Jimmy Adams opens up on Hampshire cricket.

The Shane Warne/Chris Adams niggling aggro bit has been a regular feature over recent years, at times bubbling over into something a little more fruity, but last week's game (I believe) was just a simmering affair. Probably helped by the loss of over two days of cricket, reducing the time that they had to share the field with each other.

It seems to me to be a case of two self-confident captains who take great pride in their roles at their respective counties. I'm sure that they both have utmost respect for each other's achievements but neither wants to be seen to give an inch to each other and hence there is always a bit of friction.

Anyway, during last week's game, Warnie didn't have to start with the usual banter to get Grizzly's' hackles up. The use of the floodlights towards the end of Day 1 proving to be a little controversial - to be fair to the Sussex captain, his reasoning was quite plausible. The ball does zip around more under lights - often they accentuate conditions that are already considered tough. If they are being used in a four-day game, it's because the natural light is not good enough i.e. plenty of cloud is around, normally conditions conducive to swing.

Even if conditions are bowler-friendly, you still need to bowl well to exploit them and James Bruce (5-64) and Daren Powell (3-46) did just that, reducing Sussex to 64 for 6 before the rain came. Further rain and a waterlogged outfield meant the guys couldn't take to the field for another day and a half, effectively ending our chances of a positive result. Even so, we could still take a lot out of the game, bowling Sussex out for 145 and having them 21 for 3 in the second innings plus a welcome return to form for John Crawley (113no).

On Sunday, our Pro40 campaign finally got under way and, in customary fashion, it ended up a nail-biter when, at one point, it looked like we would win comfortably. Overnight rain topped up the soggy outfield causing a late start and a 25 over game. Michael Lumb (62) and Sean Ervine (57) gave us an explosive start and Michael Carberry continued the mayhem (35 off 16 balls) as we finished on 224 for 6. At 56 for 4, Essex's reply was in real trouble but they recovered to need 11 off the last over from Shaun Udal. Shaggy held his nerve as Andy Bichel could only manage two runs off the last ball when a boundary would have tied the game.

A fine spell from Daren Powell (4-30) proved vital in that high scoring affair and he looks to be a pretty shrewd signing. I haven't had the chance to spend much time with him but from what the other players say, he seems like a lovely guy - constantly smiling and laughing and, at times, completely unintelligible with his West Indian accent and rapid-fire delivery. Opposition batsmen don't seem to be enjoying him too much either - genuinely quick and with a decent short ball that he's not shy of using, he's been asking batter's, Where your drives gone, boy?' Meanwhile, the 2nd XI went top of their championship with an emphatic win over a relatively weak Essex side at Chelmsford. We stuck them in on a greenish wicket but at 120 for 2 it didn't look like the best decision - fortunately we got it together after lunch and shot them out for 192, Dave Balcombe finding swing and bounce to claim four wickets.

We continued to pile on the misery for the opposition as Greg Lamb (126), myself (104) and Tom Burrows (80no) took us past 400 - with bad weather a possibility, we declared and again did a good job with the ball, bowling Essex out to leave us needing 46 to win. With some angry clouds closing in, we managed to knock the runs off in just over five overs - the heavens opening as we hit the winning boundary.

My week got better as St Cross managed to turn over the Academy on the weekend - unfortunately I didn't contribute much with the willow but a good all-round display from all the lads brought us home. Admittedly, it was a little strange playing against a team where you know everyone well but it was good fun and Richard Morris will, no doubt, be in my ear for the rest of the season after I spooned one to mid-on in his opening spell On the young player front, Liam Dawson has been selected for England Under 19s, while Chris Morgan and Hamza Riazuddin made the Under 17 side. A great effort by the youngsters and I'm sure some of the other academy lads must have been close to selection too.

Before I run out of space, a quick couple of notices - this Friday is Dimi's benefit match at Hartley Wintney, it looks like the sun will be out and it's a brilliant day out if you can make it. Finally, on Saturday, St Cross are having a barbecue and fundraising evening with a raffle and auction at the Green Jackets Ground, it should be a nice evening and there are some good prizes to be won.