Print

[Manormanic]

He is only 30 - if he is dropped I don't see him being finished at all.

Really?

If he is dropped, it is because he has been so thoroughly worked out and worked over that they cannot possibly keep him.  He has not shown thus far the ability to amend his technique to find ways of scoring off full, straight bowling, so it is hard to believe that any amount of runs that he may hypothetically score in division 2 would justify a recall.  Quite aside from that, he is struggling because he is mentally beaten down by the demands of the job and of facing bowlers when he knows that they have the wood on him - very few players come back from that, even before you consider the fact that ex-captains other than short termers have more or less no shelf life in the England side (this century you have Hussain for, what, ten months followed by Vaughan for no tests and Strauss for, erm, no tests)

[Rob580]

The chances of Cook being dropped are about as high as me pulling a rabbit out of my (No Swearing Please).

He's got an excellent record and tbh, people have known where to bowl to him for years, he's been a test cricketer for the best part of a decade, and if we're able to work out how people should bowl at him, chances are international cricketers with all their video analysis ect, worked it out years ago. Yet still he churned out the runs, and he will again, he hasn't become a bad player.

[Buzz]

whilst to an extent I agree with you - Hussain was only playing because he wanted 100 caps and Vaughan's knees were bust
Strauss, well I am not sure, but I think he had achieved all he was going to achieve and I wonder if the will to continue finished him rather than the bowlers. The impact of dealing with a feuding dressing room (not just KP) was a key factor too.

Either way, Cook's terrible trigger movement means his head is out of alignment so he would have to do a full Mark Butcher and re-build his technique from scratch.

[ProCricketer1982]

Cook is finished. mentally shot and now is under so much pressure on all fronts. he's been found out, AND seems powerless to resolve it. if he cant smash big tons vs a poor wi then get the next cab off the rank in. no loyalty at pro lvl, you arent performing then you should go

[ppccopener]

that's a bit harsh, Guptill would of been dropped before the world cup by those rules...

he is a bad run and Buzz is right, his head is not going to the right place-I can work out why he cant fix it after virtually a winter off. Ive adjusted my technique in the nets(back and across rather than forward)-felt a bit odd first couple of weeks but now it feels fine.

With his record you surely have to give him more time? yes no one is gifted an England shirt but he has the most tons for us in recent years(ever maybe) that's got to buy him some time.

I think you are right on one thing thou, the mental pressure he is under recently is taking it's toll. He seems a tough cookie but maybe the outburst against the selectors the other was telling

[ProCricketer1982]

that's a bit harsh, Guptill would of been dropped before the world cup by those rules...

he is a bad run and Buzz is right, his head is not going to the right place-I can work out why he cant fix it after virtually a winter off. Ive adjusted my technique in the nets(back and across rather than forward)-felt a bit odd first couple of weeks but now it feels fine.

With his record you surely have to give him more time? yes no one is gifted an England shirt but he has the most tons for us in recent years(ever maybe) that's got to buy him some time.

I think you are right on one thing thou, the mental pressure he is under recently is taking it's toll. He seems a tough cookie but maybe the outburst against the selectors the other was telling

hes been out of form for a long while now, it's not just a short term blip. Why hasn't he changed his technique? He's got access to all these facilities, state of the art coaching and yet is still getting minced (by lets face it, crap bowlers.. hardly mcgrath, lee, wasim etc).

I have no idea how long Guptill was in bad form for so can't comment on that.

it's just a combination of things for me with Cook, it's not just his technique or even just his form but it's the package. He's struggling in every sense, England cricket is toxic currently and he is up there with the ECB currently. Just imagine the pressure the lad is under. Good luck to him if he does manage to recover (and lets judge him on the ashes please, not a few easy runs vs WI or even a half baked NZ) then England will be stronger for it.

[Manormanic]

does anyone really see it happening though?  The West Indies series might possibly give him a little temporary respite - though bear in mind that Taylor, Roach, Edwards, Gabriel and the spinners will pose rather more threat than their batsmen will to our attack.  But Boult, Southee, Bracewell, Milne and Henry?  Skippered by McCullum?  You wouldn't fancy that test for an out of form batsmen...

