I ENDED my column last week by saying that I hoped the one-day internationals will have whetted everyone's appetite. Since then, my travels have taken me to Worcester and Derby and it was marvellous to see people flocking to the grounds to see the Australians and to hear them saying it was just like old times.

I also said that our Texaco success would have no bearing on the outcome of the Ashes series. I am sure Australia will have re-grouped and will come at England with as many guns blazing as they can. We need to go about our business quietly and conscientiously, fully aware that we are playing the best cricket team in the world and fully aware that we are firmly second favourites, with a desire and a belief that we can win this series if we play to our maximum.

I have listened to a number of radio programmes and at times detected gloom and doom. Obviously we have no control over that and within our camp there will be none of it.

While the cricket follower is eagerly anticipating the summer, can you imagine what this series means to the people who are actually playing? The Australian lads having their first taste of an Ashes series, and, from our side, Mark Butcher walking out to bat on his debut for England against Australia.

Spare a thought too for Devon Malcolm coming back into the fold. Time is not on his side, but if I know Devon, when he puts on his sweater with the three lions and coronet, there will be a heart the size of Derbyshire bursting to get out.

Much has been written and said about the Edgbaston pitch. The players have no control over it and so on the morning of the game someone will bat and someone will bowl. It is as simple as that.

I remember chatting to Bob Simpson about the need to keep the game simple. He said that when you come into the game as a youngster you just go out and play. As you become experienced you start to look at the moisture in the pitch, the way the wind is blowing, the long-term weather forecast and suddenly the game is complicated. It is, in fact, the same game as when you started.

I am grateful to Michael Parkinson in these columns for reminding me of the experience I had playing against Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee in Australia in 1975. As everyone probably remembers I was struck a painful blow which The Telegraph modestly reported as 'a groin injury'. Sadly, the delivery missed my groin area, but not by much.

If I can elaborate on Parky's report of the event, I was wearing the only thing that was available for protection in those days - the pink Litesome. I expect cricketers of that era now use them as soap holders. Anyway, after I was struck in that most delicate of areas everything that should have been inside the pink Litesome had found its way through the breathe-holes therein.

I took no further part in the game that day and as is usual when there is a serious injury to a player a tannoy announcement was made inquiring, ``Is there a doctor on the ground?'' On this occasion a doctor would have been surplus to requirements but a welder would have been useful.

The following morning I was still feeling groggy and I expected to bat down the order but our captain, Mike Denness, said I was to go in next. Our openers for the day went out as I waited in the dressing-room, from where one could not see the game in progress. After about five minutes there was a crescendo of noise; I stood, put on my gloves, picked up my bat and uttered the line, ``I take it we have not hit a six''.

The first ball from Thommo hit me in the throat and as he retrieved the ball from my crease he bade me good morning with, 'G'day Ya Pommie B******.' All great fun but probably not at the time.

I vowed a long time ago that I would never use the term ``in my day'' but Ashes series are so special to anyone who has taken part that I always look forward to seeing the guys I played with and against. Lillee, Thomson the Chappells, Rod Marsh et al. Our time has gone and it really is all about the boys of today. But if I see a school developing after a day's play, and Botham and Willis are involved and there are runs and wickets to be had I hope they let me join in, if only to get another story or two.

In the meantime, everything is all set up. It is going to be a humdinger of a series. Both teams will play strong cricket. They will also have a beer at the end of the day. Is there any other way?