Amar Virdi impresses for Surrey, who might have felt a specialist spinner short

SAM DALLING: Hindsight is wonderful, although it doesn’t take mystic Meg to tell you that Chelmsford might turn

Yesterday was the perfect day for county cricket. And in many ways, county cricket reciprocated.

Little by way of stardust, there were runs and there were wickets. You can’t ask for much more.

Essex were saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong member Peter Meggs overnight, with flags at half-mast and the players donning black armbands in tribute to their pal.

And the man who followed the Eagles religiously would have been beaming as his boys turned the screw at fortress Chelmsford today. Softly, gently but nevertheless with ruthless efficiency. Where have we seen that before?

Plenty of the top order made starts but no one pushed on.  It matters not; cricket is a team game and at stumps Essex were in a position of strength. After Simon Harmer’s exploits on the previous day, all eyes were on Amar Virdi. It’s so commonplace these days that a six-wicket haul barely raises an eyebrow.

Harmer had been masterful and proved there was definitely something it for the off-spinner. Master and would-be apprentice. Could Virdi match his senior counterpart?

Well not quite, but no great surprise. The South African is operating at the top of his game whereas Virdi is still learning his trade. The 22-year-old was impressive though. He started the match shakily but grew in confidence as the overs passed.

Sir Alastair Cook took him for a couple of early boundaries on the first day and seemed to have Virdi’s number. But rather than let his head drop, the spinner kept coming and picked up the former England skipper, before dismissing Feroze Khushi when it looked like a maiden first-class ton was on the cards.

Second time around, he was even better. Trusted with the new ball at dusk on Sunday, he didn’t have to wait long for his chance on Monday.

Operating from Harmer’s preferred River End, he was on for the bulk of the day and ended with 4 for 85. Surrey will be delighted. They believe their academy graduate can go all the way. He made England’s 55-man training squad earlier this summer.

^{Virdi bowled nicely at Chelmsford}

Virdi needs little introduction. His fortunes since debuting at this ground three years ago are a well-trodden path. One good year, one not so good.

Yes, there were question marks over his fitness. His cause wasn’t helped by a stress-induced back injury but nevertheless it needed addressing. Surrey took the tough love approach.

You get out what you put in, and Virdi was told in no uncertain terms he needed to up the ante. It wasn’t without its risks. Plenty of youngsters get caught up in their own hype and the toys could have come flying out of the pram.

The work has paid off; Virdi took it in his stride and worked tirelessly alongside Surrey fitness guru Darren Veness.

At Scarborough last year he spent much of the four days scuttling up and down cliffs. The town is probably not on his staycation list for the post-season.

Despite Virdi’s exploits yesterday, however, Surrey face an uphill battle to get anything from the game.

Credit to their attack though who never stopped. It wasn’t not easy to be a bowler in this heat and Adam Finch in particular looked a prospect on his way to taking 4 for 38.

Vikram Solanki may well feel he missed a trick by leaving out Dan Moriarty. The slow-left armer was one of few bright spots in last week’s London derby defeat, bowling tidily in the first innings before picking up five wickets in the second.

Surrey favoured the extra seamer here and while James Taylor made early inroads with the relatively new ball on day one, he barely featured thereafter.

By contrast Virdi got through more than 50, and part-timers Will Jacks and Scott Borthwick shared 13 between them.

Hindsight is wonderful, although it doesn’t take mystic Meg to tell you that Chelmsford might turn.

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