The KP saga has quite conveniently relegated England's Aussie disaster for the time being. Where do England go. Let's look at the facts:
tests 5-0
ODI 4-1
T20 3-0
And my opinion is that these weren't just defeats but humiliations. The Aussies were up for a fight and England ran away. The batting was atrocious, the bowling uninspired (although I do have sympathy with Broad and co) and the fielding was ordinary. Cook's captaincy was almost non-existant.
Normally after a tour 2 or 3 players might be under the microscope. I struggle to find players who now can guarantee a game. Broad and Stokes will be automatic choices. Broad is the only established player left with his reputation intact IMHO.
Cook & Bell will be picked although both had miserable tours. I gather Carberry is too old so any thoughts on an opening partner? I still don't see what Nick Compton did so wrong. That is only 4 batsmen so I guess Root will be on the team sheet. Still struggling.
Will Prior be recalled? What on earth happened to this bloke over 12 months. Player of the series against NZ to amateur league form. I guess the NZ series was one to forget also.
Alongside Broad, Jimmy will play but A. N. Other quick? None of the other bowlers covered themselves in glory. A spinner? I assume Monty is out of the picture.
We know a new coach is coming but there are so many other questions to be answered. Why were we so unprepared? How come the 3 quicks on the plane could not hold down a place? Why was the batting so universally awful?
Rant over
Where to now for England?
posted on 9/2/14
Yes Robbie proves my point on Cook. I think if Indian pacers improve which is not very likely and cook has a poor series against them, then I wont suprised if he is axed. he is really leaving on the sword right now, both captainship wise and batting wise
posted on 9/2/14
Robbie are you English?
posted on 10/2/14
Yes, I am, Viruda.
Scoring big against India at home doesn't really say much about a batsman's quality. Indians have done very poorly overseas, especially their bowlers.
posted on 10/2/14
"Duncan. look England could have won the game. and probably should have. don't make excuses for Clarke who nearly threw away a game."
Unfortunately due to the precedent set by Cook (Running to the umpires because of bad light to secure a draw) the Umps were forced to end the game. There is no should of there.
posted on 10/2/14
Morgan not putting himself forward for the IPL auction could be a sign he'll be given another chance in the Test team?
Cook
Root
Trott
Balance or Taylor
Bell
Morgan
Prior
Stokes
Jordan
Broad
Anderson
posted on 10/2/14
Woodward is correct. Why does the Captain and coach have a say who is selected, does this happen in Rugby or Football? It is an antiquated unjustified system, the Captain for instance by being part of the selection system is made practically invulnerable to dismissal even on poor form. The ECB say that Flower, Cook and Prior criticism was unwarranted (not unjustified you will note). Did the England Squad lose 9 out of 10 games ECB? Why was that you suppose, could it be perhaps about poor tactics from the Captain and Vice Captain, both of whom by the way throughout the tour were woefully out of form. Yes Cricket is a Team game but it is the only one that selects on whether the face fits, irrespective of form.
posted on 10/2/14
That test should have been ended sooner by the umpires. When England went running to the umpires about the bad light a reading was taken. When the Aussies complains about bad light towards the end of day 5 the umpires ignored them quite a few times and when they eventually took a light reading it was almost twice as bad as the reading on day 3.
Cook was time wasting since day 2 Imo and got what he deserved when the umpires took them off for bad light.
posted on 10/2/14
agree with martis. Captains should never have a say in selection. Its a similar situation with India. they have not any matches in overseas tours for 4 away series and yet the captains position is not in question.
Coming back to England, KP has agreed to play for surrey.
Now what happens when England are playing tests in that summer, and all their senior pros are failing/ not winning matches, and KP scores tons of runs? It will be funny imo.
posted on 10/2/14
To be honest England aren't gonna be playing any good teams this summer so im sure they will fill there boots.
posted on 21/2/14
It would have been hoped by the powers that be that all the main failings (management, captaincy and coaching) would have been conveniently lost in the PR disaster that was the KP sacking. But now we have the insight of Broads statement, the winter disaster resulted in KP going. So it was all his fault and everything is/has been done to protect the true failures Cook (conveniently being kept out of sight) and Flower (no doubt he is being lined up even now to keep him in the clique). Wonder what the excuses will be after the upcoming World Cup.