IT HASN'T been a good season for me but there's no reason why it can't be a great end during the next fortnight.

I haven't done anything too different this year to what I have in the last few years but things just haven't worked out.

To get that century at Surrey last week was a huge relief – and to get it at a time in the game when things could have been really tricky for us was really pleasing.

I've been disappointed not to make any match-winning contributions this year. Even though it wasn't match-winning, it did go a long way to ensuring that we got an important draw, which is next best.

To change position in the order to three is a different kind of challenge. If the openers see off 10 overs of the new ball, it's quite considerably easier to start.

My main aim is to build on this and remember what I did well last week and carry it forward.

I shared that partnership of 215 with Shaun Marsh on days three and four at The Oval and I don't think I would be the only one in the squad to say I have learnt a lot from the way he goes about his batting.

Shaun's brought a little bit of calmness into the team and he showed how good he is in both innings, particularly with his century in the second.

His character is so laid back and the calmness he brings to the team is something that has helped us this week and last.

That comes from the experience he's had right at the top of the game. He's been playing first-class cricket the best part of 15 years. Having said that, I can't imagine him being too different now to what he was 10 years ago.

It's a shame he's got to go but I'm sure Kraigg Brathwaite will come in and do a great job for us, starting against Warwickshire at Headingley today.

Our batting has been under par to date but the last two games we've shown that we are a good batting unit.

Personally, I'm not really looking at the situation in the Division One table. Our strength in 2014 and 2015 when we won the league was to concentrate on ourselves. That can help us again this year because it's no different at the other end of the table.

If we play as well as we can in the next two games, it will sort itself out. If we tick our boxes, we should be fine. We can then regroup in the winter and move on from this as a much stronger squad.

Warwickshire may have been relegated last week but that doesn't mean we can dismiss them.

You see it so often in all kinds of sports – teams are dangerous when they've got nothing to lose. They can play with a freedom that lends itself to good performances.

No doubt about it, we've got to be at our best to win the game and end our home season in style.