Lords last week showed a promising start for the slightly new-look England side, defeating the West Indies within 3 days with a strong performance. Yes, it was a shame for all those that had tickets for a Saturday but we often have Wednesday starts these days with all the international cricket that need to be fitted in so I’m not bothered (especially as I saw the best day live!).

There were good performances in particular with the bat from Ravi Bop and Swann, whilst Swann also performed with the ball, as did newcomer, Graham Onions. I was questioning who might be our final bowler the other week and Onions has made it difficult for anyone else to jump in there by showing some good pace and getting the all important wickets. Bresnan didn’t really have a chance in the whole test, which makes you wonder the wisdom of a five man attack when Freddie isn’t around. That’s probably why they’ve bought Bell back into the squad for the next test, it gives them the option of using four bowlers then if they need them, Ravi and Colly can turn their arm over. It’s probably the way I’d go without a standout replacement out there.

The other thing the early finish to the match gave us was Sky Sports re-showing the 2005 Ashes series highlights, brilliant viewing for any England fan and the thing that came across most was that Shane Warne was by far and away the most threatening players the Aussies had back then, even with the likes of McGrath and Lee in the side. Now, with no decent spinner to talk of, I’m feeling more confident that we can do a number on them and claim back those Ashes this summer. Foolhardy thinking maybe but I’m going with it for the moment!!

I was shocked to wake up this morning and hear about the attacks in Lahore in Pakistan and the fact that the Sri Lankan cricket team seemed to be the target of the attack. Tragically, 8 or so police officers and other civilians lost their lives – and according to Kumar Sangakarra the only thing that help the Sri Lankan team was the fact that their coach driver continued to drive through the attack to the ground, an act that probably saved the lives of many more.

I hate the fact that sportsmen are on the end of this attack – they have nothing to do with the politics behind whoever caused this, and are probably just chosen to help them get the biggest world exposure for what they do. No innocent person deserves to be caught up in an attack anyway, and sportmen and women shouldn’t have to worry about being “used” for the exposure they give the attacks.

This all has a big effect on Pakistani cricket going forward as well. The Champions Trophy there was already called off this year, and India, New Zealand and Australia have all refused to tour there for one reason or another, but today’s events will mean a stop on anyone turning up there for a game for a long long time. No-one is going to turn up with the potential for their sportsmen to be the centre of an attack, even if the ICC would let them play. England returned to India after the Mumbai attacks to show that terrorism couldn’t stop sport when it wasn’t the players who were the main focus, but today’s situation is very different.

Pakistan will potentially have little or no home games left, and have to start looking at using neutral venues places such as Dubai and Abu Dahbi as they have done previously which although not ideal is a way to help keep them going. It isn’t the players fault, but they will certainly see their lives affected, but right now they should just be thankful that they are alive. As it was, the game was looking quite a good one, some big runs scored by a good Sri Lankan side that continue to be more of a force in cricket than we are currently!

Going briefly back to England cricket – a dull road served up a dull fourth test, so we turn up for the final test having to get a win out of the game – it will be interesting to see the mentality and team selection knowing that significance!

I’m sorry, it’s not normal for me to get excited about the demise of a team, but seeing Australia battered by South Africa on Australia Day is just a little bit sweet for a pom such as myself. Just two short years ago we were on the receiving end of an Australia Day hammering, but the two years since havn’t been kind to the Aussies, and their team as I’ve mentioned already this month is a pale shadow of that one.

South Africa have been playing some good cricket of that there is no doubt (and you have to, winning both a test and one day series in Aus), but we beat the Saffers in the ODI’s 4-0 so they can’t be that good!

I’m looking forward to the Ashes even more (162 days and counting)!

I received an e-mail from Carly Baldwin this week who is studying a journalism course at Uni and recently interviewed England women’s cricketer Sarah Taylor. Below is the article as written by Carly.

