Good Lord's: Hales and Read secure cup final joy for Notts

Saturday's Lord's final will live long in the memory for all sorts of reasons. A record breaking innings, a fitting 50-over sign off for a legendary skipper, a top class overseas star ending on a high and a trophy for Nottinghamshire.

Indeed, it's moments like these you have to savour as a sports fan. Technically the last time I saw 'my team' win silverware was the 1992 Zenith Data Systems Cup Final triumph for Forest, just up the Jubilee line at Wembley. Don't get me wrong, there have been highs in between but you get the point, these days don't come around too often.

The omens weren't great at the start of Saturday's showpiece occasion, however. Both Surrey openers were dropped - including a chance to remove Jason Roy from the first delivery - and runs flowed as Notts struggled to gain control either with the ball or in the field.

Still it helps to be able to call upon Stuart Broad and James Pattinson to get a foothold in a game. The latter has been a superb servant in his spell as an overseas player and I'd love to get him back again. A fiery Aussie with something of an edge, he adds a pace and venom that has a tendency to leave many batsmen uncomfortable - a great asset to have in our armoury.

Still, while the two bowling stars brought control it was - as is so often the case in limited overs cricket - the combination of Samit Patel and Steven Mullaney who took important wickets. Samit struck with his first delivery and Mullaney conjured up the crucial wicket of dangerman Kumar Sangakarra, with the help of some smart glove work by Chris Read (I wonder how many times we've said that over the years?).

Surrey's innings felt a little strange in the end. Opener Mark Stoneman provided rock solid foundations with a high class and remarkably measured 144 not out, but no-one really cut loose with a significant better-than-a-run-a-ball knock to supplement his efforts. There were few fireworks yet, despite that, Gareth Batty's men had still put the best part of 300 on the board in a Lord's final.

Given Notts' batting prowess in the tournament so far - chasing down a record 371 in the semi final - it felt like a 'gettable' total but that didn't stop a few nerves creeping in among the travelling Outlaws in the Compton Stand.

As the wickets fell at regular intervals, those nerves only grew. One by one the big hitters who had powered us to Lord's fell without troubling the scorers. By the time we reached 150-5 Surrey had control of the tie and must've been sensing this was their day at last, having lost the last two One Day Cup finals here.

Yet one man didn't fall, of course. As his partners vanished at the other end, Alex Hales seemed to be playing a different game. Yes he was dropped early on, but he was undeterred by either that, the occasion or the situation of the match. He let loose a perfect blend of exquisite textbook and powerful blows and carried the club's hopes on his shoulders.

There's little doubt that this was the best innings I've seen live. It was brilliantly judged and beautifully executed, a mature display that ticked along at a rapid pace without falling into the trap of trying to push too hard. The fastest 100 in a Lord's final, the highest score made on such an occasion (beating Geoffrey Boycott's 52-year record) and the biggest total made by anyone at Lord's in List A cricket (beating David Boon's 28-year record), this was something truly special and a real 'I was there' moment.

But Hales alone couldn't see us over the line, and that's why 150-5 felt so precarious. While the lower order are useful with the bat, we couldn't rely on them to make too many under the pressure of a run chase in a cup final. 

Cometh the hour, cometh the captain. What Notts and Hales needed most was a calm head to steady the ship and stay with him. In Chris Read, he surely couldn't have asked for anyone better.

The skipper, in his final year at Notts and last ever 50-over game for the Outlaws, gave a masterclass of controlled batsmanship in a quite brilliant 58 that ensured he would be the one to lift the trophy. The word legend is, of course, overused in sport but not when it comes to Read, who has been an incredible gloveman, excellent batsman and fantastic figurehead during his 19 years of service. I'd name a stand after him if it were up to me.

He'll be massively missed at Trent Bridge but it was a perfect end to his 50-over career to win the cup as captain and then be held aloft by his team mates to accept the adulation of the travelling Outlaws, who serenaded him with a hearty blast of 'Ready, Ready, Ready'.

While it would've been nice to see Read hit the winning runs, it was also fitting that Pattinson's last act in a Notts shirt was to strike the final blow.

It was a pretty good atmosphere all told in the Compton Stand - with a few Forest favourite songs thrown in with some good natured ribbing of Tom Curran, who had the dubious honour of being stationed right in front of us and didn't enjoy the greatest of days.

The Notts fans were certainly whipped up into a frenzy by Luke Fletcher, who clearly loved every minute of his day and led the chants himself as the team came to celebrate with us at the end. We're lucky to have a settled squad of talented players who seem to love turning out for the club and that spirit was evident on Saturday. Coach Peter Moores also deserves credit for his role in helping to mastermind the success here even though the club's main focus has surely been on promotion in red ball cricket.

My first visit to Lord's had been pretty special - an Ashes test two years ago - and so was this one. Let's just hope my next successful sporting final isn't another 25 years away...

