Chief Executive Vinny Codrington says of the planned halving of the import quota: �..What you save on flights and accommodation you might lose on hiring one or two homegrown players. For me, with all the coming and going, it�..s become a laughing-stock.�.�

Chad Keegan, meanwhile, has been given permission to talk to suitors, via his agent/father Blake. �..We want him to stay and have offered him an extension,�.� says Codrington, �..but we don�..t feel able to offer a long-term contract as he�..s played only a dozen games in three seasons. We showed a lot of faith during his back problems and waived the rules so he can talk to other counties. It would be nice if that loyalty was returned but, if someone comes up with something better, they�..re welcome.�.�

It was also good to bump into Norman Cowans at the cricket writers�.. dinner, especially since, the previous day, he had figured in one of ESPN Classic�..s slightly less classic moments. Did he recall being dismissed in a Test against West Indies when the ball lobbed off his pads, 25 feet above his head towards short mid-on, then spun back to bowl him? �..Roger Harper�.�
came the instant reply.

Rob Steen, The Wisden Cricketer