As England’s male cricketers are left to reflect on their Stanford Twenty20 humiliation, one of their female counterparts has made a plea for her team not to be ignored as they prepare for a crucial year.

Sarah Taylor, the world’s fourth best batter in the ICC rankings, says that next year’s World Cup and Ashes series, along with the Twenty20 World Cup, could signal the start of a successful run for England’s women.

“Realistically we have a great chance to win the World Cup,” she says. ” We have a strong side full of enthusiasm and belief, and though we are a young side we have a lot of experience.”

England travel to Australia in March to compete in the tournament, and Taylor believes they will encounter some familiar foes: “New Zealand and Australia are definately the teams to beat, and home advantage will help them.”

Australia will then head for English soil to compete in the Twenty20 World Cup and the Ashes, which, after a period of Australian dominance, have been in English hands since 2005.

Taylor says that home advantage for both competitions should benefit her side: “Having the Twenty20 World Cup on home soil should be a definite advantage, yet there will be that added pressure of high expectations,” she admits. “I am confident that we can deal with it and that our supporters will be behind us.”

With the three biggest prizes in cricket up for grabs in such a short space of time, Taylor believes that the women’s team have never had such an opportunity to gain recognition.

“To have three major events in one year can only be good for the women’s game. I’m sure it will raise the profile of women’s cricket and we hope that there will be bigger crowds for all the games.”

The Sussex wicketkeeper, first called into the international fold in 2006 aged just 17, says that the team are hoping the Twenty20 tournament, where the women’s matches will be curtain raisers to the men’s games, will provide a platform to showcase their talents. “Playing before the men’s games will make people aware of us and we hope to impress,” she says. ” Recognition is important for the women’s game and success is what we are working hard to achieve.”

Big news in the world of cricket equipment and sponsorship today as news that Pietersen and Flintoff have left their Woodworm sponsorship contracts has led to speculation that the company is soon to go to the wall in the tough current business environment. Both of the players were understood to have life time deals with the company, so for them to be allowed to break these agreements must mean that something is happening, even if no concrete news about Woodworm’s future is currently available.

Woodworm seemed to be quite a good marketing company, and I remember reading about how successful they had been a few years back (especially in the junior market), but I guess the profit margins just weren’t as high as they needed to be to survive the quieter months of the year when they were buying in the equipment from Hunts County. They are still essentially a UK brand, and the cricket market has a few too many “quiet” months in it, that I can imagine how it might be difficult if the summer doesn’t work out that well and enough money isn’t brought in.

I noticed their website about a week ago had a holding page which suggested they were about to build a new site, but maybe it was the other way round and it was the start of the decline. If they don’t manage to come out of this at all it’ll be a real shame as they have managed to build a brand in a short space of time, and with the Ashes next summer they would have been a lot of interest around them. Cricket is a good market to be in at the moment with all the growth in money available (for the players), and as a result press exposure (for everyone).

As we already knew, Adidas were releasing some cricket equipment soon, and KP becoming available now is probably the best timing they could have hoped for. Sign up the England captain and watch the sales fly in, it will happen..

Over the weekend we were entertained by KP, and you will have no doubt heard about his cross hand shot which he hit maximum’s with twice, but there are mumblings that the MCC will be looking at the shot, and commentators such as Michael Holding saying it isn’t a fair shot.

I understand the need for debate, but the main thing I can’t get over is the people who want to stop this type of innovation. Why call it unfair just because the batsman has the skill to hit a great shot with his wrong hands – it is entertaining and makes for a more intriguing game. Yes, we need to clarify the rules of lbw etc for everyone’s benefit, but don’t stop players trying new things or the game won’t move forward which it obviously is at the moment. Bowlers don’t have to tell the batsman when they are about to bowl a slower ball, bouncer, yorker etc, so why shouldn’t the batsman be able to change his approach at the same time?

I’m off to Edgbaston tomorrow and (weather permitting), I hope the shot makes an appearance – with KP currently in good form there is every chance!