After one of the wettest winters on record, it was no surprise that four of the nine Vitality County Championship fixtures failed to yield any play on the first day, but at least the competition could welcome a new sponsor, replacing London Victoria. One game that did get underway soon enough was at Trent Bridge, where Essex were put in to bat. Dane Paterson picked up the first five-wicket haul of the season as the visitors were dismissed for 253, despite a solid 80 from new signing Dean Elgar and 84 from another of the club’s new recruits, Jordan Cox. If only the established players had been ..read more

Terms & Conditions This is a prize draw to win a Liberty London Hera Scented Candle To enter, please upload your proof of purchase of Jennifer Saint’s Hera, publishing 23rd May, 2024, together with your name and contact details and from a retailer of your choice. The winner will be selected at random from the entries received in accordance with these terms and conditions by a member of the Headline Publishing Group Limited marketing team, whose decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. A purchase is necessary to enter: please purchase a copy of Hera by Jennifer Sa ..read more

In this year’s Foreword, I commented that bowlers seemed to have bowled fewer maidens in 2023 than in 2022 – without fully checking that the facts supported my assertion. But now I can confirm that this was correct, at least as far as Division One went. So why might this have been?   Tallying up the bowling figures for the eight counties that played in both seasons, so we’re comparing like with like, we find a few noticeable changes. First of all, there were just 2907 maidens bowled between them in 2023, compared with 3495 the previous season – a hefty fall of almost 17%. However, the nu ..read more

For me, Christmas officially begins at home on Christmas Eve. All preparations such as gift wrapping, delivery drop-offs to friends, food shopping or last-minute bulk buying of big bottles of Baileys liqueur has to be completed by the 23rd. If it hasn’t crossed our doorstep by that date. . .we can live without it! Such measures came into play after ‘lockdown’, when I admitted that my love of Christmas was being ruined by the corporate marketing teams and their seasonal guilt-tripping. I refused to buy into their reinvention of my Christmas. I was happy with our tried and trusted family traditi ..read more

    'A thick bowl of chowder is spot on in winter. The New England versions, studded with corn or based on tomatoes, seem better for late summer and early autumn eating, but this recipe, from Qu.bec, can be downed when there is two feet of snow on the ground.' - Diana Henry, author of Roast Figs, Sugar Snow     serves 4 as a main course   1kg (2lb 4oz) mussels 500ml (18fl oz) dry cider 30g (1oz) butter 2 leeks, cut in fine rings 400g (14oz) potatoes, peeled and cut into 4cm chunks 100ml (3.fl oz) double cream 400g (14oz) skinless cod fillet, cut into 4cm chunks ..read more

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For title contenders Essex and Surrey, the season did not end on the pitch as either would have hoped, yet it was favourites and holders Surrey who emerged triumphant in the end, finishing 20 points clear of their nearest rivals. Essex knew they had to win to stand a chance of snatching the pennant, and a visit to already-relegated Northampton seemed to be the easiest of opportunities to pile on the pressure. They chose to field first, only to find Rob Keogh in excellent form, as he smashed 172 in just 167 balls to take his side up to 369 all out. With no Essex batter reaching fifty, they wer ..read more

Name: Sebastian Miller-Callahan   Sport: Baseball   Body Type: Lithe and powerful   Hair: Messy dark blond   Eyes: Warm green   His Look: On the field, jersey with the top buttons undone, wearing perfectly-smudged eyeblack. Off the field, ready to step into the kitchen in jeans and old t-shirts, a rag tossed over his shoulder   Perfect Match: The “black cat” astrophysicist-in-training in need of a place to stay for the summer… without the side of feelings, thanks ..read more

Name: Cooper Callahan   Sport: Hockey   Body Type: Broad shoulders, trim waist, all muscle   Hair: Tousled dark brown—and don’t forget the beard   Eyes: Deep blue   His Look: On the ice, a beast in his gear, with a sweater just begging to be torn off. Off the ice, a backwards baseball cap, casual clothes, and a roguish grin   Perfect Match: The off-limits coach’s daughter in need of spice coaching—and an appetite for adventure in and out of the bedroom rivaled only by his ..read more

 Name: James Callahan   Sport: American Football   Body Type: Tall and built, with an excellent throwing arm   Hair: Dark brown and thick   Eyes: Ocean blue   His Look: On the football field, tight pants, tighter jersey, ready to command the team as quarterback. Off the football field, classic jeans and t-shirts, and a photo-ready smile   Perfect Match: The determined photographer who isn’t looking for love… but a fake dating arrangement will do ..read more