Old Trafford cricket ground is home to Lancashire County Cricket Club. It is not to be confused with the Old Trafford of Manchester United fame.

I have watched many a cricket match at Old Trafford and my affection for this historic pitch has grown as I have got older. Only the weather up north has ever dampened the atmosphere at Old Trafford and caused quite a few matches to be abandoned.

My dad used to take me to the county matches and built up my interest in the game watching the likes of Neil Fairbrother, Michael Atherton and Phil DeFreitas playing for Lancashire.

Test matches have been played at Old Trafford since 1884 and it was only the second ground in England to hold Tests after the first was played at the Oval. It even beat Lord's in hosting a Test match, showing its significance as a truly inspirational ground.

The best match by far that Old Trafford has hosted came as recently as August 2005, during the Ashes. Around 20,000 fans where locked out of the ground on the final day. It was a truly great game and with the series poised at 1-1, the match had even more significance.

Andrew Flintoff, playing in front of the Lancashire faithful, helped England to ther brink of victory - only the Australian tail-enders stopped England from taking a series lead.

Old Trafford has been in the spotlight for so many great moments in cricket over the years and is firmly established as a true favourite with the players and crowds.

In 1956 Jim Laker became the first bowler to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings - and Old Trafford is also the place where Sachin Tendulkar scored his first Test century.

The ground is due to be redeveloped with a bigger capacity, educational facilities and business premises. Let's hope England, and indeed Lancashire, have further success in the years to come and that Old trafford remains at the forefront of English cricket.