Thanks to Franks

Paul Franks is pressing claims to be an allrounder © Getty Images

Eight different batsmen made hundreds as Division Two champions drowned opponents in a torrent of runs and the final tally of 26 centuries was the main reason they bounced back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

The four main seamers, led by Paul Franks, took 135 wickets between them and the performance of Mark Ealham was outstanding with 26 wickets and a batting average of 45.50.

Franks, though he seems to have been around forever, is still only 25 and can lay claim to being a genuine allrounder with an average of 38-plus with the bat to set alongside 42 wickets at 29.78.

"He's somewhere near his best in the four-day game," says Mike Newell, the director of cricket. "He has a bit of work to do in the one-day format, where he has difficulty controlling the white ball, but it is very pleasing to see such a talented cricketer back in form after his injuries. He worked hard on his batting the previous season and now he has come good with the ball."

For 2005 the county have still to decide on a second overseas player, alongside David Hussey, this summer's top scorer with 1,208 runs at 63.57, but early indications are that Kevin Pietersen will be staying at Trent Bridge. "The offer is as good as anybody's and he couldn't have a better showcase for his talents than our ground where pitches have been much better recently," says Newell.

Player of the Year: Paul Franks
High Winning five Championship games on the bounce between May 22 and June 21
Low One win from first four games

This article was first published in the November issue of The Wisden Cricketer.
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