A little known fact for you: today was the first Liverpool Premier League game without Steven Gerrard registered in the squad since May 1998. That’s 17 years with a tub-thumping Gerrard at the heart of all things Liverpool.

It was always going to difficult (impossible) to replace Gerrard but it will be very interesting to see how the club move on with their favourite son tearing it up for LA Galaxy in the MLS.

Liverpool’s first game of this season, against the same Stoke team that tore them to shreds with a 6-1 drubbing on the final day of last term, offered as a few tantalising clues of what can be expected post-Gerrard – even if it did end up being a relatively dour 1-0 win for the Reds.

Grab yourself a biscuit and enjoy our three things we learned about a Liverpool sans Gerrard offering

1. Milner and Henderson just won’t do

James Milner and Jordan Henderson (especially the latter now he’s got the captaincy) have got some big boots to fill and, on today’s showing, but are going to need to up their game considerably.

Between the two of them they offer fantastic honest hard graft but what was clear from today was that Liverpool were desperately missing some creativity from deep. Phillipe Coutinho and Adam Lallana, though nott setting the world alight themselves (until the Brazilian’s scorcher), were starved of possession from early on and consequently Liverpool failed to ever really click into gear.

The supposed theory behind having Henderson and Milner as a deep-lying two posits that this will build a foundation for Liverpool’s more gifted attaching midfielders to work off, but on the evidence of today, this s

2. Someone needs to step up and become the main man at Anfield

Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling. Regardless of what they did or didn’t achieve at the club, these are all BIG characters with distinctive playing styles that have left Anfield in the last couple years.

Of course, when you’re bringing in an influx of new names and faces, it’s always going to become difficult to achieve a solid identity or persona, in the same way that Gerrard characterised everything about the club or Suarez brought to life those around him in only the way he can.

This one is just a matter of time and hoping that certain individuals begin to impose themselves on both the team and the club in a manner necessary for the club to continue challenging at the business end of the season. Phillipe Coutinho showed glimpses of what he’s fully capable of last year and after providing the decisive moment in the win at Stoke, Liverpool fans will be desperate for him to push on and do for the club what Eden Hazard has done, for example, at Chelsea.

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3. The team feels it lacks an identity

Wasn’t this season supposed to be the season we see Liverpool fully adopt the certified Brendan Rodgers brand of passing football?

Admittedly Stoke isn’t the easiest place to come to play football – reference any sort of Stoke-based meme from the last five years – yet Liverpool looked a long way from displaying a coherent system.

Where does Emre Can fit into the system and are Phillipe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino too alike to fit into the same starting XI? Despite a promising win in the first game of the campaign, there are still a lot of questions that need answering at Anfield.

Sheffield Collegiate secured their first National title a day after winning the Yorkshire Premier League. The final of the National Club Championship was being played at the Walker Trust Ground, home of Southgate Cricket Club after originally being abandoned at Lord’s.The ground had been swamped by two and half inches of rain on Friday but on winning the toss, Sheffield Collegiate captain Ed McKenna had no hesitation in batting. Collegiate struggled against some accurate bowling by Roger Myall and Paul Hacker. Hacker bowled through for 0 for 11 from his allotted 9 overs and support bowlers Jon Lord, Richard Halsall and Richard Smith kept the pressure on, all bowling tightly.Nick Gaywood scored an uncharacteristic 30 in 84 balls before Tasker brought some impetus to the innings. Myall returned to help mop up the tail, bowling Tasker for 31 (from 38 balls) and then dismissing John Hespe as Collegiate’s last four wickets fell for just five runs and Myall finished with 3 for 25 from his 9 overs.Eastbourne’s innings started disastrously, losing Richard Halsall for 0 in the second over. The first four batsmen were dismissed for just 13 runs with two wickets a piece from Richard Kettleborough (former Middlesex and Yorkshire) and Andy Wylie.They never really recovered and spinners John Hespe (2 for 19) and Mark Boocock (1 for 25) maintained the stranglehold as wickets continued to fall regularly. Wylie returned to trap last man hacker lbw and Eastbourne were bowled out for just 75 in 34.3 overs.John Carr, ECB’s Director of Cricket Operations presented the trophy and a cheque for £3,000 to wining Captain Ed McKenna with Paul Stevens picking up a cheque for £1,000 as runners-up. Andy Wylie was named Man of the Match for his bowling performance of 3 for 9 in 8.3 overs.

