Groundsman Peter Marron enjoys the rare distinction of rendering Lancashire�..s historian Malcolm Lorimer speechless �.� twice. �..The first was when he asked if I would marry him,�.� says Lorimer, �..though I should add that I am a Methodist minister. The second was when he invited me to be chair of his testimonial committee. I felt honoured on both occasions.�.�

Marron, who arrived at Old Trafford in 1973 as assistant to Bert Flack and took over 10 years later, is halfway through his testimonial year. �..He�..s produced fantastic wickets over the last 20 years,�.� says former skipper Neil Fairbrother. �..Great when I was a batsman but sometimes not quite what I required as captain.�.�

Marron is renowned for his capacity, in the words of Sky pundit David Lloyd, to �..call a spade a shovel�.� but above all for the quality of his pitches. Lloyd was at Old Trafford for Lancashire�..s Twenty20 match against Notts in June, the first game of Andrew Flintoff�..s abortive comeback, and spotted immediately the potential in Marron�..s square.

�..Typical Old Trafford wicket,�.� he enthused. �..Pace, bounce, carry. I bet Steve Harmison can�..t wait to get here for the Test against Pakistan.�.� Prophetic words.

The Wisden Cricketer, Andrew Collomosse