2009 a bumper year - Clarke

ECB chairman Giles Clarke believes English cricket has a chance to capture the public imagination in 2009 like never before.

England host the second ICC World Twenty20 tournament in June, a forerunner to five Test matches against Australia, as England seek to reclaim the Ashes.

“We’re going to be centre-stage,” Clarke told ECBtv*. “No other sport will have the same attention in the same way that we will.

“The 2005 Ashes really captured the public imagination, and with the Twenty20 tournament beforehand (this year) it should make a major difference.”

Clarke also believes the difficulty in predicting a winner of the 12-team tournament will add to its allure. Lord’s, the Brit Oval and Trent Bridge will play host to the event, won in 2007 by India.

“It’s a huge event. It’s sold out," he added. "We have excellent people involved and some very good teams. It’s a very exciting tournament.

“Aside from an opportunity to attend matches, they will be well-covered, with wall-to-wall television. We’ll be looking to create the big-screen opportunities in the parks of England like last time.

Giles Clarke praised Kevin Pietersen and England's decision to return to India after the Mumbai attacks

“It’s very hard to say who are favourites. Every one of the eight major nations has a real chance so it will be a fantastic curtain-raiser to the Ashes series.”

He admits, however, it will be hard to recapture the same enthusiasm for the Ashes as in 2005, when England and Australia traded punch fo -punch, led by inspired performances from Andrew Flintoff and Shane Warne.

Clarke, currently in Mohali to watch England attempting to square the series with India, also had time to reflect on the players’ decision to return to the tour following the atrocities in Mumbai.

“It was totally correct for world cricket that we came back,” he said.

“We made it clear as a board that we accepted the BCCI’s invitation. But it was also a decision that the players made themselves. Hugh (Morris) and Kevin (Pietersen) discussed the whole thing properly and were determined they would come back as a team.

“I thought they played well at Chennai. It was a remarkable performance. India are a pretty tough customer on their own turf.

“It’s demonstrated very clearly that it’s very safe and secure to play Test cricket in India, that the facilities and security are first-class.

“The whole country has moved back to normal life since the tragedy of 26/11. As part of the healing process, cricket being on the front pages of Indian newspapers is where we want to be.

“The boys have shown they are a tight unit. They’re very determined and focused, and relying upon each other. But there is a determination to do as well as possible.”