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[Manormanic]

Your job as a civil servent must be giving you more than the usual 30 days a year off then bud..

Flexi time is it....

Nope - its easy enough to catch two days play at Lords between a double night shift!  And working bank holidays and taking overtime in lieu pushes 30 days over 50!

[Manormanic]

Well I like him, but I wonder why Somerset chose kieswetter over him,

Buttler will miss at least two months with the England one day side, in which he excels.

In the remaining three and a bit months, at the very best he is no better than CK.  His first class record, at least, suggests that he is still a little way behind at this stage, being a natural athlete who has yet to nail the mechanics of keeping and a batsman who plays too many big shots too early.  Lancashire could have gotten a bargain, but its more likely that Zummerzet took a hard headed, pragmatic decision.

[Bulldog Cricket]

Smith had played for a year in South Africa's test side and played 8 tests and 22 ODI's under Pollock before he was made captain.

[Bulldog Cricket]

All this being the case, it would not be madness to select a skipper from outside the starting XI - it worked for the Yarpies with Smith and the West Indians with Sammy, and for those worried that it smacks of England circa 1988 please bear in mind the sensible logical selection policies that have been put in place since and the level headed - and, lets be  honest, cash heavy, management structure which supports them.

Sammy had also played international cricket for a number of years and was established in the WI side before being made captain. (or as established as anyone in the WI side back then)

[Alvaro]

Manormanic, I think that analysis is very sound.
I tweeted a while back about Prior playing as a specialist batter to prolong his longevity. Making him skipper also seems just about the only shot if Cook were to go. Would add to the cordon more than likely too.

I agree about Chopra. I have seen him get caught behind off the inside edge three times (playing defensively) the four or five times I have seen him bat. I'm not convinced by Rankin and from what I heard, Rashid's coterie of 'advisors' somewhat burnt his bridges, so Borthwick it is. Maybe Overton will be picked or an Essex left armer, Topley, who actually takes wickets?

[The_Bird]

Why pick our most out of form player to be our next captain? On Paper Prior ticks the boxes but form has to come into it and his form fluctuates too much. Cook is the right man, so is Flower. The team just needs some new faces and a break from the Ashes fairground.

When they won in India these guys were Heros something that all the previous captains in our era didn't get near, let's just stand by them.

[Alvaro]

Why pick our most out of form player to be our next captain? On Paper Prior ticks the boxes but form has to come into it and his form fluctuates too much. Cook is the right man, so is Flower. The team just needs some new faces and a break from the Ashes fairground.

When they won in India these guys were Heros something that all the previous captains in our era didn't get near, let's just stand by them.

Quite.
I did put 'if' Cook goes. I think Prior will come back he is only 31.

Much to Gerry SA's chagrin, I expect, England only play seven Tests next year, meaning Flower has a lot of down time seeing as he has nothing in his remit re. limited overs stuff. I think he'll go of his own volition.

[iand123]

Why don't England have a winter your next year?

[acko109]

aparantly from a good source if theres anyone whos closest to coming in batting wise from epp.. is robson

[Alvaro]

Ashes reorganisation.

[Over Gully]

I don't think Cook is the problem, English cricket is the problem. He is the right person to be captain, in terms of age, experience and his standing in the game, and if you have to look outside your best Test XI and pick a specialist skipper when that person's playing ability does not warrant selection in the team, then he shouldn't be there. English cricket has always been conservative, negative and dull. England very rarely makes bold choices as captain, and when it does (Botham, Flintoff, Pietersen) it doesn't work. The biggest issue for me is the conservative nature of English play, it's always designed to push for victory only when there is no chance of defeat. Sth Africa is the same, they had an opportunity to create Test history with that chase a week or so back, but they bricked it when they lost Du Plessis and played for the draw, finishing 8 runs shy with 3 wickets in the shed. Last night they batted on far too long when they should've declared behind, or just after Kallis reached his ton, but now they have a day to dismiss India and chase whatever the deficit is, and if India survive the first session, the Test is dead. Alistair Cook isn't the problem, the system is.

