THE County Championship match against Middlesex delighted me.
Every day produced skilful competitive cricket, with first one side on top, then the other.
Had rain not topped and tailed the fourth day a famous victory may have been our young team’s reward.
It would have been hard earned. Middlesex, in every way looked the best team in the division, but our young side matched them. They rallied round the senior players, three of whom - Taylor, Lewis and Batty - had outstanding matches.
After a poor game against Derby, Chris Taylor has been a revelation. He followed up his CB40 hundred on Monday with another on Wednesday. His partnership with Will Gidman took the game away from Middlesex and when he was finally dismissed for 116 we were well placed for batting bonus points - riches indeed.
In the second innings, batting with a runner Chris scored 60. Middlesex, with a first innings lead of 48, were getting us out. Hamish Marshall was being X-rayed following a crack on the finger and matters looked bleak.
Chris took the game to them in thrilling fashion. Chris and his young family live in the circulation area of this newspaper.
Someone push the paper through their letterbox. Mrs Taylor and their three charming children should be so proud of him. He has done his best to entertain us this season and to win cricket matches for his county.
On the second day, Jon Batty was the star. He guided the tail in adding 64 runs, enabling us to gain four batting bonus points. Then he took six catches in the Middlesex innings, equalling a county record, which he now shares with Jack Russell, Barry Meyer, Andy Wilson and Harry Smith.
The final veteran to excel was Jon Lewis, who took nine of the 14 Middlesex wickets to fall. The wretched season experienced by his beloved Swindon Town has not deterred him.
Jon’s not quite a veteran, but compared to some of his team-mates, certainly a senior player.
Will Gidman, with scores of 60 and 93, had an outstanding match, making sure Middlesex had a formidable score to make in order to win.
I hope the people who scorned his signing are reading this. It will save me from having to say, “told you so”. Mark Hardinges could never play like that.
Our young bowlers stuck to it. Liam Norwell, who can bat a bit, ran in well and never flagged. He has the build of a young Freddie Flintoff.
‘Glasses’ Payne bowled too many deliveries at or outside the leg stump.
I worry about the County Championship. For three days the excellent weather matched the cricket, yet the crowd was pitiful.
As county chairman I fought constantly at ECB meetings for 16 matches of four days each. For the immediate future that battle has been won - just.
One chairman, in opposition to this, stated: “We have invented Elvis Presley - why do we give them so much Brian Adams?”
Mrs Light told me what he meant. We have an exciting product in the 20/20 (Elvis Presley) but give them boring unexciting stuff (Brian Adams).
Obscure musical references aside, someone will soon quote Karl Marx, “There is no point in production without consumption.”
I doubt, however, if many current county chairmen are familiar with Marx so there is still hope.
The CB40 match against Somerset was a difficult game in every way. Captain Alex Gidman and Kiwi Kane Williamson scored some runs, but against the blitzkrieg that is the Somerset CB40 side it was too few. Our first defeat in that competition was inevitable.
The injury situation is grim. Batsmen Chris Dent and Hamish Marshall have fractured fingers. Jon Lewis has a bruised heel.
Mrs Light has offered to press my white trousers and clean my boots. I have told her it is not yet that bad.
I shall drive to the Northampton match with confidence with my Doris Day tapes playing and will also be honoured to attend today’s launch of the much-awaited book on Arthur Milton.
Do you agree with John? Have your say below.
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