Ten reasons England suck/it went wrong

[bigred]

You are being very idiotic if you think Anderson is going to be ditched in the summer tests. He's been bowled into the ground over this year; so for the tests against Sri Lanka he'll get played if he is fit and in form. England's dumb move with Anderson was not resting him over one of the New Zealand series; which meant that he simply couldn't be fit for the Winter Ashes. Its a very similar story with Broad, and Bresnan is still recovering from injury, so shouldn't be ruled out. England's strength in the summer was the bowling attack; and as much as I think they need to try other bowlers (they need a spinner to back up Monty and for the future, and a few good seamers to come up); the core of the bowling attack IMO shouldn't be touched because at their peak, there is very little better in the world.

Batsmen-wise; Trott will be at 3 if he's recovered from his issues. It may not be a long-term thing; especially if its a similar thing to Trescothick; but he'll be there if he is ready too. There is much less stress in an late-spring home series against Sri Lanka compared to an away Ashes series. That solves the number 3 problem for now - its a question that should be asked, but I think that its not a huge issues.

Opening-wise; Carberry hasn't embarrassed himself, but apparently he's out for the fifth test anyway so that may be irrelivant. The way he played at the MCG seemed to be a "big score or you're gone" sort of innings anyway... Cook will open even if he is ditched as captain (which he should, that's been the weakest part of England's team BY FAR) - he's not the kind of guy that would throw his toys out of the pram after being sacked. Root should open IMO; he's young, and performed well enough in the summer Ashes to give him more chances. Carberry is good, but I think that they need to look for the future.

Trott should be at number 3 if he is able - but if not, they should move Bell up there if he can't. Keep Pieterson at 4 - he's often got out in dumb ways in the past, its just more noticible when no one else is scoring. I'd take him getting out in the 30s in silly ways for those innings where he scores big. Bell should go at 5 if Trott plays; with Ballance there as number 5 if needed.

Stokes needs to get another chance at 6 - I'm not sure of his abilities either side of the game, but he's definately been the best performing of the England players overall this series. In terms of the wicketkeeper, I'm not 100% sure about this; but they need to keep Prior in the loop; but also consider someone for now (Davies probably) and someone for the future (Buttler/Kieswetter? Both of those options depress me...)

Pace bowlers are where you are all wrong. Suggesting that an attack of Broad/Finn/Tremlett/Rankin would be good is a nonsense idea because the latter three are all very similar (tall, bang it in, not a great amount more). They need to give Rankin a shot (although part of me thinks that he became English just to allow Giles to have another overseas player for Warwickshire...); Finn is similar to MJ only much slower so he doesn't have the speed to be dominant. IMO; they need to get him back to his county and allow him to fix his action at that level (England can't do that stuff, look at Anderson). Tremlett is older, and much slower now so sadly probably isn't international level now. That leaves us with Anderson (who has a few years yet if England don't keep bowling him to the ground), Broad (similar really), Bresnan (rushed back from injury, but is useful at times in a Siddle-like way of being not very exciting but effective, plus also lengthens the tail if he's batting) and then someone like Onions (who really should have got a shot in Australia; because again he's something different). I'd go for something like Anderson/Broad/(Bresnan/Rankin depending on conditions)/Stokes for the pace attack; because its still the best thing that England has.

England needs a spinner in the team. Sure, he's not going to be as good as Swann, but its a useful thing to have to support the pace attack. Panesar is good enough for the short-term - look at India last year to show what he can do. It needs to be a guy picked for his bowling; so a Borthwick would need to greatly improve the bowling, especially since he hasn't bowled a lot at county level recently. Kerrigan is key - give him a few, low-pressure home tests against Sri Lanka, and we'd have a better idea what he can do without the pressure of an Ashes series; and let him build up to that. The captain needs to trust the spinner; and actually use them rather than go for Root all the time.

