County Championship team of the week: Who joins Tom Price in our XI?

The Cricketer reflects on round three of the 2023 LV= Insurance County Championship season by nominating a standout XI after the third week of fixtures...

Zak Crawley (Kent)

There will still be those with their doubts, but a regal 170 from Zak Crawley, his highest first-class score for Kent, was nothing but a stark reminder of the prodigious talent that he possesses - if only it came to the fore more frequently. Style and brutality against a strong Essex attack to one side, his contribution was essential as the hosts avoided the follow-on, even if rain would be the eventual victor.

Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)

Being dropped on nought was the only invitation Duckett needed to cash in against Middlesex. After recording scores of 51 and 75 in the first two matches of the summer, he made an assured 177 in a total of 364. Nottinghamshire may have lost, but Duckett, and his chances of playing in his first Ashes test this Summer, were winners, nevertheless.

Nick Browne (Essex)

While Tom Westley swaggered to 148, Nick Browne was more measured, scoring 159 from 299 balls, including 23 fours and one six. The Essex opener has found runs in short supply since scoring 234 not out against Somerset last July – this knock marks the first time he's passed 50 since then. A welcome, and indeed relieving, change of fortunes.

^{Keaton Jennings [Harry Trump/Getty Images]}

Keaton Jennings (Lancashire)

Had Jennings not retired hurt on 189 (247) due to a hamstring injury, we may well have been talking about the highest individual score of the season so far. It was another composed knock from the Lancashire skipper, who put Somerset's bowlers to the sword with 27 fours and two sixes. He has an affinity for big knocks against Somerset, notching up a career-best 318 against the same opponents in Southport last season.

James Vince (Hampshire)

A quintessentially James Vince knock of 186 off 279 did nothing but remind us of the Hampshire captain's first-class pedigree. His innings was fundamental to setting up Hampshire's largest victory in the County Championship – they defeated Northamptonshire by an innings and 270 runs, wrapping up the win on day three. In six-and-a-half hours at the crease, Vince only gave one chance away - he was dropped by Ben Sanderson at long leg when he was on just 25.

James Rew (Somerset)

Promising Somerset youngster James Rew returned his highest first-class score and took six catches behind the stumps in Somerset's draw with Lancashire. With his side reduced to 80 for 4 in the 23rd over, a mature knock of 117 from 253 against a full-flow James Anderson kept Somerset in the game. This, bolstered also by a tidy performance behind the stumps (he conceded just two byes), is an outstanding platform from which he can build.

^{James Fuller [David Rogers/Getty Images]}

Ryan Higgins (Middlesex)

Half-centuries from Pieter Malan and Max Holden laid the foundations for Middlesex's unlikely victory against Nottinghamshire, but Ryan Higgins gets the nod for a useful contribution with the ball, a vital half-century in the first innings and a nerveless unbeaten 22 from as many deliveries to steer Middlesex home in sodden and gloomy North London conditions. It was an essential contribution and a big result for Middlesex, who snuck a victory in the April rain when others had to settle for a draw. It may well be the difference come the end of the season.

Tom Price (Gloucestershire)

There are no guarantees in life, other than Price's inclusion in this week's team that is. Hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime performance, the Gloucestershire allrounder's same-day maiden century and hat-trick heroics made him a shoo-in.

Coming in at No.9 with the scoreboard making for grim reading at 45 for 7, the 23-year-old blasted his way to 109 off 98 balls. Later, the wickets of Azhar Ali, Jack Haynes and Worcestershire skipper Brett D'Oliveira in successive deliveries, all snaffled behind by wicketkeeper James Bracey, made Price only the second player to hit all 100 runs and take a hat-trick on the same day - genuinely phenomenal.

James Fuller (Hampshire)

A first-innings six-for from James Fuller warrants a place in this week's team, even if Mohammad Abbas was nipping at his heels. His contribution with the ball saw him return figures of 6 for 37 as Northamptonshire were skittled for 149 and forced to follow-on. He later removed captain Luke Procter – who top-scored with 18 in the second innings – as Hampshire romped home.

^{James Anderson [Harry Trump/Getty Images]}

Ben Coad (Yorkshire)

A win may have eluded them, but Coad gave Yorkshire every chance of securing victory before the rain ultimately decided their fate. He picked up 5 for 54 in the first innings, including maintaining an economy of 2.51, but that was overshadowed by his contribution with the bat. Coming in at No.11, he scored 45 runs off 32 balls as part of a 59-run tenth-wicket stand with Mickey Edwards to dent Sussex's lead heading into the second innings.

James Anderson (Lancashire)

Death, taxes etc. A timeless display from the veteran quick, he picked up 5 for 76 in the first innings against Somerset, including the wickets of Sean Dickson and Tom Lammonby as the hosts found themselves two-down inside 10 overs. Anderson's fellow bowlers returned 5 for 352.

Those who narrowly missed out: Mark Stoneman, Kiran Carlson, Jack Carson, Mohammad Abbas, Tom Westley, Nick Gubbins, Ajeet Singh Dale