England tour of the Caribbean 2015, April 13-May 5

[Making_Splinters]

Incidentally I saw Peter Moores pre-tour press conference yesterday and most of it seemed to be about KP.


The ECB certainly know how to dig their own holes.

It's amusing how the less the ECB want to talk about KP, the more they seem to talk about KP. I've oft said it's frankly bizare how a player with KPs track history has somehow ended up on the moral high ground. I don't get what is so difficult about saying everything depends on his county form rather than continuing this farcical, "He'll never be picked line".

[KipperJohn]

Hoping Downton, Flower and Moores go, and Cook as Test skipper. Not looking forward to wanting Braddin, Mitch1 and Wee Davie to win the Ashes.

Who would be our likely captain, if Cook were to go, not that I think he will?

Bell for me.

Bell strikes me as a little too much like Cook. A bit like for like for me.

Root is a possible. KP?

Bell won't captain England. If anything Bell is a 'survivor'. He's the only one left from 2005. It won't come his way now and why would he want it to? He's got a tough enough job keeping his place.

[rich1uk]

when I saw this headline I was kinda hoping it meant "instead of" rather than "alongside"

http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies ... 58327.html

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good opportunity top try a new pair of openers at the start of a difficult year. Though it's confusing that England seem happy to promote Trott to open, a player who will walk out with a target on his head.

I wonder a bit if the fake rapprochement towards KP might more realistically mean a fresh start towards some other dubiously discarded players. Mainly Compton. KP seems unlucky in that the opportunities he seeks are denied him, but the argument that takes place around him leads to changes for others.

[rich1uk]

I think Compton was a little unlucky to get dropped but don't really think he was going to be the answer as an opener anyway

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm not convinced a lot of the team will survive the year. There might be a lot of changes. Partly because a few techniques are going to be tested against real pace, and spin in UAE, but also a few bowlers will get injured because of the schedule.

[rich1uk]

I sometimes think too much is made of technique

look at steve smith , his technique is by no means textbook but he has such good balance, timing and fast hands that it works for him and is working very well

cook has always had a dodgy technique but still manages to score runs when he gets his feet moving well

to me a really solid technique is what you fall back on when your timing and movement is out , when they are both working then it doesn't matter as much

[Arthur Crabtree]

True enough, but some, like Trott, Cook and Root have already been exposed to some extent. Anderson and Broad are always looking a bit crocked

[Arthur Crabtree]

I guess Watson is in the same situation.

[hopeforthebest]

It would be just like this England bunch to take a reconised opener and then put in a number 3/4 batsman instead. I do hope the WI can shock this England squad and hasten the departure of Moores and Cook.

[Slipstream]

True enough, but some, like Trott, Cook and Root have already been exposed to some extent. Anderson and Broad are always looking a bit crocked

70 wickets at 24.10 last year. Our bowling is fine.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=bowling

[Arthur Crabtree]

I meant more the batters in terms of being able to meet the challenge. Bowlers I was more thinking about the numbers of games they will have to play. I guess it's reasonable to point out that the support bowling is largely unproven. Broad played through an injury for a lot of last summer. And in fact does all the time.

[Slipstream]

I meant more the batters in terms of being able to meet the challenge. Bowlers I was more thinking about the numbers of games they will have to play. I guess it's reasonable to point out that the support bowling is largely unproven. Broad played through an injury for a lot of last summer. And in fact does all the time.

So did Anderson. They both had to have 4 months off with no bowling, to recover. Could be a reason why they weren't taking wickets in the World Cup, coming back from a long break. Bowlers are in pain every day and play with niggles. At least we now have a five bowler unit which shares the load and I hope Anderson, Broad, Woakes. Jordan and Ali can stay fit all year. Also hope there won't be hardly any dropped catches as it makes the bowlers' life so much easier.

[greyblazer]

Boycott is refreshingly straightforward - http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/ala ... tml?stb=fb

[Aidan11]

He's bang on. He is saying what every England cricket fan is thinking.

The closed shop of Downton, Moores & Whittaker don't give a monkeys though.