On the Front Foot: Shah's abrupt dismissal leaves Middlesex's middle in a muddle

Almost disappearing under the radar last week – a splendid time to bury bad news – was Middlesex's decision to sack Owais Shah. The story was revived only by the club's crass handling of the affair. It was leaked under embargo to a newspaper which then broke the embargo, both events taking place before Shah himself had been informed. A grovelling apology was issued later on behalf of the club by the PR chap who leaked the information, but it was inexcusably shabby treatment of a batsman who has been with the club for 16 years. The decision to release him seems pretty odd, too. Less than a year ago Shah played one of the great one-day innings for England in Centurion, 98 from 89 balls, which effectively launched their one-day revival. At Middlesex he has had a lean season by his standards, although he is their leading run-scorer in both forms of limited-overs cricket. Last year he was top of their first-class averages. Angus Fraser, the county's managing director of cricket, said the team needed freshening up. In recent years Middlesex have already lost from their batting order, while still in their prime, Ed Joyce, Nick Compton, Ed Smith, Jamie Dalrymple and Billy Godleman. Still, they have re-signed Eoin Morgan, whose international duties will keep him away for much of the summer (all of it if he nails down a Test spot). But Shah will be available all season.

Pietersen fights fire with fire to steal show

Kevin Pietersen enjoyed some much-needed time in the middle at Hove yesterday as he searched for form ahead of the winter Ashes tour, scoring a brisk 116 off 105 balls for his new county, Surrey.

Collins injury boost lessens Welsh woes

The Wales and Aston Villa defender James Collins has escaped serious injury after apparently being elbowed in the face during Wales' 1-0 defeat away to Montenegro in their Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday night.

Phil Brown: I want to give myself a chance to manage England

Time and the sack have done nothing to still Phil Brown's ambition or dilute his self-belief. Three months after finishing gardening leave from Hull City, he is bursting to take on "the next challenge" and even voluntarily brings up the subject of the England manager's job as an illustration of how high that ambition flies.

Martinez seeks mature approach to the chaos

Generalisations may by definition be unfair, but it does not seem unreasonable to assert that football supporters are not often noted for having the maturity to see beyond scorelines.

Bees seek the land of milk and honey

Following Barnet has never been as much fun as in their earliest days as a Football League club, but then how could it be? In the first month of the 1991-92 season they lost the opening game at home to Crewe 7-4, drew 5-5 at Brentford and won 6-0 at Lincoln. All that and Stan Flashman, the country's most famous ticket tout, as chairman. No wonder Barry Fry, the ebullient manager at the time, prone to dashing down the touchline at every goal scored, had heart trouble.

League round-up: Dickov's late cameo can't topple Owls

That 2010-11 is likely to be one of the more closely contested League One seasons became clear as Peterborough United, Carlisle and Oldham Athletic all spurned the chance to go top above Sheffield Wednesday.

Branston snaps after Torquay finally succumb

The Football League's last remaining 100 per cent record disappeared as Torquay were deservedly beaten despite a late flurry of pressure. Paul Buckle's side dropped to second place, behind Shrewsbury, as the Gulls' afternoon ended acrimoniously with the defender Guy Branston losing his cool with Southend's club photographer, David Scriven, on the final whistle. As both walked across the pitch, Branston confronted the photographer, whose time-wasting "crime" had been to flick the ball into empty stands as Torquay chased a stoppage-time equaliser in vain.

Kashmiri star will finally get to the ball

History hangs in the air in Kashmir, as thick and unshifting as the mist that twists itself around the hills, as the teenage Basharat Bashir demonstrates his skill with a football.

Jones makes it a bad day at the office for Wilkins

On the face of it, the managerial position at Southampton should be one of the most attractive in English football. Admittedly, a club that rubbed shoulders with the elite in the top tier of English football for 27 successive seasons have fallen from grace over the past few years and currently content themselves with visits to such far-flung League One outposts as Exeter and Hartlepool.