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