Who Would Be Your Choice As New England Captain?

[Richard]

The last time I can say IMO England were a good ODI team was in 2004. They have lucked out with a series win or so since then but they have generally been poor.

The interesting thing about the 2004 ODI team is that it was the core of the Test team supplimented by a few ODI specialists.

Who were the 4 best ODI players that summer? (England played 12 ODIs that summer) They were Harmison (best player by a mile), Flintoff, Collingwood and Strauss.

Im not crazy enough to suggest Strauss is a special ODI player. However, he is certainly servicable and is nowhere close to Vaughaneque levels of limited over incompetance. Id far rather Strauss played than some random average County cricketer which we have seen at the top of the innings recently.

I would too... if I didn't believe that playing ODIs affected Strauss' chances of Test match success.

 

[zaremba]

Until recently, I'd have said it wasn't and that ODI considerations impacting on Tests was disastrous.

However, with the advent of the Stanford payday stuff, it does look like it's going to be pretty vital for the Test and T2I captains to be the same person. Because otherwise that leaves us open to all sorts of inequities that could tear the game apart from within.

As I said in my previous post I can see some sense in this. I'm going to sleep on it.

 

[StevenHooper]

Strauss

Strauss must be put in as captain, hes got the experience. Pietersen showed on day 3 of the last test match that he will be too brash and throw it all away. also its too much pressure on his shoulders as if he didnt have enough.

 

[matty3178]

I think strauss should be new england captain for the test team and the one day internationals. England need to pick a suitable one day captain for the champions trophy. Strauss has experience off captaincy and the players respect him.

I would also like to thankyou michael vaughan for his 5 years off excellent leadership off the england team and wish him the best for the future.

 

[GIMH]

Even if that's not the best thing for the Test team?

Well as I've said elsewhere, I think split captaincy is a bad thing for both sides, unless you have specialists as both captains (eg if it had been Strauss and Mascarenheas, just for a random example). It's not as black and white as "who would be the best Test captain" because the fact is players that play in both sides may instinctively go to one or the other.

 

[zaremba]

Well as I've said elsewhere, I think split captaincy is a bad thing for both sides, unless you have specialists as both captains (eg if it had been Strauss and Mascarenheas, just for a random example). It's not as black and white as "who would be the best Test captain" because the fact is players that play in both sides may instinctively go to one or the other.

I appreciate that the question of "who would be the best Test captain" is a complex one and, as you point out, may include complications such as whether the Test captain may be be undermined by the presence in the dressing room of a different ODI captain (as happened to Hussain in his final days).

However for me that one (very complex) question is the only question.

 

[GIMH]

It is the only question, but the best Test Captain is in my mind one that could not be undermined in such a way

 

[Dissector]

As Ive said earlier today, the more this develops the more it seems that the T20 is the key.

Split ODI and Test captains isnt an issue. It is split T20 and Test captains that is the potential problem.

With the money involved and the publicity then it is possible the T20 captain becomes the face and main position (earning far more than the Test captain).

Appointing KP makes sure this difference does not exist and cleverly (if not subtly) avoids the potential conflict.

The ECB do not want T20 captain as the main position so by having the same guy then the Test captain retains the superiority.

I don't think this is a big issue because the ICC (especially BCCI) isn't going to allow TT to become a dominant international format because that would undermine the ODI cash cow. So you will have the TT world cup and a few games in bilateral series but not nearly enough to make the TT captain equal the test captain in stature. My guess is that TT will mainly be restricted to the IPL and other domestic competitions. I guess things could change if ODI's decline in popularity.

As for KP, speaking as someone who doesn't much care one way or another whether England wins, I am sure his captaincy will be as entertaining as his batting.

 

[Goughy]

I don't think this is a big issue because the ICC (especially BCCI) isn't going to allow TT to become a dominant international format because that would undermine the ODI cash cow. So you will have the TT world cup and a few games in bilateral series but not nearly enough to make the TT captain equal the test captain in stature. My guess is that TT will mainly be restricted to the IPL and other domestic competitions. I guess things could change if ODI's decline in popularity.

As for KP, speaking as someone who doesn't much care one way or another whether England wins, I am sure his captaincy will be as entertaining as his batting.

You do know about the Stanford games right? Where winning 1 game is worth $1 million to each individual England player.

 

[Dissector]

Right, but Stanford isn't going be played by international teams so it's not going to raise the profile of the England TT captain. Same with the IPL. That's my point.

After the huge success of the TT world cup the ICC could have greatly expanded the number of TT internationals but they have chosen not to do that probably because it would undermine ODI's. I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

 

[Julian87]

I think KP would be the best choice. Another reserved captain isn't what they want. And no matter what people say, you can not have someone who could be dropped in three tests time (Strauss) as a captain. You can't carry a captain.

I hate Pieterson, but he is a mover, reminds me of Warne who is the best captain I have seen.

 

[Goughy]

Right, but Stanford isn't going be played by international teams so it's not going to raise the profile of the England TT captain. Same with the IPL. That's my point.

After the huge success of the TT world cup the ICC could have greatly expanded the number of TT internationals but they have chosen not to do that probably because it would undermine ODI's. I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

Of course it is. That is the whole point of having a $20 million winner takes all game annually.

 

[Dissector]

OK I was thinking of the regular Stanford competition not the "superstars" game between international teams. Yes ,if such games become common then that will raise the profile of the England TT captain. However I doubt that you could sustain that kind of money for a significant number of games; it sound more like a one-off stunt rather than a regular feature of the cricket calendar. I guess we will have to wait and see.

PS: Didn't read the "annually" part. If this kind of game is held just once a year I don't think it will raise the public profile of the TT captain that much despite the money. There will be a swirl of media attention for a few days and it will be forgotten after that IMO.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Pothas.

 

[Craig]

Heart says Strauss, mind says KP will get the job, so the mind wins even though I voted for Strauss. Really just a lack of stand out 'pick me, I'm the best man for the job, idiots' options. Not sure on how KP or Strauss would go with the the job, just the best of the rest.

 

[Richard]

Well guys, this poll may as well be closed.

Else renamed "who would have been your choice..."

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I wonder how many of the Strauss voters actually think he would make a good captain, or if they are just against Pietersen and can't see a real alternative.

 

[Goughy]

I wonder how many of the Strauss voters actually think he would make a good captain, or if they are just against Pietersen and can't see a real alternative.

I think he would have been a fine captain and believed so when Flintoff stupidly got the vote 18 months ago.

 

[steds]

I think he would have been a fine captain and believed so when Flintoff stupidly got the vote 18 months ago.

Indeed. Did well enough in the summer of 06 to atleast get the Ashes gig.

 

[GIMH]

I do agree. He's never lost a Test as captain.