Rose Bowl passes its first test

Busiest of all the Hampshire stalwarts was Nigel Gray, 21 years with the club and now the head groundsman. Back and forth went the covers. The first time they were removed there was some consternation. The strip was barely distinguishable from the rest of the square it was so green. After the mower had set to work the shade lightened considerably but still there was no agonising for Strauss once he had won the toss.Gray's pitch was impressive. The club and the groundsman could have played safe by producing one of those "chief executive" wickets, guaranteed to last five days, low in bounce and a friend to the batsmen. The temptation is always there to provide a surface guaranteed to produce play – and income – on every day (weather permitting).

For Bransgrove, though, the moment of truth (and, no doubt, of huge relief) occurred shortly beforehand when the Hampshire chairman stepped forward to clang the five-minute bell on the pavilion balcony. The sun was breaking through, players on both sides were completing their pre-match preparations and nothing now could stop a dream from being realised.