Essex Outfielder : The Unofficial Essex CCC Forum
Cricket => England Test => Topic started by: tonk on December 07, 2013, 10:51:22 AM
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Looks like being loyal to some players has not worked.Unless there is a marked improvement 2nd knock then at least one head needs to roll. They also need to show a bit of bottle.
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Looks like being loyal to some players has not worked.Unless there is a marked improvement 2nd knock then at least one head needs to roll. They also need to show a bit of bottle.
On the basis that when Essex are a shambles, people call for Grayson to go, I guess you mean Flower must resign?
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Looks like being loyal to some players has not worked.Unless there is a marked improvement 2nd knock then at least one head needs to roll. They also need to show a bit of bottle.
On the basis that when Essex are a shambles, people call for Grayson to go, I guess you mean Flower must resign?
Flowers going anyway, isn't he? Something seriously wrong has gone in the dressing room. I'm not saying there are no technical problems (nice one, Gooch) but we know what a punt KP is and the other big egos amongst the established core.
Rumours around that Cook was resigning if it went badly wrong here.
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Flowers going anyway, isn't he?
Can we have him here?
Sorting out our non-existent batting & Fozzy's lousy captaincy would be child's play after dealing with KP on a regular basis.
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England's management exhibit a degree of pig headed obstinacy that doesn't help their cause. It was inevitable that having tried Root as an opener they would promote him back up the order to replace Trott whilst the blindingly obvious choice for number 3 was Bell. If Bell had bated with Carbery instead of the tail the Ego could have come in with a few runs on the board.
such is the incompetence of the tail that it may not have made much difference but you have to give yourself as much chance as possible. If Flower does not make this simple change in the second innings them I would seriously question his sanity.
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Did anyone notice how Geoff Miller left hurriedly in the late summer? I wonder what's been going on.
I would laugh if certain England regulars lose their central contracts, especially as they hardly look an attractive proposition for an IPL franchise after their pre-Christmas stuffing.
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England's management exhibit a degree of pig headed obstinacy that doesn't help their cause. It was inevitable that having tried Root as an opener they would promote him back up the order to replace Trott whilst the blindingly obvious choice for number 3 was Bell. If Bell had bated with Carbery instead of the tail the Ego could have come in with a few runs on the board.
such is the incompetence of the tail that it may not have made much difference but you have to give yourself as much chance as possible. If Flower does not make this simple change in the second innings them I would seriously question his sanity.
Absolutely. Bell was so much the obvious choice to bat at 3 that it defies belief that he didn't.
There'll be a few of this squad who'll never play for England again after this tour. And maybe Cook will need that benefit after all.
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England's management exhibit a degree of pig headed obstinacy that doesn't help their cause. It was inevitable that having tried Root as an opener they would promote him back up the order to replace Trott whilst the blindingly obvious choice for number 3 was Bell. If Bell had bated with Carbery instead of the tail the Ego could have come in with a few runs on the board.
So if Bell had come in at 3 then Carberry would not have got out?
Bell has had the vast majority of his success at 5 and I believe his worst stats are at 3 so why create a problem to solve a problem? IMO it was the right decision to move an opening bat back up the order, rather than hiding him at 6, and filling the space down the order.
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Having an opener batting at no 3 is usually a good ploy as they are used to facing a new ball anyway (with Essex we should have openers batting down to about no 6 bearing in mind our problems!!). England need to have a good look atemselves if as we expected we get thrashed tomorrow, Carberry deserves further chances as does Stokes although he needs to improve his bowling - he is a really a 4th rather than 3rd seamer, I think it more likely Bresnan will come back at Perth. Ally also needs big runs & quickly, his second innings shot to get out was dreadful, somewhat out of character.
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Surely one of the main reasons for this shambles is the lack of cricket most of this team have had since August. In that time Cook for instance has hardly picked up a bat in anger and opportunities to play for us in September were blocked. Australia in contrast have been in India ,albeit in limited overs stuff, and look much more ready for the fray.Keeping them fresh has in my view has resulted in them being seriously undercooked - no pun intended. If the fear was that key players would be injured in 'meaningless' county games then surely injury is just as likely to happen in the artificial environment of nets. Players need to have momentum and time in the middle to find their form and in Cook's case and possibly Prior's, Pietersen's and Swann's too, they haven't had it.
