The simple fact about the defeat at Northampton is that we weren’t good in any area of the game.

We need to improve as a unit and that is all that needs to be said.

It was a quick batting deck and we need to adapt to the conditions better and I don’t think we did that very well.

It was totally different to what we played on at Chelmsford and to what we practised on. We can’t play every game the same way and I think we can be a little one-dimensional at times.

For me personally it was a high one day with the hundred against Essex and then the low of a six-ball duck last week.

I was disappointed with my first innings dismissal. It was a loose shot and I wasn’t quite on it, then in the second innings it was a good delivery by Jack Brooks, who looks a big talent and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the England fold soon.

The ball was doing a bit early on but then after 40 overs or so it did nothing and people like Andrew Hall, Niall O’Brien and James Middlebrook are all good, experienced all-rounders.

There was no big inquest after the game, everyone was disappointed because we lost by such a margin.

Keysy made the point afterwards that we all had to look at our own performances and be honest with ourselves.

Charlie Shreck was missing at Northampton, having gone back to Notts the day before and losing him was a massive blow, and having one fewer bowler made all the difference.

If we could get somebody else in or the club could find a way of investing in an overseas player I think it would give the squad that little bit of experience.

Darren Stevens and Matt Coles were injured and couldn’t field on the third morning at Northampton so Ashley Shaw and our first team coach Phil Relf deputised.

We see Ashley as the ‘ream’ member of the team, a reference to the TV show The Only Way Is Essex, while Phil is known in the dressing room as TP – because when he is wearing his baseball cap, he looks the spitting image of Stoke’s former Gillingham manager Tony Pulis. I rang to congratulate him on getting to the FA Cup final!

We have to pick ourselves up and be ready for the next challenge against Gloucestershire at Canterbury next week.

I am looking forward to playing there for the first time this season and seeing the new dressing rooms.

I know it’s the same pitches and ground but I wonder if the atmosphere has changed.

The club are holding an Open Day on Monday and I look forward to seeing many of you there.