He said he thought the one which had already been used for Tuesday’s NatWest Trophy looked the better of the two and would be less likely to produce a clatter of wickets. This was either a most damning comment on the state of the square as a whole or one of those judgements that have a habit of returning to haunt cricket administrators.The first arrival yesterday was Brind, the inspector of pitches who automatically becomes involved if 15 or more wickets fall in a day’s Championship cricket. reports from Northampton

Derbyshire 98 & 210-7 Northamptonshire 210
Events unfolded almost as dramatically off the field as they did on it at Wantage Road yesterday. While the weather which claimed 47 overs was the only factor to hold up Curtly Ambrose and postpone Northamptonshire’s first Championship victory of the season, Harry Brind and Donald Carr arrived from Lord’s to inspect the troublesome pitch.Once again the uneven bounce was exaggerated, as it always will be, by Ambrose although it was the fear of what might happen rather than what actually did happen that caused most of the wickets to fall.There was a twist to the story of the pitch when it was revealed that Carr, the chairman of the pitches committee at Lord’s, had made a routine visit to the ground last Wednesday.While there, he was asked his view of the two pitches available for this match.

However with Illingworth in his current mood, being from a southern county may just have its disadvantages.My 13: Atherton, Stewart, Hussain, Thorpe, Hick, Irani, Russell, Lewis, Cork, Patel, Martin, Ealham, Brown.. But if little more could be asked of his batting, the question mark still hangs over his effectiveness as a bowler, and the selectors may well be tempted to try the in-form Mark Ealham instead.The only other way England could conceivably inject some variety would be to select Yorkshire’s Michael Vaughan as an opener who bowls off-spin. With Nick Knight still not properly fit, it would be particularly hard on Alec Stewart were the Surrey skipper to miss out after his efforts at Lord’s. Forced to bat out of character at Lord’s, Irani responded with great resolve in helping Jack Russell save the match. Darren Gough, who has been taking wickets for Yorkshire, may also be a contender, though he mainly relies on reverse inswing later in the innings for his movement. Mullally has done little wrong, but as he does not swing the ball, a bland Trent Bridge is not for him.With Min Patel bound to get a second cap, there could be pressure on Ronnie Irani to keep his place.

However, important as that boost may appear, long-term benefits will only emerge if teams are beaten regularly and in all circumstances. If England are to be at their peak against Pakistan, they must dispatch India at Nottingham.If the pitch does live up to its pre-match billing, both variety and movement will be needed – India had more of both at Lord’s – especially if India, who believe in themselves again, are to be bowled out twice. England have to dismiss sides if they want to compete with the best.For that reason, a genuine swing bowler like Durham’s Simon Brown, must join Lewis and Cork. If he does – and England faced their first stern task of the summer at Lord’s – it will be the bowling that will most readily come under scrutiny.After two fruity Test pitches, early reports from Trent Bridge are that the surface is so anodyne that Brian Bolus, one of Illingworth’s scouts and a former selector himself, reckons a timeless Test could not be concluded upon its benign surface.Normally that would suit England, for whom a draw would mean a series victory.