An ode to Joe Root and a sensational cricket match

I don't like the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. It's all a little too 'backslappy' for my liking and is a largely pointless parade. Last year's did highlight, however, the way in which cricket needs to guard against falling from the public eye. In a year when the test team won the Ashes against all the odds, Stuart Broad took 8-15 in one of the greatest spells of test match bowling of all time and Joe Root vied for the crown of number one test batsman in the world, there was little or no attention for cricketThat in a summer without an Olympics or football tournament for competition too.

It's a separate post/debate to talk about how to address the exposure and recognition of cricket but one of the ways really ought to be to highlight its success stories, such as that in the World T20 in India today against South Africa.

(Yes, that's England playing in a world cup that most people probably don't know about.)

Not only did England chase down an eye-watering 230 runs to overcome South Africa - a side that had beaten them twice on home soil recently - but the nation's best player came to the fore for a starring role.

In other sports we build up star players - Rooney, for example - and then knock them down when they fail to deliver on the high hopes we've pinned upon them. While Joe Root certainly has a big reputation within the game, there seems to be very little recognition of his talent among the wider public.

Today's performance saw a genuinely world class English sportsman deliver a world class performance at a world cup. That alone is worth shouting about.

Root was far from alone - Jason Roy in particular deserves praise - but he was, and so often is, the focal point of the sensational innings. He smashed the balls to all parts with a brilliant collection of conventional cricket strokes and innovative shots, plundering 83 runs off 44 balls.

For one of his six sixes he played an outrageous 'reverse scoop' over third man that is the most jaw dropping thing I've seen an England player do since Kevin Pietersen reverse slogged Murali for six. I had to watch Root's shot three or four more times just to comprehend what I'd just seen.

Unbelievable England, amazing @root66 #getinthere pic.twitter.com/Ha2g9GmHgL

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 18, 2016

While we shouldn't put too much pressure on his shoulders, it's about time cricket fans extolled the virtues of Root. He's got a cheeky personality that helps to endear him beyond his mere talent. But, make no mistake, Root is a genuine star who is easily among the best three/four British sportsmen around. At just 25 he's already amassed 3,400 tests runs and nine hundreds as well as 2,500 ODI runs and eight hundreds.

I don't care if Root wins Sports Personality of the Year in 2016 but I do hope that he gets the recognition he deserves for performances such as this. Talented performers such as him are rare, we're lucky to be able to say we're seeing him and shouldn't take him for granted.

So, on a day in which England have pulled off the second biggest run chase in T20 International history, let's give some praise for the England cricket team and Joe Root, the world class matchwinner.

England cricket team: Fun and flawed

It's a shame really that, once again, the England cricket team have ended a series in a limp defeat in a dead rubber. Just as with the last Ashes test at the Oval last summer, Alistair Cook's men put up a lacklustre show in Centurion and took a little of the shine off what was a superb series win against the number one ranked test team in their own back yard.

He might have his hands on the trophy but Cooky says team must go to the next level #SAvsENG https://t.co/OTT8fprlhU pic.twitter.com/OTMS3jiXXd

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 26, 2016

In some respects you could make two very different cases for the state of the nation's cricket team. On the one hand there are question marks over the technique of Alex Hales - the umpteenth opener to be tried - over the suitability of Nick Compton at 3, James Taylor at 5, the wicket keeping ability of Jonny Bairstow and his rival Jos Buttler and the fitness of bowlers Steven Finn, Mark Wood and, to a lesser extent Jimmy Anderson.

Then there's the infamous batting collapses. The website Holding Willey reckons there were an incredible 11 in 15 tests from April 2015 in the West Indies.

Yet, on the other hand, there are great positives. Cook, the captain, is England's record run scorer of all time, Joe Root is constantly vying with Kane Williamson and Steven Smith for the crown of the world's best batsman, Stuart Broad IS the world's best ranked bowler and Jimmy Anderson is England record wicket taker, with the 7th most victims in test history for any team. Ben Stokes, Bairstow and Moeen Ali also epitomise an exciting attack lower order and embody the new style of Trevor Bayliss, Paul Farbrace and Andrew Strauss.

Then there's the individual moments of brilliance in the past year alone. Broad's Ashes 8-15 at Trent Bridge was one of the best spells in test history and his 6-17 at Johannesburg wasn't far off either.

Stuart Broad: people have been walking past me doing that face | @James_Riach http://t.co/9bjli0Emcr (Photo: Rex) pic.twitter.com/jexFNvfkGu

— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) August 17, 2015

Joe Root hit two Ashes hundreds and Cook racked up an incredible 263 in the UAE at the end of 2015 in a marathon innings that was the third longest stay at the crease in test history. It was the complete opposite of Ben Stokes' scintillating double hundred in Cape Town, 198-ball 258 that must rank as one of the most exciting knocks ever from an English batsman.

The Ashes win and victory over South Africa were both against the odds and the 2-0 defeat against Pakistan hardly reflected the balance of an even battle in the UAE.

So, which is true? Are England a side riddled with selection issues, injury doubts and worrying dips in form? Or are they a side full of great individual talent that has played some breathtaking - and successful - cricket that we should all be proud of.

