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« Previous EntriesWho should be England’s new one-day captain?
By Will last year, mid-June, 10 Comments »
I think we all saw this coming, and it’s a timely decision for England’s one-day team.
“Since our disappointing performances in the World Cup, I have been giving careful consideration as to what is the best way forward for the England one-day team and my own role within the side,” said Vaughan in an ECB statement. “I reached this decision some time ago, but I did not want to announce it until after the end of this Test series to avoid it becoming a distraction to the team.
“However, due to intense speculation in the media about my future, I feel it is important to make my intentions clear now. Our priority is to build a one-day squad able to compete strongly at the next World Cup, and I firmly believe that the interests of the team will be best served if I step down and allow another player to gain additional experience of captaincy in the one-day international arena.
But who should replace him? Paul Collingwood is favourite. Who is your choice?
10 Comments »Honestly, Michael
By Ian last year, at the start of June, 13 Comments »
Just read the piece on Cricinfo about Michael Vaughan implying that the Fredalo incident ruined England’s chances at the World Cup and it got me thinking. There has been plenty written in the last few months that Vaughan should not be skipper; his ego hurts the team; he’s not worth his place etc etc. While his classy hundred against the Windies at Headingley may have bought a little respite from the nay-sayers, it wouldn’t take much for them to get tetchy again.
What this article tells me is that he is still the right man for the job. Vaughan is basically saying that Fred was a bloody idiot and messed it up for everyone by attracting every tabloid paper to the hotel lobby. Fair enough, he did. He also went on to criticise himself and admit that his ODI record sucks. It does. But given how guarded interviews tend to be nowadays until the sportsman has retired, this was pretty candid. A new skipper might not have been so forthright, but Vaughan is about the only one who can say boo to a goose like Freddy or his buddy Harmy for that matter. And we need those two loons back to full throttle if we’re going to threaten the Aussies next time round. Which, if I’m really really honest with myself, is all that matters in the longterm. Vaughan, 32, is still the man to do that.
As for ODIs, I would let him continue as skipper. I’ll admit I am a big fan of his (the Michael Vaughan extra cover drive marks the start of my summer), so this is subjective as ever, but given nobody else is nailing down a place in the top three, what harm is he doing….?
13 Comments »It’s tough at the top (or maybe just too damn frustrating)
By Emma last year, at the end of April, 14 Comments »
It’s not been a good year for captaincy. England was a case in point last autumn, with the job apparently hinged on how much of a tantrum the ‘lead’ bowler would throw if his mate wasn’t given it. In November, Chris Adams decided to take on more responsibility at Yorkshire, and seemed to get cold feet as soon as he’d given the press conference. Heath Streak, with the season but one Championship game old, has decided today that maybe he really isn’t up to the job. It’s okay Heath, I suppose it wasn’t really long enough to make a decision, those six odd months since September.
The World Cup has seen others give up too, most notably Inzamam and Lara following poor team performances. Vaughan may yet be headed the same way, albeit involuntarily, when the shorter format comes around again.
Enter Stephen Fleming, deserved semi-finalist, who has decided to let the one-day role go. Now I’ve not studied the New Zealand captaincy, but my knowledge of English cricket suggests that this is a step onto a slippery slope. Is Fleming feeling the bite of full cricket years after captaining Notts. for two English summers? Unlikely. Judging from his remarks about injecting enthusiasm, it may just be that four World Cups with three semi-final exits are enough to drive anyone away from one-day cricket.
14 Comments »Nicholas goes into bat for Strauss
By Scott last year, mid-April, 4 Comments »
Mark Nicholas has come out in favour of giving the English captaincy to Andrew Strauss. Before the Ashes series, and how long ago did that seem, there was a clear choice to make for the English selectors- Strauss or Flintoff. They chose the latter and everything went downhill for England from there. This didn’t entirely surprise me- my spies in England had already told me that Flintoff was no great shakes as a leader. But for Strauss, leading this newly minnowed side is going to be a different proposition then the England of late 2006.
If there is to be a change of captain, Strauss does seem the logical candidate. But without a change of coach, it is a job half done.
4 Comments »Wanted: County Captain
By Emma 2 years ago, mid-November, 1 Comment »
Rumours of Chris Adams’ move have been greatly exaggerated. At the beginning of the month, the man who captained Sussex to victory in both the Championship and the C&G Trophy this season was ‘unveiled’ at Headingley, both as Captain and and Director of Pro-Cricket. Whilst this was mildly surprising, it wasn’t earth-movingly so. Test ground clubs, after all, have that bit of extra cash to squander.