[procricket]

does anyone really see it happening though?  The West Indies series might possibly give him a little temporary respite - though bear in mind that Taylor, Roach, Edwards, Gabriel and the spinners will pose rather more threat than their batsmen will to our attack.  But Boult, Southee, Bracewell, Milne and Henry?  Skippered by McCullum?  You wouldn't fancy that test for an out of form batsmen...

Hell you edge your bets you so basically by your deduction  if he scores runs its against poor bowling and if he doesn't he just plain been found out a little more.

Some people can't win or lose the division toxic waste that is English cricket

I hope anybody who plays for England plays well.

The whole cricket landscape in England is broken even supporters.

I fully expect us to do well in the Windies and well against New Zealand and later in the summer the Ashes

[procricket]

As for Yorkshire powerful outfit look like they got some more promising players coming through as well

[Manormanic]

Hell you edge your bets you so basically by your deduction  if he scores runs its against poor bowling and if he doesn't he just plain been found out a little more.

No, by my deduction whatever happens in the West Indies is of limited relevance because I would have no confidence in Cook vs NZ regardless.

[ppccopener]

we are not broken Procricketer, you are right the whole package is busted, it's not Cook's fault I do know that.

We are bashed,embarrased,beaten up,let down, and any other description I can think of...but not broken....

remember the bit in Terminator while the red light just shone in his eye after going thru that mincing machine? 

[procricket]

Root got a long period to prove himself much longer than your average player I think the same can be afforded to Cook.

I think he will sort it out it is a issue but you don't have records over a pre longed period like him not to have ability. He can come good again I hope it sooner rather than later.

 It all abit of a joke the management the selections the whole lot to a degree.

You have a pillock of a bloke who a so called world class organisation can't sort out one way or the other we have now taken a off spinner who can't get in a county side???

I feel for Cook he is a bit of a lamb to the slaughter.

I mean the whole senario is a tad embarrassing the whole lot time for a major shake up.

[ProCricketer1982]

No, by my deduction whatever happens in the West Indies is of limited relevance because I would have no confidence in Cook vs NZ regardless.

exactly, what people do or don't do in WI is basically irrelevant. NZ should be a good test BUT they'll all have only just flew in from slap and tickle so will probably be totally under prepared and Eng might just win and cover a few more cracks. Aus I'm expecting to smash England due to simply have a far better team overall. Only the ECB are to blame for the state of England cricket and the 'broken' supporters. They've alienated themselves, the team and the fans. Yes, they are supported by the corporates but no one else.

England fans are not broken, they are alienated and completely embarrassed and let down by the ECB and 'Team England'. That to me isn't a bad thing, it's good that fans care and are finally (although still too little) finally starting to speak up against the machine.

[ProCricketer1982]

Root got a long period to prove himself much longer than your average player I think the same can be afforded to Cook.

I think he will sort it out it is a issue but you don't have records over a pre longed period like him not to have ability. He can come good again I hope it sooner rather than later.

How long has cook been in this 'slump' for? Feels like 2 years or more.. How long do you get?

[procricket]

exactly, what people do or don't do in WI is basically irrelevant. NZ should be a good test BUT they'll all have only just flew in from slap and tickle so will probably be totally under prepared and Eng might just win and cover a few more cracks. Aus I'm expecting to smash England due to simply have a far better team overall. Only the ECB are to blame for the state of England cricket and the 'broken' supporters. They've alienated themselves, the team and the fans. Yes, they are supported by the corporates but no one else.

England fans are not broken, they are alienated and completely embarrassed and let down by the ECB and 'Team England'. That to me isn't a bad thing, it's good that fans care and are finally (although still too little) finally starting to speak up against the machine.

No the forum are speaking the wider public I guess don't realy care as much as us on here.
You give your captain as long as he needs.

So games against the Windies are pointless your saying.

What happened to you can only do well against what your playing.

Cook like many I guess playing for his future