THIS year's Brewin Dolphin-sponsored cricket festival at Cheltenham could be the best ever with 12 consecutive days of first class cricket.

Our county plays 10 of them – two four-day championship games, one T20 blast and a 50-over game.

The England Lions play a match as do Sri Lanka A and Pakistan A. The ECB have realised the importance of Cheltenham in the cricket calendar and have co-operated with our county in providing a fine fixture list. The players are relishing the prospect.

“I have been doing some research,” said Aussie Andrew Tye. “All I hear is good.”

Captain Gareth Roderick remembers the two championship wins last season. “Do that again and we will be in a very healthy position," he said.

You are already, Gareth, just look at the current positions. No-one has won more games.

The festival launch was a buoyant occasion, although some questions were asked about Chris Dent’s fashion sense. To accompany his navy shirt and trousers he wore a pair of highly polished brown boots. Andrew Tye (AJ to everyone) was cheerfully critical. I leave readers to make their own judgments.

The huge crowd for the T20 against Somerset had thrilled the players. Captain Klinger described the whole experience as “cool.”

The 11,000 crowd was described as the highest at Bristol for a domestic game. I do not agree. In those far-off days of summer, sun and sandwiches, crowds were allowed to sit on the grass and I suspect the Bank Holiday crowds for the Somerset fixture were higher.

The highest authority, Roger Gibbons of Stroud, known to all as the Acre Street archivist, tells me that 18,000 came in 1948 to watch Don Bradman’s Invincibles. The gates were closed at 2pm. Perhaps at Cheltenham we will see the gates closed for the T20 against Essex.

We are promised an exciting food village and some extra stalls at the festival. This year the annual festival service is in the College Chapel at 10am on Sunday, July 24.

You can bag your seat for the game (50-over v Sussex) and then pop in to the chapel for a 40-minute service. The preacher this year is Canon Richard Atkins of Radio Gloucestershire, a fellow Forest Green fan.

More signings of youthful players have whetted my appetite for the forthcoming FGR season.

Defender Dale Bennett, who uses the same Cirencester Kingsmeadow petrol station as I do, is really looking forward to reporting for training this week. Yes, the break does get shorter and shorter.

I expect him to be used as a right wing back by manager Mark Cooper and this is a role for which he is splendidly suited. Charlie Clough, Aaron Racine and new signing Ethan Pinnock look like being the three central figures. Cooper’s stated policy of developing his own players rather than using loan signings seems eminently sensible.

With famous Scottish football team Partick Thistle visiting the Corinium Stadium on Wednesday, my reluctance to watch any pre-season football friendlies may be put aside. Thistle are a proud club with a fine history. It is an honour for Cirencester to receive a visit. How can I miss it? At least it should not fall victim to the weather.

Far too much cricket did at the weekend but not Cirencester’s game with Apperley. It was the north of the county that saw the drier weather and Apperley took full advantage beating Cirencester with some ease. Happily, our town club remain firmly at the head of the table.

Mrs Light and I very nearly planned a south coast weekend for last Saturday and Sunday. Gloucestershire were due to play T20 matches against Hampshire on Saturday and Sussex on Sunday.

Fortunately we did not travel as the Hampshire match was rained off.

The Arundel game was played, however, and the high flying Sussex side was beaten. Hamish led the batting line up with a vigorous 90 but the real match winner was Matt Taylor who not only bowled economically but took three wickets. For those who do not know, Matt is a medium-fast left arm bowler and a very promising one.

Sussex have a left arm fast bowler called Tymal Mills who is in the England squad to play Sri Lanka. I have tried hard to find a reason for his inclusion but failed unless he is there to lead the dressing room singing on a wet day. Look at his figures against us on Sunday.

I end by offering congratulations to the England rugby team, especially coach Jones and captain Hartley. Both have truly proved themselves.