If only Englandâ..s batsmen could see Shane Warne in the dressing room after a long day in the field: shoulder padded by enough ice to sink the Titanic and clawed hand resting on a Rose Bowl table, petrified by over-use. But as his enthralled Hampshire team will testify, Warne leads not just by example - 97 overs in his first two Championship matches back - but by his capacity to inspire those with less ability around him. They love him.

With Hampshire beaten in abject fashion by Sussex in his absence, Warne led from the front in the thrashings of Middlesex and Warwickshire. Outside bets for the title? Do not rule it out while he is around.

Pity poor Shaun Udal. Mumbai hero for England in March, 12th man at a dank, cheerless Rose Bowl when Kent were the
opposition, even after a perky start to the season when it looked as if he might be competing with Monty Panesar for the Sri Lanka-series spin berth. The seam-friendly wickets at The Rose Bowl do him no favours.
Pat Symes, The Wisden Cricketer