What Sport Will Get More Attention in England for Next Few Weeks? Cricket or Football?

England soccer team qualified for the World Cup 2010 Knockout Stages, which will draw a significant attention towards the game of football among English sports fan. This might well disrupt the interest for ongoing cricket series between Australia and England.

England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, all cricket playing nations featured in this years soccer world cup. However only England got qualified for the knockout stages while host South Africa along with New Zealand and Australia failed to make it further beyond the first round itself.

Finn 'will be a Test star'

Steve Finn is a quality bowler who possesses all the attributes to trouble Australia during the winter Ashes series, according to one of his England colleagues.

Stuart Broad was recently given time off from playing to go on a period of "intensive strengthening", and now Finn, a newcomer to the Test arena, is also going to be sent on a similar period of work in the gym.

The duo bowled together in Test matches against Bangladesh earlier this year and could also take to the field when England play a series against Pakistan at the end of July.

England also play a series of Twenty20 and One-Day games against the same opposition throughout the summer and early autumn before they fly out to Australia in November to prepare for an Ashes winter. The Ashes cricket betting suggests England will struggle on tour, so the player will need to be fully fit.

Both Broad's and Finn's period of strengthening were designed to help ensure they will be in top shape to face Australia, and the former said you need to be in "really good physical shape" for Test cricket so it is a "good move" to send Finn to the camp.

"He is a talented bowler with all the attributes to be a great success in international cricket," Broad said.

"It is a great opportunity for him to go away and do that and then come back strongly against Pakistan in the Test match series."

While Finn has come in and taken Test cricket by storm, one man he could potentially face in the Ashes is looking to rekindle his form to ensure he does not miss out.

Peter Siddle is recovering from back stress fractures and is due to play in the Indian Champions Twenty20 League to try and impress the selectors and get into the Australia team.

Meanwhile, in other sports news, the World Cup betting odds no longer make Spain favourites for the tournament.

They were replaced by Brazil after the European Champion's lost to Switzerland in their opening game.

Bresnan fears for Ashes

There is some concern that bowler Tim Bresnan could miss England's battles to retain the Ashes in Australia this winter.

It has been confirmed the Yorkshire star will not play in the second and final Test against Bangladesh at Old Trafford – and Ryan Sidebottom has replaced him in the squad for that match.

Bresnan suffered a stress fracture in his foot during the first match of the series at Lord's, and his performance in the match was also criticised by England coach Andy Flower.

After the clash the coach claimed that Bresnan had picked up some bad habits playing the shorter forms of the game, and some of them "were not great" for Test match cricket, something which showed against Bangladesh.

However, Flower also had some words of encouragement for the Yorkshireman.

The coach said: "It is a real pity he has picked up this injury as I was looking forward to seeing him in Manchester and how quickly he could adapt back into being a Test bowler."

Meanwhile, England cricket legend Ian Botham has predicted that Steve Finn will be a key figure for Flower's side in Australia this winter. The Ashes cricket odds suggest England will struggle to retain the urn, but Botham thinks the Middlesex man can do a job.

He told the Mirror that he believes Finn has emerged as a Test match cricketer at "just the right time" but it could be interesting to see if Flower will pick both Finn and Stuart Broad in the Ashes matches.

Meanwhile, England remain third favourites in the World Cup 2010 betting, ahead of the big kick off.

The squad have now arrived in South Africa and are preparing to face USA in just over a week's time.