Cricket draws crowds

by Sarah-Jane Hollands, London Correspondant.

Today, tens of thousands of people crowded onto the streets of London to applaud the victorious England cricket team and to celebrate the rightful return of The Ashes - although they never actually left the safety of Lords, it is clearly nice that they have been won back.

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Trafalger Square was awash with patriotism, Union flags only outnumbered marginally by the familiar Cross of St. George and it was Last Night of The Proms all over again as anthem after anthem rang out joyfully.

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The cricketers themselves even joined in the singing, although it has to be said that Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff is a lot more handy with a cricket bat than he is with a microphone!

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Of course, 'Jerusalem' got top billing, closely followed by 'Rule Brittania', 'Land of Hope and Glory' and the National Anthem. Even 'Nessun Dorma' snuck in there at the end. Appropriate really as (if the red tops are to be believed!) some of the players (step forward Mr Flintoff!) got precious little sleep last night!

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Naturally, an event as auspicious as this could not pass without that well known cricket afficionado, Tony Blair getting in on the act. Does the phrase "jumping on the bandwagon" have any significance here?

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One could assume that Tony Blair has his own personal bandwagon, which he keeps parked round the back of Number 10, filled up with (expensive) fuel and with the engine running, so at the first hint of sporting success, he can cling onto the coat tails of the winners.

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Unlike his immediate predecessor at Number 10, Blair has never shown the slightest inclination towards cricket and did not even play cricket at school.

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Well, neither did Flintoff. The two schools he attended did not have cricket on the curriculum. Cricket has all but disappeared from state schools. Today's victorious cricketers don't need Tony Blair's hollow congratulations, they need a firm commitment to give every child the chance to play cricket, not just watch it. Hopefully then it won't be another 18 years 'without' The Ashes.

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It was also noted that Blair invited the England Ladies cricket team to tea today. One can only suppose he got the girlies round to make the cucumber sandwiches and serve the tea, as cricket is very definitely not for girls - Howzat for political incorrectness? Indeed!