Advantage: Paul Farbrace

ESSEX’S abandoned game against Derbyshire, after a home player tested positive for Covid, was not the ideal way to relinquish their red ball title, but it proved a neat cancellation as there was nothing to squabble over.
Even a full points victory would not have seen them qualify for the top division of six teams, who will now decide this year’s County Championship.
Nor has it affected Essex’s standing in the second division of that system as Derbyshire will be in the one below as the competition moves into its final phase at the end of Augu...