Home record not as contemptible as some maintain

Twenty-three runs: so little and yet so much! Indeed in the context of a major-length series at home almost everything. The long reproach has been removed and we must hope that with this victory over South Africa, coming moreover from behind, that the present and future of English cricket may be seen by everyone and not least its professional detractors in fairer perspective than of late.

In the last five years, by the way, England at home have beaten India, New Zealand and now South Africa; they have halved series with West Indies and South Africa; lost to Australia and Pakistan. Won nine, lost nine is not quite so contemptible an outcome as some would maintain.

In the sense that England escaped by the skin of their teeth at Old Trafford, and that South Africa had the greatest bowler in Donald and the most attractive cricketer in Rhodes, the tourists might be deemed unlucky to lose. They will have rued in hindsight their slow batting at Old Trafford, which in all likelihood deprived them of a conclusive victory, just as England had lingered defensively in the first innings at Edgbaston.

Neither of these were great sides. There was no spin bowling of any consequence apart from Adams, the fascinating contortionist, while for batting of the classic order one must look chiefly nowadays to the Indian subcontinent. If one can leave for a calmer moment the serious aspect of intimidation as practised by Donald, the faster bowling of South Africa was their strongest feature, with England when Gough returned not too far behind. If he and Cork had been in the West Indies to augment the gallant Fraser the result could well have been different.

Those who thought the selectors, in asking Stewart to lead the side, keep wicket and make runs, were asking too much underestimated his extraordinary durability and zeal. An average of 51 was his answer. Equally welcome and important was Atherton's recovery of form. Most of the younger members responded well to their senior's example, none more so than Butcher.

Atherton's batting reminded me of how at the top level the ever-present ratio between temperament and technique shifts invariably towards temperament. There is no better example of this than Herbert Sutcliffe, a man of distinctly limited range of stroke and yet the only Englishman to have averaged 60 in Test matches. Both of them imperturbable and indomitable, I regard Atherton as being slightly ahead of the old hero in technique.

Poor young Flintoff! Let him bear in mind that Len Hutton, only a few months older than he, made 0 and 1 in his first Test. He may not go on next time to make a hundred as Hutton did, but if his performances warrant it his chance will recur.

A major English disappointment was Salisbury, whose art surely needs revision if he is to worry the best players. I have always been fascinated by wrist-spin and have been lucky enough to play with or against most of the best of them, English and Australian. O'Reilly, Grimmett and Mailey were still fine bowlers in 1946-47 when with our young Cricket Writers' Club they performed in every Australian state. Arthur Mailey used to say that the arm action prior to the strong rotation of the shoulders began at the right hip pocket. If those concerned will forgive the unsolicited intrusion I would like to see Salisbury increase the momentum with a longer run and get those shoulders working.

THE aftermath at Headingley, the whole palaver of trophy presentation, of awards, speeches and interviews was inevitably an emotional occasion which in front of a patriotic crowd required balanced and sensitive presentation. I thought David Gower's smooth handling of the operation was worthy of all praise. His own self-confidence and lightness of touch brought a suitable response from all concerned: we saw a relaxed, forthcoming Atherton and a winning performance, full of fun, from Jonty Rhodes.

Tony Lewis has done his best for many years to show BBC viewers cricket wherever possible as a game to be admired and enjoyed. At the season's end he hands over the microphone before assuming the greater responsibility of the presidency of MCC. If, as I assume, his successor is to be Gower, what could be more appropriate?

ON the county scene the early evidence of the day/night floodlit 40-over matches is of clear importance and on the whole encouraging. People seem happy to come straight from work and in the school holidays so can, say, 14-year-olds and over. Sussex reckon that as compared with AXA Sunday gates the 5.00pm start brings at least double, that is to say upwards of 4,000. The Hove ground however only takes 5,000 and the hire of the lights is £30,000 a time. They can therefore stage such matches only with sponsorship.

The best news is that, despite Surrey being plumb bottom of the AXA, two evening gates have brought 16,000 to the Oval including (so Paul Sheldon, the chief executive, tells me with enthusiasm) a high proportion of young. How ironical that, despite Surrey's lead in the championship, four-day gates continue to be sparse indeed. Yet four days at Guildford, including one of AXA, attracted 15,500: a moral.

There are two local derby floodlit games coming up which must be significant, weather permitting, a Battle of the Roses at Headingley on Aug 24 and Gloucestershire v Somerset at Bristol on the 25th. I suppose that, given the white ball, next year's National League teams - mercifully unlike all others - must be decked out in fancy dress.

Why, however, should not the designers be instructed to avoid garish colours and patterns? Let them have numbers on their backs corresponding to those on the scorecard for identification, and surely the ECB might ordain green sight-screens rather than funereal black.

Other days, other manners, a sort of confrontation, pre-war style: scene, Trinidad Test 1935, England nine wickets down, last over, fifth ball, Learie Constantine bowling to Maurice Leyland, who deliberately receives a short, fast ball just below the ribs. Vociferous appeal, including from one of the two brothers Grant at short-leg. Lbw. Match over. Maurice, a grand fellow and most mild-mannered of Yorkshiremen, is seen to speak to short-leg. Pressed hard to say what it was, he gives in: "Ah just said, 'And tha' were at Caambridge.' "