As her many followers may have noticed, I had the good fortune to spend a few days up in Sedbergh last week, partly in the company of my old friend Annie Chave. As our mutual friend Paul Edwards simply said: ‘Go to Sedbergh’.

Another thing to say here is that it shows how county cricket can draw people in when taken to ‘alternative’ venues. The 50 over comp does this very well. As someone once said, ‘build it and they will come’. [And you don’t have to build it]. County Cricket Matters

The need to earn a living prevented me from being at Taunton yesterday but I was massively impressed by Archie Vaughan’s bowling in the previous home game v Durham. No surprise to see him take 11 wickets. Also some patient and stylish batting on Day 1. Looks a real find.

This, from 2013, is one of my favourite pieces of my own writing. I claim no credit for forseeing the length of Root’s career - everyone did. I was going to post it on his 34th in December, but now will do. Stranger to Failure | Other Shades of Green othershadesofgreen.com/different-shad…

In Canterbury for the funeral of an old friend who loved cricket and the St Lawrence Ground, so a wander down the Old Dover Road on a glorious winter morning was obligatory. I assume kentccc1975 (presumably at the Basin) would approve.

Walk today.

This may be of interest Gerry Hunt?

With thanks to Patrick Eagar, Jason Gillespie, David Woodhouse, Simon Lister, AmerCric 🏏 ✍️, Martin Davies, Brian Carpenter Bob Doran, Archie Cornish and David Graveney. The new County Cricket Matters is out! Please do have a read - countycricketmatters.com/shop

Congratulations to Annie Chave - The Cricket Society committee member who has produced another terrific edition of County Cricket Matters - if you don’t already subscribe then you should do so. #80thisyear #countycricketmatters

Can anyone from my many cricket contacts tell me: a. When and where this great photo of Alastair Cook and James Hildreth was taken? b. Who took it? This isn't a quiz. I'd like to know so I can enquire about using it somewhere.

A privilege to be at the launch of books by my friend Annie Chave and Scott Oliver last night, with Harry Everett flying the Somerset Cricket 🏆 flag. Thanks to the The Nightwatchman crew and daniel norcross for hosting, just down the road from an iconic cricket ground.

A typically superb day of NCCA (National Counties Cricket Association) cricket between Devon County Cricket Club and Berkshire Cricket Blundell's School yesterday; 655 runs in the May sunshine. A challenging target set by Devon, but repeated fielding lapses helped Berkshire to sneak over the line in the final over.

I’ve been watching Test cricket since 1972, and that, with the obvious exception of 2005, is the best series I’ve ever seen.

A lovely, moving interview, and wonderful that Tom and Melissa have been so open, especially for a Somerset follower like me. It’s so important for the cleft community that people with a public profile raise awareness, especially as a source of reassurance for other new parents.

This, by cricketer Cam Steel, is an absolute joy. The life (unseen by we spectators) of the county cricketer on the road in motorway service stations. A roadside hymn to the County Grind. substack.com/home/post/p-17…

⁦Andrew Riley⁩ bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…