England cricket 2023 & 2024
Discussion
t show out. Probably a good decision for him. Step down now before the new man decides to replace him.
He had a good record although this winter proved to be his downfall - not entirely of his own making although some of his decisions were hard to understand.
The question now is who will replace him as captain? Or maybe more to the point, who wants the job?
He had a good record although this winter proved to be his downfall - not entirely of his own making although some of his decisions were hard to understand.
The question now is who will replace him as captain? Or maybe more to the point, who wants the job?
spikeyhead said:
I think if there had been anyone else that could be considered captain material and worthy of being included in the team then they'd have been made captain ages ago.
Simply demonstrative that large chunks of the issue are further up the chain. Selectors and coaches.He was given it too young IMO, and they then didn't want to back down from that decision when it wasn't working out.
Key thing is what they do with those positions further up the chain. I half wonder if they know, have had discussions with Root (who I really hope stays available for selection) and that's what's prompted the decision.
It can only be that, or Root is simply fed up with it.
If it's the former, then I think that's poor of the hierarchy. If it's the latter, he should have done it himself ages ago.
Ah well, onward and upwards.
Murph7355 said:
Simply demonstrative that large chunks of the issue are further up the chain. Selectors and coaches.
He was given it too young IMO, and they then didn't want to back down from that decision when it wasn't working out.
Key thing is what they do with those positions further up the chain. I half wonder if they know, have had discussions with Root (who I really hope stays available for selection) and that's what's prompted the decision.
It can only be that, or Root is simply fed up with it.
If it's the former, then I think that's poor of the hierarchy. If it's the latter, he should have done it himself ages ago.
Ah well, onward and upwards.
I don't think Root is the ahem root cause of all of England's travails, although I absolutely agree that he was brought in far too young, and was always going to struggle to assert himself in a team full of county or limited overs captains. He was given it too young IMO, and they then didn't want to back down from that decision when it wasn't working out.
Key thing is what they do with those positions further up the chain. I half wonder if they know, have had discussions with Root (who I really hope stays available for selection) and that's what's prompted the decision.
It can only be that, or Root is simply fed up with it.
If it's the former, then I think that's poor of the hierarchy. If it's the latter, he should have done it himself ages ago.
Ah well, onward and upwards.
I think his fielding captaincy was an issue, especially choice of bowlers, for example Jofra Archer needlessly getting slogged to destruction, but he'd also let the pressure off batting teams by changing to spin too early.
You can't ignore the context of England's slide into mediocrity, during the pandemic the players were effectively imprisoned whilst on tour, which did create management and personal issues. The last tour of India was notable for extreme pitch conditioning to suit the home side, but England simply lost belief in themselves, in their captain and their ability to win games.
Root wasn't the best captain we've ever had, but is in good company with other superb players who didn't translate into great captains. He'll remain a linchpin of any future setup.
As to Root's replacement I'd like a wicketkeeper captain too, so Buttler is the obvious choice.
Buttler? Really? The man’s a liability. Yes, he thrashes the white ball all over the park, but in test cricket he simply isn’t good enough either as batter and definitely not as a wicketsman.
I’ll admit I don’t know who I’d pick on merit, but on the basis of being less bad than Buttler most of them would sneak it.
Stokes doesn’t want it, and I’d leave him out altogether until he’s fully fit, mentally and physically.
A dire situation has got worse. I didn’t like Root as a captain, too weak and generally passive, but he was treated by badly by the various selectors, all of whom have now gone, and I’d suggest that Tom Harrison’s greasy, avaricious fingerprints are all over this sorry shambles. He however, won’t be falling on his sword, despite being the last piece left.
Personally, I’d take the opportunity for a reset and cancel all central contacts and start all over again.
I’ll admit I don’t know who I’d pick on merit, but on the basis of being less bad than Buttler most of them would sneak it.
Stokes doesn’t want it, and I’d leave him out altogether until he’s fully fit, mentally and physically.
A dire situation has got worse. I didn’t like Root as a captain, too weak and generally passive, but he was treated by badly by the various selectors, all of whom have now gone, and I’d suggest that Tom Harrison’s greasy, avaricious fingerprints are all over this sorry shambles. He however, won’t be falling on his sword, despite being the last piece left.