Not long ago, it was Younis Khan who faced public embarrassment when he claimed he was to take the role after quitting (somewhat temporarily) the same position for Pakistan. This time, it is Yorkshire who have made the mistake by parading a man who hadn’t yet signed on the dotted line. Considering how closed-lipped counties normally remain over their offers and potential signings, Adams can only have pulled out at an advanced stage of negotiation.
Whilst Sussex are over the moon by all reports, potentially less chuffed might be Murray Goodwin. The Zimbabwean was reported by local paper The Argus to have been interested in the position.
1 Comment »Ponting and Buchanan under fire from Ritchie
By Will 2 years ago, at the start of October, 9 Comments »
God it’s been a tough weekend. Walking on the beach; sitting in the pub, sitting in another pub overlooking another beach; walking on the cliffs overlooking a beach; eating fresh fish in our local pub with a beer and walking the three minutes to our house; walking round Salcombe and eating far too many pasties. I’m exhausted with my gluttonous relaxation. So it’s with tired eyes I read of Greg Ritchie’s bashing of John Buchanan and Ricky Ponting.
If Australia’s coach and captain remain in power, Ritchie thinks England will win the Ashes.
“Australia would win the Ashes if Shane Warne was captain,” Ritchie was quoted in The Sydney Morning Herald. “On the field, he [Ponting] doesn’t know what’s going on. England’s bowlers have our measure.”
Read the full story at Cricinfo then come back here and leave comments.
9 Comments »Who should be in England’s Ashes squad?
By Will 2 years ago, mid-September, 22 Comments »
It’s very simple: who should be in England’s squad to tour Australia in November? It’s the most important squad announcement since, well, whatever. It’s huge. You get it, we all get it.
Should Jon Lewis get a chance? Has Stuart Broad shown enough? And who will you have as captain; Strauss or Flintoff?
All that kind of thing. I’m not around much today so leave your opinions and let’s work out the squad.
22 Comments »A Question
By Scott 2 years ago, mid-August, 15 Comments »
If England’s cricket is going so well, why is there so much media debate about who should be in the team?
Why, no one can even work out who is going to be the captain in Australia. And let’s not even mention the one-day lineup…
Just asking!
15 Comments »74% think Strauss should captain England for the Ashes
By Will 2 years ago, mid-August, No Comments; be the first!
Sorry for the tabloid-like headline, but that’s what a hundred or so of you think. The poll continues and I’ll keep it open - and might run it again after The Oval, just to gauge public opinion.
No Comments »Who should captain England for the Ashes?
By Will 2 years ago, mid-August, 9 Comments »
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 Comments »Musings on individual records in a team game
By Scott 2 years ago, at the start of August, 6 Comments »
I read an interesting article by former England captain Mike Brealey that was published on the weekend. He was mostly talking about Andrew Strauss’ philosophy on declarations, but he had some remarks about Mahela Jayawadene’s attempt to get the world batting record as well.
Meanwhile, 6,000 miles to the south east we have the spectacle of Sri Lanka batting on to a lead of 587 in the hope of a world record individual Test score for Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa at Colombo. Fortunately, he did not get it.
What has happened to the team game when several pointless hours are pressed into the service of individual glory and local prestige? I think a narcissistic attitude is fed by pressures from the social network. Jayawardene’s quest for personal glory at the possible expense of the team must have been amplified by nationalistic excitement. He was carrying the projections of a nation. Not only had Sri Lanka just seen their heroes compile a world record partnership (624, overtaking the previous best by their compatriots Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama’s 576, also in Colombo, in 1997), they had the chance of this other record.
I hope I am not being too puritanical, or too carping, here. Certainly personal landmarks are important. Strauss would have been foolish and heartless to have declared before Bell got to a hundred, especially when he was furthering England’s cause so admirably. And if England had had wickets in hand, perhaps there would have been more of a case for batting on into Saturday.
I think there is a fair case for having an extra world-record holder in your side. I have to say that I think Brealey IS being a tad too puritanical on this score. For a country like Sri Lanka, which doesn’t have life so easy in its day to day business, what with tsunamis and civil wars, a bit of nationalistic excitement about the cricket is a positive, not a negative.
6 Comments »Desperately seeking authority
By Will 2 years ago, mid-July, 3 Comments »
Andrew Strauss was given the unenviable privilege of captaining England in the first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s. He is not only a stand-in, but a stand-in for a stand-in (a double stand-in?). He failed to summon or convey any sense of authority in the first three days of this Test yet today struck a hundred to silence those who, perhaps, felt he was weak of character and lacking in authority. However his quality and authority as a batsman has never been in doubt, and the first three days remain a slight concern.
