Busy Old Week

Well its been a busy old week or so.

Last week I popped down to the Ageas Bowl and caught the end of day one against Glamorgan. Hants recovered well to post 316 with Slug scoring a superb century. Superb all the more because of the wicket it was scored on. It was green - in fact you could hardly decipher the surrounding square from the wicket itself.

I managed to grab a word with Hants keeper Michael Bates at the close of play, which was much appreciated after a hard days yakka (him, not me). He was in good form having scored 41 earlier that day, acting as the catalyst to ignite Hampshire's innings after a slow start.

He talked about his form this season, which has been good, as well as Hampshire's, which he felt had also been good in challenging conditions. He's also keen on playing for England one day, obviously, but knows there's a lot of work ahead of him before he gets there. He's got the right attitude though, and is a brilliant wicket keeper. If his batting continues to improve he can be the real deal, thats for sure.

I made a faux pas by sitting in the seat right next to him as we sat down outside the players room. Awkward. He laughed it off though which was essential to the modicum of self respect I managed to maintain from the situation.

He also told me Chris Wood was the live wire of the group - seconds later Wood ran down the stairs from the changing room in his boxer shorts. Case in point.

I also had a quick chat with Jimmy Adams who told me Hamza Riazuddin had to bus it back from Scotland the week before because he'd forgotten his passport! You couldn't make this stuff off.

Hampshire lost their first CB40 game of the season last night to Notts. what an innings from James Taylor. As Jimmy Adams said after the game, sometimes you've got to just hold your hands up and say you were beaten by the better team, or man in this case. Taylor will be one of the biggest benefactors from former Hants batsman Kevin Pietersen's retirement from limited overs international cricket - he looks a proper player and will certainly feature for England in the future.

Anyway, Surrey Lions next up for Hants on Sunday. Another tough challenge but Hants will want to get their CB40 campaign back on track.