Shocked at success

Many people have been surprised to see Warwickshire looking very much the part as pacesetters halfway through the Championship campaign. What is more, John Inverarity, the coach, was among them. "I have been a bit surprised, but it's been very pleasing," he says.

After nine games last season Warwickshire had won once, leading to their flirtation with relegation. In the first half-season under the captaincy of Nick Knight they were the only unbeaten side in Division One.

Inverarity has been delighted at the manner in which Knight has applied himself to the captaincy. "Nick's a very experienced cricketer and a lovely man," he says. "He's led the side very well and is getting the best out of other players while scoring prolifically himself." Knight was averaging 99.55 before he suffered a displaced fracture in his hand. To add to the spectacular arrival of Heath Streak, who took 13 wickets and made a half-century on his debut against Northamptonshire, there were signs that the left-arm wrist-spin of Brad Hogg may be a more potent force in the warmer late-summer months.

Moment of the month Heath Streak's debut figures of 13 for 158: the best by a county debutant in Championship history