He joined unique company, too, today; only Allan Lamb and Archie MacLaren have made hundreds on their captaincy debut. To do it at Lord’s, his home ground and where two years ago he made a hundred on his Test match debut, gave the occasion added posterity and wistfulness. His celebration on reaching three figures was noteworthy too; gone were the youthful arm-swinging and bat-waving of 2004. In its place, both arms were calmly raised in a gesture which perhaps signalled his relief in leading from the front as he intended. Although he had just run out Ian Bell…
He is no Flintoff. There is a diffidence and reverancey to his character; he is a potentially fine writer on the game, an erudite reader of match situations and ever since his debut has been earmarked as a Future England Captain. Unlike Flintoff’s “follow me into battle, guys”, his calm air might serve him and England well in the forthcoming months.
The first three days are nevertheless a real concern though. Nothing much happened. And when nothing happened, he did little to affect a change. A resigned smile, hunched shoulders and much chewing of nails did little to stop Mohammad Yousuf, much as it will do nothing to stop Ricky Ponting and co. in the winter. Without the tongue-lashing of Michael Vaughan England rather drifted along. Well done, Strauss, but Flintoff’s my man for the Ashes.Desper
3 Comments »Prince of South Africa
By Will 2 years ago, mid-July, No Comments; be the first!
Patrick reminds me of the news Ashwell Prince has been appointed the South Africa captain for their tour of Sri Lanka. Graeme Smith, seemingly like most cricketers these days, has an ankle injury. But Prince’s elevation is noteworthy as he becomes the first non-white captain of his country.
No Comments »Stop being chummy, you chummers
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of June, 5 Comments »
From Lawrence Booth’s Spin column this morning:
The seeds of England’s affable uselessness (”It’s OK to be beaten by
Mahela Jayawardene and chums: they’re a good bunch of blokes”) were
sown on the last tour of Sri Lanka in 2003-04. Nasser Hussain spotted
the danger: “I had watched how matey some of our players were with
Murali, particularly Freddie Flintoff,” he wrote in his
autobiography, “and I became concerned that this was having an
adverse effect on the side.” Hussain’s decision to get nasty as
Murali walked out to bat in the second Test at Kandy came about
because “I wanted him to feel he was in a hostile environment, not a
friendly one.”This is not to suggest that England start calling a member of the
opposition a cheat, as Hussain did. It is merely to illustrate that -
in the absence of a hard-nosed leader - England have lost their bite.
The Spin observed the off-field interaction between the English and
the Sri Lankans in this summer’s Test series very closely and it kept
reaching the same conclusion: Flintoff needs to add steel to his
repertoire, otherwise he will always hover in a lower captaincy
league than Hussain and Michael Vaughan.
Spot on. Mateyness has no place, especially when we’re losing so spectacularly. They all need a royal kick up the backside.
5 Comments »The limiting factor for West Indies
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of June, No Comments; be the first!
When the captain of your country (countries) turns up to lead you in a Test match, you have every right to feel confident in his ability. Confident that the selectors chose a born leader of men; someone with whom to go into battle. As captain, you also might expect to have a degree of confidence in the men you have chosen. WRONG. If you’re a West Indian captain, you have no say in such matters - pah! The very thought! - which, as Brian Lara is finding out, is a bit of a problem. Yes, the pitch can often be a lottery…but in “home Tests,” generally speaking, the home side holds the aces. They have a whole nation of cricketers to choose from. Not West Indies! Ohh no.
“My only concern is the combination for the final Test,” he said while analysing his team’s performance. “We played an extra batsman here but if you want to get 20 wickets, we need to put players there to get us those wickets. It’s left upto the selectors, let’s see what happens … Guys who’ve been here have done a tremendous job throughout this series, performing on surfaces that really haven’t helped them. Two days rest between Tests and to go back to the reserves and pick fast bowlers would be showing a weakness. Very confident with the likes of Corey Collymore, [Pedro] Collins, [Jerome] Taylor - coming into his own - and Bradshaw has been good. Maybe an addition would be a good choice and we will have the final decision a day before the match.”
The selectors must be loving it, rolling on the floor watching Collins, Taylor and co. all struggle to take the wickets. “If only they had another bowler, eh? Moohhahahahaha” they chortle from the hideaway selectors’ mansion, hidden inside a cave under the sea.
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