Cricket

[Chazza]

The captaincy has to be questioned though. Field placings, especially yesterday when we know that wickets are needed were negative at best.

[Buzzo]

I think Cook is a bit passive as a captain, he leads by example and when he isn't batting well he appears a bit 'meek'. He is undoubtedly a class batsman, and his loss of firm must be a bit of a worry. I agree he needs a more solid opening partner (Carberry not quite good enough) and moving Root around the order doesn't seem to have done him any favours at all.

Obviously Panesar is not trusted, so a new spinner is a must, as is a keeper and finding a reliable and threatening fast bowler.

Interesting times.

[RichC]

The captaincy has to be questioned though. Field placings, especially yesterday when we know that wickets are needed were negative at best.

I agree it probably needs questioning up to a point but who to bring in and we will need some sort of stability as there is likely and should be a number of players heading out once this series is done

[RichC]

I think Cook is a bit passive as a captain, he leads by example and when he isn't batting well he appears a bit 'meek'. He is undoubtedly a class batsman, and his loss of firm must be a bit of a worry. I agree he needs a more solid opening partner (Carberry not quite good enough) and moving Root around the order doesn't seem to have done him any favours at all.

Obviously Panesar is not trusted, so a new spinner is a must, as is a keeper and finding a reliable and threatening fast bowler.

Interesting times.

Yup, was going to include Monty as one to move on but was stopped by not having a clue who we'd bring in as a spinner!

With Cook I think you've got to take his results as captain and give him the benefit of doubt for this series, he does however need to come back strongly next year against Sri Lanka next year.

[EwarWoo]

With Cook I think you've got to take his results as captain and give him the benefit of doubt for this series, he does however need to come back strongly next year against Sri Lanka next year.

He came in as Captain to the best English side in a long long time and we've gradually slid. His captaincy has been terrible. And I don't think it's helping his game personally either.

Drop him as Captain, keep him as opener, let Bell stand in until we find someone.

Drop Carberry. Dunno why we even bothered with an opener of his age, he had to perform immediately or go he's not one to give a chance for the future. Personally I'd give Root another chance at 2. I like the kid, he deserves some faith I think.

Bairstow, for me he gets 1 more game as wicky, after that he's had his chances if he doesn't perform with bat. No point having a batting wicky if they can't bat.

Spinner, who the f knows, I don't watch county games, but Monty is a liability. The odd good innings, but really just not good enough. And these days in cricket if a player can't bat or field they have to be truly exceptional with the ball. He's not.

We could do with a true quick, someone heading towards 150k, get something happening on a dead pitch.

KP saved his arse. Stokes has been a wonder. Anderson and broad have been off their best, but not quite ready to give up on them yet. Love Bresnan, but dunno if he fits in the team.

[captainfog]

For me, Belly should open with cooky and rooty should stick at three.

I would give someone who is young and in form a go at number 5 and keep Stokesy at 6.

Finny needs to come in for Tim can't bat can't bowl Bresnan and be told there is no pressure and just let him bowl himself back into form. Tell him he's our pick for the next couple of series and allow him to declutter his mind.

[Buzzo]

Who would you see as a new captain Ewarwoo? Broad? There aren't many candidates likely to have a guaranteed place. But I think it is a move which could revitalise Cooks career.

Much as Flintoff had a shocker as captain on his ashes tour but came back to find form with the ball. (though at least that was to a legendary Aussie team, hell bent on revenge).

[Chazza]

Wasn't Bell thought of as a potential Captain at the same time as Cook?

If there is to be a change the new captain has to be more aggressive and possibly work with a new coach (Giles?) as I can't see Flower continuing.

[EwarWoo]

Who would you see as a new captain Ewarwoo? Broad?

I dunno. I don't really see anyone on the side as exactly thrilling captain material.

I would have said Prior had he not gone ****.

Just give it to Bell and see how he goes for now, purely for his stability.

Someone will emerge more long term, or Bell may even be better than anyone expects.

I don't personally like Broad. He'd be one of my first picks for team, but there's something about him that seems to grate. Not that that should exclude him from captaincy, but I'd like to see him gain some more maturity.

Another option could possibly be Anderson.

Or long long term, Root IS the new Cook. Played from boyhood, early starts, thorough grounding etc etc, just hopefully better mentally and tactically as he matures.

[Shaggy]

Anyone listened to Alastair Cook talk recently? Jesus wept. He's adopted some sort of hybrid Oz/SA/Zim accent....it's as though he's trying to ape Andy Flower, who is of course a very impressive speaker. Cook is a clown. A great batsman but a ****e captain. I've had a gutful of his defensive field positions and total inability to break from the script and think on his feet. Sack him and let him concentrate on his batting. Sack him and Gooch.

[captainfog]

Anyone listened to Alastair Cook talk recently? Jesus wept. He's adopted some sort of hybrid Oz/SA/Zim accent....it's as though he's trying to ape Andy Flower, who is of course a very impressive speaker. Cook is a clown. A great batsman but a ****e captain. I've had a gutful of his defensive field positions and total inability to break from the script and think on his feet. Sack him and let him concentrate on his batting. Sack him and Gooch.

I think you're being overly harsh. He's not a comfortable public speaker and always sounds nervous and stumbles over his words. As for his captaincy style, he's admitted mistakes and has vowed to learn from them. He's new to the job and imo deserves the chance to put right the wrongs of this winter.

As terrible as this series has been I think it would be wrong to make too many sweeping changes. Gooch has been a great coach and I'm not convinced it's his fault our batsmen keep getting out to injudicious shots. It seems to me that our problems are more mental than technical. Maybe we need a new head coach to freshen things up. But like cook, has flower earned the right for the opportunity to put things right?

[Shaggy]

/\ Essex bias.

[captainfog]

/\ Essex bias.

Probably

[Shaggy]

Gooch's record as batting coach is gash. Collective performances have gone backwards and the ‘daddy-hundreds’ associated with his time as batting coach have completely dried up. Cook had to undo the changes he made to his technique at Gooch’s behest and Kevin Pietersen prefers to use another fella called Graham Ford. Perhaps more importantly young players such as Jonny Bairstow do not appear to have improved under Gooch’s watch. There are serious question marks over whether Gooch, seen as an overly authoritarian figure even in his playing days, can relate to today’s 20-somethings brought up on limited-overs. **** off Gooch you cunt.

[captainfog]

Gooch's record as batting coach is gash. Collective sessions ormances have gone backwards and the ‘daddy-hundreds’ associated with his time as batting coach have completely dried up. Cook had to undo the changes he made to his technique at Gooch’s behest and Kevin Pietersen prefers to use another fella called Graham Ford. Perhaps more importantly young players such as Jonny Bairstow do not appear to have improved under Gooch’s watch. There are serious question marks over whether Gooch, seen as an overly authoritarian figure even in his playing days, can relate to today’s 20-somethings brought up on limited-overs. **** off Gooch you cunt.

Haha you make some good points. I was unaware of the cooky and KP thing. You are right about the youngsters though, but how much of that is down to a lack of natural talent?

Maybe give Thorpy a whirl.

Reading dobells Twitter timeline and he thinks from watching the practice sessions and being around and talking to the players he thinks they need to replace flower. Everything is too intense and it has exhausted the side. Surprised by that because he is a massive flower supporter, so he must have seen things to have changed his mind so drastically.