***Official*** India in England 2014

[Jono]

So many chances gone begging. A fifth would have almost iced it. India still firm favourites obviously but there is still hope got England. Whereas if Dhoni catches that or dharmasena gives it its almost a done deal.

Then again there are no done deals with India. See Jo'burg and Wellington.

 

[Challis]

kp?

KP would be like Brian Clough's tenure at Leeds

Broad has to be the closest of those still around?

That's the thing it's pretty clear to everyone that Cook needs to give up the captaincy but there are very little options to take over, a lack of natural leaders

 

[Uppercut]

KP would be like Brian Clough's tenure at Leeds

Well at least we'd get a good book out of it. More than can be said for Cook's tenure.

 

[GIMH]

Heh. Nah I wouldn't recall someone and make them captain. It's all a bit 90s-Pakistan. Realistically it would have to be Broad or Anderson.

Although it would be satisfying to have the Irish guy tell all the English ****s what to do all the time.

Believe me I wouldn't have him near the Test side. It's just that a year ago you'd have been laughed out of the room whereas now it's just a bad yet conceivable idea.

Anderson can't do it given he has an impending ban and temper issues. Plus last time we made our star all rounder skipper it didn't end well

Broad would use all of our reviews within 4 overs

And I'm not a fan of bowlers as captains anyway

I'd probably just give it Bell and pray he has the initial Cook effect. By the time he suffers the eventual Cook effect maybe Root is ready to step up

 

[Furball]

Ashwin would've been scary on this pitch, it must be said.

For which captain?

 

[Jono]

KP would be like Brian Clough's tenure at Leeds



That's the thing it's pretty clear to everyone that Cook needs to give up the captaincy but there are very little options to take over, a lack of natural leaders

You don't need a natural leader. That'd be great but all you need is someone who will do a better job than Cook. That is the only criteria really. Added bonus of possibly making Cooks batting better also.

 

[wpdavid]

Believe me I wouldn't have him near the Test side. It's just that a year ago you'd have been laughed out of the room whereas now it's just a bad yet conceivable idea.

Anderson can't do it given he has an impending ban and temper issues. Plus last time we made our star all rounder skipper it didn't end well

Broad would use all of our reviews within 4 overs

And I'm not a fan of bowlers as captains anyway

I'd probably just give it Bell and pray he has the initial Cook effect. By the time he suffers the eventual Cook effect maybe Root is ready to step up

Not convinced by Pickup & my good self the other day then?

 

[GIMH]

Not convinced by Pickup & my good self the other day then?

Eh, Read definitely not. Foster not the worst idea in the world but tbh I guess I agree with uppercut that bringing a captain from outside the team comes with all sorts of issues that we could probably do without - not to say that a fresh outside perspective wouldn't help

That being said, I think we need one of the new young bats to be ready to lead within 18 months barring an unforeseeable Cook turnaround so a stopgap until they are ready is what we need. If it's not Bell then Foster definitely could solve that problem

Just to reiterate though, I definitely wouldn't want to see Read wearing the three lions again

 

[Uppercut]

Believe me I wouldn't have him near the Test side. It's just that a year ago you'd have been laughed out of the room whereas now it's just a bad yet conceivable idea.

Anderson can't do it given he has an impending ban and temper issues. Plus last time we made our star all rounder skipper it didn't end well

Broad would use all of our reviews within 4 overs

And I'm not a fan of bowlers as captains anyway

I'd probably just give it Bell and pray he has the initial Cook effect. By the time he suffers the eventual Cook effect maybe Root is ready to step up

Another thing about the Moyes comparison- at least United can flush him altogether and allow him to focus on being a punchline full-time. Cook still has to linger on and bat while trying not to stink the place out with the unmistakable odour of embarrassing past defeats.

 

[wpdavid]

Eh, Read definitely not. Foster not the worst idea in the world but tbh I guess I agree with uppercut that bringing a captain from outside the team comes with all sorts of issues that we could probably do without - not to say that a fresh outside perspective wouldn't help

That being said, I think we need one of the new young bats to be ready to lead within 18 months barring an unforeseeable Cook turnaround so a stopgap until they are ready is what we need. If it's not Bell then Foster definitely could solve that problem

Just to reiterate though, I definitely wouldn't want to see Read wearing the three lions again

I don't have strong views on Read either way, and it sounds like you've picked up on something that's avoided my radar over the years, which is good enough for me.

Normally I wouldn't want to bring in someone from outside, but if (1) he deserves his place, (2) he's experienced enough not to be phased by it and (3) things are so dire that there is virtually nothing to be lost, then I'm all for it. I reckon Foster ticks all three boxes. I suppose the only guy who might be peeved is our current vice captain, but given his form since last summer I really don't think his opinion matters a lot.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Farbrace
"The captain is fine, he's in there chatting to the lads who are not out. The form of the senior players isn't a concern. You win as a team and lose as a team.

Errr the from of the senior players isn't a concern? Who's he trying to kid.

 

[Challis]

You don't need a natural leader. That'd be great but all you need is someone who will do a better job than Cook. That is the only criteria really. Added bonus of possibly making Cooks batting better also.

I just think there is a lot of promising talented youth in and around this England team. If they had an experienced member in the team to lead them, someone like Allan Border (or and up and comer like Graeme Smith) then I think this England side could go places.
However, as it is, there are no great options: Broad and Anderson already make a lot of the bowling decisions, which needs a lot to be desired (as evident in this Test), Prior who himself is hanging onto his place by a thread, and then you have Bell, someone who doesn't exactly fill you with confidence.
If Root was more of a leader then I would opt for him but as he isn't, I think it's too early and unfair to burden him with the captaincy at the moment. You don't need to be a natural leader but it makes the job far easier, im my opinion.

 

[marc71178]

As for Woakes -- yeah I like him too but the balance of the side at the moment essentially demands he become one of the best four fast bowlers in England to get in the side, and I find it really hard to argue that he is.

Would you argues that Stokes is then?

 

[grecian]

Stop skirting around the issue like virgins round a durex Machine.

The answer is here for everyone:

 

[grecian]

Would you argues that Stokes is then?

The way he bowls for England, I'd say yes TBH. I was never a fan either, but sometimes you have to admit you're wrong.

 

[wpdavid]

Stop skirting around the issue like virgins round a durex Machine.

The answer is here for everyone:

End of discussion really.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Good god we've become Cricinfo.

 

[Cabinet96]

But do we influence selection?

 

[marc71178]

The way he bowls for England, I'd say yes TBH. I was never a fan either, but sometimes you have to admit you're wrong.

For me he's neither good enough to be one of 4 bowlers nor one of 6 batsmen at the moment, needs to either really improve with the bat so that he can come in at 6 and not look a worry, or pick up a bit more reliability with the ball that doesn't involve leaking so many runs.

 

[Jarquis]

"We win as a team and lose as a team"

Unless it's a 5-0 whitewash in Aus and then we lay it firmly at the feet of one bloke