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[sultanofswing]

i have often wondered when you have had greats like botham, boycott, gower why havent we utilised them.
Shane warne - just retired has been snapped up by CA. Allan Donald now works for CSA, Javed Miandad for the PCB. Who the fcuk is peter moores??? U gotta be tough to win and this guy comes across as being to much of a nice guy. i know im being controversial here. but sometimes u gotta bite the bullet.

the best players dont make the best coaches, shane warne described coach's as something you ride to the ground on, and now he is going to be doing the job!

[skippy]

As said earlier we need a hard nut aussie or saffa who will wake our players up at 4am in order to practice catching. We need someone who is comitted - in my opinion Moores is a bit of a yes man and scared to make any big decisions!

[Talisman]

Who actually knows Moores himself? anyone? then why are you passing judgment on a proven coach who has done as much as any domestic coach?

Pietersen is a good batsman, thats it, he has not done enough as captain to decide if he is cut out for it or not. Who knows what their relationship is anyway. Lets get back to what we should be doing and bash the Aussies as they slide down to our level. Who's with me?

[Arthur]

Haha I agree Mike, but I still don't think they are quite at England's level yet, they are still in front, which is embarrassing for an English side. The selection needs sorting, other wise we're in for a drubbing against a team that is on the decline.

[sultanofswing]

i am with mike, interesting to see nielsen has signed a new contract extension despite whats been happening? i thought some of blame might have been assigned to him rather than just ricky ponting and some of the players

[FattusCattus]

Who actually knows Moores himself? anyone? then why are you passing judgment on a proven coach who has done as much as any domestic coach?

Pietersen is a good batsman, thats it, he has not done enough as captain to decide if he is cut out for it or not. Who knows what their relationship is anyway. Lets get back to what we should be doing and bash the Aussies as they slide down to our level. Who's with me?

I'm not passing comment on Moores the individual, merely my opinion on his results and my perception of his toughness and selection policy (and here Miller must take some responsibility).

Mike - do you feel we have been ruthless enough and consistant enough in selection (Pattinson, Bell, Colly)?

Also, how do you feel about the apologist comments and excuses in the press from them about our performances when having received a good drubbing?

Do you think we are tough enough mentally and in tactics to beat the Aussies right now?

However, I will assume that you have the ear of the chairman of selectors, and I will accept your offer of a coaching post. I will immediately re-assign Otis Gibson to limbo dancing training, Andy Flower will be put in charge of the BBQ and Ashley Giles can be in charge of waste management. I will then be in charge of all batting, bowling and catering. I'll stick a rocket up that miserable lanky geordie's rear-end too!

[Talisman]

Tubby Tabby,

Firstly, why do such a thing to Uncle Richard, its not his fault he lives up north and how do you know hes tall?

Secondly, yes it bloody annoys me when we faff around with selection and are not bolder in choice and tactics, but that is the English way is it not? Not everyone is a stick person some and carrots. Mentally we could turn good or bad in an instant, we do miss Fletch's belief and I'm no fan of his. All we need to do is believe we can win, we have the talent.

Thirdly, Andy would cook up a Brai rather than a BBQ, that is so Aussie and therefore out of fashion now...

Lastly, When, not if you take the reigns I would ask for the dropping of Colly and a replacement who can bish, bosh and bash the ball to all parts of the park and is an agile slip too but can also help out with the team bat selection and signwrite the team bus.

[FattusCattus]

I couldn't spell Brai properly..............................

[skippy]

Player power gone way too far, facts are Michael Vaughan should have retired, is struggling making anything over 20, not played in months yet Pietersen wants his friend on the tour. Forget players who are scoring hundreds and trying to break into the side, jobs for the boys once more, the same reason Harmison who is now finished was dropped is the same reason Vaughan wasnt picked - dead wood.

[Arthur]

I agree Skippy. Pietersen is having a strop simply because Vaughan wasn't picked, which I believe was the correct decision, and so do many others.

[AtBalfour]

But the question is about the Ashes Arthur- West Indies are a dud opposition- lets face it. Why not let Vaughan get into form against quick but inaccurate bowling and hope to have him with runs under his belt for the Ashes? If he doesn't score against West Indies, he has no hope, and it is an easy choice for the selectors coming up to the Ashes. This would have been a hit or miss scenario for Vaughan, but I still have a feeling that he will be in that Ashes squad, despite form at International level. I would have felt sorry for Shah had he been left out (what more has he to do!) but Vaughan has to travel, I mean the guy is England's best batsmen when in touch.

Bell's inclusion is puzzling, I wonder what he has been chosen for- continuity, potential, previous series? I don't know, but it hasn't been on form or runs, that's for sure! This selection policy is really holding a talented side back, because at the minute, you are two batsmen down with Collingwood (Mr. get a hundred when I am one match away from the axe!) and Bell (The guy could be a player by 2012 and did get a hundred against SA 6 months ago!!)

[Arthur]

Adam, surely you could say the same thing about Bell as well as Vaughan, he has to go to get back into form, ready for the Ashes, and Bell has had more cricket, therefore the selectors believe he is nearer to form maybe? Unfortunately, this means Bell will play the Tests, and Shah won't get a look in at 3, which I think is unfair. I do agree about Collingwood, however, why not drop him and play Shah at 6, as Mike has suggested previously. Ok Colly may be a very good fielder, but Shah is also handy and is by far the more in form of the two. Along with the fact that Collingwood's bowling has not been used recently. I am a great fan of Bell and Shah, Bell has this series to impress me with his current form however, otherwise my view as him at number 3 for the Ashes may change.

[AtBalfour]

He hasn't got the previous record against Australia which Vaughan clearly has though has he? I disagree with your point that players like Bell should use the International season to get back into form, when he has been playing cricket for the last 2 months, unlike Vaughan, who is just lacking a bit of match practice- I don't think Vaughan is out of form (this may sound silly, but hear me out) as in the CC innings I have seen him (even when he has failed), he has been getting starts, playing some lovely drives. Bell has a few big flaws in his technique, and the International stage isn't where he should be correcting them. His ODI place is up for grabs, that's one thing for sure.

[Arthur]

Bell doesn't have many technique flaws, he often gets "pretty" 20s, which I think is what you are suggesting Vaughan was doing in the CC? Bell has one of the better techniques in the English team I think. As for Vaughan, why is he not going to New Zealand with the Lions? Do they only play limited overs games? And why has he not done what Strauss did last year, go to NZ or Aus, and play grade/state cricket out there? That would get him back into form and give him match practice, surely?

As another point, why are they showing no faith in Simon Jones, the bowler who showed the Aussies up in 2005? Especially after a good season at Worcs, as well as England's current bowling attack having trouble. He isn't with the Lions, either. It asks the question whether England's selectors are ever going to change their minds.

[yvk3103]

The way the WI side is going it is certainly not a "Dud" side. They have some top bowlers and batsmen. Will give ENG a run for their money.

It's not going to be a cake walk for ENG......

They better gear-up and put a fight (and win) the series as this will help them morally when they clash with the Aussies.

P.S.: India's series win against the Aussies totally changed the way the Indian camp /players were thinking and performing. Surely the ENG team was not a "Dud" team to loose 5-0. Even Bangladesh would have one atleast one match.