Indian Airlines skipper Vijay Dahiya won the toss in their semifinalencounter against the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in the MRF BuchiBabu Invitation tournament on Monday. On a flat wicket at the IITChemplast Ground, Indian Airlines were saved the blushes by MuraliKartik and Dodda Ganesh and their 95-run ninth wicket stand that sawIndian Airlines reach 267 just two balls short of 88 overs.Earlier in the day, Karnataka’s J Arunkumar and youngster ManishSharma failed to get the Airlines team off to a good start. Playingslowly from the beginning, Airlines were one down with just 21 runs onthe board. Rakesh Patel was the wrecker-in-chief in the morningsession. He scalped Arunkumar and then removed Laxman off the verynext ball. VVS Laxman will be disappointed with his first ball duck.The stylish Hyderabadi batsman favours batting in the middle order.Having gotten the chance at number three, all he could do was snickthe ball through to the wicketkeeper. Rohit Jhalani was not one tomiss out on a key wicket like Laxman, and snared the chance.Shafiq Khan, who slammed a ton in the last game he played, alsosuccumbed quickly, without even opening his account. MrithyunjayTripathi, one of the heroes of India’s Under-19 World Cup triumph inSri Lanka, had Shafiq Khan caught by Dhruv. The last thing IndianAirlines needed was a run out – and this was exactly what they got.Manish Sharma (20) was caught short off his ground by a handy bit offielding from Yuvraj Singh.At 27/4, the Indian Airlines team was in deep, deep trouble. Afighting half century from Ravneet Ricky managed to give the inningssome semblance of dignity. When he was dismissed just three runs shortof his half century by left arm spinner Rakesh Dhruv, there was moretrouble for Indian Airlines. A few quick wickets later they were 157/8and looking down the barrel.The fall of the eighth wicket brought India caps Murali Kartik andDodda Ganesh together. Both have played for India but without gettinga long run so they had a lot to play for. No one had more to play foron the day than Murali Kartik. Not long ago, he was expelled from theNCA on disciplinary grounds. The director of the NCA, Hanumant Singhhas also made it amply clear since, that they would not reconsidertheir decision. Every sweep Kartik played, every straight drivesmarted of this expulsion.Sparing no bowler, the Railways southpaw put the attack to the sword.With the wicket doing nothing whatsoever for the bowlers, all MohammedKaif could do was rotate the bowling around and hope that a wicketwould fall. By the time it did, it was too late. Kartik had slammedhis way to an unbeaten 62 that included one majestic hit that clearedthe ropes. Ganesh was not one to be left behind. Although he wascareful with anything pitched in the right spot, he was severe onanything that was not. When all rounder Reetinder Singh Sodhi bangedthe ball short at Ganesh, the day’s story was told. The Karnatakaseamer leaned back and clouted the ball well over the ropes on the legside. The Indian Airlines batsmen let out a whoop of joy from theconfines of the pavilion. However, in all honesty, they should havestill been out in the middle grinding an inexperienced attack into adocile pitch.Tripathi was handed a brand new ball in the 82nd over of the day. Theyoung mediumpacer responded to his captain’s call in fine fashion,breaking up the ninth wicket partnership that had made life so hardfor the NCA. Ganesh was out playing one shot too many, but had alreadyscored an invaluable 42.The last man in, Vineet Jain was shielded well by Murali Kartik.However, no one can be shielded endlessly. After surviving 16 balls atthe crease, Jain found the 17th too hot to handle. Succumbing totemptation, he attempted a stroke across the line to a straight balland was trapped plumb in front. The final score of the Indian Airlinesteam was 267 and at 157/8 they might not have thought they would getquite so many.With an awkward five overs to face, Sridharan Sriram and Shiv SunderDas walked out to the middle. Neither appeared to be playing forstumps. Ganesh sent down a couple of nippy overs that were left wellalone at one end. From the other end however, three bowlers got anover apiece. Vineet Jain managed to send down an over for just tworuns. The other two – Indian bowlers at that – were not as lucky.Murali Kartik sent down an over of bad deliveries. He was lucky to behit away for just two boundaries. Nikhil Chopra, sending down the lastover of the day to Sriram could not entice the youngster from Chennaiinto making a mistake.At the end of a long day’s play, NCA were 17/0. Tomorrow holds thekey, and if the NCA batsmen are organised and sensible, they should beon the way to reserving a spot in the final.

