WHAT splendid cricket news! Michael Klinger is to extend his stay until 2019 and Jack Taylor can bowl with immediate effect.

These are both true match winners in every format of the game and with the T20 quarter final being played on Wednesday, August 16, splendid for team morale, we must remember however that two key members are side-lined with broken fingers.

Michael Klinger is going to be concentrating on the two limited overs formats next season. This gives him more scope to be with his young family in Perth.

A third child is expected in October and his move to Western Australia has gone especially well and these arrangements will help him to continue to make a real contribution to Gloucestershire cricket on and off the field.

The county have started the search for an overseas player who can play a major four day role.

Wednesday’s quarter final at Bristol will present a tough challenge. Durham have some fine cricketers. Onions, Hastings, Wood and especially Scott Borthwick are excellent bowlers.

I anticipate the Bristol wicket helping Borthwick who must be on the fringes of the England team. We will know the result when we pick up today’s paper. I hope to celebrate over breakfast.

The T20 game on Wednesday, plus Forest Green Rovers having three games in eight days means my ageing body needed special treatment.

The Cheltenham festival, successful on and off the field, had already made considerable demands on my failing physique so special measures have been resorted too.

Mrs Light and I have been on a brief restorative visit to Normandy. Happily a strict diet of seafood and Sancerre have done the trick and we are both fit for the exciting times ahead.

There is some sad news to report on the local cricket scene. Avening & Cherington are struggling to find enough players.

The Cherington team were an important part of my cricketing youth. Players like all-rounder Frank Ind and wicket keeper ‘Buster’ Keylock were players of the highest class and could have played at a much higher level.

Bowler Sam Milson was a father figure of a team who were all personal friends. I hope Frank does not remember his Oaksey bowl hat-trick. I was one of the victims.

The Avening & Cherington problem is one that is affecting too many clubs. Young family men are not prepared to give up a Saturday afternoon for a match that can start at 2pm and finish at 7.30pm.

As in every other country the 20 over game has more appeal. Drastic action may be needed to stop teams giving up the battle of finding eleven Saturday players. The CDCA are tackling this problem as a matter of urgency. One of the solutions could be to cut league matches to 35 overs a side.

There is a problem with Forest Green Rovers. They suffered a defeat at Boreham Wood but more significantly failed to adapt to manager Mark Cooper’s 3-5-2 formation.

Mrs Light and I will be in the stand for this week’s two home fixtures. Penny thinks, as a Chelsea fan, that the team needs someone like Peter Osgood. Now she has retired I expect her thinking to move forward. How about a Frank Lampard?

Last week’s column mentioned a fine footballer who attended Deer Park in the late 60s and early 70s, Mark Baker.

A question was raised by an earnest and loyal Weymouth fan, was this was the same Mark Baker who played for Weymouth in a famous win over Cardiff City. Brian Hudson sent me a glowing newspaper report of the game and would love to know.

This is the time of year when football dominates and there is also the Olympics so the important matches being played in cricket’s county championship may be missed.

Gloucestershire have six games to play and could gain promotion. One of their rivals, Kent, have produced a master card. They have signed Will Gidman on loan from Notts.

Will had a record as an all-rounder surpassed for Gloucestershire by only two other players, WG Grace and Mike Proctor. Good luck at Kent, Will.

So many of us would like to see you back in the Gloucestershire fold. “You English are a sturdy, robust nation. You have had the common sense to end posh boy politics.”

This remark was made to me by an erudite Frenchman during my training break in normandy. This being a sporting column, I offer it without comment.