ALTHOUGH the Gloucestershire county match against Glamorgan contained plenty of good cricket it was not a good game.

Bat dominated ball to a far-too-great extent. In an attempt to make use of the first session, when there is some life in the pitch, captain Klinger put Glamorgan in - hoping for early wickets.

Some fell but not enough and Glamorgan recovered to score over 440 runs. After that a draw was always likely. The two best Gloucestershire performances came from Craig Miles - again! Craig, with his extra pace and bounce, worried all the Welsh club's batsmen and he had yet another five-wicket haul.

Alex Gidman scored a masterful century. No longer weighed down by the cares of captaincy, Alex is batting with grace and power. His century was a delight to watch. Having just signed a three-year extension to his contract means more centuries will be scored by this handsome batsman.

New bowler Miles Hammond did get time off school to play, after all. In Year 12, or in Light-speak, the Lower VIth, Miles is still a schoolboy but already looks like one for the future. Flighting the ball well and seemingly unabashed, Miles reminded me of another young off-spinner who made his debut 60 years ago, straight from school.

That, of course, was David Allen and he did pretty well. Cricket statisticians will have noted that what happened in the recent match against Yorkshire had not occurred for more than 80 years.

You had to look at the teams selected to realise what that was. Playing for Gloucestershire was a Hammond and for Yorkshire a Rhodes. Wally and Wilfred were perhaps their counties' best ever players.

Good luck to the new kids on the block - just be half as good! Mrs Light and I have received a wonderful invitation. It is to join Yorkshire CCC and their friends at a service in York Minster, where 150 years of Yorkshire cricket will be celebrated.

With a fine history the Yorkshire club have much to be proud of but we shall not tell them that. Instead, we shall remind them of our fine victory in the YB40 competition. Expect a re

port back next week. One thing is certain it will be a fine afternoon of cricket companionship. Gloucestershire return to competition playing Hampshire at the newly-named Ageas Bowl.

At county chairman meetings held at Lord's I would always sit next to Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove. When England played away fixtures in the Caribbean, Rod's yacht visited each island they were playing. I never told him I got to the meetings using my CDC bus pass! Both of us were genuine cricket men, but with very different lifestyles.

OF all the stars on display at the cricket match in Cirencester Park on Sunday the brightest were two local ones.

The Liz Hurley-Shane Warne game - England v Australia - deserved a good wicket and they certainly got one. Groundsman Phil Carter nervously puffing a cigarette before play started was the man responsible.

Before the match started the outfield looked in perfect condition, and when play got underway it was obvious there were plenty of runs in the wicket. There was in the phrase so beloved of commentators, 'even bounce'.

Phil is now in his 49th year with the club and is still playing. The day before Sunday's big game he had bowled nine good overs at Lechlade for Ciren thirds (I have only Phil's view on this - more reports please) and had also produced the wicket on which Cirencester's first XI scored freely and won easily.

No need for nerves, Phil, you did the club proud. So too did Monty, the Robbins' family dog. Monty has been finding cricket balls since he was ten months old and was on duty at the pavilion end.

If the ball was struck into the park woodland he was there to retrieve it. I am pleased to tell you he had a busy and productive afternoon.

The Cirencester Cricket Club did the town a great service. Sixty volunteers were at work and from the moment I left the Stroud Road to drive to the ground I was in good hands. Well done, chairman Nick Price and team.

Well done to the people there to support two good causes. Support proved that Cirencester can rally round on such occasions. More please!