Like an empty vase

The importance of Andy Flower to Essex can be truly appreciated only now he has gone. Although the county were never a one-man team, Essex without Flower are like Doctor Who without his assistant, Blackpool without a pier or Eurovision without Wogan. They seem to be missing something. Suddenly the season looks as if it could be a long one. While the bowling was always a problem, the batting, too, is wobbling. Minus Flower the top six is made up of rookies and Ronnie Irani. But no one is blaming Flower. He is 39 and was offered a wonderful position as England