Gone, it appears, is any over-riding commitment to Wednesday starts. Next season the 14 sets of matches are due to get under way on a Wednesday five times, Thursday four times, Friday four times and Saturday once.

The equivalent days for 1999 would be: Wednesday six, Thursday two, Friday five and Saturday one.

The document Raising The Standard describes the first-class fixture list as a ``complex jigsaw puzzle'', adding: ``There are a large number of constraints, parameters and priorities which need to be taken into consideration.''

One minor innovation which meets with this column's approval is the idea of giving the 14 non-championship sides who reach the third round of the revamped NatWest Trophy guaranteed home games against the counties.

How about incorporating this levelling device in time for next year's competition rather than waiting for 1999?

IT WAS not quite in the Sri Lanka class for occupation of the crease, but Sutton are wondering if they have created a record of their own for a total in a one-day match.

The Surrey side pulverised Lombard for an astonishing 523 for no wicket in the Rorke's Lager Cricket Eights competition last week, with Australian opener Andrew Bailey, who has played for Queensland 2nd XI, making an unbeaten 308 and 15-year-old Sam Seadon 109 not out.

Bailey's opening partner had retired after making a mundane 38 and Lombard's bowlers also offered an indulgent helping of extras to send the Sutton total soaring over 500.

Cricket Eights, mentioned in the ECB blueprint as a charismatic bridge between Kwik Cricket and the hard-ball game, is true to its name. Teams are eight-a-side, matches feature 30 eight-ball overs and sixes count as eights to promote spectacular hitting. Bailey included 12 eights in his triple-hundred.

THERE was much gnashing of teeth when Sussex lost the use of the Central Ground in Hastings. Developers snapped up the prime site in 1989.

A shopping centre stands where the ground was, but a new home for the town club has been built with the help of £3.3 million in Lottery money. Sussex 2nd XI have already played there and it is possible that championship cricket could return to Hastings.

HAT-TRICKS are common enough, but it is unlikely that many bowlers have matched Richard Young's feat of taking wickets with the first three balls of a match.

Twenty-four-year-old Young, a left-arm seamer, did his stuff playing for Winchcombe against Stratford Bards in the Cotswold Hills League.