I READ with interest the letter (Friday, July 1) on the Ashes by Ron Willis.

The three football clubs mentioned spent a great deal of money and still failed to win the European Cup.

I think also that there is a gap between them and the South American countries dominant in the Confederations Cup.

All the signs are positive from England cricketers beating Pakistan the first time since 1968. We have not risen to second in the world for no reason.

We may lack bowling in the spin department but make this up with the positive batting of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff.

We have nothing to lose and hope that venues are full of positive supporters with St George flags. It is time that England get behind a team that can win the Ashes.

I would say that embarrassment should be replaced by disappointment. It is also time that the saying of "it is not the winning or the losing it is the taking part that counts" should go.

The country was much more happy when we won the rugby union World Cup and let us hope we can do the same with the cricket.

Timothy Wynn,

Dodgson Terrace,

Acomb,

York.

Updated: 11:11 Friday, July 15, 2005