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Scorecard and ball-by-ball details Dane Vilas and JP Duminy walk across a wet outfield in Mirpur•AFP

Rain has now become the dominant aspect of this Test – and the series – with a third successive day completely washed out in Dhaka. No play was possible even though the covers were removed and the ground was prepared for a 1pm inspection. An hour before the umpires were due to determine whether it was fit for any action, the heavens opened.The match is still in its first innings and only 88.1 overs have been bowled, all on the first day. Dale Steyn, who became the 13th bowler to 400 Test wickets on the opening day, is yet to complete his 17th over. Given the match situation and the time lost, a drawn game and a shared series seems the only likely scenario.Before the series started, Bangladesh opener Imrul Kayes said a draw would be a “big achievement” for the team, considering they are ranked ninth on the Test rankings, while South Africa are on top. Bangladesh may not have wanted to share the spoils in this way.South Africa would also be disappointed with the outcome. These two Tests were the first of 10 they will play in the next seven months and the only long-format fixtures ahead of their high-profile tour of India later this year.

ScorecardReece Topley’s four wickets kept Hampshire on the back foot•Getty Images

Essex batsmen Mark Pettini, Nick Browne and Tom Westley all scored fifties as the Eagles eased to a six-wicket win against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.The top three all collected half centuries as Essex chased down 209 simply and moved above Hampshire in Group B of the Royal London Cup. Reece Topley, 4 for 26, was the pick of the bowlers as Hampshire had two collapses.After losing the toss and bowling Hampshire out for 209, Essex openers Pettini and Browne sprayed the home side’s attack around the Ageas Bowl.Browne, on just his fifth List A appearance, had previously only scored nine format runs but freely spread the ball around – reaching fifty in 47 balls, including nine boundaries. He departed for 69, bowled by former team-mate Liam Dawson, after a 122-run opening stand.Pettini batted slower than his partner but reached his half century in 74 balls as Essex never got out of first gear in an easy chase. The batsman got Essex to within 43 within victory before he was stumped off Will SmithWestley got himself in quickly and smashed Mason Crane for back-to-back boundaries and completed a trio of top three fifties, from 50 balls.Westley charged Crane to be stumped by Wheater and Jesse Ryder was bowled but Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate saw the visitors home with 48 balls to spare.Earlier the home side had rushed to 31 in six overs before Michael Carberry was caught cutting to point in a staccato 6 from 19.The next delivery, opening partner Jimmy Adams was out in odd circumstances, as he clipped his own wicket with his trailing foot while attempting to steer down the leg side after a lively 23.Vince was bowled by Jamie Porter two overs later and three balls later Wheater, against his former county was castled in an instant replay of the skippers wicket.Hampshire had scored just five runs in 19 balls for the four early wickets to leave them up against it.Joe Gatting and Dawson attempted to add some much needed runs as the pair put on 32 runs, with the former top edging over the top four for but Topley had his revenge next ball when he fired straight to Bopara at mid-on.Where Gatting failed Smith succeeded, moving past 50 for the sixth wicket with Dawson from 71 balls. Dawson scored his 2000th List A run before he reached a ninth format fifty in 69 balls in a classy knock.Smith followed his partner to the landmark in six balls fewer as the Hampshire middle order rebuilt after a stodgy start The duo collected a 100-run partnership from 123 balls before Smith was caught behind attempting to cut to end the 124 run stand.That wicket started a 32-ball collapse where Hampshire fell from 192 for 5 to 209 all out. Chris Wood was run out by almost the length of the pitch in a horrible mix up with Dawson before Topley comprehensively bowled Crane.Dawson, was dismissed top edging a hook short to Browne at short fine leg – for a magnificent 85 – before Fidel Edwards was the final man to go when he mistimed a pull to Pettini to give Topley his fourth wicket.

