2009 Ashes / Frank Gregan / 20 April 2009 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

Frank Gregan thinks it's no surprise that with the IPL in action and the Twenty20 World Cup on the horizon, county cricket is very few people's priority. But it's the Ashes he's really looking forward to...

Many moons ago a half dozen of us found ourselves with nothing to do midweek whilst on leave in the sleepy town of Taunton in Somerset. One of my footballing mates was big buddies with Joel Garner and consequently we socialised with the cricketers on an infrequent basis, so we decided a pleasant way to spend the day would be at the cricket, a County Championship match, leather on willow and a few beers to boot!

It was my last venture to the longer version of the County game. I would have had a much better time staying in the barracks and sticking pins in my eyes! I have had more fun at selected funerals! It was dreadful - a bore from start to finish witnessed in the company of a scattering of flatulent old codgers who snored throughout the game. The beer was warm and flat and the cider ditto. The proposed alternative had been an afternoon in the betting shop and losing a wad would have been enjoyable in comparison! I am hooked on cricket and have watched every single delivery in a test match but the sub standard fayre on offer during the longer version at county level has no appeal.

These days cricket is much sexier and we have the IPL to keep us smiling through the early part of the season. Although the Ashes were important back then they had yet to turn it into the bi-annual matter of life and death and the patriotic festival that they are now. Most counties start their domestic four day campaigns this week knowing that the majority of cricket fans are more concerned as to whether Freddie and KP produce the goods for teams that sound like Infantry regiments and cigarette brands rather than who has won the toss between Sussex and Lancashire.

Cricket fans are apathetic towards the County four day game under normal circumstances and this year it is unlikely to even get a mention during the daily musings about the sporting world when working folk stand at the end of the day with a well earned pint in hand. The upcoming Twenty20 World Cup and the IPL are daily topics and even at this early stage the Ashes is a major talking point with the West Indies tour viewed as nothing but a prelude to the main event of the summer - the battle with the Auld Enemy from Down Under!

It's patriotic pride that is keeping the Australian price high and the [1.81] currently available on the Aussies to win the series are tremendous odds and I have further added to my portfolio for what I think is the bet of the year. To a man my drinking buddies disagree and pour scorn on any suggestion that England are nowhere near their best. It is this one eyed patriotism viewed through rose-coloured glasses (getting rosier with each pint) focussing on a glass that is half full rather than half empty that has ensured that the Aussies are the price they still are. Just give a Ricky Ponting or a Mike Hussey a decent track to bat on in the First Test and we'll soon witness their true price on Betfair! Book me a spot at Traitor's Gate because come September I will be able to find solace in chests of gold as I bemoan another English hammering at the hands of our Kangaroo eating cousins!

And as for the County Championship....Somerset started their campaign last week at home against Warwickshire. 4 days, 1280 runs and 15 wickets later the match ended in a draw. It's wonder they didn't hear the snores in Scotland!