The answer is that both are true and that, in my view, is part of the attraction of this current line up. Yes they are flawed but you can rarely argue that they are dull. They're never too far from either a collapse or some match-winning brilliance, a trait that means it's captivating to watch (if a little nervy). It's precisely because a collapse or a Broad spell could be just around the corner that makes this unpredictable side an exciting prospect. Some of the negatives, too, come from the fact that the team strives to play attacking cricket, hardly something to be too critical of.

We should all be proud of what the side has achieved and the manner in which it has gone about its cricket. In truth this team has not had the praise it has deserved.

We also need to accept that when the going is good this side can be truly great but, when the going is bad, things can quickly go pear-shaped. Don't relax, don't get complacent and, importantly, don't take your eyes off them. They may be flawed but they're ruddy fun too.

First-timer's view of Lord's as Australia power to victory over England

It was a superb innings for Veuve Clicquot. The flashy French bubbly flowed much easier than England's runs and ensured the chaps in the row in front of me made hay in the summer London sunshine. 

Mind you, the £70-a-bottle price tag probably stung their bank balances almost as sharply as the Australian quicks did England's batsmen. Led by a vicious and incisive Mitchell Johnson, the pace attack were the real stars of the show, shining on the hallowed turf of the Home of Cricket and backing up a dominant batting display to deliver a thumping series equaliser for the men in the Baggy Greens.

Our fantastic view from the Edrich Stand Upper

Saturday at Lord's did feel pretty special. It was an honour to be at one of world's most famous venues to soak in one of the oldest and keenly contested rivalries in sport.

Like many cricket grounds, Lord's is a odd jigsaw puzzle of interlocking stands of various sizes and ages, with the pavilion and futuristic media centre at opposite ends physically and historically.

I was surprised at how friendly it actually felt. Lord's has a reputation for being a bit stuffy. The bacon and eggs ties, formality and tradition coming to mind. But, from the moment I stepped from St John's Wood Tube - which for such occasions becomes much busier than it sizes suggests it should be - there were people offering to help in a generally jovial-but-serious atmosphere leading to the famous ground itself.

Once inside I was struck by just how much was going on. The Nursery Ground, museum, outdoor drinking areas and restaurants dotted around the outside meant you barely needed set foot in the stands. Yes some bits do ooze tradition but there was a charm with it too. I guess if you hang around too long near the posher parts of the ground you'd feel out of place but it was fun to mingle with the people sporting the garish blazers for brief novelty value.

Yet, fun as the peripheral activities seemed the cricketing action was what we'd come for and England had a game to save. Resuming on 85-4 after the Australians had posted a mammoth 566-8 declared, it was an almighty ask.

Any Test Match seems to enjoy the same atmosphere before a ball is bowled - a low hum of chatter as spectators settle and ponder the play ahead followed by rapturous response to every ball for a few overs. Lord's was no different although obviously sans fancy dress and musical instruments, the sorts of things that look fun on the telly but that, in truth, you don't necessarily want to be sitting too near on the day.

All hopes seemed to rest on record run scorer and captain Alistair Cook, the man with the patience, resolve and technique to weather the Antipodean storm about to hit him. He was to be aided and abetted by one of the nation's bright new hopes in Ben Stokes - a man who announced himself onto the international scene with a century in Australia amid a dismal whitewash defeat for England.

Mitchell Johnson about to steam in to Ben Stokes

It all went to plan at the start. Stokes showed himself to be far more than an aggressive slogger with some impressive 'proper cricket shots'. Any glimmers of trouble for the Durham man were simply shaken off with the confidence of a young star with the world at his feet. Cook meanwhile was watchful and careful - two qualities so rare these days that make innings such as these fascinating to watch. He edged along at one run per over he'd been at the middle, anchoring the innings in the 'lead by example' way in which he conducts his captaincy.

Sadly though, both batsmen perished before they reached the hundreds I felt they had deserved. First Stokes proved unable to last until lunch, dragging a skiddy Mitchell Marsh delivery onto his timbers. This sent a ripple of shock through the Lord's crowd who were just beginning to settle down to a long day at the crease for the home side.

If Stokes' dismissal was disappointing, Cook's was a hammer blow and one which provided the defining image of the whole match. Well set on 96 runs, the captain was braced for a 28th test match hundred, his first home Ashes ton, just before the arrival of tea. Most importantly of all, he was wel in ahead of the impending arrival of the second new ball. Yet Cook reached for a delivery outside off stump from Marsh - that man again - and followed Stokes' suit, crashing the ball into his leg stump off an inside edge. He instantly sunk to his knees in realisation. It may have been some time before the last rites, but this was effectively the moment England finally lost the match.

Alastair Cook sweats blood for England but misses out on ton | @selvecricket http://t.co/1TuYIoVsxa (Photo: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/odYPSCn6vW

— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) July 18, 2015

Predictably, without Cook the innings faded and, equally predictably, Australia didn't enforce the follow on. Clarke instead chose to come out and grind England down, pile on the runs and let his bowlers recharge for another burst. Warner offered a chance to Lyth but from then on played a sensible and impressive innings with Rogers, the wise old head, the perfect foil. If Cook is England's study in test match poise and patience, Rogers is Australia's. The duo both ended the day unbeaten to put the cherry on the cake.