Arthur Morris, the former opening batsman who was the leading run-scorer in the famous 1948 Ashes series in England, has died at the age of 93. Morris was Australia’s oldest living Test cricketer and one of only two surviving members of the 1948 Invincibles squad captained by Don Bradman; Neil Harvey, 86, is now the only living player from that touring party.One of Australia’s finest batsmen of all time, Morris was a left-hand opener who made his Test debut at the Gabba in 1946 in a home Ashes series, and went on to play 46 Tests for 3533 runs at an average of 46.48, including 12 centuries. He captained Australia twice and in 2000 was named in Australia’s Team of the Century, where he was listed to open the batting with Bill Ponsford.”We have sadly lost a cherished link with our past,” Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards said. “Arthur Morris was a great man and one of the true greats of Australian cricket who until now had been a treasured connection to an extraordinary era of the game. When Australia’s best openers are discussed his name will always be one of the first mentioned.”Morris scored centuries in three consecutive Test innings during his debut series, against England in 1946-47, and he was especially prolific on the tour to England in 1948. In later years Morris liked to tell the story of how he was often asked where he was when Bradman made his famous final-innings duck at The Oval. His response: “I was at the other end”. Morris made 196 in that innings.However, it was his performance in the previous Test at Headingley that truly impressed Bradman. Set a target of 404 for victory on a dry, dusty pitch, the Australians reached what was then a Test record for the highest successful fourth-innings chase with only three wickets down, and most impressively they managed the entire score on the fifth day. Morris made 182 in just under five hours.”He showed that day every quality demanded of the real champion,” Bradman wrote in two years later. “A rock-like defence, powerful but studied aggression and a perfect temperament. Considering the situation and the state of the wicket, I doubt if a more valuable innings was ever played.”Morris was described by Bradman as having the ideal temperament, quiet and unobtrusive in manner and displaying no nerves, and possessing outstanding courage. Bradman wrote that technically, Morris was “a player of individuality – of distinctive style”, and “a genius [who] does things others could not, and should not, try to emulate”.”The way he holds his bat is unusual,” Bradman wrote. “He plays with stiff forearms when driving on the off, but despite the lack of wristiness, gets the power just the same. Often he will play with the bat well away from the pads when trying to cover drive. Technically, it is wrong, but he seldom makes an error.”One of the most impressive aspects of Morris’ record was the way he quickly adapted to foreign conditions. He averaged 41.18 in Test matches at home and 53.78 away. Remarkably, he played first-class cricket in four countries and managed a century in his first match in each nation: at home in Sydney in 1940-41; against Worcestershire in 1948; against Natal in 1949; and against Jamaica in 1955.His highest Test score came against England at Adelaide Oval in the 1951 Ashes, where he made 206 in 462 minutes as part of Australia’s first-innings total of 371. The next best score was Keith Miller’s 44. Australia went on to win the match to secure a 4-0 lead in the series.Morris will also be remembered as the 24th man to captain Australia in Tests, after stepping into the role for the third Test against West Indies in Adelaide in 1951 when captain Lindsay Hassett was a last-minute withdrawal due to injury. Morris led Australia a second time against England at the SCG in 1954, when captain Ian Johnson and vice-captain Miller missed with injuries.Arthur Morris was described by Don Bradman as “a player of individuality – of distinctive style”•Getty Images

