The timing of the press release of a five-man consortium campaigning for radical changes to county cricket was inopportune.

It came on the back of England's insipid defeat in the fourth test at Headingley and captain Michael Vaughan's subsequent comments about the softness of county cricket. But as it was made public, so England were fashioning a remarkable comeback at the Oval, ending in a historic victory which levelled the series against supposedly the second best team in the world.

There was no disparaging of county cricket on Monday as England's cricketers, slightly inebriated no doubt, celebrated by playing football on a deserted outfield. The consortium is an unlikely mix of Michael Atherton, Michael Parkinson, Bob Willis, his brother David, and Nigel Wray, all of whom have varying experience of county cricket. I happen to agree with them that some change is necessary but I am not sure this is the right group of people to be doing this.

Atherton's views on the subject are well documented, as are Bob Willis'. I know little about his brother except that I remember him being involved with the England rugby team's ill-advised refusal to speak to the press after their first victory in Cardiff since 1963.

Parkinson has become increasingly outspoken in his criticism of county cricket in his weekly column in a national newspaper, but quite how much county cricket he sees is open to question.

He is an avid cricket man though, who once had the pleasure of watching his son dismiss S. P. James first ball (hooking!) when appearing for Millfield School 1st XI against Monmouth.

Wray is better known for his involvement with Saracens rugby team but is also a cricket lover with a special relationship with Australian batsman Justin Langer who played for Wray's club side in London.

Wray flew at short notice to the West Indies to be there for Langer's test debut. I agree with them that power should be wrested away from the first class forum (in other words, the counties) because without that worthwhile change is unlikely.

It is for that reason that we have the absurd system of three up/ three down. In what other sport do you see a third of the teams in any league being relegated or promoted? It is because some counties are scared of being confined to the second division for a long period, which more than likely would lead to eventual extinction.

I also happen to believe that we have too many counties, playing too much cricket - not an exorbitant amount, but enough to preclude sufficiently high quality of practice and rest in between matches, leading to the 'treadmill' effect, where players trudge from match to match cruising at about 85 % of their maximum.

We have too many professional cricketers earning a living, and I actually think the counties are unwittingly admitting that fact by employing so many EU players. By doing this, they are saying that there are not enough home grown cricketers around to employ. They are effectively signing their own death warrant.

Glamorgan are to be applauded for going about this in the correct manner, by producing their own cricketers, and I am sure that will stand them in good stead if cuts are made at some stage in the future. There will always be a Welsh team, so Glamorgan fans can rest easy whatever my plans for reduction.

And Glamorgan now face two crucial weeks to determine whether they (and me, hopefully!) will be playing first division cricket in the Championship next year. It promises to be a tense affair, with this week's match against Northamptonshire a tough one against a side in fine form.

They have been inspired by another run-drunk season from their skipper Mike Hussey, who has announced that he will not be returning next year in order to concentrate on realising his ambition to play Test cricket for Australia. There will be a few county bowlers breathing a sigh of relief at that news! And let's just hope that he had his fill already this season and, by the time that you read this, he is not tormenting the Glamorgan bowlers like he did two years ago at Cardiff with a century in each innings.

As it was then on a flat wicket, when, despite enforcing the follow on, we were unable to force a victory, it will be hard work. And we could do without the weather intervening. It has been a magnificent summer so far, so please, weather gods, do not toy with us now. Whatever, there is still every possibility that the fight for promotion will come down to the final game against Durham up in the north east next week.