Essex coach Paul Grayson believes Ravi Bopara is in his best form for four years ahead of his call-up to the England one-day squad.
Bopara's Championship century against Northants on Saturday was his second within a week and third of the season.
And Grayson believes he is matching the form which saw him hit a double hundred against Leicestershire in 2008.
"He is in a good place. He feels like his game is in good order," Grayson told BBC Essex.
Bopara, 27, will also be pushing for a place in the England Test side to face the touring South Africans later this summer after recovering from a side injury.
His 120 in last Monday's CB40 victory over Gloucestershire, followed by his stunning knock of 174 at Wantage Road, will have improved his chances of ousting youngster Jonny Bairstow from Andrew Strauss's team.
"He's playing very straight. It was a real exhibition," said Grayson.
"He had to work really hard for his first 20 runs and it was a really good example to our younger players that you've got to earn your runs to get to 20 or 30, get the ball a little bit softer and then you can cash in a little bit later."
Meanwhile, Essex have also been buoyed by the the return of Ryan ten Doeschate from Indian Premier League duty.
The Dutchman hit 26 not out in his first knock for Essex this year, four days before the domestic Twenty20 campaign begins.
"Let's hope that's a good thing for the coming weeks with the T20 starting," said Grayson.
"Last year he came back and was a little but burned out, a little tired. But he's been hitting the ball well in the nets and looked very confident with how he hit the ball against Northants.
"The manner in which he scored his runs was pleasing to us."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Shrinking star: Frankie Essex's diet is obviously working as she shows off her even slimmer frame in bikini in Marbella - Daily Mail
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She's worked hard on her figure over the last few weeks, even enduring a fitness boot camp to get her into shape for Marbella.
And Frankie Essex is clearly enjoying showing off the fruits of her labour now she's on holiday.
The Only Way Is Essex star has been snapped revealing her ever shrinking frame in a halterneck bikini.
Bikini body: Frankie Essex shows off her even slimmer frame in a bikini on holiday in Marbella
Washboard stomach: The TOWIE star showed off her slender body as she lapped up the rays
Frankie lapped up the rays as she paddled in the waves and seemed to have lost even more weight than previously.
The TOWIE star wore a black bikini with jewelled detailing as she frolicked in the water.
And she ensured she looked her very best for the beach outing as she wore her hair high in a knot bun.
Splashing around: Frankie Essex appeared body confident as she flaunted her figure for all to see
Poser: The Only Way Is Essex star has been in Marbella with her castmates
Frankie strutted her stuff across the sand and showed her slender stomach even more when she breathed in as the cold splashes touched her skin.
And the reality star seemed to be aware how good she looked as she stood in a number of poses for onlookers and photographers to see.
She stood with her back against a tree as she stretched up to scrape her hair back.
Svelte: Frankie has lost a couple of dress sizes in the lead up to her holiday in the Spanish resort
Strutting her stuff: Frankie Essex showed off the fruits of her labour after a four-day fitness boot camp several weeks ago
Lounging around: Frankie ensured she looked her best as she sunbathed in front of the cameras
And Frankie later stretched her body out across the sand to display her washboard stomach.
When she left the beach she decorated her hair with a big pink flower and draped a matching shawl around her arms.
It comes just a couple of weeks after a four day work out at the No.1 BootCamp with pal and co-star Lauren Goodger in the lead up to their holiday.
And she's obviously become body confident as a result of her continuing weight loss.
Showbiz roundup...
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Kent County Cricket Club move Freinds Life t20 game from Nevill Ground to St Lawrence - Kent Online
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Heavy rain has disrupted much of the Tunbridge Wells Festival Picture: Barry Goodwin
Kent have moved Tuesday evening's Friends Life t20 match against Sussex Sharks to the St Lawrence Ground after flash flooding in Tunbridge Wells.
The match, which was due to take place at The Nevill Ground, will now be played under floodlights in Canterbury with a start time of 7pm.
Kent's chief executive, Jamie Clifford, said heavy rain on Sunday night had forced the club into action, leaving a return to Canterbury the only decision possible for the start of the T20 competition.
He said: "There is no way we could have got anything on at Tunbridge Wells at all. I would have been surprised if you could get any play on that wicket for 10 days.
"What a sorry way to celebrate your 100th festival but in the end you have to just accept it, there is nothing you can do. It's been horrific and pretty costly too and I feel sorry for the supporters who have had their plans disrupted.
"It's the opening game of the competition and it's against Sussex so hopefully there will still be a good crowd."
With the majority of the Tunbridge Wells Festival wiped out by rain, the county are looking at losses of about £50,000 for what is usually a profitable week. It could have been worse had a wicket not been prepared for today's scheduled Varsity matches between University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church - now postponed due to the weather.
Mr Clifford explained: "Given that we had no games at Canterbury until the end of June, we could have been high and dry with no wicket prepared here and struggling, so we were very lucky there was a Varsity game originally planned."
- Anyone with tickets for the match and are unable to travel to Canterbury tomorrow, can send their tickets with name and address to Kent County Cricket Club, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3NZ. Kent are also offering full refunds for those that can't attend, while advance ticket prices of £20 for adults and £5 juniors will be available on the gate.
Monday, June 11 2012
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Source: www.kentonline.co.uk
Who is she and what is she famous for?...What has she done to make her a celebrity?...I appeared in the crowd on the local news once when I was a kid, does that mean I'm a celebrity?
- PY, Norfolk, 11/6/2012 20:05
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