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Tickle has been proved right. Root is seen as a top order bat and is going to have to learn the hard way. He's not a complete novice to the international game now. Every two bit commentator points to poor techniques, but what has Gooch et al been doing?
I actually sympathise with resting the players in the late summer here, because of the incessant touring up to that point. However, because the selectors have clearly got it into their minds that county cricketers (and cricket in general) is so poor they ignore county form. Have to feel sorry for the likes of Chopra - who clearly 'not good enough' despite consistently getting a few runs.
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...Bell has had the vast majority of his success at 5 and I believe his worst stats are at 3 so why create a problem to solve a problem? ...
But actually Bell's highest test score (235 v. India) was batting at no. 3.
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The bold step would be for them to play Tymal Mills at Perth:
Quickest English bowler at around 94mph - right up there with Johnson who has been the Xfactor bowler
Already out there with EPP and helping team warm up
Left armer - see Johnson's success
Opposition not yet played against him so he may surprise
Showed what he could do on a Chelmsford featherbed against England this Summer - from what I recall he dismissed Cook & Trott and hit Root, Bresnan & Swann. Imagine what he might do on a raging quick Perth wicket which is what they're obviously going to prepare.
Seems to me he's a better bet than playing a steady but slower seamer (low to mid 80s) as they have proved ineffective in Aussie conditions.
Drop both spinners, play him as one of 4 seamers with Anderson Broad and AN Other. Can't go much worse can it?
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Tickle has been proved right. Root is seen as a top order bat and is going to have to learn the hard way. He's not a complete novice to the international game now. Every two bit commentator points to poor techniques, but what has Gooch et al been doing?
I actually sympathise with resting the players in the late summer here, because of the incessant touring up to that point. However, because the selectors have clearly got it into their minds that county cricketers (and cricket in general) is so poor they ignore county form. Have to feel sorry for the likes of Chopra - who clearly 'not good enough' despite consistently getting a few runs.
Absolutely, if such an esteemed judge as our own head coach, clearly didn't even believe Varun Chopra was good enough to open for No Change Essex, then there's no way he'd cut it for England! ;)
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...Bell has had the vast majority of his success at 5 and I believe his worst stats are at 3 so why create a problem to solve a problem? ...
But actually Bell's highest test score (235 v. India) was batting at no. 3.
So? Napier scored 150 once in a T20 but has never been able to get anywhere near it again.
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Surely one of the main reasons for this shambles is the lack of cricket most of this team have had since August. In that time Cook for instance has hardly picked up a bat in anger and opportunities to play for us in September were blocked. Australia in contrast have been in India ,albeit in limited overs stuff, and look much more ready for the fray.Keeping them fresh has in my view has resulted in them being seriously undercooked - no pun intended. If the fear was that key players would be injured in 'meaningless' county games then surely injury is just as likely to happen in the artificial environment of nets. Players need to have momentum and time in the middle to find their form and in Cook's case and possibly Prior's, Pietersen's and Swann's too, they haven't had it.
Totally agree. This is an example where the control of central contracts has not worked and also IMO explains our poor record in the first test of series, especially overseas.
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Whilst I understand the clamour for Rankin, or even Mills, I'd hate for the latter's England career to be associated with an Antipodean chorus of "he bowls to the left, he bowls to the right".
It's taken a long time for Johnson to realise his potential: and the British meja has form in calling for a player then slating him.
Maybe the Ego & others like him will stomp off to India, where they still worship old bulls.
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...Bell has had the vast majority of his success at 5 and I believe his worst stats are at 3 so why create a problem to solve a problem? ...
But actually Bell's highest test score (235 v. India) was batting at no. 3.
So? Napier scored 150 once in a T20 but has never been able to get anywhere near it again.
But it does demonstrate that batting at 3 is something that Bell's quite capable of doing successfully. Contrary to what you stated, in fact his worst test stats are batting at 2 or 4. And in terms of his average, his best position is 6. He's actually scored test centuries batting at five different positions in the order, so he's been moved around a fair bit over the years. And given the current uselessness, for the most part, of the England lower order, there's an argument for getting him in early.
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There's certainly a need to revisit just how many full Central Contracts are given out. I suspect that there will be (voluntary?) retirements from the Test side after Christmas, which given that there's not an obviously long queue to replace them, maybe more fractional contracts will be made - maybe allowing the 'net' to be thrown a little wider?