Personally, I’d take the opportunity for a reset and cancel all central contacts and start all over again.
TheAngryDog said:
We could do with a Mike Brearley style captain. Not the best bowler or batsman (am I allowed to say batsman? Oh, I said it twice), but a decent enough captain. Only lost 4 of his 31 matches as Captain. Won 17, lost 10. Not too bad really.
I completely agree, but the problem is that we don't breed Test cricketers any more, much less Test captains. We need a captain who has long-term experience of skippering in the red ball game, and whose game is suited to the longer format.
Nyphur said:
Go a bit left field, give Billings a go.
Has captained Kent for a few years, seems pretty no-nonsense, and can play as a keeper batsman. Be a shame to drop Foakes again though.
I imagine that if Rob Key gets the Director of Cricket role, this might happen.Has captained Kent for a few years, seems pretty no-nonsense, and can play as a keeper batsman. Be a shame to drop Foakes again though.
He'll probably have him opening the bowling as well.
Magikarp said:
Buttler? Really? The man’s a liability. Yes, he thrashes the white ball all over the park, but in test cricket he simply isn’t good enough either as batter and definitely not as a wicketsman.
I’ll admit I don’t know who I’d pick on merit, but on the basis of being less bad than Buttler most of them would sneak it.
Stokes doesn’t want it, and I’d leave him out altogether until he’s fully fit, mentally and physically.
A dire situation has got worse. I didn’t like Root as a captain, too weak and generally passive, but he was treated by badly by the various selectors, all of whom have now gone, and I’d suggest that Tom Harrison’s greasy, avaricious fingerprints are all over this sorry shambles. He however, won’t be falling on his sword, despite being the last piece left.
Personally, I’d take the opportunity for a reset and cancel all central contacts and start all over again.
As a good captain your batting and/or keeping gets a lot of leeway.I’ll admit I don’t know who I’d pick on merit, but on the basis of being less bad than Buttler most of them would sneak it.
Stokes doesn’t want it, and I’d leave him out altogether until he’s fully fit, mentally and physically.
A dire situation has got worse. I didn’t like Root as a captain, too weak and generally passive, but he was treated by badly by the various selectors, all of whom have now gone, and I’d suggest that Tom Harrison’s greasy, avaricious fingerprints are all over this sorry shambles. He however, won’t be falling on his sword, despite being the last piece left.
Personally, I’d take the opportunity for a reset and cancel all central contacts and start all over again.
YMMV obvs.!
JeffreyD said:
We could just pick a team then pick the captain.
if a stand out candidate comes along them fair enough to allow a say in selection and strategy etc but as we haven't got that at the moment there is no point even trying.
Very radical.if a stand out candidate comes along them fair enough to allow a say in selection and strategy etc but as we haven't got that at the moment there is no point even trying.
They'll never do it
Magikarp said:
...
Personally, I’d take the opportunity for a reset and cancel all central contacts and start all over again.
I agree.Personally, I’d take the opportunity for a reset and cancel all central contacts and start all over again.
Spend time getting the right leader and coaches in, heavy pruning in the selectors too. Meanwhile just play the most in-form county cricketers for a bit. And as JD notes, once you have the team, pick the captain.
If they cancelled all the central contracts, then the test team could actually play county again. More people would watch, players would see the higher standard and it might matter a bit more.
We will never fix the test team, until they fix the county 4 day matches to be proper competitions.
We will never fix the test team, until they fix the county 4 day matches to be proper competitions.
Dermot O'Logical said:
TheAngryDog said:
We could do with a Mike Brearley style captain. Not the best bowler or batsman (am I allowed to say batsman? Oh, I said it twice), but a decent enough captain. Only lost 4 of his 31 matches as Captain. Won 17, lost 10. Not too bad really.
I completely agree, but the problem is that we don't breed Test cricketers any more, much less Test captains. We need a captain who has long-term experience of skippering in the red ball game, and whose game is suited to the longer format.Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff