Albie stopped play

Sorry for the delay in play... this wasn't due to rain, bad light or any weather related reasons, but to the birth of my son, Albert Stanley. He's an impressive young fellow with long shanks and wiry fingers... I have him earmarked as a leg spinner and useful lower order batsman.

I see Essex's form has been mixed to say the least during my absence but their opening T20 game against Kent on Wednesday was a thriller with Pettini's men almost turning a losing position into a win, thanks to another exhilarating innings from Ryan ten Doeschate.

The flying Dutchman hit 98 off 47 balls including nine fours and seven sixes to get Essex, who batted first, out of the mire, but his Herculean effort wasn't enough for victory despite the home side posting an impressive 167 for nine, having been 24 for four.

Essex's flimsy bowling attack was again exposed by the visitors who reached their victory total with eight balls to spare. It was a tense game and could have gone either way until spinner Tim Phillips conceded 27 runs off one over and momentum shifted to Kent.

Essex's next T20 outing is away to Surrey at the Oval on Thursday, June 10 then they entertain Glamorgan at Chelmsford the following day. Kiwi all-rounder Scott Styris will be available for that game and Essex will be hoping to show what they can do in a competition in which they've impressed in the past