In this way, Team England is able to get more control over the peripheral players: not so much the likes of Foakes (who may go the way of CHopra and go backwards for a few years) but those closer to international 'puberty'.
However, this means TE have to think through their 'resting' of key players. Of course, it is ridiculous to have back-to-back Ashes series - reflecting the obsession the ICC have with their little tournaments...
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Surely one of the main reasons for this shambles is the lack of cricket most of this team have had since August. In that time Cook for instance has hardly picked up a bat in anger and opportunities to play for us in September were blocked. Australia in contrast have been in India ,albeit in limited overs stuff, and look much more ready for the fray.Keeping them fresh has in my view has resulted in them being seriously undercooked - no pun intended. If the fear was that key players would be injured in 'meaningless' county games then surely injury is just as likely to happen in the artificial environment of nets. Players need to have momentum and time in the middle to find their form and in Cook's case and possibly Prior's, Pietersen's and Swann's too, they haven't had it.
Most of the Aussies didnt play the one day series in India. Rogers, Warner, Smith, Clarke, Siddle, Lyon and Harris didnt. Only Johnson, Haddin, Bailey and Watson did.
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Surely one of the main reasons for this shambles is the lack of cricket most of this team have had since August. In that time Cook for instance has hardly picked up a bat in anger and opportunities to play for us in September were blocked. Australia in contrast have been in India ,albeit in limited overs stuff, and look much more ready for the fray.Keeping them fresh has in my view has resulted in them being seriously undercooked - no pun intended. If the fear was that key players would be injured in 'meaningless' county games then surely injury is just as likely to happen in the artificial environment of nets. Players need to have momentum and time in the middle to find their form and in Cook's case and possibly Prior's, Pietersen's and Swann's too, they haven't had it.
Most of the Aussies didnt play the one day series in India. Rogers, Warner, Smith, Clarke, Siddle, Lyon and Harris didnt. Only Johnson, Haddin, Bailey and Watson did.
They might not have played in India but I bet they were playing some cricket. That is the point.
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they were saying on talk sport that Johnson played in a shield match prior to the ashes starting. hasn't done him any harm.
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After the third day at Perth there can be little doubt, if there ever was any, that the Ashes are gone. A 5-0 thrashing looks a distinct possibility. This disgraceful performance calls for a root and branch investigation into the deficiencies of English cricket. We could call it ......the Scholfield report.
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After the third day at Perth there can be little doubt, if there ever was any, that the Ashes are gone. A 5-0 thrashing looks a distinct possibility. This disgraceful performance calls for a root and branch investigation into the deficiencies of English cricket. We could call it ......the Scholfield report.
It is simply many of the more senior players losing their hunger. End of the road for Petersen, Trott, Prior, Swan. Broad needs to be dropped until/if he show a more mature approach to the game (I'm old enough to have seen his Dad play and Stuart is a chip off the old block).
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Well, you have to ask whether this is just down to a Southern African coach who's been in the job a little too long, alongside his coaching staff, and a skipper who's really not up to the job. Let's face it, Cookys you typical posh boy done well, who doesn't have that bit of a street fighting b@&@&d quality about him.
Talking of that quality, Nasser Hussain faltered against the Aussies, but he'd had to face a much superior team to the likes of Micth J et al. Remove Gooch, Flower and Cook, send KP into IPL retirement and rebuild for next time by casting the net a little wider. At least Carberry has shown that you don't have to be a Saffer to play for England. Even trying the likes of Chopra might buy us some time whilst the next generation comes along.
Oh and without the likes of the Schofield report, this sort of disaster would happen every series, except against Bangladesh. The selectors became obsessed with not changing the core of players to the point that they refuse to look objectively at under achieving players. Reminds you of any other team?
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The selectors became obsessed with not changing the core of players to the point that they refuse to look objectively at under achieving players. Reminds you of any other team?
Larry for England!
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The selectors became obsessed with not changing the core of players to the point that they refuse to look objectively at under achieving players. Reminds you of any other team?
Larry for England!
No, Larry for Australia. Fifteen years hard labour in a penal colony.
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After the third day at Perth there can be little doubt, if there ever was any, that the Ashes are gone. A 5-0 thrashing looks a distinct possibility. This disgraceful performance calls for a root and branch investigation into the deficiencies of English cricket. We could call it ......the Scholfield report.