[procricket]

I don't think Cook is the problem, English cricket is the problem. He is the right person to be captain, in terms of age, experience and his standing in the game, and if you have to look outside your best Test XI and pick a specialist skipper when that person's playing ability does not warrant selection in the team, then he shouldn't be there. English cricket has always been conservative, negative and dull. England very rarely makes bold choices as captain, and when it does (Botham, Flintoff, Pietersen) it doesn't work. The biggest issue for me is the conservative nature of English play, it's always designed to push for victory only when there is no chance of defeat. Sth Africa is the same, they had an opportunity to create Test history with that chase a week or so back, but they bricked it when they lost Du Plessis and played for the draw, finishing 8 runs shy with 3 wickets in the shed. Last night they batted on far too long when they should've declared behind, or just after Kallis reached his ton, but now they have a day to dismiss India and chase whatever the deficit is, and if India survive the first session, the Test is dead. Alistair Cook isn't the problem, the system is.

I think South Africa will destroy Australia though in that coming series.

I think England are tired apparently they spend 270 days out of there own beds last year some off them that has to take it tole.

What did go on in the  previous 3 series with Australia and the India.

The dust will settle we will re-org and we will fight on..

[LEACHY48]

I have seen Robson a fair bit - Mainly because I teach a lad in the Middlesex setup and he has got me my fair share of tickets - Decent, but I am not saying he should be in the test side, just giving a comparison with Chopra. I will say there is a young Zim lad there called Ryan Higgins @ Middlesex (VERY much like Gary Balance) who will play for the England 1-day/T20 setup sooner or later.

But admittedly Malan, Morgan and Neil Dexter are very useful country cricketers BUT Test level is a whole different kettle of fish - None of them good enough in my opinion.

For the players with the ability to play test, your face needs to fit and be lucky with the obvious element of 'dead mans boots' about the whole selection policy. The tagline seems to be "Its yours till you play your way out of it". Great for continuity but I fear the policy has also made a few players a bit lazy.
Personally, James Taylor has paid his dues and deserves a run. I think Stuart Meaker and Tymal Mills need to be looked at as our version of 'Mitch'. Both are very quick bowlers but both need experience of being in, and around, the England set up. Until then, Finn and Rankin are there. However, in English conditions - Anderson, Broad, Bresnan are still your main three and will remain to be so over the next 12 months.

totally agree about ryan, he is quite incredible tbh, no nearly good enough for the full england setup atm, but he is exceptional, I played against him, and he scored 156 not out in a T20 match, and we are no slouches, he made us look, frankly, totally (No Swearing Please), great timer of the ball, and I tink he could also be good enough for the longer format

[Steveo1000]

I don't think Cook is the problem, English cricket is the problem. He is the right person to be captain, in terms of age, experience and his standing in the game, and if you have to look outside your best Test XI and pick a specialist skipper when that person's playing ability does not warrant selection in the team, then he shouldn't be there. English cricket has always been conservative, negative and dull. England very rarely makes bold choices as captain, and when it does (Botham, Flintoff, Pietersen) it doesn't work. The biggest issue for me is the conservative nature of English play, it's always designed to push for victory only when there is no chance of defeat. Sth Africa is the same, they had an opportunity to create Test history with that chase a week or so back, but they bricked it when they lost Du Plessis and played for the draw, finishing 8 runs shy with 3 wickets in the shed. Last night they batted on far too long when they should've declared behind, or just after Kallis reached his ton, but now they have a day to dismiss India and chase whatever the deficit is, and if India survive the first session, the Test is dead. Alistair Cook isn't the problem, the system is.

Well, it's surely the same system that led England to being the number 1 test nation in the world not that long ago. The same system that led England to an historic series win in India, and the same system that led England to 3 straight ashes series wins. The problem isn't the system now, the system was the problem when we had to endure a frankly amateur side trying to compete in the late 80's and most of the 90's.
I think a very talented group of players has run out of steam with too many being out of form at the same time. A lot of that is just to do with timing and luck, so I think the nation just has to take a chill pill.
A bit of time for this side to reflect, spend some time at home, then add a couple of new faces around the set up and they will be just fine. 
 

[Gingerbusiness]

totally agree about ryan, he is quite incredible tbh, no nearly good enough for the full england setup atm, but he is exceptional, I played against him, and he scored 156 not out in a T20 match, and we are no slouches, he made us look, frankly, totally (No Swearing Please), great timer of the ball, and I tink he could also be good enough for the longer format

Don't get me wrong, the guy is 19, but being a Berkshire lad myself, I had heard alot about this lad coming to England about 6 years ago and stunning coaches left, right and centre.

Seeing him play in a few matches, looking as dangerous as any of the other batsmen out there... If any county knows how to develop young players into ones capable of international cricket, Middlesex is up there!