I RECENTLY watched my first Test match at The Oval - it was a a terrific experience, especially the way England are performing nowadays.

The Oval is certainly steeped in tradition but in my opinion it's not a patch on our own Rose Bowl which, along with The Oval and Edgbaston, will host the forthcoming ICC Trophy matches.

These are held every year in different countries and it's a tribute to Rod Bransgrove, Nick Pike and all the staff at the Rose Bowl that the best cricketers in the world will all be performing here in Hampshire this month.

In football terms it will be like Brazil, France and Germany all playing at St Mary's.

The first game here is on September 11 when India play Kenya followed two days later by the best team in the world, Australia, who are training in Hampshire for the whole of the tournament, against the USA.

West Indies take on Bangladesh on the September 15th then England come to play Sir Lanka on the 17th.

The Rose Bowl will also stage one of the semi-finals on September 22.

If you want a ticket, you can e-mail www.hampshirecricket.com or telephone 0876 2430291.