INTERNATIONAL cricket returned to Old Trafford last weekend – and what a fantastic day it was.

Great cricket – the match was certainly the best of the one-day series – and a super atmosphere, it does not get much better.

Except for some sections of the southern-centric media, who used the occasion as a platform to undermine Old Trafford for their own agenda.

Take Channel Five’s Mark Nicholas for example – Hampshire captain for a decade.

Earlier in the summer he did a tireless job of extolling the virtues of the Rose Bowl. From the dreary tales of Nicholas digging the first hole in the ground to an interview with the groundsman, all bases were covered as we were ‘treated’ to image after image of half-empty stands that looked the part but lacked in character.

Fast forward to the one-day international at Old Trafford – a ground that would probably have sold out twice if the capacity allowed it.

Nicholas revelled in showing us unflattering pictures of the pitch and outfield – even having the paucity to suggest the redevelopment will not be finished for 20 years.

His hatchet job was as cynical as it comes.

And what about Surrey’s very own Alec Stewart? He could not have been more condescending if he had tried.

From pointless jibes about the trams pulling out of the station to the rear of the ground, to barbs about the quality of the stadium – he seemed hellbent on raining on Lancashire’s parade.

Thankfully, the balance was redressed slightly by Michael Vaughan, who hailed the atmosphere as the best he had seen all summer. He even went as far as to say the England team actually prefer playing up north.

Old Trafford does need a makeover but, now the court cases are over, the builders can move in and make Manchester one of the best grounds in the country once again.

The cricket-mad public will continue to flood through the gates and, eventually, our friends from down south will be eating humble pie from the media box at lunch, tea and over the airwaves.