From the rubbish heap of Northamptonshire�..s season �.. losing their disciplinarian director of cricket Kepler Wessels as well as almost half their 10 Championship games by early August �.. Stephen Peters has bloomed. During July two big hundreds in three innings recalled less careworn days, when he hit a century as a 17-year-old first-class debutant and a match-winning hundred in the final of the 1998 Under-19 World Cup. Six years on he averages 30, with a fitful career and three clubs behind him. The cockney tones are not quite so bright as they once were.

�..It was just a couple of decent games really. It was nice to go on �.. 140 and 180 rather than just 100. But I�..m playing catch-up really because I had a poor start. Consistency has been a problem for a long time.�.�

As regards Wessels �.. who left �..by mutual consent�.� after rumours of a players�.. vote of no confidence (presumably Wessels got at least one vote from his son Riki) �.. Peters presents a straight bat. �..It was just a bit of a difficult time for the club in general, players and committee alike. We�..re determined to put that part of the season behind us.�.�

The Wisden Cricketer, Paul Coupar