That pair and Cook and Stokes aside this, though, was a day for the Australian quick bowlers to flex their muscles.

A happy block of Australians in standard-issue yellow caps

Having seen plenty of mid-80 mph bowlers over the years I was struck by how much quicker Johnson did actually seem in real life. It's easy to see why a batsman might struggle against a bowler who operates with an unusual action and, these days, unusually quickly. The slow pace of the pitch might have negated most of the bowlers but not Johnson, who bowled with enough venom to transcend the conditions.

He had control to go with his ferocity as part of a bowling unit that was impressive as a whole - the fast and full Starc, naggingly accurate Hazlewood, skiddy Marsh and wily Lyon.

Credit, too, must go to Clarke for the way he shuffled his pack. No batsmen was allowed to settle - not even Cook and Stokes - as he rotated his quick bowlers in short spells to ensure his men never burned out. The combination of different angles and speeds make for a tough test of a batsmen's ability to adapt.

It was clear by the time we left the ground that it was only a case of when and not if England succumbed to a defeat. The manner of the loss the next day was worrying though - with batsmen unable to put up much of a fight against Johnson and co. Defeat was one thing but the manner of it was something else, giving blood for the Aussies to scent come Edgbaston next week.

Still, cricket is a sport I am able to enjoy in spite of the performance of 'my team'. Yes, I wanted England to win but it was a pleasure to see the Aussie attack in the flesh and, above all else, finally make the pilgrimage to Lord's. 

It'd be interesting to go back for a county game to explore the surrounds fully - away from the crowds of a test match day - but equally it was special to be there for the Ashes. England may not have performed but the weather did and the venue lived up to the occasion. 

Trent Bridge will always be my cricketing home but Lord's, like the ever-flowing Veuve Clicquot, was the sort of classy-but-expensive pleasure well worth sampling for a treat (although I stuck to the £4.80 beer and benefitted from the skills of a friend to get in).

Ten talking points as the Ashes heads to HQ

The Lord's test begins on Thursday, with England heading to the Home of Cricket in good shape after a superb 169-run win over Australia in Cardiff.

England win by 169 runs!! Yes boys! Top performance #Ashes pic.twitter.com/I6E0Xflx6L

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 11, 2015

Here's ten thoughts looking back on that victory, and forward to the next game (everyone loves a listicle right?)...

1. Siddle on the slope

It's refreshing to be able to go into the second test with no selection debates for England. Australia, meanwhile, might be weighing up a change or two. Personally, if I were the Australians I'd turn to Peter Siddle. He's aggressive, consistent and experienced and should drive the likes of Johnson, Starc or Hazlewood on. The aggression would be help the visitors go toe to toe with the likes of Stokes while his consistency and experience could be vital given the lack of the recently retired Ryan Harris. I also fancy he'd do well on the infamous Lord's slope.

2. Haddin Out

He may be one of the more combative members of the touring party, but every cricket fan must surely wish Brad Haddin well. He has withdrawn due to family reasons and you only have to hope all is well. He leaves big shoes to fill - and 29-year-old Peter Nevill will be faced with that daunting task.

Brad Haddin has withdrawn from second #Ashes Test for family reasons. Peter Nevill to debut: http://t.co/2L3kvg5z7t pic.twitter.com/rC4hV7inCX

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) July 14, 2015

3. Pitch perfect?

There was a lot of crowing about the pitch in Cardiff and it seemed unfair. Plenty of runs were scored at a good pace, while bowlers were able to chip in with wickets when they put the ball in the right areas. The pitch delivered a good match and a result, what more do people want? Graeme Swann made a good point when he alluded to the fact that new drainage systems have dried out many pitches in this country and made them a little slower. 

4. Ali again

At some point people are going to have to accept that Moeen Ali is a worthy first choice spinner for England, especially in home conditions. If 19 wickets against India last summer weren't enough, he took big wickets at important times in the first test to remind a few of the critics what he can do. I enjoyed Ed Smith's piece in the Sunday Times on Moeen, he has, oddly, become the ideal number eight.

5. Lyon king

While we're on spin, Nathan Lyon deserves a mention. Little is said about the Aussie spinner but he was probably the most potent part of the attack in Cardiff. England should underestimate him at their peril, he'll take plenty of wickets this summer if he continues in the same vein.

6. Captain Cook

Hats off to Alistair Cook. While the skipper didn't deliver the best of tallies with the bat, he more than made up for it with good catching and excellent captaincy. In typically understated fashion he rotated his attack to good effect and they all responded with excellent execution of their skills. This should form the blueprint for success going forward.

7. Leave Root alone

Man of the match Joe Root was magnificent again and a real joy to watch. Let's leave him exactly where he is in the order - and not weigh him down with the captaincy any time soon - and hope his form can continue for as long as possible. 

