Ashes 2017-18

[JasonP]

This is beginning to look like a tour too far for Mr Cook. If his current form carries on he will have a big decision to make. Their is nothing more for him to achieve internationally or domestically, he has a young family and a career in farming to pursue whenever he decides to call time.

Maybe, I have Essex stars in my eyes. But, I’ve always thought Cook would play a few years CC as and when he stops playing internationally. It may be nothing to do with achievement - just some time playing with his county without too much pressure

I do think he may call time on his international career after this tour, though

Yes I'd hope Cook wouldn't do a Hussain and retire from all forms of cricket immediately but rather do a Gooch and play on at county level for a year or two. I guess he could make a fortune out of the Big Bash if he wanted to combined with playing for Essex as he's a name and the Aussies seem to like English players in that competition. But it wouldn't surprise me if he packed it all in - especially if he gets a media offer.

I'd be amazed if any of the teams wanted him.  He's played 3 twenty20 matches since 2010.

[JasonP]

The only good thing that could come out of this is the resignation of Strauss and Graves. Somehow I don't think this will happen.

What have they got to do with it?  We just haven't got good enough players at the moment.  The squad is pretty much the best that could have been picked.  There's no one else that has demanded to be picked on performances.  The likes of Vince, Malan and Stoneman are decent county batsman but have never shown anything consistantly that they are above that level.  They've been picked because there's no one better.  Bowlers like Overton, Ball, Woakes etc are decent bowlers in county cricket where conditions pretty much always give you something to work with, even on flat pitches.  They struggle when they go to places like Australia.  Again, we have no one better.  Add this to Cook looking out of sorts and the huge loss of Stokes and we look ordinary.

Chef has looked disinterested since losing the captaincy -  he seemed to be the only rating his manhandling of the attack.

Some strange selection policies: Plunkett has been sneaked back in. Mason Crane has a nice suntan.
Stoneman was ignored despite scoring runs, but I guess G&S don't really pay much attention to county form.

 Indeed, when considering the county game do they look much beyond fixing championships for their teams? Their master plan is city franchises, which won't address the problems of the game: not enough playing the game at grassroots and hiding the game behind a paywall for a generation. This allied with a media strategy driven by the Aussie fake news machine suggests Mr S should've taken up his place on our masters programme...

G&S are not selectors.  Stoneman has been selected this year on the back of a decent season for Surrey.  He's done nothing too spectacular before that to demand selection, averaging 36 in first class overall.  34 in 2015 and 46 in 2016 (which is made less impressive when his opening partner that season, Jennings, averaged 65)

[neil]

Chef has looked disinterested since losing the captaincy -  he seemed to be the only rating his manhandling of the attack.

Put the wine back in the fridge, Andy!

[Andy]

Chef has looked disinterested since losing the captaincy -  he seemed to be the only one rating his manhandling of the attack.

Put the wine back in the fridge, Andy!

I'm perfectllly sobber, your honour.

A month without broadband - even reduced to talking to the wife - then to see this lot chuck it away against the Woolangong ladies 2nd XI. It's enough to drive any (in)sane man to the bottle.

[bwildered]

Picking at the bones of it all . Stoneham got selected because of some Daddy centuries for Surrey after Jennings floundered and Hameed got injured . Vince and Malan are both players you would be glad to remove playing Championship cricket , but with all the batsmen they were short of decent extra pace attacks preparation .
Conviction in playing a spinner, rather than a player that has to prop up the batting does not help. Time for Foakes to replace Bairstow behind the stumps and let him concentrate on his batting .
Anderson should have been first changer, and was amazed his first five wicket haul in Australia given that he had twenty four others .
Time for rebuild to start, with Silverwood having a major job in finding a new pace attack, Coad , both Currans and Overton most likely to replace the present .

[IlfordEagle]

Very disappointing to lose so easily having given ourselves a chance, most of the batsmen need to look at themselves & start to work on their technique especially outside off stump - when to leave & when & what & how to play. Too many batsmen need a decent score in Perth next week if not then it's goodbye to the Ashes again.

