WHAT a day! Over 500 runs, 17 wickets and a thumping win for Gloucestershire. Northants were in charge, with Gloucestershire 108-4 when Jack Taylor came to the wicket. And the remainder of the game looked like being a back to the wall struggle. So it was, but it was Northants who struggled in the end.

Straight away, Jack attacked, scoring runs all round the wicket. It was not slogging, however, far from it. Jack has a wide range of strokes and used them all. He was precise and calculated with his efforts, and it proved pivotal in a comfortable win.

Towards the end of his innings there were eight fielders on the boundary. He was able to find gaps that no one thought existed. Splendidly supported by Benny Howell (36) and Craig Miles (41), Jack surged to his career best, and of course a healthy lead was established.

Northants were punch drunk, but with century makers in their side from opening bat down to number nine, surely they had the firepower to hit back. The Gloucestershire pace attack had other ideas. Bowling as a unit, Miles, James Fuller and Liam Norwell put the pressure on and kept it there. Scoring the runs to win was a mere formality.

Michael Proctor, Zaheer Abbas and Courtney Walsh have entertained us at Cheltenham, but this time it was our own homegrown stars playing for their local clubs and graduating through our academy. Liam Norwell had been the main threat in the first innings, Craig Miles in the second. Holding the match ball aloft, Miles led the players from the field.

As the festival moved on, special praise must be given to the college groundsman for producing two fine wickets. Both sides in the four-day game agreed if you put the ball in the right place bowlers could be rewarded. If you erred towards inaccuracy you would be punished. That is what the Gloucestershire bowling unit did, and quite simply Northants could not cope.

I had the opportunity to watch the Cardiff test match on TV, and England were a revelation. Their whole playing mindset has changed, and look at the result that ensues! I have in the past made sour comments about Stuart Broad. I am happy to withdraw them totally. He made initial inroads into the Australian batting in the second innings and deserved to be on the winning side.

In local news, the big story at Cheltenham was the announcement that Geraint Jones had resigned the four day captaincy. He was also planning on retiring at the end of the season. Speaking to me before the news broke, he gave a clear summing up of the big picture. However, Ian Cockbain is a captain of the future and can now gain valuable experience. For now, Geraint remains available for selection in all forms of the game. His decision has been selfless, brave and correct.

I close with wishing Mike Smith well. Known to many in Cirencester sporting circles, he attended the festival in the wheelchair to which he is now confined. It was great to see you Mike!