Cash in boys!

England's excuse for a Cricket team once again failed to turn up this week - this time for the 1st Ashes test match at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

England's first innings total of 435 actually drew half a smile to my face, and for one moment I believed we could win the Ashes! But no. Australia managed to rack up nigh-on 700, with only the loss of 6 wickets. Their innings included 4 centurions - Simon Katich (122), Ricky Ponting (150), Marcus North (125*), and Brad Haddin (121). Once again, England's individual inability to bring up the gallon was their downfall, and they now find themselves trailing by 137 at Lunch on the last day, with only 5 wickets remaining.

Just what is it about English cricketers that gives them this unique ability to unimpress time after time? They have the talent. They have the coaching. They have the brains. The only thinkable reason is that they earn more money from the bad press they receive the following morning. No? Beyond me!

I long for the day when we, as England fans, can celebrate a Test Match hundred against a decent nation. West Indies were dreadful, lets face it. Scoring a century against them is like taking candy from a 2 year-old. It's about time that these cricketers, who earn plentiful amounts to entertain us, and bring home silverware for their country, step up and actually play to their potential ability. I'm fed up, and the whole of the nation are fed up, with mediocrity and under-par performances from so-called 'world-class' players.

Maybe we should take an example from the Irish. For the second major tournament running, they managed to upset a test-playing nation, and find themselves in the second stage. They have a captain, William Porterfield, who leads from the front. They have the hard hitting Kevin O'Brien who has an ability that no England player bar KP seems to possess, in hitting sixes, and they have a reliable, experienced opening bowler in Trent Johnston. I know that Ireland are yet to play Test Match cricket, but the same principles are there. Be aggressive, take the initiative, attack the Aussies, and win the blasted match by hitting blasted centuries! Hello, but if four Australians can do it, surely at least ONE Englishmen can rise to the not so big challenge?