| “Climate wise, the seasons have moved and the extremes are getting more extreme. Winters used to be cold and summers warm. Now if it is going to rain it generally hammers it down and it is only going to get worse, we are constantly battling. “Most years something strange is happening somewhere in the country, we had that really hot spell last year, now there is no real pattern to it. In Birmingham we’ve barely had a summer this year and it’s been windy virtually every day. Years ago, you knew you would have the jet stream in the right place.” The season flows in peaks and troughs. Right now he is in the middle of a peak which started with the Test against West Indies and runs through eight Hundred games and four Metro Bank 50-over fixtures – mostly played at an outground but kept an eye on by Barwell. The working day also varies. Barwell lives outside Birmingham, so is up at 5.30am to get to the ground on time. Some days he has left Edgbaston at four, on others he might not lock up until midnight. He has become something of a weather geek, with various apps on his phone including Thunderstore which measures the likelihood of storms – though one of the reasons he’s so in love with his job is that it takes him away from mobiles and social media. “It’s a great career, I’d recommend it to everyone. These days, when people are worrying about their mental health, and people are on their phones all the time and don’t talk to one another, I’m outside every day, with a team of seven from 22 to 64 years old. Is it hard and frustrating? Yes. Is there added pressure? Yes. But I’m not a nurse trying to save a child. I’m very lucky, I’ve seen some of the best players in the world.” He loves the people side of it, the teamwork, keeping an eye on the welfare of the rest of the ground staff. “I wouldn’t say I’m in peak physical fitness but I’m relatively fit. Personally, it is more mentally draining, continually seeing how people are, it’s a demanding job. I’m a people person, it’s a great team. “This morning I wanted to take the nets off early, so I got here at 6.30am. The staff are supposed to work 8-5 but by the time I got here, three members of the team were already in – and two more came in 20 minutes later. That’s the level of dedication.” And his secret? “Sitting and chatting rubbish over a beer and a biscuit after work.” Hundred search for ‘tribalism’ ignores history As the Hundred served up the two closest results in its short history – thrilling victories by one run in both the double-headers at Old Trafford between Manchester Originals and Trent Rockets – the competition continued to irritate as much as it pleases. There are rumours of trouble at mill over the forthcoming sale – with potential investors said to be balking at not being able to have full control over their prize, as well as at the price. Fans also raised questioning eyebrows in the direction of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s director of business operations, Vikram Banerjee. “We want to move into more of a tribalism,” he told reporters. “Football is the example. Everyone talks about their favourite team. I’m an Aston Villa fan for my sins and have travelled up to Middlesbrough, down to Bournemouth and wherever else to watch them. That is where we want to get the Hundred to, with fans of London Spirit travelling across the country rather than seeing it as just a day out.” | 
Joe Root speaks to Gary Barwell before England’s Test against New Zealand at Edgbaston in 2021. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images 
