First Test: England v New Zealand, May 21-25.

[The Waugh Twins]

Stokes qualifies by the currently pretty strict ECB regulations, because he came to uk at school age (I think the cut off is 14, but that's possibly not quite right). I'm not sure about Stokes, but I've heard of youngsters with talent being brought to the UK before that cut off point, just to beat the seven (?) year qualification that is incurred afterwards.

I thought Stokes' parent had a connection with the north west actually?

He moved to Cumbria when he was about 10 or 11 years old because his dad got a job coaching a local rugby team.

Does anyone care? He grew up here

Yes I care, because I am of the opinion you should have citizenship to play for that country. He obviously does so that's settled. k.

He grew up in New Zealand Sussex and got a little taller in England. Embrace it don't deny it. As I said earlier even though I grew up in Australia I would have happily played for England if selected.

[budgetmeansbudget]

I see Sussex and Arthur have raised their heads above the parapet after the match ended. As newly converted NZ supporters they were pretty quiet as England closed in on victory.

Gone back to being England supporters again guys?!

[Arthur Crabtree]

I didn't post because I didn't want to annoy anyone.

[sussexpob]

I see Sussex and Arthur have raised their heads above the parapet after the match ended. As newly converted NZ supporters they were pretty quiet as England closed in on victory. Gone back to being England supporters again guys?!

I was watching the playoff final while England were closing in on victory.... bring on test two!!

[budgetmeansbudget]

I must admit it's amusing to see the media right behind Cook and the team again after this victory and Pietersen has been forgotten. Three weeks ago it was all doom and gloom and we were likely to be on the end of a 7-0 thrashing this summer.

Mind you a hammering in the second test and you can bet that will all change again.

[budgetmeansbudget]

I see Sussex and Arthur have raised their heads above the parapet after the match ended. As newly converted NZ supporters they were pretty quiet as England closed in on victory. Gone back to being England supporters again guys?!

I was watching the playoff final while England were closing in on victory.... bring on test two!!

Yes it was an annoying clash. I must admit I was thankful that Norwich went 2-0 up early effectively killing the contest so I could concentrate 100% fully on the cricket.

[Aidan11]

It was a good win but you're only as good as your next game.


(cliche alert)

[Arthur Crabtree]

If England do well this year, questions about Cook's competence will either have been answered of proved irrelevant. But there's a long way to go yet. They lost their last Test, and in my view, Cook was responsible for England not winning in WI.

[sussexpob]

Yes I care, because I am of the opinion you should have citizenship to play for that country. He obviously does so that's settled. k.

He grew up in New Zealand Sussex and got a little taller in England. Embrace it don't deny it. As I said earlier even though I grew up in Australia I would have happily played for England if selected.[/quote]

Im struggling to see what you are arguing against, Waugh.

I don't care where he was born, where his grannie was born, how many armpit hairs he had when he arrived in the UK or what his dad did.... he has a right to call himself England having been in the country since whatever age and gain such a legal right, so if he wants to represent the Federated States of Micronesia or the UK, he does what he wants. I don't care, its his personal choice, so why are we even debating this or mentioning it? Times are a-changing.... people are born somewhere and move around.

Its hardly like I need to embrace this considering the fact that I am an immigrant, and technically my children are of a different nationality to me

[budgetmeansbudget]

I think the most important thing with Cook's captaincy is the support of the dressing room, and even during the rough times, it has seemingly been behind him fully. If that should ever go then that is when his position becomes untenable.

[budgetmeansbudget]

You'd be pushed to meet many people who are 100% any nationality. I'm a mix of English, Scots and South African, and would qualify to play for either of the first two in most sports. For me, if you qualify to play for a certain country from birth, residency or whatever, then that's fine. Not so keen when someone does a change mid career, not sure whether that's allowed any more but didn't Kepler Wessels play for Australia and SA at different times?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Before the WC I suggested that England would be better off getting rid of Peter Moores and not replacing him, than keeping him on as head coach. Certainly there was an improved performance at Lord's with that scenario.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Root feels a more natural leader of the dressing room now. And presumably isn't a worse on field captain.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Root feels a more natural leader of the dressing room now. And presumably isn't a worse on field captain.

He's the dressing room imp apparently!

[yorker_129-7]

I see Sussex and Arthur have raised their heads above the parapet after the match ended. As newly converted NZ supporters they were pretty quiet as England closed in on victory.

Gone back to being England supporters again guys?!

I know two people on Twitter who claimed to be supporting New Zealand after the KP affair but unfortunately both blocked me when I suggested maybe they were going a bit overboard so I have no idea whether they were still sticking to their guns or had come crawling back...