Essex need to regroup

St George's Day, a time to celebrate all things English like tea, scones, immaculate lawns and batting collapses.
The latter has certainly been evident at the County Ground in the last few days. Today Essex managed to follow up their awful batting display of Wednesday with something equally abysmal today.
Lancashire trounced the home side by eight wickets today to inflict Essex's first defeat of the season.
Only Ryan ten Doeschate put up serious resistance with a defiant half century in the first innings and today Alastair Cook was the only Essex batsmen with any staying power. And that didn't last that long.
Essex had the merest sniff of a chance in this match when they had Lancashire three down on Wednesday night and then 134 for five on Thursday, still 40 odd behind.
But while the stunning win against Hampshire and the encouraging draw with Durham might have allayed fears about Essex's ability to compete in the first division of the County Championship, this match exposed the side's batting and bowling weaknesses.
Godleman, Mickleburgh, ten Doeschate and Foster have all shown they're capable of scoring runs this season but other batsmen need to show they can too. Messrs Maunders and Pettini in particular could do with some runs.
On the bowling front, David Masters has been the most effective but the others are not carrying enough menace. Chris Martin, if his travel plans can be organised, will be a welcome addition. Even more so Danish Kaneria. The Pakistan spinner has been Essex's most destructive bowler in recent years. He could be the key to Essex's season but he'll be on international duty from July onwards.
The best tonic for Pettini's men, of course, would be a win in their first 40 over game of the season against Yorkshire at Chelmsford on Sunday.
Maybe a spot of bowling and practice tomorrow would be useful too.