No equality at Lord’s

ONLY at Lord’s could MCC members sitting in the pavilion take priority over the players in the middle. The blazers had reluctantly moved when Middlesex batsman Sam Robson complained they were behind the bowler’s arm. But when Robson asked for them to shift once more when another bowler came around the wicket, they refused. And after MCC chief executive Derek Brewer became involved, the members returned to their original seating positions. It didn’t affect Robson as he scored a double hundred.

ANTHONY FRY, ex-chairman of the Premier League who suffered a massive stroke in March 2014 that had appeared terminal, was back watching the Manchester United–Everton semi-final at Wembley as a guest of the FA after making a remarkable recovery. BY downsizing their sponsorship of the Premier League from title backer to one of seven proposed second-tier supporters, Barclays will lose their rights next season to the manager of the month/year awards, although they will keep the player equivalent. The PL will either administer the managers’ accolades themselves or include it in another sponsorship agreement. Either way, there’s a strong belief that both manager and players’ awards should be given a revamp since the Barclays Player of the Season award has become an afterthought behind the Football Writers’ and PFA ballots.

LANCASHIRE, with the biggest fanbase in English county cricket, are exploiting a new reciprocal agreement with Notts and other counties. The deal allows Lancashire fans to take up membership at Trent Bridge, which is much cheaper, and allows them free entry to Old Trafford County Championship fixtures.