[Suffolk Richard]

I think Cook has only got about 7 or 8 tests in a row to do, in order to claim world record of consecutive tests. If I was him, I'd make the selectors make the decision as to whether he makes it or not.

[SirChef26]

Cook would have to prove himself with us in the Blast if he ever wanted a T20 franchise offer which I don’t think he’ll want. He’s already said he sees himself playing on for Essex after he retires and he’s far more likely to do it if he retires anytime in the near future while his buddies Tendo, Foster and Ravi are still going. My worry would definitely be a big money media offer. I remember him doing some fun radio commentary in the summer for TMS and he was a natural. If Sky get their claws into him like they did with Nasser and I have no doubt they’ll make an approach, we could struggle to keep him.

[Andy]

Cook would have to prove himself with us in the Blast if he ever wanted a T20 franchise offer which I don’t think he’ll want. He’s already said he sees himself playing on for Essex after he retires and he’s far more likely to do it if he retires anytime in the near future while his buddies Tendo, Foster and Ravi are still going. My worry would definitely be a big money media offer. I remember him doing some fun radio commentary in the summer for TMS and he was a natural. If Sky get their claws into him like they did with Nasser and I have no doubt they’ll make an approach, we could struggle to keep him.

Cook is not a T20 player - but yes he does have a nice posh accent. Hopefully he'd be a better commentator than the usual comedy northerners they use on TMS etc.

[Oldhasbeen]

Silverwood having a major job in finding a new pace attack, Coad , both Currans and Overton most likely to replace the present .

... provided Bayliss doesn't fall on his sword after a 5-0 whitewash and Spoons end up with the top job?

[Oldhasbeen]

Vince and Malan are both players you would be glad to remove playing Championship cricket , but with all the batsmen they were short of decent extra pace attacks preparation .

Very true for Malan, clearly beaten purely for pace in 2 innings. With Vince, it seems a bit deeper, he cannot stop having a slash outside off stump. It's possible, however, that if Vince had to face more challenging attacks more often, it might push him to tighten up his game

[Andy]

With Vince, it seems a bit deeper, he cannot stop having a slash outside off stump.

That would explain the damp patches...

[nat]

Vince and Malan are both players you would be glad to remove playing Championship cricket , but with all the batsmen they were short of decent extra pace attacks preparation .

... With Vince, it seems a bit deeper, he cannot stop having a slash outside off stump. It's possible, however, that if Vince had to face more challenging attacks more often, it might push him to tighten up his game

Too much focus on 1 day cricket. Simple as. *Very* talented player.

[IlfordEagle]

Cook would have to prove himself with us in the Blast if he ever wanted a T20 franchise offer which I don’t think he’ll want. He’s already said he sees himself playing on for Essex after he retires and he’s far more likely to do it if he retires anytime in the near future while his buddies Tendo, Foster and Ravi are still going. My worry would definitely be a big money media offer. I remember him doing some fun radio commentary in the summer for TMS and he was a natural. If Sky get their claws into him like they did with Nasser and I have no doubt they’ll make an approach, we could struggle to keep him.

Cook is not a T20 player - but yes he does have a nice posh accent. Hopefully he'd be a better commentator than the usual comedy northerners they use on TMS etc.

It doesn't matter whether Ally has a posh accent or not it is the quality of the words he uses,  mind you it doesn't stop Botham among others spouting a load of rubbish!!

[Andy]

Cook is not a T20 player - but yes he does have a nice posh accent. Hopefully he'd be a better commentator than the usual comedy northerners they use on TMS etc.

It doesn't matter whether Ally has a posh accent or not it is the quality of the words he uses,  mind you it doesn't stop Botham among others spouting a load of rubbish!!

Trouble is, most of the time the expert explayers just state the bleedin' obvious. I've nothing against posh voices per se, I could listen to Mike Brearley speak all day - but then again he is an educated, thoughtful speaker. Moreso an ex-colleague had her cut glass accent which was not unpleasant to listen to, very funny when the annoying students made her swear...nothing like a posh bird well spoken, esteemed academic effing and jeffing.