Captain Cook

[Blocky]

Well deserved benefit eh...

[IanS]

Now that the dates for the next West Indies series have been announced it looks as though we won't see Cook at all next season for Essex. His next appearance could well be in April 2016 (or March, in Dubai??)

Ha, ha very good!

[Valentines Park]

His next appearance could well be in April 2016

Diatribe will be pleased.

[Diatribe]

Diatribe will be pleased.

Alas dear Yorick, I am not at all pleased with the way the series has deteriorated into a one sided affair. When I was young, I was a tad more patriotic and always wanted to see England win, including against inferior opposition, but with the passing of time, I've come to appreciate the more even handed games regardless of which side wins, just so long as its a good and interesting match.

The series against Ceylon was fairly evenly matched as were the first couple of games against the indians, but since then, the aforementioned appeared to have given up the ghost with the results being a foregone conclusion. For a nation renown for its batting in former times to be twice bowled out by a part time slow bowler is surely not acceptable by international standards. Maybe they'll put up a better display at the Oval, because England's good performances over the past couple of test cannot be used as a gauge for future displays against the better class test playing sides, ie, Australia, Suid Afrika, or for that matter Pakistan.

[IlfordEagle]

India's batting at the weekend reverted to how they used to bat over here pre Gavaskar who ,when he played, showed the Indians that if you played with grit & toughed it out you could achieve a lot - which he certainly did!
All credit to England for winning & taking a 2-1 lead to the Oval, well done to Moeen Ali, a so called bit part bowler, who has turned into a match winner.

[Andy]

India's batting at the weekend reverted to how they used to bat over here pre Gavaskar who ,when he played, showed the Indians that if you played with grit & toughed it out you could achieve a lot - which he certainly did!
All credit to England for winning & taking a 2-1 lead to the Oval, well done to Moeen Ali, a so called bit part bowler, who has turned into a match winner.

Sunny G was not the only quality batter to emerge in the 1970s, the likes of Vensakar (as well as Kapil Dev) were very handy even on English greentops. These guys often played in the CC or leagues in longer formats of the game as well - not just 20/20 on dead wickets.

However, this doesn't explain why they get out to a (part time) spinner. Either they've been paid to fail, they've fallen out with each other big time (or with Big Duncan) or Moeen Ali has learnt a thing or two from Ajmal (hopefully not how to chuck out batters).

Like Diatribe, I'm not doing cartwheels because this is an Indian team that is restarting (like England). Conversely, that doesn't mean I want England to struggle or lose.

[Diatribe]

I note that he with a zany syrup, perhaps less affectionately known as Michael Vaughn has completely changed his opinion regarding Cook's captaincy. In a space of a couple of wks. he has gone from demanding his resignation to stating that he is the right man to lead English cricket's renaissance. All on the back of a couple of wins against  a dispirited and lacklustre Indian team. I wonder where his allegiances will lay halfway through the 2015 test series against the Australian tourists.

If ever there was a more classical example of a 'man of straw' than Michael Vaughn, I've yet to hear of it, but what could one reasonably expect of a person who's favourite TV programme is the X Factor.

[Andy]

It's axiomatic that the media needs feeding with 'opinions' on a daily/hourly basis. I would suggest that the rise of the 'ex-pro journalist' also reflects the need for 'celebrities' to make these endless 'opinions'.  Not to say that cricketers never ventured into the media (indeed Bailey captained ECCC whilst typing copy for the papers) but the loss of the professional journalist from printed and verbal media has seen a decline in the level of informed comment.  TMS has followed S*Y in this downward spiral. Ex-pros are prodded into reacting to the last match, rather than looking long-term.

The problem with Vaughan is not so much that he laid into Cook, but as Diatribe says, two good performances against a team that now seems to be homesick doesn't turn AC into Mike Brearley.

Ironically, the latter was probably the best qualified ex-professional to make a living from the media - but restricted himself to occasional pieces, perhaps realising how he'd be pushed into desperate attempts at 'cheap copy'. His analysis of KP is a brilliant deconstruction of personality, but not a hatchet-job. 

Possibly Ed Smith is one who has avoided the now cliched 'ex-pro media star' syndrome.

[Blocky]

It's axiomatic that the media needs feeding with 'opinions' on a daily/hourly basis. I would suggest that the rise of the 'ex-pro journalist' also reflects the need for 'celebrities' to make these endless 'opinions'.  Not to say that cricketers never ventured into the media (indeed Bailey captained ECCC whilst typing copy for the papers) but the loss of the professional journalist from printed and verbal media has seen a decline in the level of informed comment.  TMS has followed S*Y in this downward spiral. Ex-pros are prodded into reacting to the last match, rather than looking long-term.

The problem with Vaughan is not so much that he laid into Cook, but as Diatribe says, two good performances against a team that now seems to be homesick doesn't turn AC into Mike Brearley.

Ironically, the latter was probably the best qualified ex-professional to make a living from the media - but restricted himself to occasional pieces, perhaps realising how he'd be pushed into desperate attempts at 'cheap copy'. His analysis of KP is a brilliant deconstruction of personality, but not a hatchet-job. 

Possibly Ed Smith is one who has avoided the now cliched 'ex-pro media star' syndrome.

This is all correct of course, but then again, you could say that the Aussie rennaissance started against an England team that had started to fall apart.  We had KP, clearly not in form, neither was the Skipper, our front line spinner was basically a total crock and packed up after three tests, and our number 3 bat went home with a serious bout of depression/mental illness and still hasn't recovered.
The moral of the story being  "you can only play against what's in front of you".  If this series gives us a chance to regain confidence, form and that winning feeling, then it's a great series IMHO.

Lastly, I've just been given a freebie at the Oval on Friday, so very happy for the weather forecast to be good and England to continue to perform.

[Diatribe]

Lastly, I've just been given a freebie at the Oval ,

I trust she was better value than that marquee you hired out for the Lancs. match last season, Blocky.

[Blocky]

well..given we paid 300 quid for the box, plus drinks last year, then the free seat on Friday is better value without a ball being bowled...

[Diatribe]

Just a thought, but despite losing the toss, India could still have bowled first in the current Oval Test Match had they chosen to forego their first innings, which at the moment would appear not to have made much difference to the state of play.

[Valentines Park]

MS Dhoni must be envious of Essex.

Whilst our batting might start with the wicketkeeper India's seemingly starts & ends with the guy behind the stumps.   

[IlfordEagle]

MS Dhoni must be envious of Essex.

Whilst our batting might start with the wicketkeeper India's seemingly starts & ends with the guy behind the stumps.   

Very amusing!!

[Diatribe]

Whilst our batting might start with the wicketkeeper India's seemingly starts & ends with the guy behind the stumps.   

Indeed, they may even require his bowling today, although I'm unsure as to whether he keeps wicket to his own bowling, particulary when pushing through the quicker delivery.