We’ve just had probably the hottest weekend of the year (at least in the sunny south), and now we are in the week of the start of England’s summer. On Thursday, the first test match against NZ starts off a summer of test matches, ODI’s and Twenty20’s against them and South Africa in what will hopefully be an entertaining summer of cricket.

Annoyingly, I have to be at work when the tests are actually on, I think I’m going to have to try and work something out for next year when the Ashes are on and I definately won’t want to be at work! I will still get to see a fair bit of cricket, and highlights on Sky so I won’t exactly miss out, but when the sun is shining and cricket is on the tele you either want to be there or watching it at home with the patio doors open and a glass of cold beer in your hand!

With Freddie gaining another injury, Hoggard and Anderson are probably fighting for one spot in the team on Thursday, and I would definately go for Hoggy. Anderson wasn’t really all that in NZ and doesn’t deserve to be ahead of Hoggy who has done the business without much fuss for quite a while. He took being dropped in NZ as well as could be expected, and he has started the season taking wickets for both Yorkshire and the England Lions against a NZ XI.

So with the team sorted, the weather dry, Sky Sports and TMS ready, everything seems set for a hot summer (please) of good cricket starting on Thursday!