‘GOOD evening Mr Chairman’, was the warm greeting I received from Jon Lewis on Friday evening. Speaking to Jon and his former pace bowling colleague Steve Kirby was both a delight and an education.

Gloucestershire still has a place in both their hearts as their attendance at Hamish Marshall’s benefit launch proved.

They were aghast at the performance of England earlier that day as they crashed to New Zealand in the most humiliating defeat I can remember.

“The bowlers must have a plan and stick to it,” said Jon, “and bowling at the top of off stump is the best one.”

Both men were scathing at the obvious panic and lack of control shown by the England squad, the bowling attack in particular.

We all need to be honest, however. Did any of us expect this ill-selected, under-prepared side to do any better? I hope they improve but I am very doubtful.

Steve and Jon had plenty of praise for our promising pace bowler Craig Miles. Craig is a true diamond and as his career develops Gloucestershire must do all they can to keep him.

This is why the floodlights are so badly needed at Nevil Road.

My understanding is that without them we shall lose the four World Cup matches we have been allocated. The financial implications of this can only be imagined and if permission is not given, the Bristol planners will have much to answer for.

The coaching re-organisation at the County Ground continues. Applications for the post of assistant coach have just closed and an appointment is not far away.

Hamish’s benefit launch was a bubbly event. MC Chris Cowdrey chaired a question and answer session that involved Phil Vickery, Warren Gatland and Andy Caddick, a task he never mastered. ‘Raging Bull’ Vickery could talk for England and very much dominated.

John and Bernadette Bracewell were in attendance, looking younger than ever. This summer John hopes to fulfil a lifetime ambition and attend the Chelsea Flower Show.

Will many of us Forest Green Rovers fans see our lifetime ambition come to fruition? Another three points for Rovers on Saturday against Telford keeps them well in the hunt. Before the game manager Ady Pennock made a big call and left out goalkeeper Sam Russell, who has been in fine form this season. Steve Arnold replaced him.

The rest of the team was exactly as I expected, but the omission of Sam was astonishing.

In his post-match conference the manager spoke warmly and positively about the displaced goalkeeper and as far as big decisions are concerned he has got so many right. In particular, his faith in centre forward Jon Parkin and left winger Elliot Frear is now paying off.

The signing of centre half Charlie Clough is another good decision. He is proving incisive and decisive in both penalty areas, scoring an important goal on Saturday as well as being the best of the back four.

In the 1950s Stratton played cricket where Cirencester RFC is now to be found. They had many good cricketers and especially successful were the three Haggerty brothers – Ron, Jim and John.

John was a quick bowler and moved on to play for Cirencester. He also represented the town club at soccer, playing on the left wing while wearing glasses.

All three were a pleasure to play against as long as they were not batting or bowling!

Ron has just died and his funeral is at Holy Trinity Church, Watermoor, at 11.30am on Tuesday, March 3. I encountered him only on the cricket field but there is no better way of summing someone up than as a sporting opponent. Ron Haggerty was a very decent man.

It is sad that the expansion of the rugby club meant the loss of the Stratton Cricket Club but I am sure the success of the town team has more than made up for it.

The elder statesman of Poulton CC, David Dunn, was at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday. He is quietly confident about the forthcoming season. Last year was not Poulton’s best but David tells me some new players may be appearing at England’s in 2015. If they can hang on to their youth team players Poulton will rise again.