It is simply many of the more senior players losing their hunger. End of the road for Petersen, Trott, Prior, Swan. Broad needs to be dropped until/if he show a more mature approach to the game (I'm old enough to have seen his Dad play and Stuart is a chip off the old block).
Agree that Peterson & Prior need to be shown the door now- give Ballance & Bairstow a bash, can they do any worse? At least Johnny B would bring a positive outlook to the team.
Broad's been our best bowler in Aus, and did v well last summer - I'll live with the odd showing of petulance.
OK, Swanny's had a couple of bad tests but does that justify dropping him? And who to replace him with?
Can Ally / AF stay as captain / coach? Will they want to?
Is there anyone in the Performance squad who might improve matters?
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After the third day at Perth there can be little doubt, if there ever was any, that the Ashes are gone. A 5-0 thrashing looks a distinct possibility. This disgraceful performance calls for a root and branch investigation into the deficiencies of English cricket. We could call it ......the Scholfield report.
It is simply many of the more senior players losing their hunger. End of the road for Petersen, Trott, Prior, Swan. Broad needs to be dropped until/if he show a more mature approach to the game (I'm old enough to have seen his Dad play and Stuart is a chip off the old block).
Agree that Peterson & Prior need to be shown the door now- give Ballance & Bairstow a bash, can they do any worse? At least Johnny B would bring a positive outlook to the team.
Broad's been our best bowler in Aus, and did v well last summer - I'll live with the odd showing of petulance.
OK, Swanny's had a couple of bad tests but does that justify dropping him? And who to replace him with?
Can Ally / AF stay as captain / coach? Will they want to?
Is there anyone in the Performance squad who might improve matters?
Agreed that Broad is a good bowler but I say that his attitude is causing problems for Cook...who needs all the help he can get at the mo.
A replacement for Swan is a problem ...maybe a case of short term pain for long term gain. The spin cupboard is pretty bare...there's a guy at Yorkshire who I like the look of. Moeen Ali offers a decent spin option...and bats.
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Interesting that people are suggesting senior players are losing their hunger, yet Broad should be dropped for being aggresive and passionate!
I agree that several players need replacing, Pieterson & Prior for a start. Cook, Swann and Anderson need a rest.
The idea of central contracts worked well up until a year or so ago, but once players became undroppable they became a negative influence. Not sure what the answer is though.
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Certainly The Ego has to be dropped now - yet another poor shot selection, playing to the gallery & trying (unsuccessfully) to show he can hit the ball harder than anyone else!!
Prior has gone to pot almost totally(his wicketkeeping was back down to his previously low standards as well as his batting), he needs a kick up the backside, Swann & Anderson were clearly targeted by the Aussies & they succeeded. The whole fielding performance was lamentable & they clearly lacked leadership on & off the field, the only bright notes were Carberry who batted quite well although he needs a big score, Stokes has done ok although his bowling needs to improve, Root also is worth persevering with .
Saying all that I am not really sure who to replace them with at present, the transition will take some time but these are worrying times for England.
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Unfortunately Carberry is not the answer. A good county player but 33yo and lacks a bit of quality when batting.
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Would I want Andy Flower as our coach - no way!!! Would rather keep Larry in charge.
I think Grant would be a better choice and would have a better rapport with the players
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Well, it shows that strength of character doesn't make a captain, it's strength of personality. Cook's obviously been listening to his batting coach too much - hence the slow, inflexible tactics. Only thing in his favour is that now we have to start replacing those older than him in the team.
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Maybe Carberry would be worth persevering with for 12 months, hopefully by then Root will be able to open. Though maybe if Flower goes Compton can come back, I think he is possibly worth giving another go.
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Maybe Carberry would be worth persevering with for 12 months, hopefully by then Root will be able to open. Though maybe if Flower goes Compton can come back, I think he is possibly worth giving another go.
Too much chopping and changing hasn't helped - should have stuck with Root opening and batted Carberry at 3 when Trott left.
Also, it's sad when great teams are on the decline and I'm afraid the current England side are getting older and on the way out.
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Goes without saying (again) that shot away Prior and no James Foster ...
So I won't bother :-\
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I can only agree with the general consensus - The Ego, Prior, Jimmy, Swanny & Ally all deserve dropping on current form.
Personally I'm inclined to drop the first 3.
Swanny? One more chance?
