Cork's batting has already clicked into gear

But injuries forced him home from the tour to Pakistan, and he has played only two Tests since - the most recent being the Lord's defeat to Australia last year.

The story for Cork this season has been the typical mix of inspired cricket and back-to-the-wall bloody-mindedness.

On the first day of the season, at Sophia Gardens, Derbyshire were in all sorts of bother at 69-4.

But Cork came in and smashed 33 off 38 balls - inspiring Jason Kerr, who was making his Derbyshire debut at number eight, to go even further.

Kerr's innings of 58 took the visitors to 217.

When Glamorgan batted, it was all Cork - six for 51 in 17.4 overs including the wickets of Hemp, Powell and Maynard.

Derbyshire bowled out Glamorgan for 175 - the 43-run lead was crucial in setting up victory.

Matthew Maynard fell to Cork in Cardiff

On to the home fixture against Durham starting on 24 April.

Derbyshire were inserted by Durham and were once again stuttering when Cork came to the crease on 107-4.

This time the county captain stayed on to hit 56 - a patient effort which nevertheless included a six and nine fours as his team reached 263.

Cork's new-ball bowling was again out of the top drawer as he removed both Jon Lewis and Jimmy Daley cheaply to leave Durham teetering on 25 for two.

He came back to have remove centurion Nicky Peng, finishing with five for 72 as his side grabbed a five-run lead on first innings.

But there was much more to come.

With rain then playing a major part in the match, Derbyshire were dismissed for 229 in their second innings and Durham required just 235 to win.

At 187 for two, it looked all over. But Kerr grabbed a couple of wickets before Cork, in customary style, delivered the coup de grace, finishing with another five-wicket haul and Derbyshire won by just two runs.

Meanwhile, Glamorgan wicket-keeper Mark Wallace wins our young cricketer of the month award.

Wallace, coached by Rod Marsh in the winter

Wallace, 20, toured with the England Academy during the winter, and was kept under close observation by Rod Marsh.

He was one of the main successes of the tour, where he was also given some captaincy experience.

And he applied his winter tuition immediately, hitting 106 not out against Derbyshire and following up with the same score against Cardiff UCCE.

Phil DeFreitas, Alec Stewart, John Crawley, Ashley Noffke and Angus Fraser have also had fine seasons in the very early stages of the season.

And among the younger contingent medium pacer Kyle Hogg has had a good start in his first full season for Lancashire, while Hampshire's Chris Tremlett was another to push Wallace hard for the younger accolade.