The England and Wales Cricket Board have maintained consistently that a winning Test side would do wonders for the game, and the surge in demand by the Leeds public to watch the decider seems to provide ample evidence.

David Ryder, a Yorkshire official, said that demand had been ``very slack'' before the success in the fourth Test, whereas this week his office had been ``inundated'' with inquiries. He said: ``In the whole of last week we sold about œ23,000 worth of tickets, and this Monday alone we sold œ60,000 worth. We've sold more in three days than in a month.''

Yesterday afternoon there were still seats available for all days, though there were only a few remaining for the traditionally popular Friday and Saturday. If the Headingley pitch even approaches the quality of the strip prepared by Steve Birks at Trent Bridge, with its bounce and pace, the climax to the series should justify the anticipation.

County cricket has also stepped up a gear as the championship leaders jostle for position before the final run-in, and yesterday's draw for the NatWest Trophy semi-finals has kept Leicestershire and Lancashire apart.

Hampshire were rewarded for wins over Essex and Middlesex in previous rounds with a tie against Lancashire at Southampton on Aug 11. Leicestershire host their second big semi-final of the summer the following day, against Derbyshire.

Whatever the state of England cricket it is quite possible the final on Sept 5 will not be a sell-out, as was the case with the Benson and Hedges Cup final, because the match is now bound to involve at least one county with a small membership. The ticket pricing at Lord's has been pitched precariously high.

Lancashire and Leicestershire, two fine one-day sides, would be the most likely to reach the final and, as they have both caught the scent of the championship title, there is added spice to their meeting at Old Trafford, starting today.

Leicestershire, in third place, should feel the loss of their captain Chris Lewis, who is resting a sore back, more than Lancashire, fourth, will miss Mike Atherton while he takes a breather.

The feeling that the next five days could signpost the rest of the summer for these two teams is strengthened by their close rivalry in the AXA League. They meet on Sunday as potential champions.

Ian Salisbury, the Surrey leg-spinner, faces his old county, Sussex, at the Oval with something to prove after his disappointing return to England's Test side.

Warwickshire, with a match today against Glamorgan, the champions, have attracted criticism for their faltering progress this summer, but Brian Lara was given unanimous support from Mike Smith, the chairman, and the county's cricket committee after the NatWest defeat at Leicester.

Dennis Amiss, Warwickshire's chief executive, said: ``Our season has been one of not scoring runs, and Brian is as guilty as anybody there. Nobody would be worrying about the captaincy if he was scoring runs.

``There is still a third of the season to go. As an international batsman, if he does start to play well, his sheer weight of runs will give us the runs we need to obtain a higher position in the AXA League and championship.

``The majority of our membership did not like the abuse that was hurled at Brian and the players coming off the field at Leicester. We are going to hold an investigation into two spectators who did that. The players were very hurt and upset.''

Natwest Trophy Semi-final draw

Southampton: Hampshire v Lancashire (Tuesday, August 11)
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Derbyshire (Wednesday, August 12)

Today's Cricket 11am start

Britannic County Championship

1st day of 4

Derby: Derbys v Kent.
Southampton: Hants v Durham.
Old Trafford: Lancs v Leics.
Trent Bridge: Notts v Northants.
Worcester: Worcs v Yorks.
Oval: Surrey v Sussex.
Edgbaston: Warwicks v Glamorgan.

Natwest U-19 1-Day International

Harrogate: England v Pakistan.

2nd XI Championship (2nd day of 3)

Cheadle: Derbys v Lancs. Stockton: Durham v Worcs. Bournemouth: Hants v Surrey. Oakham School: Leics v Essex. Uxbridge: Middlesex v Notts. Wellingborough School: Northants v Glamorgan. Clevedon: Somerset v Yorks.

Minor Counties

MCC Trophy semi-finals: Challow & Childrey: Oxfordshire v Shropshire. Bovey Tracey: Devon v Surrey Board XI.