posted Aug 10, 2010

I’m beginning to wonder what Cook has to do to get dropped. There have been obvious issues with his technique for the past couple of years and he doesn’t seem to be able to address them at the moment. Presumably the fact that he’s in effect the vice captain of the team helps to cement his position but at the moment it seems to be even harder to get left out of the England side than to get into it and that isn’t an entirely healthy situation. Given that Pieterson is in very shaky form as well and that the runs from the lower order which bailed England out last year seem to have dried up (even Jimmy Anderson is getting ducks there days…..) England can’t afford to be carrying a passenger at the top of the order.

I appreciate the reluctance to upset a winning side but suppose Cook gets out for single figures in all the remaining innings in the present series? Would he still be a nailed on certainty for selection for the Ashes tour? If so, it doesn’t say much for the depth of England’s batting resources. If not, England are either going to have to shove an inexperienced opener into the fray or juggle their batting line up by promoting Trott into a position where he doesn’t play normally. I can’t see what England would lose by giving Carberry a couple of tests now. He appears to have been cast to one side on the basis of one test in Bangladesh because of perceived vulnerability against spin- not the most obvious criterion for an opening batsman (and the same is true of Prior, who bats in a position where weakness against spinners is arguably a great deal more relevant). Or give Lyth a go; he’s in good form at the moment and surely runs made in the County Championship ought to count for something in the England set up. If Cook’s replacement fails then by all means bring him back for the Ashes; if they succeed then England will have a bit more competition for places, which is no bad thing.

The bottom line is that I can all too easily imagine this side getting bowled out for under 100 by their current opponents- suppose Pakistan have a day in which every chance that goes to hand actually sticks?

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posted Aug 10, 2010

Zulqarnain Haider's innings for Pakistan was the highlight of their test I submit. We had him as a fill-in proffesional for a few weeks three or so years back. He also played for the local in the mid-week league - a team which included my number two daughter - He pointed out he had never played in a team with a girl before, she replied that he was not to worry as she hadn't played with a Pakistani international before. He's a great chap and one wishes him well; he is also our club's first international, albeit only just!

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posted Aug 10, 2010

Broad lost the plot, but I think serious words would have been said about this incident. He's been punished for it, time to move on.

He's only just turned 24, who among us wasn't still a bit of a know it all at that time? You get characters of all shapes and sizes turning up for England.

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posted Aug 10, 2010

You are all talking about bringing in county players that are no better than Cook at county level this year whats the point. Pieterson is the problem 1 inns of 80 with 4 clear cut chances to get him out is not a good inns at all. he is not playing in the 20Twenty even for Hampshire and its his lack of form that is putting pressure on Struss and Cook to score quick runs. I would drop Pieterson he has not only shown he is out of form but also a lack of commitment to the game as a whole. Is he looking to play club cricket in South Africa now he is a family man who knows. I do not understand all this anti Cook with Pieterson still in the side Pieterson should make way first seeing as we cannot test his form at county level. Its not like Cook is making a mess of things at county level and for England.

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posted Aug 10, 2010

Cook is completely shot at this level for now, he doesn't have trust in his own ability, and a long hard tour of failure in Australia would only make it worse.

The only reason he doesn't offer as many catching opportunities as others is he can't hit it that far - the bowler hits his middle stump out of the ground before he has the chance.

Pietersen, highest scorer in the innings, yeah he's the problem! Hampshire aren't picking him, so your argument on that score is completely invalid. Get over this "lack of commitment" as well, he trains and works on his game harder than anyone else, and his innovations have spread throughout the team.

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posted Aug 10, 2010

Pieteson is the problem Mr "I play the way I play" has been found out as nothing but a slogger who looks foolish when it does not come off. unless of course the oter team cannot catch.
He has been rubbish for too long now even the IPL 20Twenty was too much for him. I dont understand why he is so protected he is not a great player and never will be. If he was a great Player he would have played for South Africa.

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posted Aug 10, 2010

"nothing more than a slogger" ?

well he did fairly well to be the fastest player ever to reach 5000 test runs at an average of over 50 for someone who is "only a slogger"

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posted Aug 10, 2010

Come on Rich... 5000 test runs at over 50 is a breeze ...... for a slogger ......

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posted Aug 11, 2010

If KP's been found out as a slogger, what's Cook, A pitch invader? Is it Karl Power who has been given an extended run as opener? Would explain his loss of form

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posted Aug 11, 2010

Should Alastair Cook fail again at the Oval, he is most likely to be dropped for the final Test.

The ball is in his court!

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