npower on a sticky wicket with logo mat

The Diary hears npower, the new sponsor of the England cricket team’s home Test matches, has been asked to tone down its two, 50 square metre, 3D on-pitch logo mats because they are too “dazzling”.

Umpires and broadcasters complained to the utility giant during the first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s, claiming the logo was just not cricket.

One bemused hack, the Telegraph’s Martin Johnson, wrote: “They throw up enough glare to detach a retina at 30 paces.”

Npower insists that the mats conform to all agreed dimensions and were previewed to all parties at pre-match trials.

The Diary sincerely hopes the glaring row continues throughout the summer and confidently backs Darren “Dazzler” Gough to put the cocky Aussies in the shade.