Born in the Sydney beach suburb of Bondi in 1922, Morris was the son of a schoolmaster and made his debut in Sydney’s first-grade cricket at the age of 14 as a left-arm wrist-spinner. He gradually moved up the order and became an opener, and became the first player in history to score hundreds in both innings on first-class debut – when at age 18, he made 148 and 111 for New South Wales against Queensland.However, World War II interrupted his career – he served in New Guinea during the war – and he had to wait until he was 24 to make his Test debut. He married showgirl Valerie Hudson, whom he had met during the 1953 tour of England, but after Morris returned from the West Indies tour in 1955, he discovered Valerie had been diagnosed with breast cancer.She had delayed telling him for fear that it would affect his performance on the field. Morris retired from cricket as Valerie’s health deteriorated, and she died at the age of 33, only 18 months into their marriage. He married his second wife, Judith Menmuir, in 1968.An impeccably polite man with a good sense of humour, Morris was interviewed by the in 2008, the day before a Twenty20 match between Australia and a Cricket Australia All-Star XI. Asked if he was going to watch the match the following day, Morris replied: “I might. But not if I am going to miss .”Only last week, the new Arthur Morris Gates were unveiled at the SCG, and although Morris was too ill to attend the event himself, he was represented by his wife Judith. She said that when she had asked Morris why he had gates named after him, he replied “because I was an opener”.With Morris’ passing, wicketkeeper Len Maddocks, 89, is now Australia’s oldest living Test cricketer.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:00

Warrican fires as Sri Lanka slide

Buoyed by a quicker pitch with some live grass on it, West Indies’ three-pronged pace attack made light work of Sri Lanka’s top order before debutant left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican claimed four wickets to wrap up the Sri Lankan innings at 200, two hours into the final session on the first day at the P Sara Oval.In response, the visitors lost Shai Hope lbw to Dhammika Prasad in the first over but Kraigg Brathwaite and nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo hung around before deteriorating light forced stumps.Jerome Taylor had woken up a groin niggle but passed a fitness test and consistently hit speeds above 140kph. He struck with his fourth ball – a beauty that angled in and curved away, leaving Kaushal Silva prodding and edging to the wicketkeeper. West Indies reviewed and the third umpire Marias Erasmus decided there was enough evidence to overturn umpire Rod Tucker’s on-field decision of not out. Silva was out for a duck and his lean patch was extended – he had failed to build on a start in the first Test against West Indies after managing only 87 in six innings against India.That wicket proved a scene-setter and each of the West Indies’ fast bowlers got extra bounce and zip before Warrican took over. Milinda Siriwardana, playing his second Test, scored his maiden fifty in the format, and Rangana Herath, promoted to vice-captaincy after Lahiru Thirimanne was left out, indulged in hacks and hooks to avoid a total wipe out.The morning session was packed with action, containing as many as five reviews. West Indies’ second review, coming after the Silva wicket, was also successful, and accounted for 20-year old Kusal Mendis for an edgy 13 on Test debut. Mendis had wafted at a Kemar Roach ball that straightened a touch and nicked behind.Jason Holder’s first dismissal – West Indies’ second of the morning – had also involved a review. He had Dimuth Karunaratne lbw for 13 in his second over; Sri Lanka’s review going in vain this time. The quicks rattled the batsmen and beat the outside edge regularly and reduced Sri Lanka to 59 for 4, six minutes before lunch. The session ended with West Indies bowling coach Curtly Ambrose welcoming his bowlers with warm applause.Siriwardana helped Sri Lanka recover briefly, adding 31 and 37 with Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Perera respectively. With Siriwardana joining hands with another left-handed batsman in Kusal, West Indies’ premier spinner Bishoo was held back. He had come into the attack only after 36 overs in the Galle Test. Today, he came in after 46 overs.Siriwardana was assured in defence and cashed in when fed with width. He carved Holder over covers, eased Taylor past the same region, and slashed Warrican behind point. He pushed on to bring up his fifty off 76 balls by dancing out and launching a straight six. He had a life when he was shelled at square leg on 63 but added only five more to his tally before he miscued Warrican into Taylor’s lap at long-off.Warrican began with a half-tracker, which was dispatched by Angelo Mathews to the point boundary with a strong cut. He settled down quickly, and twirled away in an uninterrupted 14-over spell after lunch. His reward came off a bad ball: Kusal Perera stepped out and spooned a return catch off a full toss, becoming Warrican’s maiden Test victim. Having received his Test cap from Garry Sobers, it turned out to a happy day for Warrican.West Indies, who had spilled five catches to add to a sixth chance that was not attempted in the first Test, lifted themselves significantly on the field, with the only blip being the Siriwardana drop. Marlon Samuels made a diving save at backward point while Holder threw himself around mid-off. Brathwaite, though, produced the best piece of fielding when he bent forward from second slip to grab a sharp, low catch to snaffle Mathews for 14. The catch was deemed legal after being sent to the third umpire.

