Pakistan v England 2nd Test, Dubai, Oct 22-26

[backfootpunch]

I think Root has a good chance of being a more suitable skipper than Cook, joker or not, given how wanting Cook has been regarding having a captain's character. He looks a bit more able under Bayliss than he did with Moores, but I don't see why that shouldn't be a good sign for Joe's development. Root's an experienced Test player, seems ambitious, and is of an age to lead a new generation of England cricketers. Clearly Cook won't be sacked. It's hard to say how bad things will have to be for him to lose the position. But it's possible he'll step down, given the noises he was making in the summer.

I just think at 24 it is a couple of years too soon

Though if it means he stops giving his wicket away in the 70's and 80s make him captain now

[meninblue]

I think Root has a good chance of being a more suitable skipper than Cook, joker or not, given how wanting Cook has been regarding having a captain's character. He looks a bit more able under Bayliss than he did with Moores, but I don't see why that shouldn't be a good sign for Joe's development. Root's an experienced Test player, seems ambitious, and is of an age to lead a new generation of England cricketers. Clearly Cook won't be sacked. It's hard to say how bad things will have to be for him to lose the position. But it's possible he'll step down, given the noises he was making in the summer.

I just think at 24 it is a couple of years too soon

Though if it means he stops giving his wicket away in the 70's and 80s make him captain now

Well, Graeme Smith was made SA captain at 23 iirc. Team enjoyed good run under him, didn't it It needs a combo of good captain and good players to have a good run. England are in a position that the need to find replacements. Hansie Cronje in ODI was average player but still the team had wonderful win"loss ratio under him because of players they had.

[Aidan11]

After the excitement of the SA innings in the ODI it's back to this more sedate match.

[meninblue]

England will miss Cook as a batsman more than Cook as a captain. I feel that because there are no long innings players left in team apart from him. Even if they change captain they should have at least one big scorer.

[Aidan11]

Could this be Ian Bell's "Bob Willis moment"?

By that I mean Willis was doubtful for the 3rd test at Headingley in 1981 because his knees were giving up on him. He was considering retiring from international cricket but play he did and not only did he make a major contribution in that test with his best bowling figures, he went on to be a decent England captain.


A match-winning score tomorrow from Bell could alter the history books.

[backfootpunch]

England will miss Cook as a batsman more than Cook as a captain. I feel that because there are no long innings players left in team apart from him. Even if they change captain they should have at least one big scorer.

Fortunately he is only 30 so should play for at the very least another four years

Obviously though the older he gets the more the selectors will start to twitch when he gets in a trough

His career has been one of long periods of no scores and long periods of excellence

[Aidan11]

Not long ago I was calling for Cook's head.


Now I feel we can't do without him.

[Aidan11]

50 for Root

[backfootpunch]

Bell gone

Done by extra bounce

[Aidan11]

Bye Bell.

It's been a good career.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bell probably has done enough to play in the next Test though.

[meninblue]

Good bowling in tandem by Zulfi and Yasir. But why Misbah is not giving silly point to Yasir

England will miss Cook as a batsman more than Cook as a captain. I feel that because there are no long innings players left in team apart from him. Even if they change captain they should have at least one big scorer.

Fortunately he is only 30 so should play for at the very least another four years

Obviously though the older he gets the more the selectors will start to twitch when he gets in a trough

His career has been one of long periods of no scores and long periods of excellence

He is the best England test batsman i have seen. I rate Cook > KP > Trott > Bell in test format. Also, now KP and Trott are not there. Bell is also out of form. So the need of Cook being in team is much higher now imo at least.

[Arthur Crabtree]

No Thorpey?

[Aidan11]

90 overs left.

Pakistan need 7 wickets.

[m@tt]

3 wickets down is better than I expected. But the norm with these sort of games is that the last handful go down very quickly, so still giving them no chance of salvaging a draw.