England Fast bowler Graham Onions believes that his fellow countrymen are ready to adopt the nation's cricketers as their source of pride following the fall-out from football's World Cup.
The Three Lions suffered humiliation in South Africa, but Andrew Strauss' side has continued to impress in the wake of their World Twenty20 triumph.
"It's been a long time since the England cricket team has been the country's leading lights," said paceman Onions.
"The football is normally king in England but it was such a disappointing World Cup. Everybody would like to know why the players didn't perform and what really went on in the camp," The Daily Express quoted Onions, as saying.
"I think English cricket is so much more successful because the lads are playing with smiles on their faces. They're giving England supporters exactly what they want by hitting boundaries and taking wickets, and at the moment we're really producing the goods. We're playing some fantastic cricket and getting results which is what the fans expect."
While England's cricketers have enjoyed a glorious year, Onions has cut a frustrated figure, having been forced to miss the past six months with injury.
"I don't see any reason why I can't make it back for the Ashes. Obviously, the main thing is that if I'm still in pain and can't bowl then I won't go. If I'm bowling pain free and doing well after a long lay-off then I might persuade the selectors to take a gamble," he said.
