MID SEASON 2010

1) I see Ricky Ponting is worried about Ireland not having their players representing them. I suggest he contacts Jack Charlton, who can give him advice on such matters. I'm sure he can get hold of him by advertising for an England World Cup winner pre-2010 required for a free fishing trip.

2) There are green shoots of a revival in Surrey's season. They have become very competitive in the T20 and the championship side is looking better balanced as well. Supporters will have to admit that the wicket-keeping position has been strengthened. I did predict in the pre-season edition of OW that it was not the bowling that needed an overseas player but the batting, with the opening partnership the real weakness. This transpired to be the case and led to a terrible start and bottom place in the championship. The problem was rectified by the promotion, to opener, of Steven Davies. This also meant that we could play five bowlers, which we need to win matches, with an all-rounder spinner at number seven. In fact, the trend in the championship has been to play two spinners, neither of whom can bowl sides out or only four bowlers. It is the seamers who are doing the damage and we need to play four if at all possible - injuries and the Nel temper permitting. Jason Roy's outstanding impact in the T20 surely makes it worth the gamble to play him rather than Stewart Walters, Surrey's Wright-Phillips (sorry about all the football connections this time), in the longer versions of a game. Matthew Spriegel seems set, for the third year in a row, to be the unlucky player of the year. Hopefully he will show his worth in the latter part of the season once again. The second division is very competitive, but Surrey certainly have a good enough squad to avoid finishing bottom for the first time in their history. Hopefully, Angus Fraser will continue to lead Middlesex on a downward path.

3) Discussing the T20 with a colleague the other day. I wonder why it wasn't played in August, when the floodlights would have more of an effect, rather than playing it around the longest day. I added that I had always thought August better, because the kids are off, so no rushing from school and the championship could have more substance. I wonder if it's because August is a big month for the Test series and the T20, probably rightly, can't clash with the Tests - or were they worried about our previous national sport starting up in August?

4) England are enjoying a purple patch in all forms of cricket, with regular and tight knit squads in all forms of the game. The one-day sides look well balanced, with two great spinning pros with cricketing brains in Michael Yardy and Graeme Swann. I'm suprised Yardy doesn't bat higher up the order, as I always thought of him as a batsman who can bowl, but there is great depth to the side in all departments. The Test side still looks a bowler short and, personally, I don't think Prior is the best wicket-keeper or the best keeper-batsman, despite the support of a 100+ caps predecessor.

5) In the Saturday Independent their sports columnist Brian Viner was writing about Adrian Chiles, the new face of ITV (yes, you guessed it, football). He told how he still gives Chiles friendly jip for a radio interview (Chiles like Des Lynam is actually best suited to that great medium) when he was under researched and didn't realise that the South African cricketer he was interviewing was white. Viner's main piece was on Michael Holding's autobiography and the 1976 series. He mentioned the classic line: "The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey." He said it certainly wasn't in the Third Test at Manchester where England's team was Edrich, Close, Pocock, Steele, Woolmer, Hayes, Greig, Knott, Underwood, Selvey and Hendrick; and that Holding bowling to Pocock didn't have the same ring. I think Mr Chiles should have a word with Mr Viner about giving out that batting order, and of all batsmen to choose... Wisden actually gives Pocock as going in at four in the first innings not three! Of course, it was famous for the Edrich-Close Saturday night partnership as well.

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