Funny old games

Yesterday successfully managed to highlight one of the oddities that comes with that most fickle of past-times, being an England sporting supporter.� First there was the cricket team… since riding high on their glories of last summer when the Ashes were regained for the first time in 18 years, most would have been forgiven for thinking that a golden age of cricketing accomplishment was dawning for this England team.� However, while the five-day version of the game remains fairly healthy despite the below par tours of the subcontinent in the winter and a string of injuries, the one-day version is atrocious.� England have lost 8 of their 9 ODI’s this summer, and the one, non-defeat was the abandoned match on Saturday.� Ashes heroes Trescothic, Strauss and Pietersen studiously (and incomprehensibly) fail to deliver in the limited over format.

Meanwhile, at Old Trafford (the footballing version), their national footballing counterparts have been going through something of a resurgence in fortune.� The Ericsson/Beckham era is almost forgotten as McClaren’s men have an enviable “Played 2, Won 2, Goals For 9, Goals Against 0” record.� Perhaps the most striking sign of the changing times is the number 7 shirt, which has been passed from Beckham to the previously derided Owen Hargreaves, who has excelled with one Man-Of-The-Match performance after another.� But the cricket has tought us one thing, don’t let short term success lull you to a false sense of security.� With further European qualifiers coming and Ashes round the corner it’s going to be an interesting time for the fans.

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Tags: BBC1, England, ODI, Owen-Hargreaves, Pakistan, SkySports, Sport, Steve-McClaren, Sven, Test-Match, The-Ashes