Gannon talks cricket (From Stroud News and Journal)

Gannon talks cricket

10:18am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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ENGLAND start the First Test match of the summer at Lord's on Thursday against a revamped New Zealand side.

The Black Caps will be without some of their most experienced players, most notably Stephen Flemming, the captain.

It will be very interesting to see how my former Gloucestershire coach John Bracewell organises his inexperienced side to good effect.

He managed to maximise resources at Gloucestershire over a five- year period to win five Lord's finals and gain promotion in the championship in his final season 2003.

But will he gain success in the longer format of the game without home advantage? Some rumours have also suggested this may be his swansong tour before resuming work alongside Stroud's own Jack Russell at Gloucestershire.

I feel the series will be evenly matched in the bowling stakes with plenty of good seamers on show, and it will be the batting that determines the final outcome. England's top six have been inconsistent whilst New Zealand's are largely untried. By all accounts the one to watch is Ross Taylor who is set to become the star of the Black Caps batting.

Either way, it is always an intriguing series with New Zealand who should never be underestimated.

England all-rounder Paul Collingwood has declared himself fit and his presence should give England a lift.

Finally, I had a great weekend with the ball and managed to take six wickets for Frocester on a very, very hot day. I bowled 16 consecutive overs, so I was certainly feeling pretty stiff when I returned to my coaching duties at Wycliffe College on Monday.

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