Australia captain Steven Smith will stay at No. 3 in the batting order in the absence of the injured Usman Khawaja, opening up a spot in the middle order for the day-night match in Adelaide.The squad for Adelaide will be named on Wednesday, and Smith’s pronouncement makes it likely that the selectors will opt for a middle-order option. While Shaun Marsh is favourite for the role, George Bailey is among the leading run-makers in the Sheffield Shield this summer and would add useful knowhow to a young team, while Glenn Maxwell is highly regarded if enigmatic, and made 98 and 38 in the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Western Australia at the MCG.”It depends who comes in but I think I’ll probably bump myself up to No. 3 with Usman being out,” Smith said. “I’ll keep that spot warm for him until he comes back.”Australia have other selection queries following the retirement of Mitchell Johnson, the indifferent form of Mitchell Marsh, and the heavy workloads endured by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in Perth. James Pattinson, James Faulkner and Moises Henriques have all been mentioned as possible inclusions.Smith stated his dissatisfaction with the Kookaburra balls used in this match, with an extraordinary 11 replacement balls required across the Test outside the usual allocation. However he expressed optimism that the pink ball would hold up well in Adelaide under conditions carefully concocted to support it.”It’s just up to the powers above me to sort that out with Kookaburra,” Smith said of the red ball. “It was a little bit disappointing the way we had to change so many balls throughout this Test match. I think it wastes a lot of time and it’s always different as a batter or a bowler to change the ball continually, to get in a rhythm. So hopefully they can resolve those issues.”We played the Shield game with the pink ball in Adelaide a couple of weeks ago and the ball stayed together pretty well. I think there was eight millimetres of grass on that wicket and it’s likely to be a pretty similar wicket for the Test match next week. Hopefully saying that the ball stays in shape the same way it did a couple of weeks ago.”As for the WACA pitch, which hosted the fourth highest scoring Test ever played in Australia, Smith said he was disappointed by its lack of life, but equally had no intention of handing too straightforward a chase to New Zealand on the final afternoon. The final target of 321 in 48 overs was never realistic, even before rain arrived.”It would have been nice to get about 360 off about 65-70 overs,” he said. “It was obviously pretty hard, I thought they bowled really well. As we saw there at the back end, the wicket was still extremely good so I didn’t want to give them much of a sniff. The two guys out there at the end, we’ve struggled to get them out this Test match. Well, Kane in both Test matches.”Traditionally the wicket out here has had a lot more pace and bounce. Going into the game that’s what the groundsman indicated it was likely to be like. It didn’t turn out that way unfortunately. I was a bit disappointed with the way the wicket played. It was really tough to take wickets. So I don’t think there was much more we could do.”

