County cricket talking points: the new format is delivering a thrilling season

It remains to be seen what the second phase of this strange campaign will bring, but the first phase has been a huge successBy Gary Naylor for the 99.94 Cricket BlogIn Group One, only five points separate Warwickshire, Durham, Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire and Essex (with Derbyshire not out of the picture either). Whatever the second phase of this strangest of County Championships brings us, the first phase has been a success beyond anyone’s expectations. Whether Warwickshire’s two