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CRICKET ROADSHOWS

Week 12 Preview - 28 Jul, Southampton Roadshow heads for pastures new

The Cricket Roadshow heads south this weekend as it checks out the newest county ground in the country, Hampshire's resplendent Rose Bowl.

The Saturday morning programme will be broadcast live from Mark Nicholas' former county, with special guests including Shane Warne, Michael Slater, Duncan Fletcher, Mark Butcher and Rod Bromsgrove.

Warne, the most successful leg-spinner in cricket history, returns to the club he represented last year to give a much anticipated masterclass in the art of wrist spin. It should prove essential viewing for aspiring youngsters wanting to learn the leggie's art, and might also be invaluable to any on-looking England batsmen trying to sneak a glimpse of Warne's seemingly endless varieties.

Fellow Australian Slater also returns to the show for a spot of presenting as he temporarily exchanges bat for microphone, while Butcher and Fletcher speak up for the beleaguered England camp as they try to regroup after successive thrashings in the opening two Ashes Tests.

In light of the ease with which Steve Waugh's men have trounced their hosts the Roadshow investigates the importance of psychology in the current series and whether England are actually a beaten team as soon as they step on the pitch.

How else can one explain the shocking decline in catching standards as soon as Australia arrived, or the nullifying of an opening bowling attack that's been cutting swathes through international batting orders for the best part of the last two years?

Is it simply a case of Australia being that much better, or are England simply weighed down mentally by the battle scars of previous Ashes defeats?

Elsewhere on the programme Hampshire chairman Bromsgrove talks about the work and finance required to build the county's impressive new ground, and explains why they are looking to become the first English county to float on the stock market and become a plc.

Could this be the beginning of a financial revolution within the English game and are any other counties likely to follow suit?

Further local input comes from Tim Tremlett, the Hampshire and England under-19 coach, and there will also be a comprehensive review of the week's main county games.

The Roadshow, as ever, welcomes email correspondence on any cricketing topic.

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