Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

I will probably regret joining in this one ; but Splinters needs some support...

First off , several posters have admitted to a personal dislike of Cook. Doesn't invalidate what they have to say ; but I am inclined to discount claims made by people sporting an acknowledged bias. I certainly do not consider Cook to be a captain in the Brearley , Vaughan class ; but neither do I think he's a disaster. It is odd that some on here like to portray him as arrogant . He answers questions honestly ; perhaps sometimes he'd be safer to dissemble . Clear enough that he must have qualities we don't see from the outside else why do people whose own reputation and careers rest primarily on the success of the England team continue to support him , state that he is a positive influence in the dressing room - and want to see him continue in the job if he has the desire and passion to do it ? Are they all nuts ?

As to the tactical arguments : several points. One , as Splinters says , the game plan is largely set off field - coach input is huge today (too huge ? Perhaps) - and don't expect a massive change when Root does take over.
Two , whatever tactics are adopted on the field will simply not work unless your bowlers are capable of carrying out their jobs ; something they largely failed to do in India.
Three : I agree with some of the criticisms on here re failure to grasp the moment , change the tactics , etc ...and I also believe similar criticism could be leveled at most international captains . As to the assertions about wrong field placings I am reminded of the old joke about commentators always having the advantage of about three extra fieldsmen to deploy...

I do think he got a fair bit wrong towards the end of this tour. Not sure it made much difference though - the entire attack looked cooked by the end ; and let us not forget they were getting hammered by a very good Indian team.

In any case I'm not about trying to prove that Cook is a "good" captain. Or that he'd be better than Root. More that the changing of the guard - which will take place this year or next year , whenever ; is far from the most important issue facing the team. Both players are vital as batsmen and my own main concern about the timing is that ideally it would happen in such a time and way as to ensure a positive effect on their own games...I think management are in a better position than any of us to judge that.
From the outside I do suspect that Cook is more likely than not to want out of the role: his body language , quite apart from the casual comments he has (probably unwisely) made lately , suggests he just isn't enjoying his cricket at the moment. In which case it would indeed be better for both the team and himself if he did step down . On the other hand he now has a chance to get a decent break ; which may serve to rekindle his spark and see him carry on for the additional year or so that the coaches seem to want. Is there just a hint there that Root isn't really keen to step up just yet ?

I haven't voted on this thread : reason being I just don't know which answer is correct. Think it is mainly down to states of mind...and I don't mean those of the fans who are - understandably - looking for an easy fix after a failed campaign.

Whichever way it goes I am fine with the decision and hope it leads to success in the (northern) summer. But I think that success will depend far more on how England sort their batting lineup and get their leading fast bowlers on the field fully healthy than on who walks out to toss the coin.

Alfie, I claim that anyone who after captaining his team to a 5-0 ashes defeat , who on his return home stands in front of cameras and categorically states that he is the only man to captain England going forward, is arrogant. When others make that claim for him that's one thing but to make that claim for oneself is something else.

hopeforthebest wrote:Alfie, I claim that anyone who after captaining his team to a 5-0 ashes defeat , who on his return home stands in front of cameras and categorically states that he is the only man to captain England going forward, is arrogant. When others make that claim for him that's one thing but to make that claim for oneself is something else.

add to that, after the farce of last year's world cup he went on record saying that england made a mistake sacking him as captain and dropping him, and that if he had been there his leadership would have made a difference

Sooner England get rid, the better. It has nothing to do with a series loss in India against an excellent India side, and everything to do with the fact that he was hopeless from the word go, has barely improved, and if he was capt of any team other than England he would have been relieved of the armband long ago. He is a very fine opening bat, and he should be returned solely to that role for the remainder of what could become the greatest England career of the modern era

Yes, should be dropped as Captain but picked in playing 11.

Cook named captain of the year. Is this a Donald Trump selection.

Imagine if Cook had set the same fields we saw yesterday in Australia, people would be calling for his head, oh, wait up a sec.

TBH misbah the most criticised pakistani captain ever.
only issue is Channel 9 don't like talking about the touring team so they obviously won't pick out the flaws in the captaincy.

I'd like to see Cook go as captain but he is still worth his place as an opening bat, so would he play under a new captain?

He is very stubborn and not afraid to speak out like he did when he was dropped from the one day side.

bhaveshgor wrote:TBH misbah the most criticised pakistani captain ever.
only issue is Channel 9 don't like talking about the touring team so they obviously won't pick out the flaws in the captaincy.

You can't have heard Shane Warne on commentary then, he and others were very critical of Misbah's captaincy.

As for Cook, I think every day that passes without his resignation strengthens his position to remain.

hopeforthebest wrote:

bhaveshgor wrote:TBH misbah the most criticised pakistani captain ever.
only issue is Channel 9 don't like talking about the touring team so they obviously won't pick out the flaws in the captaincy.

You can't have heard Shane Warne on commentary then, he and others were very critical of Misbah's captaincy.

As for Cook, I think every day that passes without his resignation strengthens his position to remain.

pretty awkard that.

haven't been watching the game though just assumed with splinter comments that no one been talking about pakistan lol.

hopeforthebest wrote:

As for Cook, I think every day that passes without his resignation strengthens his position to remain.

i might be over-thinking things but i still think they will want to wait til after the champions trophy to make any announcement if he is going to step down

i dont think they will want to have any possible questions about root being the new test captain but playing under morgan in the ODI side, especially when morgan's position isn't exactly secure and might not justify his place if it wasn't for the captaincy

after all the nonsense around the captaincy before the last world cup i just think they will want to avoid that, altho it is the ECB and we never learn from mistakes so maybe not

If they do delay as you suggest I think the clammer for him to go will have dissipated (if it hasn't already) and the power of the ECB will say he stays and take the team to Australia.

hopeforthebest wrote:If they do delay as you suggest I think the clammer for him to go will have dissipated (if it hasn't already) and the power of the ECB will say he stays and take the team to Australia.

not saying the decision might not be made when cook has his meeting with strauss next month but they might sit on announcing it til later

Suggestion on cricinfo that an announcement on this is imminent.