Irani is on the ball for Essex

Ronnie Irani is the leader of the Essex Boys, so it is fitting that he collected three gold medallions for his endeavours on the cricket field during May.

Essex, the county that ended the 2001 season in disarray and disharmony, have found that old winning habit under the influence of their respected new coach, Graham Gooch, with captain Irani doing what he does best - leading from the front with a flourish.

Ten wins out of 12, including seven out of seven in the one-day format, speak for themselves. Another against Worcestershire at Chelmsford tomorrow will earn revitalised Essex a trip to Lord's on 22 June for the 31st and last Benson & Hedges Cup Final, against Lancashire or Warwickshire.

Nasser Hussain, on loan from England, made telling contributions to two big victories at fortress Chelmsford, in the B&H quarter-final against Yorkshire and the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy third round against Middlesex 48 hours later with top-class knocks of 136 not out and 96.

But the England captain would be the first to concede that Essex's main man is his successor Irani, who picked up two gold medals in the B&H group stages with matchwinning displays against Sussex (47 and 5-36) and Kent (50 not out). He was also man-of-the-match in the C&G victory over Middlesex with 86 not out.

Irani completed a memorable month's work with 101 from 79 deliveries to seal a six-wicket victory over Derbyshire in the Frizzell County Championship.