Captain-wise; Cook is too negative and too blah in the field to have a go; so they should move to someone else. Who that is, I don't know! Pieterson shouldn't be offered and wouldn't accept; which means that the future, appropriate long-term captains are really Bell and Broad (a few months ago you'd have said Trott, but not now...) You need someone who will actually control things in the field; and be assertive rather than what Cook is doing...

NOTE: I'm not 100% familiar with the county game outside of the games they show on Sky or what I hear; so I may be ignoring decent county players. I'd argue that's not a bad thing - look at all of the squads suggested for Australia before the series started that were Clarke + 10 random Sheffield Shield players; which would not have done as well as Australia did. You shouldn't chuck everything out; but you need a new, more positive captain and a completely new backroom setup (which means no Giles in a dream world).

First of all, I'm not sure you are right about Trott's illness being a short term problem. It sounds as though he has had it for a while. He may be able to play two pressure off tests against Sri Lanka, but what happens when England tour again? They surely can't risk him being part of a 16 man squad. It would just cause more chaos if he were to pull out again.

As for the openers, I agree with you that in an ideal world Root would just go back up and open like he did with moderate success during the summer. However I am just starting to think that perhaps he needs to get away from it for a while. We've mucked him about in terms of batting positions, and we'd be moving him again if he were to open in the first test against Sri Lanka. I wonder if it would be more beneficial to tell Root that he will be back opening soon, and let Compton have the summer in that position. It definitely cannot be Carberry. He is 100% not good enough.

I think Bell should move up to 3 to stop our run rate getting stuck in the first 30 overs. I'd also bring Ballance in for the same reason. That leaves the KP dilemma. Do you dump him like a lot of people seem to want to do? Or do you stick with him and accept his madness? I was in the first camp just a few days ago having seen the way he got out against Johnson in Melbourne, but having thought about it for while, I think that this may be the right time to give him the captaincy back. From memory, he was quite forward thinking tactically, and it was just a row that ended his time in charge. Probably won't happen though as long as Flower is coach.

Stokes needs a whole year as allrounder before we can decide how much benefit he adds to the side. So like you, I'd leave him at 6. I also agree that Prior needs to be kept in the mix for a while. The break he is having now and will get once the one dayers start might just be all he needed. Buttler is a superstar though. I'm sure of it.

Don't agree fully with your assessment on Anderson. England use this term 'the red zone' to describe an amount of cricket that is too much for the body to cope with. They monitor it carefully, so Anderson wouldn't have gone into it. They have rested him during ODI series'. However I do agree that in recent test matches he hasn't been getting the necessarry rest period during the 5 days of play, as the batters have let him down. Consequently, his performances have dipped. I'd keep for now, but I don't think his bowling is getting any better. Worrying sign when he doesn't swing it in the opening 10 overs. Even with a kookaburra ball. For me the attack will be Anderson/Broad/Bresnan and Finn. No spinner I'm afraid. Nobody good enough, unless someone can convince Kerrigan that The Oval was a one off, and he is now the best spinner in the country now that Swann has retired. It sure as hell isn't Panesar. He's been useless for a while, and I think the England management have just started to realise it given the way they treated him during the 4th test.

 

[War]

100% agreed big red:

- KP for captain
- Compton to open
- Give Stokes a long run @ 6
- No spinner, use 4 quicks

Only slight difference is that maybe if KP is captain, he could bat @ # 5 - just to ease some added workload. Compton deserves to open for sure, but sometimes although i believe Bell is the perfect # 3 he seems reluctant to bat there. I don't want to axe Root - so i'd keep him @ 3 & let Bell bat @ 4.

We should also forget about Bresnan as a test bowler though & give Onions/Meaker/Mills/Rankin a more involved role in the test setup.

 

[bigred]

We should also forget about Bresnan as a test bowler though & give Onions/Meaker/Mills/Rankin a more involved role in the test setup.

