The England Lions have started the third and final ‘Test’ v Sri Lanka A and for the third time, there’s no James Vince. England batted first and only Chopra (83) of the top five passed 20 – Woakes scored a century.

I was at our ground yesterday and most of the players were there in the indoor nets. There were also lots of meetings going on so maybe news very soon about the ground/hotel.

I promised to report from the Members’ Committee yesterday evening (to which I’m co-opted ex officio as Archivist). There are various bits of news although nothing yet quite firm about the hotel. However there seems a high probability that things will be resolved and announced over the next few days. The priority is to complete the Media Centre in time for the Test match. Otherwise completion of the whole project is likely to be in about 12 months.

On the playing front, Chris Wood is the only injury problem – he should be recovered from an operation by the start of the T20 and the full squad of players is reporting back next Monday prior to their Barbados trip (9-22 March). Dale Benkenstein is registered as a player and could appear, especially if others are off playing representative matches. Kyle Abbott is in the South African squad for their 3rd Test this week and will join Hampshire for the match v Gloucs. Glenn Maxwell will play for the 2nd XI when not in the T20 side (he can’t play with Abbott in the Championship or 50 overs)

There will be some improvements to menus and catering arrangements, especially trying to decrease queues and increase choices. Monsieur Vinny has returned from Stamford Bridge! Membership figures are good, with more taken than this time last year. Including Life members the figure is over 4,000. There will be a permanent replay screen with scoreboard info on the ground this year (probably by start of T20). The AGM/Solent Forum is on TUESDAY (not usual Monday) 1 April from 5.30pm which is when the Handbook will be available.

Finally, while there yesterday afternoon I saw the playing strips being mowed and no signs of water.

reaches his century.

John Arlott – born 25 February 1914

Here’s John on one of his great favourites:

“There was never a more zestful, brave, exciting or variously gifted cricketer than George Brown … He did everything, enough – and well enough – to be called the most complete all-round cricketer the game has ever known … Tall, with high, craggy shoulders, the essence of raw-boned strength, he personified aggression, even in the act of taking guard.”

PS: There’s a fine tribute by a different David (Rayvern) Allen at

http://www.thecricketer.com/default.aspx?pageid=1201&topicid=41537

It’s a shame the SA v Aussie series is only three matches (apologies for suggesting previously two) – it’s a cracker. With my blinkered Hampshire specs on, I note that Carberry’s record as an opener against Johnson et al is superior to Graham Smith’s.

Meanwhile James Vince has struggled on England Lions’ tour of Sri Lanka and is not getting selected now. He played twice against the Sri Lanka Emerging Players XI with scores of 4 & 4, and 18 & 9.

The Aussie’s top order struggled again today and closed 112-4 still over 300 behind and both not out batsmen were dropped behind the wicket from catchable chances. Johnson had no more success today and the South Africans had two centurions on a more entertaining second day. But (given India’s recent performances in New Zealand) it leads me to feel that there is little to choose between most Test sides at present and not one of them is really outstanding. The current order is 1. South Africa (but now minus Kallis) 2. India 3. Australia 4. England

I like collecting these. The BBC Sport website has this headline today

“Hampshire: David Balcombe predicts promotion bid”

Brilliant! Is that as opposed to last year when they weren’t trying for promotion? Is it an alternative to the other eight counties who, as far as I can see, have no one predicting a promotion bid? The key word is “bid” of course. Why else would anyone play professional sport?

In fairness to David, who did not write the Headline, he has some interesting things to say.

The first day of today’s second Test was like a county match – a flat, slow pitch when even after a new ball burst (11-2) the Aussies had little luck. Even Johnson struggled for much of the day, although because the ball did not come on, the scoring rate was slow. The two late South African wickets were mistimed aerial spectaculars off the slower bowlers. The crowd was also about the size of a typical Thursday at the Ageas Bowl. It’s a good job South Africa are the number one side or maybe no one would have gone!

The most entertaining bit was before lunch as Mark Nicholas and Robin Jackman chatted about Richards, Greenidge, Marshall (MD) and Bob Stephenson.

I’ve spent today in the Hampshire Records Office at Winchester, planning an exhibition for the summer and also looking through some early scorebooks and Committee Minutes. This is 1883 and Sussex bowled out for 165, losing to Hampshire by 31 runs. The key bowler is William Dible, born in Southampton in 1861. He played once for Surrey v Australia in 1882, then came home and was a key Hampshire player, as here. In this match he took 4-16 and 6-50. Charles Young is the man who made his first-class debut at 15 some years before – he is still the youngest player to have appeared in a first-class inter-county match (v Kent). Click on it to enlarge.

Notice that the bowling details are not shown and the final columns show balls bowled but not overs (except maiden overs).

… how awful England were when they lost the last Test by 281 runs?

Well the world’s number one team South Africa have just lost to the same team by exactly the same margin.

The Ageas Bowl last week.