I was genuinely shocked when I heard the news. As had been said, I'm also shocked he's not seeing the series out.
As much as I'd like to rant at that Jimmy I'm surprised you've held your tongue for so long #fairplay
Haha only messing lads. But agree with everyone - disappointing from Swann. Such a shame because he is such a quality spinner and one of the best England has produced. His career shouldn't have ended the way it has.
No mate I'm afraid not....can we stop bumping this thread now until the summer series starts it's ****ing depressing
I am absolutely fuming with this. No fight at all. They just gave in. They are supposed to be representing this country and it simply is not good enough. Cook has got to go. Its rudderless and he is clearly not motivating the team. Swan. I'm sorry you're an absolute **** for handing the towel in early. Disgrace.
Yeah,individually and collectively just really poor. I was looking forward to a really tight series,amazing how its turned out.
Over paid Over hyped And Over there - fortunately!!! All of the pundits led us to believe that England were favourites and had enough skill and class to take care of Australia. Well if that is so then something absolutely catastrophic has happened in that camp. Now I know next to nothing about cricket but I do understand groups and teams and this lot have gone well beyond fixing. There has to be root and branch changes.
Not exactly the wizards of oz....more like the tin men please log in to view this image The one thing I don't agree with you on Bow is that Cook should be removed as captain. He is a young fella who has been let down (IMO) by those around him but more importantly by those above him. Yes he has been really poor both with his own performances and his field settings but his previous performances warrant him being given the chance to learn from his mistakes. For me the coaching staff have completely lost the plot and totally failed to address the serious batting problems we've had for 18 months now. They have allowed bad feeling to fester and cliques to develop (like the mods on here ). Dave is spot on about how important team spirit is and how devoid of it this group clearly is. How has the management team not seen it? Why have they been so inept at countering it? 12 months ago we looked like an almost complete unit and now we have descended into farce. Flower and co seem to have gone well beyond their respective sell by dates and for me we now need a new broom to sweep clean. Get rid of the old guard and start afresh keeping ONLY the players we know have heart and desire to represent their country.
We really are the masters at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory I hope we don't make many changes for the final game though. Wouldn't be fair for a few youngsters or players that have hardly played to play in the 5th game and potentially be in the team that were whitewashed. Let the players that ****ed up over the whole series take that flack. Cook needs to look at himself and ask if he really is the right man to lead the team. He seems so negative with his field placing's and the whole pressure seems to be having a negative effect on his batting. Problem is, who is there to take over? Prior is VC but has now been dropped, Broad is ODI captain but I'm not a huge fan of bowlers being captain. KP was tried and failed... Leaves Bell as the only other experienced batsman.
I'm torn on the Cook thing, he's definitely a top drawer batsman but I think he's a **** captain. I'm half tempted to say he should concentrate on opening and let some one else be captain, no idea who though. He stays in the team. Carberry clearly isn't good enough, like Compton before him. No technique issues like Compton but he just doesn't not have the ability to make test centuries and he needs to do that. Scratching around for forty then getting out is worthless so he goes for me. Ballance to replace him? Can't think of anyone else off the top of my head. Bell has to be the new number three. KP?? Well, would love to get shut of him as he's a prick but he also happens to remain very good so should stay at the top of the order to bring some semblance of stability. For now. Root plays at five. Bairstow plays six as keeper/batsman. Stokes at seven - all rounder. Bresnan now finished, forever. Broad eight Anderson nine Finn/Rankin/Onions ?????? at ten Panesar at eleven. Long tail that though, Anderson really should be no higher than ten.
I'm torn on the Cook thing too mate. I like the lad but I also fully accept he's been way too negative these last two series. I just can't get rid of the nagging feeling that that's exactly how Flower wanted him to be. Basically as a unit we've become so used to the bowlers taking 20 wickets in a game that we've forgotten that against performing opposition we have to make runs as well. Cook's had good and bad moments as captain but as Boyc's rightly pointed out sometimes a young captain needs help and he patently hasn't had any this series. I just think he has earned the right to another chance and if we allow him to learn from those mistakes it may well be the making of him. I think Carberry did ok and looked solid enough. I'd like him to stick around personally but the biggest issue for him could be age. Now may well be the best time to get rid of 90% of the older players. Sam Robson is looking a decent opener now (plus it'd piss the aussies off if he was good as he could have played for them ) Definitely Bell up to three unless there is a natural young number three coming through. Totally agree on KP (although this tour has highlighted that he isn't the only prick in the squad...Swann). I'd have Ballance in at 4 but suspect KP will stick around like a bad smell. Root back to five (should never have been moved IMO) Stokes at six. Has earned his place (David Willey could be another all rounder option coming through....only 23). Moeen Ali in at 7. Controversial and possibly not good enough to be the permanent spinner but a bloody good addition to the batting line-up. I'd rather go to a Barrymore pool party than ever see Bairstow with the gloves again. Steven Davies (Surrey) has probably been the best of the English county players so worth a try. Decent averages for a guy who'd play at 8. Broad nine. Felt for Broad this series, looked really up for it from the off but has been seriously let down by those around him. Anderson and one of Onions/Rankin/Finn or Chris Jordan at ten and eleven. Onions would be my pick and I'm still amazed they didn't take him to oz. So frustrating.
I agree on Onions, he's a good bowler. I know it's a cliché but he offers something different, low skiddy bounce, and moves it. He should definitely play at home against Indian but for Sydney they should play Finn or Rankin and just see how they go. The Bairstow thing, I was thinking Sydney and hadn't considered beyond. I think Prior just needs a bit of a break and then bring him back, he's far from finished but should take a back seat for the rest of the tour. James Foster I think remains the best keeper out there, he's just never been given the chance. Has he got attitude issues maybe?? No idea. Spinner/slow bowler - it's useful they can bat a bit but I'd just as soon they are in for their specific skill or else not be in. Stokes can be all rounder, not sure two is necessary and so Monty has to be in as specialist for me. I was disgusted by how they ley Melbourne slip and they now deserve to be whipped five nil. This is almost a mirror of 2007, Freddy Flintoff's finest hour. That squad were arrogant as ****, same as this, and just expected to go and win and got hammered. Same here.
