Anticipation as four day cricket returns

I am looking forward to the resumption of the County Championship this weekend.

I said at the start of the season that I thought it represented our best chance of success this summer and I stand by that. As long as everyone stays fit, we have the key ingredients for success in the format, namely depth in batting and variety in bowling.

There is always room for improvement, of course and supporters will always say that we are short here and there. The reality is that we cannot compete with the big guns financially, but I feel we are a side that punches above our weight.

One has only to look at the message boards for supporters of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Surrey for examples of a fan base unhappy with performances. Yet all of these clubs have resources of which we can only dream.

There was a time when only one trophy was up for grabs and only three counties realistically had a chance of winning it. We went 66 years from formation to a trophy, and another 45 until the next. Perhaps our expectations are too high these days, but the level of performance this season, as Billy Godleman pointed out yesterday, has been high.

If we can maintain that standard until September, we can consider it a good season. We have been beaten, but not embarrassed and the players can be proud of what they have so far achieved.

Glamorgan are next at the Pattonair County Ground and I hope that a wicket is produced similar to the one against Durham. If we produce tracks where the ball nips around, we have the bowlers to take advantage. If we don't, then there will be high scoring draws and we don't have the bowler to make a difference.

It has now been confirmed that the replacement for Kane Richardson will be a 'like for like' and it will be interesting to see who ships up in due course. There is no point in conjecture, but a player who comes in under the radar and is as talented as Leus du Plooy would do just fine.

More from me soon.