Only problem with that is we'll have Broad at 8 and then 3 walking wickets from 9-11. Broad is so out of form that would be a risk. I say this but I don't know much about Mills' batting. Rankin and Onions are elevens, and Meaker is a decent 9 or 10 who hits it hard.

Bresnan has one more summer to prove that he can play that Peter Siddle 'keeping it tidy' role. It would also help if he didn't get injured again.

 

[War]

Only problem with that is we'll have Broad at 8 and then 3 walking wickets from 9-11. Broad is so out of form that would be a risk. I say this but I don't know much about Mills' batting. Rankin and Onions are elevens, and Meaker is a decent 9 or 10 who hits it hard.

Bresnan has one more summer to prove that he can play that Peter Siddle 'keeping it tidy' role. It would also help if he didn't get injured again.

Yes Broad is out of form - but i think that has a lot to do with him just not being able to deal with Johnson, similarly how KP indifferent series is down to Siddle giving him the first real bowler test in his career (since his vague issues with left-arm spinners).

Plus of course there is the option of batting Stokes or the keeper @ 7/8.

The reason i wouldn't waste time with Bresnan anymore to potentially do that role is because his pace is long gone away from Ashes 2010/11 & IND 2011 - so we might as well look for the younger bowlers who have the pace.

 

[sifter132]

My quick two cents on selection going forward...can't rely on Trott and KP to continue for long, need to earmark replacements:
Cook, Compton, Bell, Balance, Root, Stokes, Prior - would be my top 7 for the mid-term.

KP or Trott would get the nod ahead of Balance/Compton if they are willing and in form. I'm generally of the view that a proven good player deserves the chance to come back, find form and show some passion again. Cook, Trott and Prior all come under that category - bad Ashes, but they are proven players who deserve retention if they show any spark at all. Cook as captain is similar, he's lost one series and people want him assassinated. Well, actually they wanted him dead during last Ashes when England were winning. I'd dump Flower and get some freshness in there, see if that aids England/Cook.

Bowling lineup? After Broad and Anderson who knows...but I hate how England has damaged Finn's confidence. They pick him sporadically, and Cook doesn't seem to trust him. It's just eroded him as a bowler. Onions definitely deserves a run...would they play him alongside Anderson? Or are they viewed as too similar (in style and age)? I know they've played together before, but not for long.
And I will never argue for 4 quicks, especially if Stokes is batting well in your top 7. Keith Miller said it best..."It's been proved time and again that a side with four fast bowlers is hopelessly ill-balanced" He said 3 quicks was more than adequate for a green, fast wicket and if it's slow then a 4th won't be any more effective than your other 3 - play the spinner.
Besides...they need to find a slow option at some point, maybe not for the very short term, but any overseas tour and they will see plenty of dustbowls prepared for them.

 

[War]

My quick two cents on selection going forward...can't rely on Trott and KP to continue for long, need to earmark replacements:


KP or Trott would get the nod ahead of Balance/Compton if they are willing and in form.


And I will never argue for 4 quicks, especially if Stokes is batting well in your top 7. Keith Miller said it best..."It's been proved time and again that a side with four fast bowlers is hopelessly ill-balanced" He said 3 quicks was more than adequate for a green, fast wicket and if it's slow then a 4th won't be any more effective than your other 3 - play the spinner.

Besides...they need to find a slow option at some point, maybe not for the very short term, but any overseas tour and they will see plenty of dustbowls prepared for them.

Why are people saying ENG saying ENG should move on from KP. That is way over the top - ENG don't have any batsman in county cricket capable of replacing him.

Yes he had a below par Ashes series - but i think people are too quick to blame KP & not give Siddle credit for being the first bowler to seemingly have a consistent wood over KP in his career (outside of his short phobia facing left-arm spinners of various standards).

Every top batsman has had this issue at some point in his career; McGrath to Lara, Warne to Cullinan, Broad to Clarke recently, Atherton vs McGrath/Ambrose, Flintoff to Gilchrist, Bedser to Bradman etc etc.

