Ashes 2013/14

[taylorsworkrate]

Thanks eastie and Oz for your generous words. I have no doubt that England will re-group and be back at it before too long

I think it may be a while. The younger players coming through don't seem to have the talent and potential levels of the senior players (in their peaks) they will be replacing. I think it could be at least a couple of years of England being around the 4th-6th best test side.

As for your guys, it should be interesting to see how you get on in SA. If you can keep Johnson and Harris fit and at the same levels of form then they'll cause the SA line up some problems, but will undoubtably encounter far higher levels of resistance. I'd still worry about your batting. In every test your top order has struggled a bit in the first innings only to be rescued by Haddin and the lower order.

It's hard to see Haddin and the tail being able to do that against Steyn, Morkel and Philander, so it's imperative that your top 6 batsmen score more heavily in the first innings.

[willywombat]

Thanks eastie and Oz for your generous words. I have no doubt that England will re-group and be back at it before too long

I think it may be a while. The younger players coming through don't seem to have the talent and potential levels of the senior players (in their peaks) they will be replacing. I think it could be at least a couple of years of England being around the 4th-6th best test side.

As for your guys, it should be interesting to see how you get on in SA. If you can keep Johnson and Harris fit and at the same levels of form then they'll cause the SA line up some problems, but will undoubtably encounter far higher levels of resistance. I'd still worry about your batting. In every test your top order has struggled a bit in the first innings only to be rescued by Haddin and the lower order.

It's hard to see Haddin and the tail being able to do that against Steyn, Morkel and Philander, so it's imperative that your top 6 batsmen score more heavily in the first innings.

Yep, I think you're spot on there mate

[eastie]

Looks like Montey might have played his last game for England the dirty scamp.

It's his only hope of bowling a maiden over

What has he been up to now?

Trying to entice a girl online to his hotel room in Melbourne 4 hours after the test defeat .

[PaulWinch again]

One thing England should do is allow people to play a lot more first class cricket rather than carrying drinks, Bairstow and Finn have both been damaged by this. If they're not playing get them back to their counties so they can learn from playing.

[Chris Jameson]

One thing England should do is allow people to play a lot more first class cricket rather than carrying drinks, Bairstow and Finn have both been damaged by this. If they're not playing get them back to their counties so they can learn from playing.

Bairstow wasn't allowed to play for Yorkshire for the first two months of last season, no wonder he's rusty. Surely time out in the middle, playing competitive cricket is better than fitness work and endless hours in the nets?

[PaulWinch again]

You'd have thought so yes, and clearly in Bairstow and Finn's case it has done them some damage. You need time in the middle as a bowler or batsmen and it's something England need to address.

[paul_e]

You'd have thought so yes, and clearly in Bairstow and Finn's case it has done them some damage. You need time in the middle as a bowler or batsmen and it's something England need to address.

It's all about their age for me.  If you take a guy who's 21-22 on tour he has to play, otherwise leave him where is and let him continue his development.  If you want someone as cover/drinks carrier pick a guy in his late 20s who's learned what he can from the county circuit.  Carberry and Rankin fit the bill perfectly for this and I'd be happy for both to be retained for the tours next winter in those first replacement roles.

[PaulWinch again]

Telegraph reckons Flower and KP's relationship has completely broken down.

[PaulWinch again]

There is clearly something very wrong in the England set up, all these stories coming out and clearly there's a look of trust from Cook towards some players.

[Villan For Life]

The story broke in the Guardian. Mike Selvey is a cricket correspondent that I like and respect. I see no reason to doubt his sources.

On one hand you have KP who probably knows his days are numbered making all of the right noises about wanting to be part of a side that regains the Ashes in 2015. He wants to milk the IPL riches and his central contract prevents him from doing so.

On the other you have the coach and a relatively new captain faced with a player who reportedly has a divisive effect in the dressing room. Add to the fact that there is a new ECB leadership team and Flower will want to show his credentials and retain his position in the dressing room.

KP has never been universally liked by his team mates and English cricket in general.  I think that he has been badly managed by the England set up. He is a class act but was never amongst the world's top batsmen like a Sachin or a Ponting. He should now bow out and take the IPL riches.

[Ads]

You forgot to to say that he is by far and away the best English batsman going.

[PaulWinch again]

Also listen to any new young players who come into the England set up, it's KP who goes out of his way to help them. He was also in the nets helping the young tail enders during the Ashes. KP gets painted in a bad light, but I think he just doesn't fit in with the senior player clique. That clique is clearly causing a problem and would explain how players come into the team and appear not to be trusted.

[eastie]

Seems virtually every paper is reporting this story - having seen Flowers denial its interesting that he never mentions kp and just says no decisions have been taken yet about any individuals - I think kp would like to carry on at test level but in all honesty I feel this may be end for his England career - regarding cook , he needs to be far more assertive as a captain .

Flower says its time for a new start and new faces - I think kp will be edged out and we will look to the future with a very different side come the summer - it will be interesting but not easy and I would hope that the new players have developed in time for the visit of the Aussies in 2015 .

[OzVilla]

I think the "it could get worse before it gets better" style press conferences that are going around are preparing us for KP's departure. As that's what happens when you ditch a top player and talisman.

KP saying he wants to stay is his way of appeasing anyone who says he didn't want to stay on - he knows it's out of his ands anyway so why do a Swanny and look weak.

I think we might be in for a long, hard few years ahead of us tbh.

None of the young players mentioned excite me at all!

[PaulWinch again]

Jordan, Overton, Mills, Robson, Lees, Borthwick, Buttler, Foakes are all good prospects and there'll be plenty more around.