Steve Rixon has made some welcome innovations since becoming manager, notably regular individual appraisals and a "leadership group" - five players elected by the squad to make decisions on their behalf. He has also had to handle some difficult issues: even the most reliable players mislay their mojos, and a 10-strong injury list led by Saqlain Mushtaq and Azhar Mahmood ("the best Twenty20 player there is"). All that could turn the calmest Australian into a whingeing Pom. On top of that the Championship, under the present scoring system, is anti-Australian.

"I don't understand how a 12-11 points return can be satisfying," Rixon says. "Honourable draws don't cut it with me. In the First Division, unlike the Second admittedly, it's all `let's ensure we can't lose before we think about winning'. Sussex, the champions, had enough time to beat us twice and didn't manage it once. I'm not saying our system is better. I wouldn't make everyone play in one division, or introduce first-innings points: I'd make sure you don't get points for a draw if you're getting beaten. You have to learn to lose before you learn how to win. Some people are happy with a draw; imagine how much they're going to enjoy winning."

The selectors' bemusing conviction that Mark Butcher is no one-day player has its compensations: TV cameras picked him out in the Lisbon throng during England's win over Croatia at Euro 2004.

Moment of the month Ali Brown's century against Gloucs, his first for 22 months.