THE ECB board must read this column, or perhaps they have bugged the bar at the Red Lion.

Proper qualification for England cricketers has been established!

Adults coming to this country now have to wait eight years to qualify. It is properly different for youngsters. Now international cricket can revert to what it should be – the best of ours versus the best of theirs.

The past few days have shown us the best and worst of Gloucestershire cricket. Sloppy bowling and fielding in the four-day match at Derby put us on the back foot.

Poor first innings batting compounded the problem, but at the end of a rain-affected game we were in a winning position – over 200 ahead with six wickets in hand.

Kiwi Kane is showing what an able batsman he is and vice-captain Hamish is back in form.

Sunday sunshine at Bristol for the match against the Netherlands saw Gloucestershire very much in the shade. Poor opening bowling, especially by Muchall, allowed the Dutch team to take charge.

Our opening batsmen were neither bold nor brave; captain Alex hit only one boundary in the first 19 overs. There was too much for the admirable Benny Howell and Cockbain to do, but their efforts brought us so close to victory.

Monday at Lord’s was so different. The team must have read the classic How To Win Limited Over Matches, by J Light, foreword by the late Reg Tugwell.

Published in 1956, this slim volume is now out of print, but readers of this column know the gist. You have to be bold, impose yourself on the opposition and above all, hit boundaries. At all times, show courage and exude confidence.

This is exactly what happened at Lord’s on Monday. In came Irishman Graeme McCarter. He signed for us over three years ago but has been completing his studies in Ireland and attending our academy in school holidays.

Making his debut at Lord’s and bowling a full length, he took three wickets, supporting left-arm spinner Ed Young, who was rightly man of the match.

Gloucestershire’s batting was a revelation. The order was re-jigged and a scoring rate of ten an over was established. Despite two poor umpiring decisions, victory was easily obtained. Middlesex suffered a wrong decision as well. Congratulations to all the batsmen who suffered. They left the crease displaying silent dignity.

The small band of Gloucestershire supporters had the best experience cricket has to offer. We were in the Long Room when our batsmen, having won the match, returned to the pavilion.

We saw the whole team come down from the dressing-room to shake hands with Middlesex. They were glowing. So were Penny and I. Now for Yorkshire and Leicester at Bristol this week.

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