Ian Harvey – Hustled Leics to defeat Photo © AllSport

Gloucestershire, holders of the NatWest Trophy, showed the quality of realchampions as they beat Leicestershire by 10 runs at Grace Road – coming the day after they had beaten Worcestershire in their replayed match from the preceding round. In a dramatic turn-about they took their host’s last five wickets for just nine runs in three overs to grasp victory from apparent defeat.Leicestershire seemed to be sailing to victory with just 20 runs needed from the last five overs with five wickets in hand. Ian Harvey (4-40) had other ideas and wrecked their prospects by taking three of the last five wickets.In the morning Gloucestershire rode their luck with Kim Barnett (86)surviving two dropped catches before he had reached ten. Yet he and Chris Taylor (41) took the visitors to a healthy 210-8 and justified their decision to bat. The position looked even more healthy when Leicestershire lost two batsmen early on.Darren Stevens (55) and Darren Maddy (72 from 83 balls with five fours andtwo sixes) recovered the position, and powered Leicestershire to the brink ofvictory. Barnett’s catch to dismiss the latter off Harvey triggered the collapse. Nobody could stay around long enough to stop the rot and Leicestershire tumbled out for 200 runs in 48.1 overs.

Worcestershire Royals threw away a great chance to consolidate their lead of the First Division of the National league when they saw Gloucestershire snatch a dramatic three wicket win at Cheltenham.The Australian Glenn McGrath had sent the home side reeling with a dynamic burst which rbought him threee wickets in seven balls for no runs.They were then on 76 for 7 in reply to Worcester’s 149 for 9 and McGrath had two overs left.But then in an astonishing decision acting-captain Stephen Rhodes withdrew him from the attack and with the pressure off Chris Taylor, a youngster in his first season at county level, and veteran spinner Martyn Ball who can no longer command a regular place, as the West County side fashioned a remarkable escape.They began to punch holes in the field and were to score 73 in 13 overs with each matching the other.A capacity crowd at the Cheltenham College who had given up the mathc as lost began to get behind them cheering eveyr run and when McGrath was finally recalled to complete his nine overs the game had taken a completely different appearance.Fifteen were needed off four overs and by then the eight wicket pair were fearing no one. McGrath at the start of the innings had sent down thunderbolts in an opening spell which saw just three runs taken off him, now Taylor planted one foot firmly down the wicket and drove four runs straight past him.It was more than bravado for it was his fourth boundary and he finished on 37 off 54 balls. Ball had two boundaries in his 30 off 37 balls, the second of them winning the match as he smacked spinner Richard Illingowrth to the cover boundary.The crowd swarmed onto the field to salute a famous, if unlikely victory, while Rhodes was left to reflect on a bad error of judgement for easing the pressure at the wrong time.His decision to bat first had also come under close examination for it was never easy to get the ball off the square against the persistent accuracy of Mike Smith who bowled through his nine overs of left-arm pace for nine runs and the wicket of Paul Pollard, bowled off his pads for eight.Vikram Solanki, whose enterprising 45 off 69 balls ended in a catch at long off, Ryan Driver with a big 29 and Rhodes, caught at cover off a full toss for 27 lifted Worcester’s score but it was a modest score on a good wicket of even bounce.Dominic Hewson (34) and Jack Russell gave Gloucestershire’s reply a steady start with 40 in 17 overs before Russell who had made just seven of them spooned a return catch to Richard Illingworth.The innings was in trouble on 56 when Hewson was run out by David Leatherdale’s sharp throw from cover point before Illingworth, three balls later, bowled Harvey around his legs for 11.A painstaking 11 overs for 20 by Matt Windows and Mark Alleyne promised to rebuild the innings but on 76 it all swung Worcester’s way. An uncertain Alleyne, going onto the back foot was bowled by Illingworth and this was followed by McGrath’s assult which saw Windows and Jeremy Snape depart leg before and Reggie Williams caught behind.Worcester were on course for their seventh league win in eight maches but then came that fatal blunder to remove McGrath and it became sackcloth and ashes.