John Helm: A very strange start to what should be a fascinating series

Jul 8 2009 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SO WHY is Cardiff staging the first Test?

History demands that when England play Australia it’s at Trent Bridge, or Edgbaston, Headingley or Lords to begin with.

Poor old Old Trafford is missing out completely.

Sofia Gardens just doesn’t sound right for such an immense occasion.

Four years ago this nation was euphoric at the triumph of Michael Vaughan’s heroes but a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.

Australia wreaked vengeance with a whitewash when we went down Down Under with almost embarrassing ease.

Vaughan has gone along with the likes of Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Geraint Jones and Marcus Trescothick but then so have Warne, Gilchrist, Langer, Hayden and McGrath to more than even out that little score.