Pratt fall à la mode

One of the game's great arts took another blow when Durham showed Andrew Pratt, the best out-and-out wicketkeeper in the Championship, the door. At one time every county had a class keeper but many coaches now think anyone can do the job as long as he makes a few runs. Genuine technique does not seem to matter, a philosophy that England as well as Durham may come to regret.

Pratt, aged 30, is also put out about a false story claiming he has given up cricket to be a plumber. "Nothing is further from the truth," he says. "I've done an NVQ course so that I had something to fall back on when I finished playing. I didn't leave the county willingly; they said they couldn't afford to pay me to play second-team cricket.

"But I couldn't even get into that side and have hardly played this summer. I would dearly love to play on but no county has been in touch, maybe because they think I want to be a plumber. I'm proud of my work behind the stumps, still think I have a lot to offer and my batting figures are not the worst." Phil Mustard, the current incumbent as Durham push for promotion, averages 27.74 in first-class games, 14.91 in one-dayers. Pratt's figures are 21.69 and 20.58. And, when it comes to the primary occupation, there is no comparison.

Moment of the month Paul Collingwood scoring hundreds in each innings to set up victory at Taunton.