``An absolute shambles'', was former captain Allan Lamb's verdict on the county before the Derbyshire game and, not surprisingly, coach John Emburey did not take kindly to the jibe.

Emburey, the target for some criticism from disgruntled members at a county forum last Monday, admits the side have not played well. ``But if we start turning it around, how can you call it a shambles? I still believe we have a good enough team to win another four championship games this summer.''

Plausible realism or groundless optimism? Probably the former, particularly with Nottinghamshire and Sussex to come. Significantly, Franklyn Rose, whom Emburey says was bowling too short for the first seven games of the season, has now found the right length for English pitches and has taken 15 wickets in his last four innings. Paul Taylor is back to his best, and Devon Malcolm's wicket-taking potential remains undimmed, even if at high cost.

But the Wantage Road pitches remain a concern. Two-thirds of the square has been re-laid over the past few years and getting results is proving difficult. ``They never offer any seam movement and for some reason they've been slow this season. Until the Derbyshire game, they haven't turned either,'' complains Emburey. Chief executive Steve Coverdale thinks that re-laying again, although expensive at œ5,000 per wicket, may have to be considered.

A more likely option is employing Lamb as a motivator rather than a batting coach but Emburey rejects Lamb's assertion that the playing staff should be trimmed from 27 to 16.

And having been unable to enlist the services of Graham Gooch on account of his Durham commitments, he is looking to hire Desmond Haynes in a part-time capacity.