England's chances

After a fantastic year the sleeping giant that is english cricket seems to have stirred. is this yet another false dawn, well time will tell but the evidence points towards good things,or does it? the west indies are by no means the force of yester year and they still took the silver ware from our grasp (icc trophy) and new zealand were disappointingly poor after the good display last time they visited these shores. the 1st test against south africa i hear you mutter, well yes good solid england but a lack luster boks, a team that it would seem are on the edge of implosion, caught up in quota rankles that seem ludicrous. i mean come on, if he's the best man for the job then play him, trying to right wrongs of time gone by by 'positive racism' is not the answer. the last test was a spectacle of good cricket, test cricket at it's best...... except for the bad light of course. but that aside England showed some back bone for once and despite a shocking first innings came back brilliantly, with trescothick and that man strauss again in fine fettle. thorpe again like so many times in the past came good. i have to say i thought a win was on the cards but yet more drama, south africa showed it does not lie down easily. pollock and de villiers the pick of the defiance. but back to the original question of a false dawn for english cricket. the next three tests will tell, maybe a win at newlands will start 2005 on the same path as 2004 and i pray, beg and plead with what every power is above, a victory over the mighty, mighty australians and the ashes back for the first time in nearly 20 years. that is the true test for england and we all know it will not be easy.