Expensive ducks by New Zealanders, no duck on the menu, a new origin for cricket ,and why it's hard facing fast bowling

Eleven impressive efforts that have helped a team home

The first trophy of the county season was decided in July, while the Championship continued to take shape. Cricinfo looks back at the last month of action.

Graeme Smith produced a performance that will go down in South Africa sporting history with an unbeaten 154, one of the finest centuries in a run chase, to guide his side to a series win against England

This match has produced spells of Test cricket at its very best and now there's a back-from-the-brink story to add to the chronicles

Andrew Flintoff almost singled-handily kept England's hopes alive at Edgbaston with an evening burst to bring back memories of his golden days

South Africa came into this Test at England's favourite ground, and with a history of failing to build on series leads, but after bowling the home side out for 231 are well on their way to their ultimate goal

It is always hoped that the final of a tournament brings the best action and the climax to the Twenty20 Cup didn't disappoint as Middlesex claimed their first silverware for 15 years with a thrilling three-run victory against defending champions Kent

A preview of Twenty20 Finals Day where the winning county will earn a trip to Antigua and there is still prospect of Champions League places

Graeme Smith has been here before. An overwhelming victory in very English-conditions at Headingley as South Africa take a series lead

Today marked the 27th anniversary of England completing the most famous turnaround in Test history on this ground, as Bob Willis followed Ian Botham's heroics against Australia in 1981. Suffice to say, the 2008 England vintage never threatened to pull off

Andrew McGlashan presents the plays of the fourth day at Headingley

Even when AB de VIlliers reached his century today, the packed Western Terrace of Headingley still hadn't forgiven him for his first-day non-catch

Andrew McGlashan presents the plays of the third day at Headingley

The dark, foreboding clouds that encircled Headingley during the final session could well have represented the feeling in England's bowling attack

If England's attack didn't know much about Ashwell Prince before this series, they are more than familiar with his skills now after his second successive hundred

Andrew McGlashan presents the plays of the second day at Headingley

Spectators watching the final two days at Lord's could easily have drifted off to sleep, with England managing three wickets as South Africa ground their way to a draw. Headingley, though, doesn't deal in dull cricket and the Test series came to life

Andrew McGlashan presents the plays of the first day at Headingley

Headingley has a habit of producing the extraordinary, but the selection of Darren Pattinson for his Test debut must rank near the top