JoeMercer'sWay
Well-Known Member
Re: ********The Winter Ashes********
and what if Bell's form goes the same way as Cook's, let's face it Cook's India win was just after he became captain and he's steadily deteriorated, even in that ODI final England should have won, and that Ashes win hinged on key moments that went our way rather than (Other than Lord's and Broad in Durham) a dominant display, some of them umpiring, some of them weather.
I see that steel in Joe Root, but he's nowhere near ready yet, and Cook batted better not being captain, and to be fair, it's not like neither he nor Root nor Prior nor Bell haven't got themselves out with soft or silly dismissals several times this series either.
There are big decisions to be made, probably shaped by Flower's call to be made, maybe with a more positive coach Cook will be forced out from his captaincy shell and hopefully with a long time till our next test series he'll study the captaincy of people like Clarke, McCullum and the greats and hopefully some county players will force themselves through at the start of next season.
Smith_ said:JoeMercer'sWay said:Dr Jacoby said:Pietersen reinstated as captain?
You must surely be a Surrey fan to even suggest such an absurdity.
He's averaging a meagre 33 for the calendar year.
I was running through our senior players to see a solution to the issue of Cook's form.
At the end of the day I think KP is the only player with the temperament to not be burdened by the captaincy and allow the other senior players to bat with the pressure off, as Cook has shown he plays better without that pressure on. If he can fix it great, if not the captaincy will likely go to Broad, who like Swann I don't think is about the team, I'm not saying KP always is but with his age he'd be transitional and in a couple of years someone like Root or a more mature Broad can take over.
At the end of the day I want England to win and maybe Cook's the answer, maybe it's Broad, it's needs seriously looking at and it's not a case of someone putting their hand up, it's genuinely whether they can shoulder that stress over several years, if you think our last few captains have all played poorer as captain than not, maybe we should move away from our best players being captain, or at least to the one who just does his thing with his game regardless of what the situation dictates.
Yes becauase last time KP was captain ended so well. Cook hasn't done a bad job (won in India, ICC final, Ashes win) one horrific series shouldn't affect his position. To make KP captain would be suicide, not particularly respected within the dressing room, bats irresponsibly (5 leg side dismissals this series suggests this) and will only be around for 2 years at most before he chases T20 money which is fair enough. Cook is the best man for the job and IF he doesn't want it, then Bell is the only real option.
and what if Bell's form goes the same way as Cook's, let's face it Cook's India win was just after he became captain and he's steadily deteriorated, even in that ODI final England should have won, and that Ashes win hinged on key moments that went our way rather than (Other than Lord's and Broad in Durham) a dominant display, some of them umpiring, some of them weather.
I see that steel in Joe Root, but he's nowhere near ready yet, and Cook batted better not being captain, and to be fair, it's not like neither he nor Root nor Prior nor Bell haven't got themselves out with soft or silly dismissals several times this series either.
There are big decisions to be made, probably shaped by Flower's call to be made, maybe with a more positive coach Cook will be forced out from his captaincy shell and hopefully with a long time till our next test series he'll study the captaincy of people like Clarke, McCullum and the greats and hopefully some county players will force themselves through at the start of next season.