem for years to come.

6. Michael Burgess (wk) – Warwickshire

Whilst Michael Burgess has proved his worth with the gloves on numerous occasions in a Warwickshire shirt, there is a feeling that this season may be his true breakthrough one with the bat.

Despite earning plaudits for scoring runs alongside the tail, he moves from seven up to six in this team to facilitate the inclusion of an all-rounder.

Dealt with the burden of replacing Bears stalwart Tim Ambrose when the ex-England ‘keeper hung up his gloves in 2019, Burgess adapted well to life at Edgbaston but raised his game to even higher levels after being awarded a new contract in June of last year.

He was an ever-present as Will Rhodes’ men pulled off a surprising title win in 2021 and Burgess translated his form behind the stumps into his batting from the get-go this year with a commanding 178 against Surrey, which included an 11th wicket partnership of 122 with Oliver Hannon-Dalby.

That was followed up by a distinctively similar knock of 170 against Essex before unluckily missing out on a third century of the season at Headingley when he was dismissed for 96.

Similar to Brook, Burgess has scored his runs in breathtaking style this season, averaging 69.42 from his seven innings at a dominating strike rate of 81.27 and has struck the most sixes in Divison One, subsequently beating the likes of Ben Foakes and John Simpson to this position.

7. Keith Barker – Hampshire

If there are any doubts about Keith Barker filling the all-rounder position, his career batting average of almost 30.00 with six hundreds assertively answer them. He has also chipped in with handy runs in Hampshire’s attempt to claim the Division One title after a near miss last season.

Unsurprisingly, Barker has also torn through Championship batting lineups with the ball in hand and, as you would expect, has been one of the country’s best-performing seamers.

He made headlines with an incredible performance at Taunton where after going wicketless in the first innings he claimed 6-29 in the second to skittle Somerset for just 69.

That was Barker’s third five-wicket haul in just four games and he has claimed four dismissals in all but one of the six first-class matches he has played in this season. Barker scored 57 and took 4-80 against Surrey at the Oval, smashed 44* off 36 after taking 3-65 in a convincing triumph over Kent, and also took 5-40 as well making 40 in a draw at The Ageas Bowl against Lancashire.

The former Blackburn Rovers footballer has taken 27 wickets, the third most across both divisions, at an average of 16.74, indicating that he flawlessly fills the required role in this side.

8. Toby Roland-Jones – Middlesex

Toby Roland-Jones can count himself incredibly unfortunate to not have added to his four Test caps after bursting onto the scene by removing South Africa’s top four with his first 33 balls wearing international whites at The Oval in 2017.

Whilst his chances of donning the Three Lions again are pretty much non-existent due to consistent injury concerns, as far as debutants go he was an older one at 29, such troubles have not prevented Roland-Jones from playing his part in the club’s attempted revival as they top Division Two upon the end of the first block of fixtures.

The 34-year-old made his mark only two matches into the new campaign by putting in a match-winning performance at Sofia Gardens against Cardiff. He claimed eight wickets in the match, including a second innings five-for, in addition to making 65*. Roland- Jones went even better with the ball against promotion rivals Nottinghamshire by claiming his fifth career 10-wicket match.

Only second to Matthew Potts in the wicket-taking column this season, Roland-Jones has 30 to his name at an average of 17.30. The question is now, will we see another 2016-esq title-winning routine from Roland-Jones?

9. Matthew Potts – Durham

Another exciting, young talent that has won a call-up to England’s Test squad, Potts has made such an impression for Durham this season that he has won a starting spot for the first Test at Lord’s, rising above Overton in the pecking order.

Tipped by Steve Harmison to earn international recognition, Potts’ record of 35 wickets at an average of 18.57 has proven irresistible for McCullum and Ben Stokes, which is fairly unsurprising when the majority of those scalps had been taken in front of the newly-appointed England skipper.

Those who have not seen Potts in action may presume he has beaten the defences Division Two batters with blistering pace, in a similar fashion to “Harmy” himself and county teammate Mark Wood. Instead, the 23-year-old operates at mid-to-high 80s, moves the ball dangerously and generates devious bounce through his height, more comparable to the likes of Liam Plunkett and Graham Onions.

Potts has three six-wicket hauls to his name this season, two of which came in consecutive matches against Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. He continued to defy expectations and made headlines with an eleven-wicket match as he tore through Glamorgan, claiming second innings figures of 7-40.

He was, however, rested for Durham’s most recent outing at Lord’s, denying what would have to be deemed as vital preparation for an England debut, drawing criticism from certain parties. All involved will hope Potts can adapt seamlessly and continue his form against a high-quality New Zealand outfit.

10. Matt Parkinson – Lancashire

England Test squad reveals can now be distinctively associated with public outcry at the exclusion of Matt Parkinson, indicative of his prolific domestic antics. It is not just supporters who have vented their frustration too, the late, great Shane Warne pushed for Parkinson’s inclusion as early as June of last year.

Without intending to disrespect Jack Leach, who has been a severe victim of senior mismanagement, Parkinson poses a greater wicket-taking threat and has developed levels of control that are often unseen in leg-spinners. It appears to be a matter of time until he makes his red-ball international debut.

Bolton-born Parkinson began the season in fine style with a seven-wicket match against Kent, bamboozling Zak Crawley and Daniel-Bell Drummond with deliveries that we are now accustomed to seeing from the 25-year-old. He then registered consecutive six-wicket matches against reigning champions Warwickshire and in the Roses clash against Yorkshire.

Of course, his 24 wickets and average of 25.95 is impressive, being amongst the best of any spinner, but Parkinson’s aforementioned economy rate of 2.28 is what catches the eye, lower than that of Hassan Ali and Tom Bailey. His mercurial playing style makes Parkinson a fan-favourite and it is that factor that sees Nottinghamshire off-spinner Liam-Patterson-White narrowly miss out.

11. Dane Paterson – Nottinghamshire

This lineup ends as it began, with a player that may have not made the grade at international level but has embraced playing for a Division Two East Midlands county. Dane Paterson is extremely unlikely to represent South Africa ever again, yet that has not prevented the 33-year-old from playing a substantial role in Nottinghamshire’s red-ball revival.

Having arrived at Trent Bridge last year, Paterson claimed 54 wickets across the 2021 County Championship season at an average of 17.98, helping his side, initially, end a first-class winless streak that stretched back to 2018 and then register a third-place finish in Division One. As predicted, he has taken the second-tier by storm this campaign.

On his second appearance of the season, Paterson enjoyed a five-wicket match against Durham and also then claimed six wickets just two games later against Derbyshire. Sandwiched between those two fixtures, however, was arguably the best individual bowling performance of the season to date against Worcestershire at Trent Bridge. Dismissing seven of the Pears’ top eight, Paterson claimed a first innings eight-wicket haul and eventually a ten-wicket match.

Of all bowlers to have delivered a minimum of 500 balls this season, Paterson possesses the best average, taking 26 wickets at 15.12 and, therefore, secures the final slot in this side. Both Overton twins, Craig and Jamie, may count themselves unlucky after enjoying massively productive starts to the season, as would Hassan Ali, Sam Cook and Oliver Hannon-Dalby.

All Cricket

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