The Ashes

[Buzzo]

It's ridiculous. There is obviously a barley concealed agenda at play here.

His statement is just back tracks and is totally pedantic. Embarrassing stuff - what next?

[Alex]

Who is it coming from though? Because everyone else has gone bar Cook?

[EwarWoo]

Cook threatened to resign and they didn't snatch his hand off? Forget KP, he resignation is worthwhile by itself.

I'm with Shaggy, let 'em get smashed until Cooks gone.

I won't be watching till Cooks gone.

Massive shambles.

[Buzzo]

Its been interesting to hear about all the 'positive around the dressing room' rhetoric we are hearing from the cricketing world in response to KP's sacking. Surrey players pretty much eulogising about him, as was Ian Bell, Michael Clarke stating they are friends - you do wonder if the fact that he knows and gets on well with so many world class cricketers is held against him from the insular world of the ECB.

And then there is this, not only responsible for the KP Genius affair which kick started this entire mess, but you have to wonder how even handed the ECB will be in response to Broads misdemeanour this week, surely worse than anything KP ever got up to.

Stuart Broad apologises to ECB over missed sponsor function

Stuart Broad has apologised to the England and Wales Cricket Board for missing a sponsor's event after a reported drinking session with former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
The Daily Mail reports Broad returned to his hotel at 07:00 BST on Thursday and was unable to attend the 09:30 event to launch the New Zealand series.
"I woke up with a migraine," he said.
"I wasn't on England duty for the ECB. But I did apologise for putting them in that position."
The 28-year-old added: "It was probably not as bad as it was portrayed."
Batsman Ian Bell deputised for his team-mate at England Test sponsor Investec's event on Thursday.
"After the week they've had with Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen, it was probably not what they needed," Broad said.
Ex-England skipper Strauss, newly installed as the ECB's director of cricket, said on Tuesday that batsman Pietersen, sacked by England in February 2014, would not be recalled this summer because of a "massive trust issue".
Nottinghamshire pace bowler Broad added he had not discussed Pietersen's omission with his team-mates and backed the management's stance on the issue.
"I've genuinely not spoken to anyone above me or to anyone in the team about Kevin," he said. "As a player underneath Strauss you have to back the selectors and Strauss for making the decision.
"Only time can tell if that was the right decision. If we lose the Ashes, there will be a lot of pressure. We can only wait and see."
The first test against New Zealand at Lord's starts on Thursday. Click here for full details of the tour.

[RichC]

A migraine hey

[EwarWoo]

Only time can tell if that was the right decision. If we lose the Ashes, there will be a lot of pressure. We can only wait and see.

That comes across as getting the deflection of blame in nice and early. It's Strassy's fault we're going to lose for not picking KP.

Can't believe I ever defended this tosser with the Aussies. When things were going well he seemed like such a decent guy.

What's come out since shows he really is a **** bloke.

"You bowled a wide mate, go apologise to your team mates now". Cunt.

Even our national football team doesn't have more players I dislike, or players I dislike more.

[Shaggy]

A migraine hey

****faced. Rolled in at 7am and had to be at the function for 9am.

I hate Broad. Hate Cook too.

Great this isn't it

[RichC]

I've had plenty of "migraines" due to an all night drinking session! FFS our cricket set up is rotten from the top to the bottom, complete and utter joke. I think a point made earlier about how well KP is thought of outside of the ECB set up is quite telling.

I fully expect us to get spanked against both the Kiwis and the Aussies this Summer.

[RichC]

I see Langer has said "thanks but no thanks" to the England job. I'd be happy to see Dizzy come in but I can imagine we'll be seeing someone inspiring like Giles getting the job

[Pedenj]

I see Langer has said "thanks but no thanks" to the England job. I'd be happy to see Dizzy come in but I can imagine we'll be seeing someone inspiring like Giles getting the job

No suprise really is it.

It's not a job people will be jumping for with the state of the ECB at the moment.

[EwarWoo]

I fully expect us to get spanked against both the Kiwis and the Aussies this Summer.

I fully want us to until we have a massive shake up rather than this patching over garbage.

[dww]

I hope we look to have two head coaches - one day/T20 and test.

[Alex]

I think that's what Strauss was implying when he took over. Said there needs to be more separation between the formats. Which is why a different ODI captain is essential.

The differences are getting more and more pronounced, to the point where they are almost different sports.

[Pedenj]

Jason Gillespie says he would "take persuading" to leave Yorkshire for the England coaching job.

England cricket director Andrew Strauss has named the 40-year-old ex-Australia fast bowler as a possible replacement for sacked coach Peter Moores.

Gillespie has been the Yorkshire coach since 2011 and led them to the County Championship title last year.

"I'm in my dream job," he told BBC Sport. "It would certainly take persuading [to leave]."

When asked about being linked to the England role, he added: "It's very humbling, very flattering.

"The Yorkie boys have been giving me enough grief about it, which has been quite funny. But I haven't had any contact and until that happens I can't say anything.

"We'll just have to wait and see. Strauss mentioned my name publicly, so I may get a call. It's just fantastic [at Yorkshire], but I don't know what the future holds."

Gillespie's England prospects are further complicated by a contract agreed last month to coach Adelaide Strikers in the Australian Big Bash League for the next two winters.

"That's a role I'm really excited about and looking forward to sinking my teeth into," he added.

"I've got a lot of work to do here at Yorkshire, we've got a good core of senior lads and some young lads coming through and making their name. It's an exciting time for our club."

Yorkshire batsman Joe Root, England's vice-captain, has spoken highly of Gillespie's credentials as a potential England coach.

"I've loved working with Jason at Yorkshire, so would love to do so for England," said Root.

"People have got to make decisions that are completely out of my hands. Of course his experience at international level is going to be a benefit but he's great with everyone in and around the squad.

"He keeps things simple and you've seen what a good job he has done with the Yorkshire setup."

This him trying to distance himself from the job?

[Alex]

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