Picking at the seam

Golden arm

Graham Rose (Somerset)

A former Young England player, Rose took 6-41 on his first class debut for Middlesex but has never quite lived up to his early promise and suggestions of an all-rounder's place in the senior England side. At 32, the effectiveness of his brisk medium pace remains, however, as evidenced by match figures of 13-88 as Somerset completed a 10-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire.

Hit man

Dean Jones (Derbyshire)

Apart from seeking to harness Derbyshire's multiple talents under forceful leadership, the 33-year-old Australian batsman must make up for lost time with regard to his international aspirations. He opened Derbyshire's Sunday League season by taking a century off Leicestershire, following that with an unbeaten Championship double hundred of the highest class against Yorkshire.

Team of the week

1 Nick Knight Warwickshire

2 Mike Atherton ...............Lancashire

3 Michael Bevan Yorkshire

4 Dean Jones Derbyshire

5 Russell Warren Northants

6 Dermot Reeve Warwickshire

7 Winston Benjamin Hampshire

8 Graham Rose Somerset

9 Andrew Caddick Somerset

10 Alan Mullally Leicestershire

11 Min Patel Kent

Quote of the week

What is nice is to see England players who have taken a lot of criticism get the bit between their teeth. David Lloyd, the England coach, at Worcestershire- India match.

Rain check

Overs lost to rain during the County Championship

1 Yorkshire 450

2 Kent 236

3 Lancashire 227

4 Derbyshire 198

5 Northamptonshire 190

6 Somerset 189

7 Nottinghamshire 181

8 Durham 177

9 Leicestershire 147

10 Surrey 142

11 Sussex 111

12 Essex 84

13 Middlesex 78

14 Glamorgan 72

15 Worcestershire 71

16 Gloucestershire 29

17 Hampshire 13

18 Warwickshire 7

Butter fingers

Danny Law (Sussex)

The early-season weather has not been the best for slip fielders, but 20-year-old Law had particular reason to rue letting Dominic Ostler off the hook on two at Hove on Thursday. Ostler went on to make 90. It hardly explained a Warwickshire total in which three batsmen made centuries against a pea-shooter attack. Law redressed the balance the next day with a half-century.

Tales of the unexpected

Winston Benjamin (Hants)

After his troubles within the West Indies dressing room, Hampshire's faith in the temperamental Antiguan as their overseas player for 1996 was greeted with some scepticism. Under the coach Malcolm Marshall, the 31-year-old pace bowler is already paying them back - with the bat, having posted only his second first class century in the current match with Essex.