Ally - will he drop himself (Mike Denness dropped himself on the infamous "Lillee & Thompson tour" mid 70s) and / or resign as captain? (I know he isn't officially part of the selection panel but if he said he didn't feel worth his place in the team, surely they'd have to accept.) Or will he drop down to 3, making room for Sam Robson or swapping with Joe Root, and getting us a left-right opening combo?
But the other front-line batters haven't been much better - Root averaging under 30 & Carberry barely over. Even Ian Bell is only averaging 38.
My contention is that given this mess bringing in 2 new batsmen - Sam Robson & Gary Ballance - and replacing Prior with Bairstow and Anderson with one of the big quicks is our best hope. Maybe even go as far a 6 batsmen with Bairstow & Stokes at 7 & 8. Desperate times, desperate measures needed; anyone heard Albert Einstein's definition of madness? Keeping on doing the same things and expecting different results.
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Looks like captaincy has got to Cookie and it's a different game when you are loosing.I still can't work out how Warner and Smith were allowed to make 100's-there is something sadly lacking with the bowling/plans.In the short run I would like to see Bell+Root swap places,get shot of Prior for Bairstow and get Finn back in but keep him away from the coaching staff-he needs to do what Anderson did years ago when they tried to change his action and go back to what got him in the team in the first place.
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I'd get some of the performance squad players out there - Ali, Buttler (better keeper than Bairstow), Briggs, Jordan and Overton.
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anyone heard Albert Einstein's definition of madness? Keeping on doing the same things and expecting different results.
I thought that was Grayson's definition of coaching.
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from what I recall he dismissed Cook & Trott and hit Root, Bresnan & Swann. Imagine what he might do on a raging quick Perth wicket which is what they're obviously going to prepare.
And from what I remember a stubborn 32 to frustrate the life out of particularly Swann, and co.
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from what I recall he dismissed Cook & Trott and hit Root, Bresnan & Swann. Imagine what he might do on a raging quick Perth wicket which is what they're obviously going to prepare.
And from what I remember a stubborn 32 to frustrate the life out of particularly Swann, and co.
If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting then ...
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no, no, no.
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Well, it shows that strength of character doesn't make a captain, it's strength of personality. Cook's obviously been listening to his batting coach too much - hence the slow, inflexible tactics. Only thing in his favour is that now we have to start replacing those older than him in the team.
As you know Andy, that could be a perfect description of Essex CCC and the way they've gone about their cricket over the past ten years or more. Firstly, under the clueless Irani, who was given his instructions before each session via Fletcher and later Gooch, and stuck to them to the syllable. But, this is a deeply ingrained No Change Essex Club policy that's been repeated to its current unsuccessful conclusion down the line in 2013. Trouble is, it will be continued with under the current coach and captain. The personnel may change...(albeit way too slowly), but the underlying ineptness will stay as it is.
As, I and others have stated, the only way is to bring in coaches (preferably with no connection to the Club) who have the ability and confidence to think for themselves and make the changes necessary. Sadly, until the one branch of the jobs for life members of ECCC, currently sitting on the Cricket committee, need to depart before anything else!
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Mog. You know full well you are preaching to converted here on this issue.
I get the feeling the Ashes were lost months ago, maybe even before the Compton farce. Don't like the way certain ex England captains have laid into their ex-team mates. Thus far, Ally hasn't cried in public...
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I get the feeling the Ashes were lost months ago
On the Friday at the Oval when England played some of the worst cricket I've ever seen.
Certainly the dullest.
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I get the feeling the Ashes were lost months ago
On the Friday at the Oval when England played some of the worst cricket I've ever seen.
Certainly the dullest.
I tend to agree. Lost any initiative they had, partly owing to frankly bizarre selection.
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Good article by Alec Stewart
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/25422259
Food for thought, but I don't entirely agree with him. "Will Ballance score more runs than KP?" is one question, but "which of KP & GB will play for the team, and which for themselves?" is another, and IMO an equally important one. Or how about the message endless "same again" selections send out, both to the team and the rest of the cricketing world. We can't carry on rewarding failure for ever.
Prior looks mentally shot. Anderson just ineffective, maybe knackered. Alternatives with 10+ tests each are out there i.e. Tremlett, Monty, Finn & Bairstow. Surely 3 changes are needed. If the pitch isn't offering any help to spinners, maybe time for an all-seamer attack?
