The brotherhood

Essex's Zimbabwean connection has proved invaluable this season. The brothers Andy and Grant Flower have both had profitable, important seasons for the county and together they entered the record books in July.

Grant's 115 and Andy's 138 (he always has to go one better) at Old Trafford were the first hundreds scored by brothers in the same innings for Essex, although 13 sets of siblings before the Flowers had appeared together.

It was the fourth time the pair had achieved the feat in a first-class match. "It feels pretty good when both of us are in the runs," says Grant, the younger brother at 34 and in his first season at Essex. "It's good being in the same team; we've always got on well, there's no real rivalry there. It's all healthy. Andy being here was a big reason for me signing."

Perhaps their greatest contribution has been in the totesport League, where they are the county's top run-scorers (yes, once again Andy comes out top). Grant's tidy contributions with the ball have also helped keep Essex top of the table.

"We may have surprised a few people with our form in the totesport League but we saw it as a potential trophy before the season started," says Grant. "Obviously we're a little disappointed with our Championship progress but we've still got time to turn it around. It's good that we've got so much to play for at this stage of the season."

Moment of the month Alastair Cook's three wickets in eight balls against Northants. Who told him he could bowl?