Despite the thrashing which England received at the hands of the Australian Christmas, never have I been more optimistic about the prospects for English cricketers and particularly the young ones.  Even within the current Test Match side the potential is enormous and the talent full of promise.  Cook, Bell, Collingwoods, Pietersen and Panesar are just a handful of examples.

But my main cause for such hope for the future lies in the annual Bunbury Festival which has now for 21 years swept up and down the country gathering together the best young players in the land, from the Sussex Downs last year to the historic city of Hull in 2007.  How we all look forward to visiting that great bastion of civilisation and enjoying the special culture of Yorkshire cricket.

All who visit Hull in the summer will be in for a real treat.  The organisation and friendship will be second to none.  David English, as a master of ceremonies, will be donning his pads given half a chance but, if not, will be entertaining us on the side with his jokes which strangely seem to improve the more you hear them.

Welcome to you all.  The 2007 Bunbury Festival will, along with all the others, be something to savour.  And my word what a difference it all makes to English cricket and the development of its excellence programme.