It was a day when the honours, in the grand scheme of things, were too early to dish out. But Worcestershire enjoyed enough success at the beginning of the day to claim it.

Like countless summer blockbusters, Chelmsford did not quite meet expectations, but there Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara provided some good moments along the way as Essex's batting finally stirred

Hampshire followed up Fidel Edwards' ferocious second-evening spell by beating Sussex and telling the West Indian quick they had never seen anything faster

Fidel Edwards' ferocious bowling spell made good a rapid century from Adam Wheater and left Hampshire anticipating a first Championship win of the season

Last year the pitches were too dull at Hove. Now they're too fruity. The last two four-day games here have only needed three for a result. With 14 wickets falling on the first day this time, be prepared to add this one to the list

There's something to be said for being unsure of cricket, its whims and unwritten rules, but wanting more, and playing on regardless

Alfonso Thomas's four in four, carelessness from Gloucestershire and a forgetful Graeme Smith all feature in our alternative review of the 2014 county season

Hampshire won Division Two with an emphatic 291-run win. They return to Division One after three years away, with each of those years starting with them dubbed favourites

On an edgy first day, Hampshire players were closely monitoring the situation at Chelmsford. On the second, they had the feeling of champions

In a world where £50m can be staked on a single IPL game, whole armies of professional cricket traders work the betting markets for profit. But who are these people?

From the fringes of the England team to playing every format, plus one trophy already in the bag for Warwickshire has made it a memorable season for Chris Woakes but he wants to add another success before it finishes

For the sixth time in 12 seasons, Surrey have made their way to Finals Day, this time at the expense of Worcestershire

For only the second time since the war, Sussex have completed the double over Warwickshire.

The long-awaited Freddie Flintoff comeback leads this week's countdown of the things that mattered in the NatWest T20 Blast