SOME might say there is nothing much to celebrate about English cricket. I beg to differ.
Pyjamas, power-plays and Duckworth and Lewis are all forgotten once the real business of the Lords Test sweeps on to our screens, and with it comes a new era for the England team.
Don't get me wrong, the World Cup was good at first but its drawn out format proved too much for many a cricket lover - some even trying to leave the Caribbean on a pedalo!
Test cricket is what the purists care about, and it seems an eternity ago that England were battered unmercilessly in the Ashes. Let's hope it is just a distant memory to the England players when they lock horns with the West Indies.
The West Indies should present new coach Peter Moores with a decent honeymoon period because they are a long way from reclaiming their mantle as the most feared team in world cricket.
In contrast, England can still claim to be one of the best and most efficient teams around if players like Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison and Kevin Pietersen scale the heights of previous years.
It will be interesting to see if Matt Prior can make the wicket-keeping spot his own, and whether Ian Bell can turn his undoubted potential into consistent big hundreds.
Throw in commentary from David Lloyd (he was sorely missed during the World Cup) and it promises to be a return to good old fashioned cricket.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article