Slapped by a bird: Boris the Eagle

Twenty20 Cup Finals Day turned out to be very disappointing as we didn’t get through our semi-final against Kent in a game we felt we were good enough to win. We missed out in a couple of overs during our run-chase and if you do that in a Twenty20 match needing ‘10s’ it can make life very hard work.

We didn’t have the best of starts with the ball at the outset and, although our spinners brought things back a little, Kent were able to post a decent total. Although we kept wickets in hand early on, the run-rate kept going up and the target proved beyond us.

I was happy with the way I kept at the Rose Bowl – and I have been throughout the season – but it doesn’t make any difference when you lose.

After a defeat like that it is always important to bounce back with a victory and that was something we managed at Derby the following Monday in the Pro40. Our batting unit played exceptionally well and Ravi Bopara’s quickfire hundred was ultimately the difference in what was a tight match. Being on TV it was a good test of how we would cope after a setback and it was nice to get ‘back on the horse’, so to speak.

One of the highlights of the game was Graham Napier’s ‘deflowering’ of Grant Flower’s number three shirt. We have so many different shirts these days and Napes brought his Friends Provident Trophy rather than Pro40 top to Derby. It didn’t look too flash but, with the help of a lot of sticky tape, Napes transformed a number three into a 17! Napes backs himself as a bit of an artist so he was pretty happy with his efforts!

Southend Festival week came next and that was one of mixed fortunes with a Championship loss before another Pro40 victory.

The balance swung one way and the other against Glamorgan but our first innings lead should have been more and we then fell away in our run-chase. Losing by such a large margin (202 runs) meant the defeat was probably our most disappointing of the season. Glamorgan fully deserved to win but we really shouldn’t have let them score as many runs as they did in their second innings on a wearing pitch.

That defeat once again left us needing to respond in the right manner during our next match, the Pro40 against Northants on this occasion. Having started well in that competition it was important to keep the momentum going and that was something we certainly did as I can only recall us bowling two bad balls during their brief innings of 61.

With Mark Pettini’s groin playing him up again it was nice to step in and get the chance to lead the side in that game. I enjoy the role and the extra responsibility as it’s always a proud moment to captain the county you’ve grown up playing for.

‘Swampy’ returned to lead the side on the Tuesday against Surrey – also in the Pro40 – on what was a slightly sporting wicket due to overhead conditions, with rain always threatening. We were indebted to Grant Flower for an exceptional knock that showed his experience and class. In the end we posted a very defendable score under lights, especially with Graham Napier and David Masters’ ability to seam the ball around. When the rain came we were well ahead on Duckworth/Lewis so we were able to go into a little break in good spirits.

I enjoyed a lovely few days away with my girlfriend, who’s a teacher so is on her school holidays at the moment, in Norfolk. As I’m used to being slapped round the face by a bird it was a good grounding for Essex’s pre-FPT Final media session on Monday.

Boris the Eagle from Billericay Bird Sanctuary was brought along to ground to pose with a few of the Essex Eagles ahead of our big day out. Boris is a powerful animal and I thoroughly enjoyed having him on my arm, although a stray wing in the face wasn’t too pleasant!

Saturday is a huge occasion for Essex when we take on Kent at Lord’s. It’s not ideal preparation coming straight from a four-day match at Edgbaston but at least it means we won’t have time to dwell on the Final.

Lord’s experiences don’t come round too often so it’s important that we enjoy the day. Irrespective of who we are playing we are determined to win the game anyway, but our Twenty20 Cup semi-final defeat against the same opposition will probably be in the back of our minds.

Kent are a top side with a lot of depth but so are we and we will be going out to win in style.