England 2012 Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

The opposite of the Test side, nowhere near enough batting.

[PaulWinch again]

Very poor and symptomatic of England at the moment, well below the acceptable level. South Africa are a hungry, motivated and better side.

[noodles]

33 of the last two overs! Where was this an hour ago?

[PaulWinch again]

Good fun by the last two, but need to bat much better. Cook seems to have developed a bit of a South African accent.

[paul_e]

wickets of cook and bopara were really poor, cook beaten by a full straight one and bopara lobbed one straight at the fielder when he should've been picking his spot for four.

Was a shame for Bell to go out when he did, he was the key player for us and just got done by one that turned just enough off the pitch.

[olaftab]

It appears that Strauss will resign today. If he does  it will be a shame and English and world  cricket will be poorer for it. A great batsman, very good captain and a dignified man. Good luck for the future Andrew.

[PaulWinch again]

That'd be a surprise, I'd rather he didn't.

[john e]

It appears that Strauss will resign today. If he does  it will be a shame and English and world  cricket will be poorer for it. A great batsman, very good captain and a dignified man. Good luck for the future Andrew.

yes i agree with you.
i didnt think he would make much of a captain at first, was proved totally wrong and and has gone on to be one of the best

[PaulWinch again]

If he resigns as captain which looks likely I hope he continues for another year as a player. Also I hope whichever way it goes this KP business is resolved so we can move forward.

[noodles]

I can't see the point in keeping him on for another year. He simply doesn't score enough and he constantly gives his wicket away when he's in. I can't really think of a replacement apart from moving Trott up and bringing KP back in. 

[Dave Cooper please]

If he's going, and it looks like he is, then at least he's doing it at the right time. Plenty of time for Cook (I assume) to take up the reins and get ready for India.

 Shame if he's completely retiring from Test cricket though, I think he could still have a part to play if he can correct that bloody front foot problem he's got.

New opener needed then, reckon Trotty can step up?

[paul_e]

The problem with Strauss is that he's a far better captain than he is a batsman at the minute.

If he gives up the captaincy he probably doesn't deserve a place on the strength of his batting.

I'd like to see Bell higher up the order, but probably not opening so maybe trott up to opener and Bell in at 3.

Means inexperience at 5 and 6 though

[PaulWinch again]

I reckon Trott needs to sort out his form in his current position before considering him for opener. He has quite badly dipped this year. I hope Strauss stays on, because there is no obvious candidate for opener and his batting might pick up without the captaincy stress.

[paul_e]

I reckon Trott needs to sort out his form in his current position before considering him for opener. He has quite badly dipped this year. I hope Strauss stays on, because there is no obvious candidate for opener and his batting might pick up without the captaincy stress.

I agree, I said maybe move him up for 2 reasons, 1. his form isn't great himself and 2. I really don't like the idea of inexperience at 5 and 6.

it's a really tough call with Strauss, it's very hard to justify picking him as a batsman, whereas picking him as captain is easy.  I'm also a little worried that it's a bit too soon for Cook to take over, I'd like another year of Cook leading the 1day team first.

[noodles]

Maybe his form will pick up again without the burden of captaincy? It's happened with others. But then again it could completely drop off like it did for Michael Vaughan who was a far more gifted batsman. I think Cook will be fine as captain.