England Summer Test Cricket

[Alex]

FWIW I like that Cook is the captain. Having 3 different captains is just silly.

[Shaggy]

Strauss says the main thing driving this decision has been his form with the bat.

"I wasn't going to improve with the bat - I've run my race"

[Alex]

Who is that clown saying that the fans want him to carry on? Thanks for speaking for me mate

[Alex]

Its also pretty disrespectful to fill the press conference with questions about Pietersen.

[captainfog]

Its also pretty disrespectful to fill the press conference with questions about Pietersen.

It's the elephant in the room though.

He scored a magnificent hundred yesterday. He needs to be in the side, Cook and the ECB and KP need to find a way forward.

[Shaggy]

Great PC this, Strauss is an absolute top bloke

[Alex]

Obviously, but it should be about his retirement and Cooks appointment. The bloke has been a great captain for the side, and to have the final moments dominated by KP doesnt sit right.

[Shaggy]

Cook needs to sort himself out - he does that terrible "Look" thing at the start of every sentence. Annoying to hear so many English cricketers copying the Aussies.

[Shaggy]

Obviously, but it should be about his retirement and Cooks appointment. The bloke has been a great captain for the side, and to have the final moments dominated by KP doesnt sit right.

It's only been mentioned twice in 20 minutes though

[Alex]

I used to work with a bloke who said 'Ok' after every sentence.

[Alex]

It's only been mentioned twice in 20 minutes though

I turned it off after the first 10.

[Assassin]

I used to work with a bloke who said 'Ok' after every sentence.

Is this a fact, no

[Shaggy]

Re the new opener - I too would move Trott up to partner Cook. It'd mean we have two obdurate openers, neither of whom score quickly. Not ideal - I always prefer one with a quick scorer who takes it to the bowlers, like Trescothick or Hayden.

I don't follow county cricket closely enough to know if there's a candidate out there.

[RichC]

Our next test is against India isn't it? We could do with finding someone to partner Cook that can a) score relatively quickly and b) is a good player of spin.

Not sure I am overly keen on the idea of Cook/Trott coming in to open together as it will be heading back towards the days of slow accumaltion of runs which cannot be good.

[Shaggy]

Who will be the vice-captain? Trott? Anderson?

And I agree Rich....I like a quick scorer as one of the openers - part of our development has been to go from being very slow scorers to having a nice balance of patience and aggression at the top of the order, and scoring at up and around four an over.