Cricket is one sport that seems to divide opinions - some people see it as being dull and boring, while others love to watch it. I'm in the latter category - I think it's a sport that has an enormous amount to offer, both for players and fans.
Looking back on how I first became interested in the sport, it's amazing how quickly it captured the imagination. This was a sport of great deeds, wonderful players and amazing stories. For me, the adventure was to begin with Test Match cricket.
Watching a Test Match is great fun and many purists would argue that this is the real version of the game. With its lengthy history and great opportunity for nations to go into battle, it's a form of the game that has thrown up so many different stories over the years.
Growing up in England, it was natural that my interest should be drawn to the exploits of Botham, Gower and the other fine English cricketers of the time. The greatest battle that these players faced was, of course, The Ashes.
The Ashes was the great Test series, played between England and Australia. Hard-fought contests, they offered the opportunity to really pit the English team against the increasing power of the Aussies. In recent times, Australia have largely got the better of England, as they've come to dominate Test cricket.
Has this meant that my own interest in cricket has decreased? Far from it. The fact that England are frequently expected to lose these matches simply means that it's all the more amazing when they steal the odd win.
Occasionally, of course, there's still the chance for England to win back The Ashes, as they did successfully in the summers of 2005 and 2009.
As you watch a game of cricket you can't help but be drawn into the contest. It's a battle between one country and another, between one player and another, between bat and ball. There are so many factors that come into play that there's always something to discuss.
Some express surprise that commentators find so much to talk about during matches that last for up to five days. The fact that they do shows how much there is to observe and how many great stories there are to tell.
Keith Barrett has written about cricket and
cricket gloves for a number of publications. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.