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I still don't get the argument that these players are knackered. For the only time in my life I agree with Bob Willis who torpedoed this argument about jadedness the other night. Most of this squad hadn't played a serious game of cricket for months before the Brisbane test and some like Cook seem now only to play in International games and the odd contrived friendly. That can't be right if one is trying to gain form and momentum.
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I still don't get the argument that these players are knackered. For the only time in my life I agree with Bob Willis who torpedoed this argument about jadedness the other night. Most of this squad hadn't played a serious game of cricket for months before the Brisbane test and some like Cook seem now only to play in International games and the odd contrived friendly. That can't be right if one is trying to gain form and momentum.
That would be the Willis whose appearances in county cricket were so rare that one of his bowling spells was preceded by the cry "Bowler's name?", would it?
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I still don't get the argument that these players are knackered. For the only time in my life I agree with Bob Willis who torpedoed this argument about jadedness the other night. Most of this squad hadn't played a serious game of cricket for months before the Brisbane test and some like Cook seem now only to play in International games and the odd contrived friendly. That can't be right if one is trying to gain form and momentum.
I don't claim that the whole squad is knackered, just Anderson could be.
That England players, particularly batsmen, were forced to "rest" in September does strike me as ludicrous.
Bob Willis always sends me reaching for the "mute" button. He talks even more rubbish than Botham these days, if such a thing is possible.
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I still don't get the argument that these players are knackered. For the only time in my life I agree with Bob Willis who torpedoed this argument about jadedness the other night. Most of this squad hadn't played a serious game of cricket for months before the Brisbane test and some like Cook seem now only to play in International games and the odd contrived friendly. That can't be right if one is trying to gain form and momentum.
That would be the Willis whose appearances in county cricket were so rare that one of his bowling spells was preceded by the cry "Bowler's name?", would it?
Haha yes I remember that. Willis is generally an oaf but on this subject I agree with him. Do the top golfers for example stay at the top of their game by;
a) practiciing
b) sitting on their backsides
Ref: Gary Player ("....the more I practice the luckier I get")
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Bob Willis always sends me reaching for the "mute" button. He talks even more rubbish than Botham these days, if such a thing is possible.
It's a close run thing. Botham must be employed as a social service...the worst captain in living memory.
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I think that if you look at the amount of cricket played through a 12 month period, then there is a case for being 'jaded'. Remember that the likes of Johnson only got back in because the younger bowlers were injured!
The problem is that summer 2013 saw meaningless ODIs/Tests early season followed by back to back Ashes series a World Cup then back into the next summer season. This is why there were the enforced rests. However, I still think that the full story will come out if certain senior pros/ Flower decide to call it a day after Christmas...
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Bob Willis always sends me reaching for the "mute" button. He talks even more rubbish than Botham these days, if such a thing is possible.
It's a close run thing. Botham must be employed as a social service...the worst captain in living memory.
I remember a few years ago Botham & Gower pontificating about Michael Vaughan's alleged shortcomings as a captain. The expression on the face of Nasser Hussain, who was quite literally speechless, said it all: the two worst captains in recent English cricket history tell one of the best how to do it.
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Well the wheels have well and truely come off now with the ego Swann giving up during a series because he was about to be ditched - gone down massively IMHO now and I'm sure many others. But let's be honest, he's been on the poor side for 2 years or so now when you consider the same poor Aussies who let him take wickets in the summer are now smashing all over the land...
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Botham is an excellent example of the reason you don't make your most successful player either captain or coach.
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England are up the swanee good and proper (not sure if there's not a pun in there somewhere) and goodness knows how the carnage left - and it doesn't look like getting any better - after this series is going to get sorted. I'm no conspiracy theorist usually, but I think Swann's timing is suspect. I also wonder if it would have happened so untimely should we have been 3-0 up instead of the reverse ?
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Botham is an excellent example of the reason you don't make your most successful player either captain or coach.
Like Cook, another class act with the bat in fellow left-hander, David Gower, springs mind.One series apart ,he made a less than convincing England captain.
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Re: Swan, I'm reminded of a saying by quite a well known and successful football manager ...
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Team spirit is a myth, perpetuated only by success.
No sign of team spirit with Swan. Going to be dropped so decides that's it. Didn't fancy carrying the drinks for his 'team mates' even though they have had to do it for him.
I'm increasingly of the view that this shambles is a failure of management (as are all failures btw). Various personnel issues have been apparent for a while and the management team have failed to act.