8. Complacency

It's not only Lyon that England would do well be mindful of. Some pundits - probably the same ones who wrote England off entirely - have virtually written the Aussies off and that's dangerous. The experience and talent in the Aussie squad is such that nothing should be taken for granted. Darren Lehmann is hardly going to let his men roll over either.

9. Any draws?

One thing that struck me about the way both teams played their cricket is how neither side seems suited to toughing out a draw. Both sides are filled with naturally attacking batsmen with just a couple of characters who look as though they could drop anchor and see out time. Rain or circumstances may prove me wrong, but the manner in which both teams play suggests there could be plenty of results and maybe not too many fifth days.

10. Ticket holder

Thanks to a friend - a VERY good friend - I shall be heading to Lord's for the first time to see day three of the upcoming test. Last time the Aussies were here I had tickets to the fourth day at Trent Bridge and it's amazing how this affects your view of the play. In 2013 I endured a highly nervy third day, desperately hoping the game would slow down and things would stop 'happening'. It's an odd thing as a fan, you want your side to do well, but not too well until you see your slice of the action.

Stage set for Ashes thrills and spills

48 days, 22 players, 5 tests, 2 nations and one 11cm tall urn. The Ashes begins tomorrow as England and Australia battle it out to try to win the tiny trophy that is surely the hardest in the whole of sport to hold aloft in celebration. Still, it's an endearing quirk of this most enduring of sporting rivalries.

It's official now. The #Ashes is ON! #CmonAussie pic.twitter.com/dBLsCIGiJ2

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) July 7, 2015

The Ashes may have been played a little too often in recent years due to a schedule that is harder to decipher than the Duckworth Lewis method, but that hasn't dampened the spirits ahead of this clash. In fact, a combination of a big change in personnel for England and a stunning test and one-day series with Australia's Antipodean neighbours, means this series feels surprisingly fresh.

2 captains, 1 Investec #Ashes Trophy & 1 little urn... It all starts tomorrow!! pic.twitter.com/wVgI09hZKa

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 7, 2015

In many respects the tables have turned completely from 2013. Then England were the older and more settled side, buoyed by a series victory in Australia and a widely feared bowling lineup. Australia were regrouping under a new coach and were attempting to integrate newer players who had plied their trade in the more aggressive confines of the shorter form of the game.

Now, fast forward two years and England go into this series led by a new coach - an Aussie no less to add yet another subplot - and are trying to harness a new spirit from players with one-day experience. Australia's pace attack has established a fearful reputation and that, coupled with buckets of experience in the batting ranks, makes them clear favourites. It probably says a lot about the respective nations that Aussies have been queuing up to make bold predictions of a whitewash while Ian Bell, a veteran of six series, is happy to accept the role of underdog for the home team (which, it's worth noting, hasn't lost an Ashes in England since 2001).

Despite the fact that the Baggy Greens have the world's number one batsman in their ranks in Steve Smith, you do feel that the series rests on the way England's batsmen cope with the Australian attack.

The visitors arrive from Down Under with the most fearful pair of Mitchells since Grant and Phil from Eastenders in the shape of bowling duo Starc and Johnson. Johnson blew the batsmen away with sheer pace on his home soil in 2013/14 and will be hoping that his sheer reputation sends ripples of fear through the home dressing room. Even more worrying for England is the fact that Starc is possibly even better.

The aggression of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler could meet their fire with a counter-attacking fire, but England will need to accept that there will be failures in taking such an approach. All concerned must hold their nerve and back such players to come good. The players themselves need to find the right tone, remembering that they are in a test and not a T20.

Before these champing-at-the-bit youngsters arrive at the crease though it's up to Captain Cook to steer his side through the early exchanges. He has shown promising signs so far in 2015 of a return to form and it's hard to imagine an England win without a significant contribution from the nation's record test run scorer.

While Cook needs to draw on all of his powers of concentration to set the tone with the bat, his fellow record breaker Jimmy Anderson will need to shine with the ball. Much is made of the 'English conditions' being tough to cope with. Anderson - in tandem with Stuart Broad - is vital to making this home advantage pay.

In a way that's the key to success for England. The old timers - Cook, Bell, Anderson and Broad - must set a solid platform from which the younger players can shine. Cook needs to let that message filter into his captaincy too. He's often accused of being poor tactically but essentially he doesn't need a grand plan - he just need to be a calm head to get the best from Stokes, Wood, Buttler and Lyth.

In Joe Root England have a player with the class to aspire to Steve Smith's batting crown - and the potential to be star man. He will be targeted like never before and - thanks to David Warner - already has a bit of spice on his Ashes menu.

1/2 Disappointing to have my character questioned- those who know me realise how ridiculous Warner's excuse for hitting me sounds...

— Joe Root (@joeroot05) July 4, 2015

2/2 ...but that's his choice to try and justify his actions. I'm just extremely excited about next week and getting back out there.

