Based on performances in fixtures that began this month, we’ve picked out a combined XI.

Stats are from CC fixtures that began in May.

Rory Burns – Surrey

3 matches, 298 runs @ 99.33

The England left-hander will enter the Test series with New Zealand in fine form – his lowest score in four innings this month was a knock of 55 against Somerset. After six half-centuries, he finally brought up his first hundred of the season against Middlesex in his last inning before departing for international duty.

Marcus Harris – Leicestershire

3 matches, 298 runs @ 74.5

Harris began the month with a century against Surrey and finished it in magnificent style: a 311-ball fourth-innings 185 helped Leicestershire chase down 378 against Middlesex and secure their first win of the season.

Tom Abell – Somerset

3 matches, 196 runs @ 196

Somerset’s skipper is the most reliable presence in his side’s batting line-up at the moment and delivered two fine knocks in May – his 64 against Hampshire set up a 10-wicket win, while an unbeaten 132 followed in a top-of-the-table clash with Gloucestershire.

Saif Zaib – Northamptonshire

3 matches, 246 runs @ 123

Sussex must be sick of the sight of Zaib. At the start of the month, his maiden first-class century delivered an innings win at home; at the end of the month, he struck a crucial 64 before hitting an unbeaten 47 off just 43 balls in a successful chase of 218 at Hove.

Steven Mullaney – Nottinghamshire

3 matches, 241 runs @ 60.25

Despite a loss to Warwickshire in the last round of the month, Notts were in fine flow for most of May, and skipper Mullaney was at the heart of their excellence. A 160-ball 117 against Essex set up an innings win over the defending champions and a 73-ball 88 against Worcestershire followed in another comprehensive win.

Darren Stevens – Kent

3 matches, 199 runs @ 66.33 | 6 wickets @ 23.17

Stevens was responsible for the most thrilling knock of the month, a magnificent 149-ball 190 against Glamorgan that included 15 sixes and 15 fours. The 45-year-old is currently both Kent’s leading wicket-taker and run-scorer this season.

Michael Burgess (wk) – Warwickshire

3 matches, 219 runs @ 54.75 | 12 catches, one stumping

The Warwickshire wicketkeeper put behind a run of low scores in April to thrive in May, beginning with a ton against Worcestershire and ending with a crucial third-innings 80 against Nottinghamshire. A stumping off the bowling of Oliver Hannon-Dalby was also something to behold.

Kyle Abbott – Hampshire

3 matches, 21 wickets @ 10.76

The Hampshire quick was rampant in May. Eleven wickets at Lord’s saw to a win over Middlesex and while Leicestershire escaped the Ageas Bowl with a draw, Abbott was still able to take match figures of 7-53.

Luke Fletcher – Nottinghamshire

3 matches, 23 wickets @ 9.91

A truly extraordinary month for the Notts stalwart. After innings figures of 6-24 against Essex, Fletcher took 10 wickets in the match for the first time in his career the following week against Worcestershire.

Chris Rushworth – Durham

3 matches, 20 wickets @ 12.35

A nine-wicket haul against Worcestershire saw Rushworth become Durham’s most prolific first-class wicket-taker and he didn’t let up from there – innings figures of 6-49 against Derbyshire were followed up with five in the match against Essex.

Ben Sanderson – Northamptonshire

3 matches, 16 wickets @ 15.13

Sanderson took three five-wicket hauls in May, with all of them coming against Sussex. His first two hauls were delivered at Wantage Road, where he and Gareth Berg shared 19 wickets for the win.