[Stairs]

Once upon a time I bought all test match and one day final tickets for Lords (you could apply in December sending a cheque).

Like most Englishman for decades I dedicated time to watch all other tests (home and away).

I remember being in my car in a traffic jam when a wicket was taken at the Oval and I punched the air. The guy in the car next to me gave a thumbs up and a couple of cars beeped their horns.

I got up regularly in the Winter in the early hours and sitting in front of a gas fire with a toaster (butter and Marmite) to watch the Ashes, Alan Lamb, David Gower and Beefy etc.

They deserved my loyalty.

But now I am not sure what’s happened to England Cricket.

Is it the money, is it the long term decaying impact of one day cricket or as I suspect, yet again, the curse of money. In recent years the stupid short format cricket. The big bash, 100 and whatever else they get called has them now swinging without caution at every bloody ball.

What ever it is, I (a once die hard cricket fan) can’t be arsed to watch any more.

It’s the same with England Football. Thank god Rugby Union has not yet capitulated (fully) to money.