posted Nov 18, 2008

I was grinning a couple of weeks back when all the usual thoughtful critics were once again (zzzz) proclaiming Australia's defeat to India was a sign that they are finished, that England will roll India over and be favourites for the Ashes next year.

Obviously, there was no need to comment on such thoughtful analysis at the time as I expected England to get thrashed much harder than the Aussies in their tour.

That said, it's all good, as an Aussie fan I'm pleased to see them vulnerable, makes the sport a lot more interesting.

I'm also very pleased to see the Indians seem to have so many formidable young players. If they go on over the next couple of years to rule like the Aussies have for so long, good luck to them! They deserve it if they can.

As to the England team...well I've been living in the UK for many years, so like the rest of you (although perhaps not with such intensity of feeling) I'm pretty tired of their inability to be consistently more than mediocre as a team.

But also by the unreasonable expectations placed on the team to be somethng they are not, which I think is part of why they underperform so often.

Also, I think part of the problem is down to there still being too many sacred cows in the team.

e.g. Bell is not naturally a one day player...he shouldn't be in the one day team, just the tests.

Why the hell do you have someone young and determined, like Bopara, at 8 when Bell is consistently under performing in the oepning slot, being forced into a position to play against his natural game?

Also, this demand that the keeper also be another Gilchrist or Stewart. These guys are just not that common.

Let the keeper do that pivotal job and be happy if he does it to the level needed, without demanding he is also going to score mightily and fast when batting.

You guys are still trying to force your team into a shape it can't fit, for now at least.

Get the basics right and select players based on what they do excellently without unreasonable demands.

The Treschoticks, Stewarts, Gilchrists etc will come along again in due course, but not while your young, promising players are being shafted in worship of the ghosts of 2005.

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posted Nov 18, 2008

I agree with Jolivague. I still don't know what Colly has done to still be in the team!! Godfathers, maybe? Swann should definitely replace him. He is a better bowler and cannot do any worse with the bat! It is time to ring in a few changes. No risks, no gain!

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posted Nov 18, 2008

england need to open with bopara and luke wright.

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posted Nov 18, 2008

How about England retain the two opening batsmen intact for the first ten overs & them scoring at a decent rate

There's a surprize element the Indians won't expect

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posted Nov 18, 2008

England lack 2005 Ashes aggression, they look pale bowlers, they should show little bit of aggression like aussies do. do what ever it takes to grab the wicket. don't just finish your spell and stand in the corner. "At the end of the day" pietersen will keep on loosing.

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posted Nov 18, 2008

@ pearl

england play many team games but crap in all ! hahaha..what a joke...jack of all master of none ! excellent.keep it up..whole world will at it..sorry pearl but its fact....watch a movie 'LAGAN' you will like it.

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posted Nov 18, 2008

Guys...forget about Ashes..it is too far.
First...england should get specialist openers...coz on indian wickets..even 300 is chasable

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posted Nov 18, 2008

I'm surprised with the lack of discussion on whether Cook should be considered as an opener in ODI's as he does in Test. Reliable in Test's for 50-70, that's alot more than the ODI opener's are mustering!

Team:

Cook
Bell
Shah
pietersen
Bopara
Collingwood
Flintoff
Foster
Rashid
Broad
Harmison

I think there's enough batting and bowling attack there.

To be honest, the top 6/7 should be getting good scores and anything that downwards smashes should be icing on the cake. All there are capable of batting well, exception of Harmison perhaps.

I think if Collingwood persists on failing, replace with Bresnan, or dare I say it...Vaughan?

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posted Nov 19, 2008

Pietersen is allowing his friendship with certain players, notably Harmison and Collingwood to cloud his judgement, neither of these players should be in India let alone playing.

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posted Nov 20, 2008

Poor Jonathan Agnew..Nothing can be done to repair England team..Down fall trend started in
Mid nineties still goes on, Englad is not a balance team compared to many such like India, Sri Lanka, Australia & South Africa.Remedy, sit & evaluate weaknesses, give appropriate repair, never listen to jabbering, overestimating, biased English cricket writers & commentators.Listen moderates like Tony Greig, Jeff Boycott

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