Ashes 2006 / 2007

[Red Chilli]

Warne's got more variation and more skill that's my criteria.

[SouthAfricaRed]

Warne's got more variation and more skill that's my criteria.

But Murali gets better results

[Red Chilli]

But Murali gets better results

Questionable.

[SouthAfricaRed]

Questionable.

Ok, I'll agree to disagree

[ningnangnong]

Murali has taken a lot more wickets because he plays the majority of his tests inb the sub continent, on pitches that are literally made for him. Added to that, he's played a fair few matches against Bangladesh. Plus, there'll always be question marks over his action. He's still a fantastic bowler though.

I'd take Shane Warne everyday of the week, greatest bowler to ever play in the game IMO.

[Red Chilli]

I'd take Shane Warne everyday of the week, greatest bowler to ever play in the game IMO.

Probably

Still it's hard to compare him to the likes of Ambrose, Marshall, Garner, Holding, Hadlee, Trueman at their peak. In those days players didn't have the same dietary advice, the same equipment/footwear, the same wealth, the same number of coaches etc. Also they didn't play as many Tests per year. Consequently comparing their Test records to todays bowlers are meaningless.
Those bowlers at their peak though were on a par with Warne.

[kopdan]

i'd put Botham in charge

[Red Chilli]

i'd put Botham in charge

Interesting...would he take it given his media commitments? I'm not sure about that, he'd have to have carte blanche from the ECB because he's tangled with them before and lost. He'd need a lot of assurances before they'd let him take over.
Another option would be Gooch, he was an absolute fitness fanatic when he was captain and a bit of a slave driver when it came to training. He wouldn't have any room for any shirkers.

[kopdan]

Botham wouldnt take it

Gooch would

we need to **** this selector bollocks off. One man, one team

simple

[Red Chilli]

I like Gooch, he seems to have a good eye for a player too, picking out Nasser Hussain and Cook before they became Test cricketers.
I'm interested by this one man, one team idea Dan. Didn't we try that with Raymond Illingworth? Granted he didn't have the players and he wasn't a very intelligent tactful fellow, his torade against Devon Malcolm proved that much.
Would your one man be responsible for coaching sessions too? Do we need someone removed from the coaching to make the decisions?

[kopdan]

its only like a football manager. He'd have coaches that he assigns to players / teams. He picks the players and has full control over what happens.

Illingworth was too old and out of the game too long. Gooch would be ideal to be fair.

David Lloyd was good but suffered from this selector bollocks.

Another name.....Mike Watkinson.

[Red Chilli]

its only like a football manager. He'd have coaches that he assigns to players / teams. He picks the players and has full control over what happens.

Illingworth was too old and out of the game too long. Gooch would be ideal to be fair.

David Lloyd was good but suffered from this selector bollocks.

Another name.....Mike Watkinson.

I used to have training sessions with Mike Watkinson, for one winter's nets. It was good stuff and he's a very nice bloke. Got a lot of knowledge of the game, I think he'd make a good coach.
I like the sound of your "manager", bit like the international Rugby union setup?

[kopdan]

yeah pretty much

Let Graveney do his media ****e but the main man organises England on the pitch.

[Red Chilli]

yeah pretty much

Let Graveney do his media ****e but the main man organises England on the pitch.

I think Gooch would love that job and his comments made may have been designed to that end.
One man is accountable, not the captain or any of the players.

I think it's got to be a brit, I think I still feel a bit gutted that Cooley left for Australia and I'd be worried than a non-brit might do the same.

[Red Chilli]

I think we've got some good young players though who will improve. The future is looking a lot better.

Bastmen can go on to their mid to late 30's. Bowlers tend to only last to their early 30's.


Flintoff = 29 (recently) potentially 3 Ashes series as a batsman, 2 as a bowler
Strauss = 29 (9 months) 3 Ashes series
Anderson = 24 (5 months) 4 maybe 5 Ashes series
Bell = 24 (8 months) 5 maybe 6 Ashes series
Collingwood = 30 (7 months) possibly 2 Ashes series if he improves
Cook = (nearly) 22 Loads of time
Dalrymple = 25 Not good enough yet
Harmisson = 28 (5 months) 2 maybe 3 ashes series at a stretch
Hoggard (nearly) 30 2 Ashes series maximum
G Jones = 30 (5 months) bin him now!
Joyce = 28 (3 months) not good enough yet
Mahmood (nearly) 25 Potentially 4 Ashes series
Monty 24 (8 months) 5 maybe 6 Ashes series
Plunkett 21 (8 months) loads of time
Read 28 (3 months) 3 maybe 4 ashes series
Giles 33 (9 months) career over
Tresco (nearly) 31 if he gets his head right may have 2 ashes series in him

Injured:

S Jones (nearly) 28 2 maybe 3 Ashes series fitness permitting
M Vaughan 32 (2 months) probably only 2 Ashes in him IF he ever recovers.

Others:

C Tremlett 25 (3 months) 4 Ashes series in him
S. Broad 20 (6 months) Loads of time, could be another Golden boy, hope he bats like his dad

We should be getting some experience for Mahmood, Anderson, obviously Monty and Plunkett. They need preparation and now the series is dead we should be using it to our advantage.
3-2 or 5-0 it makes no difference to me, we lost. As we have these youngsters at our disposal, we should use them.