Cricket

[Harv]

Third umpire clearly took a wild guess. Probably cost England the game but another collapse didn't help. Joke decision though.

His foot was clearly off the ground when the bail came out though. The camera behind the keeper showed it best. You could see a clear shadow and the bail lifted off.

[captainfog]

Bresnan bowled England to defeat again today

[captainfog]

His foot was clearly off the ground when the bail came out though. The camera behind the keeper showed it best. You could see a clear shadow and the bail lifted off.

I dunno, man. It looked to me like it was bobbling around on the stumps and only finally came off properly once his foot was back down. The fact that so many pros and pundits disagree about whether it was out (from both sides) suggests that there was too much doubt for the umpire to give that out.

Lets be honest, the umpiring on both tours has been abysmal.

[Shaggy]

I dunno, man. It looked to me like it was bobbling around on the stumps and only finally came off properly once his foot was back down. The fact that so many pros and pundits disagree about whether it was out (from both sides) suggests that there was too much doubt for the umpire to give that out.

Lets be honest, the umpiring on both tours has been abysmal.

[Shaggy]

ESPNcricinfo @ESPNcricinfo
Breaking: The Telegraph reports that Andy Flower has been sacked as England coach.

[spud_gun]

Don't think he had any choice.

Tour has been the worst imaginable.

Oh well i guess we'll see KP in an England jumper again.

[Shaggy]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jan/31/andy-flower-sacked-england-cricket-coach?CMP=twt_gu

Andy Flower sacked as England cricket coach after Ashes shambles

• Flower pays price for whitewash down under
• Managing director Paul Downton wields axe

Barney Ronay at the MCG
theguardian.com, Friday 31 January 2014 12.37 GMT

Andy Flower has left his post as England's team director.

Flower was called to a meeting at Lord's on Thursday where he was told his time was up by the new managing director of the ECB Paul Downton, who officially starts in his own post on Saturday.

Shortly after an overwhelming eight-wicket defeat at the MCG in the second Twenty20 international, news filtered through that Flower, who has been England's head coach since 2009, would leave his post immediately.

Arguably England's most successful coach of the modern era, Flower has now become the first and most spectacular casualty of a horrific tour of Australia that has seen England whitewashed in the Ashes and beaten badly in all formats.

Off the field three England players have returned home ahead of times in unusual circumstances, while the relationship with Kevin Pietersen has remained toxic throughout.

[captainfog]

Who will they bring in?

[Shaggy]

Bet it's Ashley Giles. Without having any insight into how he works, he seems a totally uninspiring figure.

[captainfog]

Bet it's Ashley Giles. Without having any insight into how he works, he seems a totally uninspiring figure.

Yeah. Had great success in the championship as a coach.

We should go all out to get Kirsten.

[Shaggy]

mike selvey @selvecricket
Cant see how Ashley Giles is a shoo-in. Appointed by Morris and Flower and as much part of malaise as anyone.One day stuff a shambles.

[Chazza]

Gary Kirsten and Stephen Fleming also being mentioned.

Be happy with either if those.

[Shaggy]

Athers said on SSN earlier that Flower has accepted a role at Loughborough with the Performance set up.

[Shaggy]

Flower resigned, wasn't sacked.

[Shaggy]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/andy-flower-steps-down-england-3097508#.Uuu01PRdWa8

Andy Flower steps down as England coach position with ECB looking for one man to cover all three teams

Jan 31, 2014 12:49 By Dean Wilson

The Zimbabwean led England to no.1 in the world Test rankings, but has left his role after Alastair Cook's side lost 5-0 Down Under

Andy Flower has stepped down as England team boss after five years and a horrific tour of Australia.

In an admission that the two coach structure operated by England has failed over the past 14 months, Flower will now clear the way for one man to take charge across all three formats.

The England team director is set to continue with the ECB in a sideways move that will have him working out of Loughborough but he will not be in charge of the senior team's affairs.

Flower is understood to have told new managing director Paul Downton in a meeting at Lord's on Thursday that he was no longer the right man to lead the Test team forward.

The former Zimbabwe wicket-keeper batsman was not pushed by Downton, who was still in the process of conducting his review into the disastrous tour.

Rather Flower came to the conclusion that England are in such dire straits across the board following defeat in both the one day and T20 series' that followed the Ashes, that a single voice is required to lift them out of the doldrums.

Having given up a portion of his job during the tour to India in late 2012, Flower was not in a position to return to the full time role of touring year in year out with all three teams.

Ashley Giles took over the one day and T20 coaching role as Flower stepped aside and will be one of the favourites for the role, but Downton will not simply hand the job to the next cab off the rank.

Flower is understood to have thought long and hard about his role in the Ashes debacle and the way in which his England side has come to a crushing halt.

He has kept his cards close to his chest throughout the tour, but time spent at home brought him to the decision that perhaps his time had come.

Already the most successful England coach of all time with three Ashes wins and a World T20 crown to his name, as well as taking England to No.1 in the world across all three formats, Flower leaves the side in a mess.

His methods have generally been hugely successful over his five years in charge, but what was once his attention to detail has become stifling and the players have found it difficult to hit the heights this winter.