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Re: Swan, I'm reminded of a saying by quite a well known and successful football manager ...
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Team spirit is a myth, perpetuated only by success.
No sign of team spirit with Swan. Going to be dropped so decides that's it. Didn't fancy carrying the drinks for his 'team mates' even though they have had to do it for him.
I'm increasingly of the view that this shambles is a failure of management (as are all failures btw). Various personnel issues have been apparent for a while and the management team have failed to act.
A growing number of people have been calling for Swann to be left out so he bites the bullet and announces his retirement and that seems to annoy people as well. Brilliant.
In addition it is seemingly the fault of the 'management' that they have allowed him to retire. What should they have done? Force him to continue to tour for the next couple of weeks?
The biggest issue for me is that if his elbow is shot then he should have raised the issue before the tour and retired then but what could the 'management' do if their top spinner advised that he was fit to tour?
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Who's paying Swans ticket back home? Cheeky so and so.
Which one of the numerous reality shows is coming in the new year? I'm trying to be a celebrity or Big Brother? I'm assuming he'll follow Tuffers into the z list arena...
To be honest, I didn't think that Team England would have to enforce changes, that the rats would leave the sinking ship etc. I have an ominous feeling that Cook will have a bunch of youngsters and KP to lead next summer...
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...I have an ominous feeling that Cook will have a bunch of youngsters and KP to lead next summer...
Indeed. Assuming Cook is still captain.
There's something seriously wrong in the England set-up. At some point someone will tell the story (probably for a good publishing / media deal).
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Ally's futire as captain must be under question, but who's the alternative?
Prior's vice-captain - enough said.
Bell?
Borad - surely not.
A N Other?
Answers on a postcard please
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Ally's futire as captain must be under question, but who's the alternative?
Prior's vice-captain - enough said.
Bell?
Borad - surely not.
A N Other?
Answers on a postcard please
Why, it has to be Ravi.
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I am dreading watching the 4th & 5th Tests wondering what sort of team Cook will be leading & will they actually give it everything & play for pride?
I expect Swann will give his full side of the story soon, maybe in a book or a series of lucrative interviews, if he is genuinely spent then maybe some credit is due for being honest but the suspicion remains about the timing - hardly in the team's best interests at present that's for sure.
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Swann, Selfish in the extreme. When we need a few old heads to stand up and be counted, he has bottled it in the extreme.
I await the announcment of him joining Sky's team.
What a total shambles. The Australian's must be absoluely pissing themselves laughing.
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this shambles is a failure of management (as are all failures btw).
Why are you seemingly so keen for the Essex management to remain in place then?
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Swann, Selfish in the extreme. When we need a few old heads to stand up and be counted, he has bottled it in the extreme.
I await the announcment of him joining Sky's team.
What a total shambles. The Australian's must be absoluely pissing themselves laughing.
Totally agree, seemingly all the ex cricketers who cried off careers in order to get lucrative mejia careers back Swan whilst those of us in the real world see this action for what it is.
Ironically, I for once seem to agree with Piers Morgan. I feel sort of dirty.
I don't mind the Aussies laughing at us. I fear that they might even start to feeling sorry. Who'd have thought that they would be the ones with a settled side, good player managers relations and solid performances when they got of Mickey Arthur?
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Who's paying Swans ticket back home? Cheeky so and so.
Which one of the numerous reality shows is coming in the new year? I'm trying to be a celebrity or Big Brother? I'm assuming he'll follow Tuffers into the z list arena...
To be honest, I didn't think that Team England would have to enforce changes, that the rats would leave the sinking ship etc. I have an ominous feeling that Cook will have a bunch of youngsters and KP to lead next summer...
Strictly Come Dancing - I'm sure of it!!!
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And he will probably leave soon after the mid point of the series.
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And he will probably leave soon after the mid point of the series.
No, he'll go at the first opportunity...his dancing partner is over 6ft tall, Australian, and has a rather alarming moustache. :-* :-*
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And he will probably leave soon after the mid point of the series.
No, he'll go at the first opportunity...his dancing partner is over 6ft tall, Australian, and has a rather alarming moustache. :-* :-*
I have always deliberately avoided the programme, but I have to say I'd watch that!
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Graham, I have to say that performance was strictly lacklustre, you failed to keep up with Mi(t)chelle, I'm afraid that was a 4 from me, dahling.