These are times of greed and gluttony for County Championship batters. Contrary to popular perception, April can be a great month for run-making, the pitches slow, low and not yet hardened by the summer sun; bowlers likewise still working up to full fitness and ferocity. We are but three weeks into the Championship season but already the draw has begun to dominate; it is a reflection of a flawed scoring system that Leicestershire topped the Division Two table ahead of two-win Kent after the opening couple of weeks but also evidence of the batting points on offer for those willing to gorge on some Lent runs.
A scan of the centurions so far in the English summer reveals a varied bunch, particularly at the top of the order. Dom Sibley, perhaps a more complete player than when he earned his international caps, has prevented Surrey’s title defence enduring an early derailment; Alex Lees, another who looks better for time out of the Test side rather than it, again looks in good touch for Durham, even if young partner Ben McKinney is rapidly bludgeoning his way into the England selectors’ sights.