— Joe Root (@joeroot05) July 4, 2015

In Gary Ballance and Moeen Ali, England do have two question marks. Both, however, have earned the chance to prove their critics wrong. Last summer's performances from this pair were superb, Ballance with a formidable batting average and Moeen taking wickets applenty against the supposed spin specialists of India.

It's certainly set for an intriguing contest. Confident, experienced and formidable favourites against a talented, developing side with home advantage. Australia probably should shade it but the signs are there that it could be a good contest.

It's also one of those all-too-rare occasions where test match cricket takes centre stage and a series is played out over five matches. Here's hoping for a cricketing feast that's even tastier than the Kiwi clashes that have whetted the appetite so nicely.

Lessons from cricket for English football after under-21s exit

When it comes to football, what do Spain, Holland and France all have in common? Better than England a battle hardened follower of the Three Lions might say...

Yet, actually, none of these international powerhouses even made it to the under-21 European football championships. It's a little unfair that England's young stars have been widely criticised for 'flopping' at a tournament that that trio weren't good enough to make.

Today Germany crashed out with a 5-0 defeat against a Portugal side that beat England 1-0. Presumably the same mob that came out with the tired old cliches about England's side will be hammering the heirs to the world champions' shirts now too?

The worst thing about the England national team is not the quality of the football, it's the ridiculousness of the reactions to it. Win a couple of games and we're tournament winners in waiting. Lose one and everyone should be sacked, the Premier League must be reformed and the players are roundly pilloried.

When it comes to the under-21s the reaction is even more tiresome. Yes, we need to get more of our young talent into Premier League starting XIs and yes we should pick our best available players in the age category.

But these tiresome circular debates do little good for the players who are actually there. Spending time moaning about the lack of Jack Wilshere or Ross Barkley will do little to instil confidence in their replacements.

Likewise there is little recognition that only 8 teams can make this tournament. Losing in the group stages of the under 21 Euros is hardly comparable to the adult sides. Our track record of reaching these events is excellent and no-one has an entitlement to win.

I also feel we've lost track of what the point of the under-21s is. Yes tournaments, results and competitions are important - but the ultimate goal is to groom the next generation. The only way to judge how much of a 'flop' or not Southgate's side is is to look back on this lineup and see how many make it as full internationals.

Southgate himself has gone from England senior manager in waiting to under fire, a trajectory that befell his predecessor. The side themselves are now being labelled 'mediocre' on the radio by the likes of Danny Mills and Joey Barton - rent-a-quote players who will know a thing or three about mediocrity.

In saying this I do think there is a need to address the 'stage fright' our youngsters encounter on such occasions (nothwithstanding selection and injuries). Yet the reaction to this tournament is part of the problem.

I can't help thinking that some lessons could be learned from England's one day cricket team. Battered and bruised from a pathetic World Cup showing (and you thought the u21s performance was bad) the team has turned its fortunes around by letting its young talent loose.

The biggest and most refreshing change in 50-over cricket for England has been to remove the fear of failure. Players are sent out to attack, express themselves and be aggressive.

It's tempting to say that this is how the footballing young guns should play. It's certainly too simplistic to say 'all out attack' is the way forward - but the aggression and freedom to express themselves is key.

Yet, when it comes to the cricketing revolution this summer, patience has also been key to the success. Fans and media have embraced the new regime and accepted that defeats and set backs are inevitable when a team sets out to play a riskier but more exciting way.

Are we ready to accept that our young up and coming footballers will make mistakes and lose games? Until we are the straightjacket will be on and the fear of failure will inhibit the way our young stars go about their business.

I can't help thinking that that mentality - over and above team selection, formations and managers etc, - is important to encourage and nurture our under-21s. If we're to do that - and match England's exciting cricketing turnaround on the cricket field - the long-term benefit for the senior level could be telling.

That means that, as the public, we too must play our part and stop simply trotting out criticism from the sidelines. This negativity is part of the problem.

Exciting start for England's 'new era'

England's cricketers have been playing a different version of the one day game to the rest of the world for many years - a slower, duller and less successful one at that. Today it would be an understatement to say the penny finally seemed to have dropped.

At a humbling World Cup the side continued to go through the motions while exciting attacking line ups fielded by rival side put them well and truly to shame. We were happy to 'get 250 on the board' while most teams wanted to have reached that total with 10 or more overs left. Our batting was timid and our all round game hampered by poor plans based on out-of-date statistics.

The talk after the tournament - where we've had a welcome switch to red ball cricket - was of the need for a 'new era'. Long-term followers will have listened that and thought 'we've heard that one before'. It's easy to talk of change - no-one in sport ever talks of carrying on losing - but it's harder to match those words with actions.

The signs were promising as soon as the squad was selected - and there was a real will to see the likes of Hales, Roy and Rashid let loose at last alongside a smattering of other fresh names. The expectation was that this bunch could give the beaten World Cup finallists of New Zealand a decent game - and learn from them in the process.

It wouldn't be England if everything went smoothly and the loss of Jason Roy from the first ball brought the optimists crashing down to earth straight away.

