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Home / News / International / Coach, Thorpe Makes Shock Appointment

Coach Thorpe Makes Shock Appointment

After the scandal involving Peter Moores and Kevin Pietersen resulted in both men losing their roles within the England set up, it was been announced by Giles Clarke that former batsman Graham Thorpe would be tasked with making appointments and selections to the main England team. His orders: make the team your own.

With the appointment of a new captain ahead of the test series against the West Indies, he had the perfect opportunity. Leading candidates were Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood, both with considerable international experience under their belts, and both of whom crucially have experienced winning the Ashes, which the England team will try to regain later this summer.

What noone expected, however, was for him to pluck a complete unknown for the job. In a shock appointment, Kent's Sam Northeast, a gifted young opening batsman, he has done just that. Northeast, 19, will be the first man since Naimur Rahman to captain a test eleven on debut.

"Having followed his career closely, I know that Sam is up for the job," Thorpe told us, "he has an astute cricket brain and a long career ahead of him. If his batting isn't ready then his brain certainly is: he just needs the opportunity."

Coach and captain have also selected a promising eleven to represent England against the West Indies which includes four debutants - but crucially, there will be no Kevin Pietersen who has been sent back to County Cricket to re-learn how to play for a team.

England XI to play the West Indies in the first test:
1. A Strauss - 2. S Northeast* - 3. I Bell - 4. R Bopara - 5. J Hildreth - 6. P Collingwood - 7. J Foster+ - 8. G Swann - 9. S Broad - 10. C Woakes - 11. G Onions

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[Chewie]

A very interesting playing XI! Good luck for your story

 

[Varun]

Nice start! Sam Northeast?

 

[Highlander999]

Ha, I love it, just for the sheer surprise, behind this story, I will be following. Northeast all the way :happy

 

[Dragon Fire]

I'll try to do a match a day, but it might be difficult.

 

[Highlander999]

Just take your time there are no time pressure's in this forum

 

[Aussie Team]

fantastic start. and Good Luck.

 

[Dragon Fire]

* I could only find the ECB Domestic header, so that's why there's a slight contradiction.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Very nice start. Pieterson Sacked might go for or against the England side

 

[Dutchmen]

A good start. Do you think that it's too young to make debut for Northeast and as captain? It's really nicely based presentation.

 

[Imager36]

I like the getting rid of Pietersen idea. What are you simulating this on, by the way?

 

[Chewie]

The ICC before the title would tend to suggest he is using International Cricket Captain

 

[Imager36]

Oh yeah. I swear I looked up there

 

[Gorro_124]

Good start! Exciting lineup there mate! KIU!!

 

[Dragon Fire]

Home / News / International / Brilliant Declaration Sets Up Win on Placid Batting Track

Brilliant Declaration Sets Up Win On Placid Batting Track

Sam Northeast's test debut was one to forget with the bat, but he proved that he had a old head on young shoulders as some brilliant tactical calls made a win possible for England. Leading by just fifty runs at the end of day three, Northast took a big risk and declared to give his team the chance for a win.

After losing the toss and fielding, Onions and Broad each took early wickets to put the West Indies immediately on the back foot. Gayle and Sarwan put on over 100 for the second wicket until Chris Woakes produced a magic ball to dismiss Gayle. Both debutants took their second wickets soon afterwards, but the deep West Indies batting lineup rallied again as Dwayne Bravo and Dinesh Ramdin put on almost 200 runs until their partnesthip was broken by Stuart Broad. In the process, Broad was injured, and wasn't seen for the rest of the game. Paul Collingwood took three wickets and Onions took another, bowling the West Indies out for 469.

In reply, England got off to a poor start, losing Northeast for only one run. The young captain was replaced with Ravi Bopara who added 85 runs before being dismissed. Bell soon followed, and night-watchman Woakes saw iout the remaining half hour with Strauss. Woakes lost his wicket immediately the next day, and the West Indies seemed to have the upper hand. Strauss and Hildreth had other ideas, putting on over 100 before getting out in quick succession: Strauss finishing on a mightily impressive 212. Paul Collingwood (72*) was supported by Foster and Swann, and England finished the day on 519/7.

The game looked set for a draw until Northeast declared overnight, leaving both sides with a whiff of victory. West Indies started well, reaching 311/2 before Northeast reintroduced Paul Collingwood, who had taken a bit of a hammering. He took six quick wickets, and - with more help from Onions - helped to finish the West Indians off for 380 early on day five. England went for the win, but wickets continued to tumble: England losing four within fifteen overs. That was when Ian Bell combined with the dynamic Chris Woakes (from night watchman to pinch hitter) in what was one run shy of a century partnership. Bell put on almost as many runs again with man of the moment Paul Collingwood before both Bell and foster fell. Graeme Swann joined Collingwood for a brisk fifty partnership, but with only fourteen needed for victory, Collingwood was dismissed. With Broad injured, Swann and Onions knocked off the remaining fourteen runs in fading light with just four overs left.

England 519/7 dec (Strauss 212) & 331/8 (Bell 118) beat West Indies 469 (Bravo 155) & 380 (Gayle 129, Chanderpaul 100, Collingwood 6/110) by two wickets.

MoM: Paul Collingwood (72*, 56, 3/71, 6/110)

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