[GreatBriton]

cricket has always been England's no2 sport, behind soccer and ahead of rugby, but.....

Is cricket becoming England's new national sport?

Tomorrow is the last day of cricket's The Ashes, which is played between England and Australia every few years, and which England haven't won since 1987. But England are looking certain to WIN the Ashes tomorrow, and cricket fever has gripped the whole of England and Wales (because it's the England/Wales team). Tomorrow there could be parties in pubs across the land - and the England team have already booked a place in Trafalgar Square where they can celebrate with the fans.

But, soccer, which has long been our national sport, but surprising statistics show that it's on the decline in England, with cricket very much on the increase -

September 11, 2005

Cricket whacks Footie for six
David Smith and Yuba Bessaoud



CRICKET is thwacking football out of the ground as the sport that best represents “traditional” British virtues.


A poll published today reveals that 66% of people think the game played on innumerable village greens reflects the nation’s desirable traits, while only 22% think football does.



The poll of more than 1,800 people, carried out on Thursday and Friday, reveals a remarkably uniform view among men and women. Among women, 65% to 20% favour cricket; among men, who might be expected to support football, 66% think cricket better represents British virtues against 22% for football.

Even young people agree, by two to one (59% to 28%).

The poll comes as the final Ashes Test hangs in the balance after rain disrupted play yesterday, leaving Australia still chasing England’s first innings total of 373. England must at least draw the match to win the Ashes for the first time since 1987.

A series of thrillingly close games has created new public heroes of players such as Andrew Flintoff, who have displayed a combination of talent, grit and sporting behaviour that leaves football’s far more highly paid stars looking lame.

If the cricketers win the Ashes, they will each receive a bonus of £60,000 — an average week’s wages for football players in the Premier League.

Surrey County Cricket club, owners of the Oval, which is hosting the final Test, sold all its tickets within hours of them going on sale last November, with up to 50,000 applications having been rejected. Matches have attracted television audiences of more than 8m.

Football, by contrast, appears to be on the wane. Only 44% of those questioned said they were now interested in league and international football, although men (57%) were more interested than women (32%).

The figures may have been influenced by the dismal performance of England’s footballers the day before the survey started, when the team lost 1-0 to Northern Ireland. That performance is also reflected in the poll’s finding on Sven-Goran Eriksson, the England football coach. By 50% to 43% the poll shows that people think Eriksson should be sacked.

The poll’s findings mark a sharp contrast to public attitudes a few years ago. In the late 1990s, after a series of squabbles and bad results, the England cricket team was given the unofficial title of the worst in the world - they are now ranked no2 in the world behind World Champions Australia.


thetimesonline.co.uk

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The latest score in the finals Ashes game -

1st innings

England - 373
Australia - 367

2nd innings

England - 34/1

England are leading by 40 runs overnight, and there is only one day left to play.