But not to worry. The excellent Joe Root - sure to be England's star performer in all formats for years to come - swiftly went about keeping the faith of the watching public. With sumptuous stroke play and powerful hitting he rebuilt the innings with the help of captain Eoin Morgan.

Root is so good that he often gets touted as a possible captain but I'm more than happy that he continues without that particular crown of thorns for the time being. Morgan's knock - and later captaincy in the field - proved his worth at the helm. You always felt the Irishman would've been happier with a freer, more instinctive game plan anyway and so it proved.

But then came the setbacks. Wickets fell and at 202-6 the timid old England of the World Cup would've folded. Not so today. The brilliant Buttler and fearless Rashid simply took up the charge and powered Morgan's men on and on. Buttler's brute force, timing and invention was breathtaking and Rashid's bucaneering knock shouldn't be understimated either, helping to drive his partner on.

The icing on the cake came in some style courtesy of Liam Plunkett, who came in and smashed his first two balls for six apiece and saw the innings over the 400 mark.

The records tumbled - but the symbolism was even more important. We can mix it with the big boys after all.

New Zealand approached their impossible chase with admirable bravery. McCullum briefly threatened to inflict pain on Steven Finn but, buoyed by the aggression of the batsmen, the tall fast bowler shrugged off a couple of hefty blows, held his nerve and sent the Kiwis' talisman packing to begin a haul of 4-35.

The highlight of the bowling innings, though, came from Adil Rashid. The Yorkshire leg spinner has been talked about for so long and justified the faith to at last give him a go. He went through his full repertoire of deliveries and helped to tame the middle order with a fantastic 4-55. There's a real joy in watching a leg spinner in full flow and it was a delight to see this lesser-spotted art performed in and England shirt to such effect.

And, with that, England polished off New Zealand for 198, winning by a massive 212 run margin. At the World Cup 212 alone looked a struggle.

The important thing is not to get carried away. There will be days when batsman fail - indeed Roy and Billings didn't shine this time - and others when Rashid receives some 'treatment'. The magnificent manner of the victory in this match and the goodwill it will rightly earn deserves to secure patience from selectors and supporters. We won't get 400 every time but we have shown that aggression and positivity can pay off. Trevor Bayliss can simply burn a few copies of this performance and reach for his pipe and slippers for now. More of the same please...

A welcome return to Trent Bridge

You can't beat a spot of cricket at Trent Bridge, and the purest way to get a fix is with a day of county championship cricket. Yes, there's not the pyrotechnics of the Twenty20 or the intensity of a Test Match - both enjoyable in their own right - but there's a real joy to be had from days such as today.

It's perhaps easy to take the venue for granted but we shouldn't. This ever-evolving ground - with all singing and dancing scoreboard screens and new stands - is a world class setting and regularly ranked among the top of its kind by people within the game. It pays not to forget how lucky we are to have that in reach.

A county championship match offers the perfect chance to soak in the surrounds and enjoy a slice of sporting action in a relaxing atmosphere. The action unfolds intriguingly before you - but at the sort of pace that leaves room to dip in and out a little. In fact I often find it's a great chance to catch up with a friend for a chinwag and today was also a good chance for that - a perfect mix of social and sporting pleasures. Oh and £15 for seven and a half hours? Not bad at all.

So, what of the action? Well, the combination of the cloud cover and green-looking wicket meant Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read was happy to put the visitors from Somerset into bat. It seemed to be a smart move when, before I'd even taken my seat, Vernon Philander removed ex-England opener Marcus Trescothick.

The South African test star has struggled to settle since joining the county but really got his teeth into the action today, with tight probing bowling that maybe deserved even more success than was shown by his final figures of 4-56. Luke Wood ably assisted Philander but Jake Ball and Harry Gurney struggled to keep the pressure on the visitors and it looked like Somerset would head to lunch having seen off the worst of the early morning pressure.

Then up stepped Steven Mullaney. He relished the conditions and made a breakthrough by beating Johann Myburgh for length, just when a half century was in his grasp. His partner James Hildreth then fell to Philander - the third of seven batsmen clean bowled during the day - as the game turned. The icing on the cake for the home side was provided when Tom Cooper came and went - just like that! - for a five-ball one, another victim of Mullaney. 101-5 made it Notts' morning.

After a nice lunch time pint - the Belhaven Golden Bay in the Pavilion - I expected (and hoped) Chris Read's men might turn the screw and limit the visitors to at least below 250, but it wasn't to be.

Some excellent aggressive hitting from Peter Trego (41) and that perennial fly in the ointment James Allenby (64) wrestled control back for Somerset, their efforts taking them to 241-8 before James Overton strode to the crease and stole the show.

The tall number 10 powered his way to the sort of quick scoring innings that wouldn't have been amiss in a Twenty20, with 11 4s in an impressive 31-ball 55. It was only when Gurney finally bowled full and straight that his damaging knock came to an end after tea. Still, when Luke Wood smashed Tim Groenewald's stumps to finish the innings off, Somerset would surely have been delighted with their total of 312.

