The most satisfying aspect of the recent Essex match at The Oval was the fine century by Paul Prichard.

At one stage, it appeared that his 103 against Surrey would underpin a second Championship win of the season for Essex although ultimately that was not to be.

It left Paul reflecting: "It was disappointing for all of us that we were unable to go on and win the game particularly as we had bowled so well. But all credit to Ali Brown, he was brilliant."

The form of the Essex opening batsman has seen a renaissance this year after a term when the 34 year-old struggled with injury and loss of form.

Now he heads the Essex batting averages with 334 first-class runs having already passed his run tally of last year.

The former captain acknowledges that he: "Didn't play well last season for various reasons and when you're not playing well you get into bad habits with your technique."

He was pleased to be "Able to get away at the end of the season and spend time in Sydney with a few friends that reminded me that I could play the game and I scored a lot of runs in Grade cricket for Eastern Suburbs and generally got my confidence back.

"I've come back refreshed and, hopefully, I can achieve well for Essex. So far, things are going alright."

Prichard admitted that he was severely hampered by injury last year admitting: "I think that if I hadn't been captain last year, then I wouldn't have played right through the summer.

"I was injured but I'm the sort of bloke that, having been given the responsibility of captaining Essex, I felt I had to be there on the field with them and go and play.

"May be with hindsight that was a mistake because I wasn't able to do myself justice but that's the way it turned out."

Essex supporters can look forward to seeing a rejuvenated Paul Prichard and he has started this campaign in fine style with three fifties and a century in his first seven first-class innings.

Certainly the player, who made his debut in 1984 and who has broken through the 1,000 runs for the season eight times, appears back on course to increase that tally.

Paul Prichard hit 103 at The Oval.

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