The behaviour of crowds at cricket matches has been in the news this week.
The likes of throwing fireworks and fire-crackers is uncalled for and just spoils it for everyone.
I sat down to watch Tuesday's game between Australia and Pakistan at Trent Bridge and the atmosphere the fans got going was brilliant. They were enjoying themselves, which is the point of going to watch cricket, but when you get certain individuals who start throwing fireworks it ruins it.
It's certainly not clever to let a firework or fire-cracker off in the crowd. Someone could easily get hurt or, in the worse case scenario, be killed because of someone's stupidity.
It's just a certain element causing trouble and spoiling it for everyone. One fire-cracker nearly hit the Australian player Brett Lee, who was fielding at the time, and I think (Australian captain) Steve Waugh was perfectly right to take his team off. People were lucky they actually went back on at all.
Charging on to the pitch is unnecessary as well. In the kerfuffle people can easily get knocked about. As for the players, if you've lost a game you don't need people running on barging into you.
We know fans like to come on to the pitch after games and gather round the pavilion for the presentations but charging on or racing up to players is not on. We want to get off the pitch safely.
There are even occasions when fans try to take things off you, things which could have a sentimental value to you. I've had somebody try to pinch my hat when I was going off after a Roses match. We had just lost the match and I didn't need that.
The players do fear for their safety and, of course, there was the steward at Headingley on Sunday who got hurt when the crowd ran on the pitch. That kind of thing should not happen.
As for myself, I should be fit to face Northamptonshire in the Norwich Union League game on Sunday and then Gloucestershire in the Benson and Hedges Cup semi-final on Monday.
I started bowling in the nets yesterday, as did Ryan Sidebottom, and hopefully we'll have a full squad out, subject to us coming through these fitness tests.
They won't be considering the line-up until today or tomorrow but hopefully I'll be able to make a contribution.
The chances are a similar side, if not the same side, will play on Monday as on Sunday. Many players won't have had any cricket for about a week and Sunday will provide an ideal opportunity to have a run-out.
A lot of second-teamers have been playing in the three-day game against Bradford/Leeds University (which finishes today). Unless the first team need practice or someone needs a run-out, these kind of games are generally used to show youngsters how things are done at first-team level.
I could have played to get myself fitter but I would have been bowling a lot of overs and that might have done more harm than good.
It was recommended that I have two weeks' rest after I originally hurt my groin but this game started before the two weeks were up. These extra days' recovery would not have done me any harm and I don't want to push myself back too quickly.
I've come back too soon before and suffered a recurrence, forcing me to be out for another week or so. This week I've been in the gym and have done fitness tests, and the build-up I've had has probably been more beneficial. I hope I can now contribute to a successful couple of days.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article