Chris Adams: Schofield answers county pros' prayers by setting up a one-dayer for the chop

The Schofield Report has been in the headlines this week and I was delighted to see the recommendations into ways to improve the English game included losing a competition from the county scene. As captains' representative for the Professional Cricketers' Association I know we've long been calling for it but, despite numerous meetings held by the powers-that-be, this is the first time it has been suggested.

The overwhelming view of the players is that the Championship works well and produces Test-quality cricketers. It is played at a great intensity, much helped by the formation of two divisions. We play Worcestershire this weekend, Lancashire next, followed by Hampshire and then Yorkshire. It is tough cricket and the format should be left alone.

However, we all support ditching a one-dayer, so it has to be the Pro40. Twenty20 has been a massive hit, 50-over games replicate internationals, so it makes sense for Pro40 to go.

There are similarities with football. Three English teams reached the Champions League semi-finals but Milan won it. If you look at the amount of football played in Italy and Milan's preparation compared to the English clubs, you can see why. Our two outstanding teams, Manchester United and Chelsea, were both exhausted in their semis, while Milan were rested and fit. Maybe it is time for the the Carling Cup to go, too?

Dancing on the ceiling over Matt's debut ton

At Sussex we were delighted that our team-mate Matt Prior made such a brilliant England debut last week. As his captain and friend I'm thrilled for him. I spoke to him last Friday after his hundred and he was on the ceiling - but I think I was even higher! We were on the receiving end of a Mark Ramprakash double ton in our county game so it gave the club a boost. We sat together watching him smack it around on television and it was sensational.

I felt in the weeks leading up to the Test that he didn't belong in county cricket anymore, that his destiny was elsewhere. I think he is now perfect for the international game. He will thrive under pressure at that level, where you get good wickets that suit his aggressive nature and technique, provided he gets the backing. But he has earned that for himself because he will be in the hot seat all summer. The spotlight will now fall on his glovework but he is a fine keeper. He just needs to keep his focus and keep working hard - and he will.

Moores' two-step move lets a captain lead

Peter Moores will also be delighted with his first Test. He seems to be acting with a bit of caution, probably out of a reluctance to over-coach. That's his style. He would have been in control leading up to the Test - setting goals, working on technique - and then, once it was under way, he would have stepped back and handed responsibility to the captain and acted as a consultant who could offer help or be there if needed for advice. Afterwards, he would step back in.

There were one or two moans about the timing of England's declaration but at Sussex Peter would have left those decisions to me as captain. I would quiz the players and then consult the coach but make the call myself.

Ryan Sidebottom's inclusion for the second Test was interesting and can only have come from Pete, as he was not involved under Duncan Fletcher. His left-armers offer variation, he bowls wicket-to-wicket and swings it just a bit. Prior was an inspired selection, Ryan could be, too.

Jimmy Anderson, who missed out, is class but has had his technique messed with. He needs a volume of county cricket under his belt and a bagful of wickets to help his confidence. Long term he is probably the most likely successor to Matthew Hoggard.

There were, though, one or two concerns for Pete. Andrew Flintoff's injury for one, as his absence changes the whole dynamic of the team, and the form of Stephen Harmison. I saw him bowl in a one-dayer against Lancashire 10 days before the Test and he was excellent. The lad probably put pressure on himself at Lord's and tightened up. Everyone needs to stop looking for something to go wrong after that infamous Ashes ball. We need to get off his back and let him relax. He is the jewel in England's crown. It is key that Pete gets the management of Stephen right and I know he will have been bigging him up this week, reminding him he has done it before and can do it again.

The first Test is now out of the way and Lord's is not to every bowler's taste because of the slope. Headingley should suit him more, so fingers crossed.

A relief to run Ramps out of town

In our match against Surrey last week we put in a fantastic performance on the last day to earn a draw thanks to a great double ton by Murray Goodwin. I also got a hundred - my first innings of note this season and a welcome return to form. During the game I watched the two best batsmen in county cricket at the moment, Ramps and Murray.

I must say it was nice to see the back of Ramps after he made 266 not out in the Championship and 142 not out in Tuesday's Friends Provident one-dayer. After the game I told him to get in his car and not to come back for a long time. He said that was fine as he was pretty tired! I bet he was after hitting 408 runs.

During both those matches it felt like we just had to get one man out and we would have won but Ramps' knock on Tuesday all but ends our grip on the title.

Having said that, our performance in the Championship last weekend was vital and hopefully will give our season a kick-start. In our current match against Worcestershire I thankfully won my first toss of the season and we made a good start with another Murray ton and 91 from me. We have had a lot of youngsters coming through of late and they have only known success. The start of the season has been their first experience of the hard yards and they will learn from it. It makes you treasure when you are playing well.

Benning's beauty

I was looking forward to our one-dayer on Tuesday; it was a good track, we were on TV and I generally play well against Surrey. Then I absolutely middled one. I couldn't have hit it any better only for James Benning to pull off a stunning catch - I'm hard pushed to think of a better one. Nine times out of 10 it would have gone for four. But Benning is a serious one-day cricketer and takes like that catch the eye, so when England's selectors come to meet, you never know...

Agents giving back

I share my management company - Arundel Sports - with Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Prior and Owais Shah. It is owned by Alan Smith, the former Crystal Palace manager, and Alec Stewart. For the first Test they decided to give their players £1,000 if they made a Test ton. Collingwood, Bell and Prior duly did. It is ironic that a management company, who normally make money out of the player, ended up well out of pocket. Alan told me he happily paid up - through gritted teeth.

Reclaiming family crown

My daughter Georgia made 20 for Sussex Under-13s against Middlesex this week so I actually beat her this week! She is playing well, though, and looking forward to starting her scholarship at Brighton College in September. Clare Connor, the former England captain, will be her housemistress, and it has a great record of producing England cricketers: Holly Colvin, Laura Marsh and Sarah Taylor all play for the national side. It bodes well for Georgia.

Great Sledging: Second In A Series

We played Hampshire in a one-dayer last weekend and, as usual, Shane Warne made a lot of noise but said nothing worth repeating! There was one gem, though. We got ourselves in a bit of a muddle at about 40 for 5 but then Rana Naved starting smacking Shaun Udal's spin about. It prompted our physio, Stuart Osbourne, to jump out on to the balcony and shout: "Get him on from both ends."