County cricket talking points: the season is beginning to take shape

James Anderson has still got it. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenJames Anderson has still got it. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesGuardian Sport NetworkCricketCounty cricket talking points: the season is beginning to take shapeTwo bowlers, who are very much not spring chickens, delivered wins for Lancashire and Hampshire By the 99.94 Cricket BlogGary NaylorTue 14 Apr 2026 13.39 BSTLast modified on Tue 14 Apr 2026 13.48 BSTSharePrefer the Guardian on Google1. Special players trump special measuresRather unexpectedly, Sussex are the only team in Division One with two wins. Less unexpected is the fact they still find themselves five points off the pace and in third. Ah, bonus points and administrative sanctions – two old friends back to make a complicated game still more complicated.The home side did it the hard way on the field at Hove, 137 runs behind and eight down in their first innings, then conceding 78 runs to Warwickshire’s last two wickets in their second dig. There are teams who might look at a target of 328, which would be the highest innings of the match, think about the 12-point handicap imposed for matters concerning the boardroom not the players, and walk into the April chill with shoulders slightly slumped, somewhat sorry for themselves.Not Sussex. Three recent recruits made the runs required, Daniel Hughes with 83 providing the foundation for Jack Leaning (120) and Tom Price (70) to bring home the spoils with an unbroken stand of 144.Though the game must have some means to deter risky financial decisions, it’s on the field that trophies should be won and lost, a case being made rather well so far by Ollie Robinson’s fighters.  2. Overton goes from a panning to a praisingAfter Essex had won their opener with ease, they were brought down to earth, receiving a dose of their own medicine from Somerset.It was always likely that two highly effective seam attacks would balance the game in such a way that, if a batter could...