Notts then faced a tricky 24 overs before the end of the day. Steven Mullaney seemed to ride his luck a little and, just when he was starting to settle, fell to a slightly harsh looking lbw decision. Debutant Greg Smith then added just 8 before himself falling lbw to a decision that appeared more clear cut.

Then, with two Taylors at the crease, it was a case of toughing it out against some tight bowling from Trego (8-4-17-0) and Groenewald (9-4-16-1). While the early overs gave a few too many 'leave-able' balls to the batsmen, this pair had the bit between their teeth by the end - vociferously appealing a couple of close lbw shouts against Brendan Taylor. As the spectators shivered in increasingly cool conditions and the floodlights were called upon to lift the gloom, both Taylors just about clung on, Brendan ending on 11 off 73 balls.

And that was that. It's probably curious to fans of other sports to leave a day's action with nothing decided but seeing the ultimate result isn't necessary to enjoy the cricket. If the weather forecast is to be believed then it may be a struggle to get a result in this game in the next three days but that didn't matter today. Good cricket, good company and a great setting all made for an enjoyable day. More people ought to learn to love the appeal of this gem of the British summer.

Different World Cup, same old story

The World Cup is upon us. On the eve of the tournament England are predicted to struggle and be on the plane home long before the silverware is dished out. There's still some debate on the best line up, the tactics that they ought to deploy, the leadership is under scrutiny and a high profile ex-captain and would-be star player is unavailable for selection after a high profile fall out.

No, we haven't time travelled. This isn't the build-up to last summer's football World Cup in Brazil, but the situation that faces the nation's cricket team (well, the nation plus the players we've borrowed from others) ahead of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

It's odd isn't it? Do other nations operate the same way to us? When we have a complicated but undoubtedly talented and experienced star, be it John Terry or Kevin Pietersen, we seem unable to manage them. Yes, it can't be easy but isn't it the job of the leadership of our sporting teams to manage big egos and star names? Can Arjen Robben, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Jacques Kallis or Shane Warne have been 'easy' to handle?

Still, just as John Terry was nowhere near Roy Hodgson's team in Brazil, 'KP' will be taking to the airwaves with the Test Match Special team instead of switch-hitting and strutting around the crease. Interestingly he won't be involved until the quarter finals, by which time he may not have pass comment on his former teammates...

In South America the tactics of Roy Hodgson and captaincy of Wayne Rooney were under intense scrutiny. Pundits were looking for a bolder, more attacking approach that made use of the talented young stars that had emerged into the ranks. Sound familiar? Down Under the Three Lions will be led by newly-installed captain Eoin Morgan who is talented but yet to live up to his potential. His England side contains the likes of Jos Buttler, James Taylor, Chris Woakes and Steven Finn - talented young players who are crying out to be 'let loose' in the shorter form of the game. They're the Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of the cricket world. Morgan and the management need to find a way to make sure the nation's cricketing talent can be harnessed to get the kind of results their footballing counterparts failed to find last summer.

Those results will be difficult to find in the first two games. While our footballers faced Italy and Uruguay, the cricketers come up against both host nations straight away. Unlike the football, though, there will be chance to grow into the tournament - and Scotland, Bangladesh and Afghanistan should offer a more realistic prospect of victory. That may make it much easier to qualify for the knockout stages, but those first games are still important as the side looks to find its form and improve the way it plays the 50-over format.

To be fair to Hodgson, he adapted his style from the 2012 European  Championships, when he was thrown in at the deep end and threw together a defensive lineup. The cricket team's troubles have been in not keeping up the pace with the rest of the world. While other teams are littered with powerful hitters who continue to push the boundaries (quite literally) England still potter on with the same plan and tactics of 10 years ago. 45-1 off ten overs is no longer anywhere near enough - with teams plundering closer to double that on a regular basis. Likewise, we still seem to view 300 as a big total when others virtually see it as 'par', especially on fast, bouncy Australian wickets.

Whether it's death bowling, powerful six hitting, innovative stroke making, or 'finishing' with the bat we're behind our rivals - we badly need to score more runs and be much tighter with the ball at the end of an innings. It mirrors the football team's need to pass the ball better - especially compared to much better rivals on the continent.

And what of the contenders? South Africa are clearly cricket's Argentina. In AB De Villiers they have the nearest the game has to a Lionel Messi and, just like the South Americans, you feel that they may struggle to live up to the undoubted talent they have in their ranks to back up the star man.

They should be able to reach the semi finals but you feel one of the two hosts, both in decent form, should emerge as the winner, with the boys in the baggy green the more likely.

The Indians don't seem to enjoy playing in Australia, Sri Lanka are asking too much for their senior pros, West Indies are a mess again and Pakistan don't seem capable of consistent, quality performances.

England, meanwhile, will be left with a familiar debate to that of the football world. We'll have a debate about grass roots, about the direction and rules of the domestic game and we'll probably commission a review. It's all depressingly familiar.

And yet, despite England's difficulties and the long and flawed tournament format,  I'm still looking forward to it. Plus, on the bright side, we definitely won't crash out on penalties...