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Who should captain England for the Ashes?

By Will 3 years ago, mid-August Add your comment below

Yesterday’s resounding win for England over Pakistan was a triumph for Andrew Strauss. A superb hundred in England’s only innings set them up for a huge total and he captained the side with aggression and spirit, not to mention a great deal of skill. The victory was as much a feather in his cap as England’s. Pleasingly, England have won a series without Andrew Flintoff, without many of their apparent 1st XI, or choice eleven, available. But who should captain England for the Ashes?

Vote below, and leave comments below below (visit the site to vote if you’re reading this via a feed)

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9 Responses to “Who should captain England for the Ashes?”

  • Bowman wrote:
    August 9th, 2006 at 6.18 pm

    I think Andrew Strauss should be given the captaincy for the long term now. Giving it to Flintoff runs the very big risk of ruining his game, just as the burden of captaincy ruined Vaughan’s.

    The selectors have ran themself into a hole by saying Fred would be captain as soon as he comes back.

  • Innocent Abroad wrote:
    August 9th, 2006 at 6.53 pm

    Well, when I suggested this poll, I hoped for this kind of result (Strauss 34 of 44 votes as I write) but I didn’t dare expect it.

    Just to pick a nit with Bowman, I don’t see the evidence that the burden of captaincy affected Michael Vaughan’s game last summer. Cricket is a wholeheartedly lop-sided game, and the only decision a captain really has to (sometimes) make when his team’s batting is when to declare.

    The only bowler I can think of who was also a successful captain was Richie Benaud.

  • Bowman wrote:
    August 9th, 2006 at 7.17 pm

    Vaughan as captain:
    Mat I NO Runs HS1 HS2 HS3 Ave 100 50 0
    33 62 5 2046 166 140 120 35.89 6 9 3

    Vaughan not as captain:

    Mat I NO Runs HS1 HS2 HS3 Ave 100 50 0
    31 53 3 2549 197 195 183 50.98 9 5 4

    Need i say more?

    Vaughan used to be one of THE best players in the world, nnow i don’t even think he deserves a place in the side.

  • Matt wrote:
    August 9th, 2006 at 7.21 pm

    As I’ve said before, and I’m not about to change the record, Strauss captain’s with his head and seems to have a much better grip of situations whilst Flintoff captain’s with his heart. Freddie would be more than tempted to bowl himself into the ground in a super-human effort to drag England over the line - leading by example (and quite possibly succeed as in Mumbai) but it would take it’s toll on his body. I might be wrong and Freddie may be the new Imran Khan, but I’m far from convinced at the moment.

    On another note, it’s stupid to name a captain for a series before the tour party has even been announced, let alone name a captain who happens to be out of the side at the moment. It’s interesting that Strauss’s performance has improved no end since he knew Freddie was out for the rest of the series.

  • ClannZú wrote:
    August 9th, 2006 at 9.44 pm

    Before Freddie got injured I was of the opinion that he should be leading England…he is the sort of player who can lift a side just through his personality. But now that he is recuperating you have Strauss who has done a pretty decent job in tests and he will be leading England in the Champions trophy. To have a change in leadership after that would be confusing for the team and you don’t want them to lose direction. Strauss may not be as charismatic as Flintoff but he is a stable leader and it hasn’t affected his batting. So I think Andrew Strauss should be walking out with Ricky Ponting for the toss at Brisbane.

  • japaddy wrote:
    August 10th, 2006 at 1.50 am

    Strauss, strauss and more strauss…..

    Richie Benaud, Imran Khan……two great bowler/captains
    playing in a vastly different era, under the present workloads how could the selectors confidently select Flintoff for a 5 test series.

    In the words of ‘the Bard Deano’ “mate, it’s a no brainer”

    Strauss, strauss and more strauss…..

  • James wrote:
    August 10th, 2006 at 2.09 am

    Well, if we’ve finally got a specialist wicket keeper, and we’ve got plenty of specialist bowlers, how about a specialist captain? Vaughy could come in, stand around, make some decisions and watch what everyone else does.
    Not sure Duncan Fletcher will agree, but surely we can convince the selecters…..

    just a thought!

  • Kathy wrote:
    August 10th, 2006 at 2.18 am

    Not so silly, James… ;-)
    Tim de Lisle, one of my favourite cricket writers, did a piece along those lines just recently
    http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/250245.html
    though it was before Vaughan’s latest operation, just when doubts were starting to arise about his comeback in June.

    It was silly of the selectors to name a captain for the Ashes so early, but I guess they were desperate to convey a sense of stability in the circumstances. I think they will back-pedal and choose Strauss, but will have to find some way of doing it that doesn’t make it look like they’re dissing Freddie.

  • wills wrote:
    August 14th, 2006 at 9.28 pm

    i totaly agree with bowman i think strauss suits the captain role and thrives on it but flintoff should be left to bowl and bat if hes captain i think he wont get anywhare near as much public attention and thats what he thrives on

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