Tendo and Toppers impress

Tendo and Toppers shine amid the gloom

Essex's match with the Sri Lankans may have ended with a damp draw amid the dark clouds and rain but it certainly had some bright moments.

Ryan ten Doeschate recorded his highest score for Essex with 164 off 174 balls, showing the Flying Dutchman is in good nick as the next phase of Friends Life t20 games start again tomorrow with an away match again at Surrey at The Oval.

Also impressive (again) was Reece Topley, the young fast bowler who's made such an impression this season. The 17-year-old took four wickets for just 23 runs off 13.4 overs in Sri Lanka's first innings and struck twice again in his eight overs in their second innings before play was abandoned.

Despite his young age and only a handful of games, Toppers is causing quite a stir at the County Ground and is highly rated by the coaches there. His appearances so far this season have been limited by his school commitments. Roll on the summer holidays so he can turn out more regularly for Essex.

Brearley on Cook

The plaudits contine to oome in for Alastair Cook. Hot on the heels of his MBE comes insightful praise from one of England's finest ever captains, Mike Brearley. In a piece in today's Observer, Brearley identifies the qualities that make Cook such an impressive cricketer, qualities that don't always grab the headlines. Read it here

No maidens for Surrey game

Essex head for The Oval tomorrow night hoping to complete a London double after last week's defeat of Middlesex at Lord's. The game was going to be the first to feature "walk-on girls" accompanying batsmen to the wicket to "add a touch of glamour" but the idea was abandoned by Surrey's marketing team after an outcry by supporters. Hopefully the game will be exciting enough without the need for such gimmicks.