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[WalkingWicket37]

I don't get why everyone rates Morgan as a captain. I've never seen a great England display in any format with him at the helm. Why should he get another crack as a specialist skipper?

It's not a case of being the best skipper in this case, but the least worst of who's available! He can't do any worse as leader or with the bat, can he??

[joeljonno]

Best thing with the bowlers would be for one of them to get a slight niggle so the powers that be don't have to make the decision.

Until there is a decent turning spinner who could come in, or a very good containment bowler, I think they will be happy to keep having Ali and Rooooot at the spin option.  This way, they will get a bit better as well.  Maybe after a few tests, Ali will be good enough as a recognised spinner.

[Buzz]

on the bowlers, there is no way the bowlers will get through 5 test matches in 6 weeks on the dead roads modern drainage makes the pitches.

everyone will get ago!

[jamielsn15]

Cook out, Root up to open, Morgan in as skipper and Stoles in to replace Jordan anyone?

Never, ever going to happen, as much as I like Morgan's ODI captaincy skills.  Aside from carrying Morgan, who would not only have to contend with the nerves of captaining the Test side with coming back into the side, if he doesn't make runs, his captaincy skills alone won't win us games.

So after bigging up Morgan, you then have to reassure and manage every other player who, now that Cook has been stripped of the captaincy and dropped, think that they are only a couple of innings away from being discarded.  After all, if a guy with over 8,000 runs and more 100s than any other English player can be cast aside, then what hope have they got?  Root doesn't want to open and Morgan is unproven at Test level.  As much as you can argue that he can't do any worse than Cook, you can't guarantee he'll do better than him in the future...

You're also asking Morgan/AN Other to manage a lot of very inexperienced players, who will have very up and down series and an under performing bowling unit.  The only plus is the press and media would be distracting from that as they are hounding the selectors and demanding their resignations...

If we're talking fantasy cricket, great - but we're dealing with real people, real talent, but with real doubts, real insecurities and real issues - and differing levels of these in every player, probably changing daily.  Consistency and routine brings out the best in pro sportspeople.  Cook has been there done it and the nature of cricket is that you're only a couple of hits/one knock away from good form.  We all know that, its just that Cook-bashing is second only to hammering English footballers as the nation's favourite pastime at present.  They'll stick with him and at some pint soon, he's going to make runs.

[steyn92]

Would surprise me if Cook is skipper for too much longer.

[Sam]

Morgan seems to have a very good cricketing brain, but even that shouldn't get him in the test side in my opinion.

[Manormanic]

they have to do something!

[Stuey]

All the ecb's eggs are in roots basket, just biding their time.  could be after India if  he gets some runs.

[Manormanic]

hope not - he's just too young and impetuous at the moment.  Four years time, certainly.

[Buzz]

on the captaincy thing, we have to remember after India there are no tests over the winter, then two tests then the ashes.

there is no way Root will be made captain with that pressure.

seems odd how no journalists are pushing Bell. In fact the opposite, they are saying he couldn't do it. there is huge support in the media for cook, which means they know something we don't.

[csnew]

Worth a read:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/kevinpietersen/10931163/Kevin-Pietersen-England-must-show-faith-in-youngsters-and-stop-kidding-the-public-with-negative-tactics.html

[FattusCattus]

Did you see the slating that Warne gave Cook in the Telegraph yesterday? The pressure is building, and I hope that doesn't make Cook and Moores too stubborn with regards to picking an XI to beat India.

The way I see it, there are 13 names to pick from, the current XI plus Stokes and 1x spinner.

The hard-nosed pick would be to drop Ali for Stokes and Jordan for the spinner. It's not fair, and neither have done anything wrong, but the side as it is at the moment is not attacking or flexible enough. Plus both lads, if managed right (and I have some reservations about this) should be made aware they are a big part of the plans for the future.

Who the spinner is mystifies me -

1) sit down with Monty, sort him out and get him on the park
2) sit down with Tredwell/Batty and tell them they are doing a job for England for a few tests
3) blood a youngster - but who.

I haven't looked at the figures, but who are the English spinners taking wickets?

[csnew]

riley from kent looks really good for his age! But would you risk putting a youngster against the indians

[steyn92]

Worth a read:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/kevinpietersen/10931163/Kevin-Pietersen-England-must-show-faith-in-youngsters-and-stop-kidding-the-public-with-negative-tactics.html

Speaks a lot of sense. Hard to disagree with much

[Manormanic]

riley from kent looks really good for his age! But would you risk putting a youngster against the indians

The thing is, you'd rather do it against India - who for the first three tests at least can be kept in check by pace and seam movement - than against Australia next year.  So they need to decide who it is and go with it!