IT has been an up and down week here at the Cooper Associates County Ground

Obviously, we were delighted to get this year’s Vitality Blast off to a winning start against Gloucestershire, but to lose out to Kent was disappointing.

Let’s start with the positives though and the performance against Gloucestershire was outstanding. 

To beat our nearest rivals in the manner that we did in front of a sell-out crowd was the perfect start to the campaign.

It really couldn’t have gone any better and the fans were unbelievable. The atmosphere inside the ground was amazing. 

This place is the best place to be when a crowd that big is getting right behind you.

The bowling unit were excellent in limiting Gloucester to 188 and then our batsmen did exactly what the needed to do. 

Tregs [Peter Trego] was absolutely immense on the night and showed that he is still one of the best in the business and Steve Davies played brilliantly as well.

The mood in the camp after that result was superb and we went in to the game against Kent on a high.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t our day and Kent deservedly came out on top. It was a big disappointment for us, but we will learn from that and will head to Bristol on Friday determined to get back on track and to do the double over Gloucester.

This week both Jack [Leach] and I were called up to the England Lions squad for the match against India A. 

To be selected for your country at any level is a real honour so I am really pleased to have got the call, but I’m even more pleased for Leachy. 

He has been really unlucky with injuries this year and it’s great that he has been selected in what is a really strong squad. To be working with the likes of Alistair Cook and Chris Woakes can only benefit our games.