Trott also as i'm sure you are aware my friend, his mental issue may mean he can't come back - so moving on from him is not a matter of questioning his commitment - like Trescothick before he might not be able to play cricket or tour again.

With the spinners - what about the alternative view, that if in a 4-man attack - the spinner is useless, especially on a wearing/4th or 5th wicket wicket (the main zone of a spinner in tests) - that he would unbalance your attack.

Thus the team is better of accepting this deficiency and playing a proven 4th wicket & look to develop the fast-bowler ability to bowl reverse-swing?

AUS wasted 13 spinner since Warne/MacGill retired - none of them every proved their worth domestically like Colin Miller did to earn a call up. Nathan Lyon was the same thing, just like Jason Krejza - but luckily he has come good because he has learnt on the job of international cricket.

ENG have no good young spinner on the domestic scene. The Swann replacement needs to prove himself domestically preferably, although i'm not against selectors hunches of trying a spinner they think has some talent.

Monty is only decent spinner for now - but even he shouldn't play in all test - ENG future test attack simply has to be built on the back of upcoming quick bowlers.

 

[sifter132]

Why are people saying ENG saying ENG should move on from KP. That is way over the top - ENG don't have any batsman in county cricket capable of replacing him.

I agree he's still one of England's best player, I'm just saying he can't be relied on to continue. Rumours are already surfacing that he'll retire. If his passion is waning then I would be encouraging him to retire from Tests. Then again, if he looked me in the eye said he was really keen to smash the Aussies in 2015, then great! I'd sign him up, and lock him in to that middle order.

Trott also as i'm sure you are aware my friend, his mental issue may mean he can't come back - so moving on from him is not a matter of questioning his commitment - like Trescothick before he might not be able to play cricket or tour again.

I'm VERY sympathetic to Trott, and yes he might not ever come back. He'll probably need a while to decide. I'm merely making the point he can't be relied on in the future to: a) come back, and b) to not have another 'down' time where he walks away for a while. He's Other plans need to be made.

With the spinners - what about the alternative view, that if in a 4-man attack - the spinner is useless, especially on a wearing/4th or 5th wicket wicket (the main zone of a spinner in tests) - that he would unbalance your attack.

I hear you, if you only have 4 spinners and one of them is impotent, then you have a big problem. And I am aware of your stance on these issues

But here I think Stokes will be a god-send because he can play as that 4th seamer, while letting England experiment with Borthwick/Kerrigan. A little like Australia has done with Watson, who has carried a decent bowling load when spin either isn't useful in the conditions, or the spinner is bowling poorly.

If England would rather play conservatively, bat Stokes at 8 and use Root as their spinner, well I guess it's an option - good luck to them!

 

[IceAgeComing]

Geoff Boycott on TMS yesterday suggested something worth thinking about - it seems like KP has been shunned by the current management; who shove him up at fine leg and don't let him give his knowledge to the team. KP should either be dropped or brought in to the centre of the team (vice-captain?) to provide his insight. He wasn't the worse thing about this tour for England...

 

[Haarithan]

England cricketer Monty Panesar tried to tempt American blonde to his hotel room hours after humiliating Ashes defeat to Australia - Mirror Online

 

[Aalay]

Monty is a badass.

 

[War]

Ha ye that Yank accent, plus being a blonde girls is serious temptation for us brits. I don't fault Monty at all...

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Geoff Boycott on TMS yesterday suggested something worth thinking about - it seems like KP has been shunned by the current management; who shove him up at fine leg and don't let him give his knowledge to the team. KP should either be dropped or brought in to the centre of the team (vice-captain?) to provide his insight. He wasn't the worse thing about this tour for England...

Hmm, didn't hear this, but if true clearly bad blood from what he did from last year still lingers.

This is another reason why Flower can't continue as coach. Fresh perspective is needed.

 

[IanG]

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Fat lot of good it did them. Would've been better off with the Barmy Army diet. Beer and Chips