ffs, Ballance was going well.

Not very bright cricket was it caught blue handed??

"Ste Davies:Cook MUST be relieved of captaincy so he can focus on single-minded, greedy run accumulation and forget all other responsibilities"
from BBC

Just the standard giving wickets away, englandwhoelse. New era, same problems. Another below 300 innings coming.

comment by Caught Blue Handed (U15905)
posted 34 minutes ago
OK Broad bashers, who would you have as captain?

I couldn't give a monkeys that he doesn't like to bowl at the death in ODIs, he isn't a death bowler. Test bowling and death ODI bowling are very different.
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Shows alot about his character that he lets younger bowlers bowl at the crunch times. I thought he was supposed to be 1 of englands better bowlers.

Your best bowler doenst hide at the end of an innings in one day days.

Plus hes always throwing strops hardly england captain material.

BOSS, so who would be your captain?

A great chance for Joe Root now to score his maiden test Double century and silence the doubters.
The pitch looks flat now, sun is shining and ball not new anymore.

comment by Caught Blue Handed (U15905)
posted 43 seconds ago
BOSS, so who would be your captain?
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TBH Looking at this England team there is no standout captain. IMO you need a risk taker, someone who tries something different when things arent going your way. This England team doesnt have that.

KP would have been a player who tries different things but its clear that England just want a Yes Man.

..not the best of starts

Still plenty of batting to come, so England should be ok..barr a middle order collapse

BOSS, so who would be your captain?
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TBH Looking at this England team there is no standout captain. IMO you need a risk taker, someone who tries something different when things arent going your way. This England team doesnt have that.

KP would have been a player who tries different things but its clear that England just want a Yes Man.
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I agree and I think the closest thing to an adventurous captain is Broad. KP is never going to come back, let alone be captain. Out of this team, you would just stick with Cook as you don't think there is a better alternative?

I agree on the yes man situation. That's why they went for Moores as coach..Doesnt seem to be the man to get stuck into the players..
Cook and Anderson smiling on the balcony. there positions are safe..
So all is well in the world for them.

englandwhoelse, Anderson rarely lets us down so he can smile, but if I was Cook I would be fuming about the last Ashes, about the way the batters are performing, and about my own form. Don't know how he's always so chirpy. I would be very moody.

U never know Bell could be a good captain. Just dont like Broad.

Far too many overreactions on here regarding England. Remember there are three test debutants playing today and it is a new look England side. Give the lads and Moores time to get their ideas and vision across. Robson who hasn't had the best of starts to his test career today is a solid player with a fantastic reputation in first class cricket. Same with Moeen Ali who looks a very good player. Give the lads time. This Sri Lankan team are no mugs with ball or bat so this two match series will help these England players for the big series against India in the summer.

Regarding Cook however it is a big weight for him and his prolonged form with the bat under captaincy has not been good enough. However who is there better to lead the side at the moment. In my opinion no one - Broad is too hot headed and the likes of Anderson and Prior are not captain material. He has not inherited a top side either so that hasn't helped. However far too many gloom and doom mongers on here. Young side with some good young players. Give them time.

Kav H,

Would you say the same if England lost test series to both Lanka and India this summer? They've made too many changes too soon and the ecb are quickly sending England back to the 90's. New players, you get players shouldn't come into it- if they are good enough thru need to produce from dawn

Well seeing as this is a transitional England side I'm sure after the ashes debacle many would not be too disheartened at a series loss to either one of India or Sri Lanka. Fact is these two series' should be used as a platform for some of these younger guys to go out and gain experience against top quality international sides.

What you say about new players is nonsense. How can the likes of Robson, Jordan and Ali be expected to be good enough when they haven't had enough exposure at the top level. You don't just walk into test cricket and start making centuries - it takes time. Also the core of this English team is still very strong despite the changes from Bell, Cook, Anderson and Broad experienced enough to help the young players out. The overhaul has been in the batting and your likely to see a few patchy performances from these young players like Robson, Ballance, Jordan and Ali before we start seeing what they're capable of.

Ok, look at this way.
Would you have 'not so astute as a captain Cook underperforming as a batsman' in your team or 'relieved of captaincy, back to run scoring, daddy hundred getting Cook' in your side?
I agree, as a captain, there may not be better person than Cook but I also think, there is no worse than Cook either.
However, one thing is certain is that, there is no batsman as dependable than Cook. Why would you want to lose that?

If there was 1 batsman in this England side that I preferred to be in form for most matches, it is Cook. Cause when Cook is in form he not only scores pretty 50 or just 100, but he tires out the opposition mentally and physically and scores BIG hundred.
Just like he made australian and Indian sick of his sight.
I would much rather Bell was made a captain and lose form than Cook.
Agree with supporting youngsters btw, all these youn players are worth persisting with.

I think I also want Cook to be the man in form out of anybody. On form he is such a classy player, and having an opener sticking around for a long time can mentally drain the opposition. There is no doubt the captaincy has affected his batting in a big way, and if he continues to bat poorly then there will come a time when the selectors have to make a decision, because it's approaching a point where he is only in the side because he is captain, and is his captaincy good enough to justify that? I want him in the team, don't get me wrong, but if his only contribution is average captaincy then there is something wrong there.

Kane Williamson of Newzealand is talked about by pundits and fans alike in cricketing World as the best young batsman around with one of the most elegant and correct technique(and rightly so).
However, KW's average is only 37.
Young Joe Root has the same average.
Even one of the best batsman around current era, Virat Kohli had similar record in corresponding matches.
A young player (under 23) ,if averages more than 35, then he is worth persisting, coz batsmen ,like spinners need time to mature. Not everyone is freak like Don Bradman.
In that regard, their first class records , their confidence level need to be taken into consideration.
And considering all things, i see no reason why England shouldnt persist with root. If Root handles himself as his own man, set benchmark not from among english greats before him but the worlds great before him, then I see a great batsman in Root.

Moin will be kicking himself. A great opportunity to score a debut 50 goes begging. He did look good though up until his dismissal.

Moeen ali look a good player , though looks vulnerable around off stump.

Not only ali, I think every English batsmen(bar may be openers who had to negotiate tricky new seaming ball) missed out on a chance to score a mighty double hundred today. The pitch looks absolute beauty, very good to bat on and srilanka bowling disciplined yet not threatening.

Very good batting this. Well done Prior and Root. Not much happening in the pitch though.

This game has draw all over it. The bowling looks weakon both sides.