NAV20 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 9086 posts, RR: 37 Posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1013 times:
This reminds me of a very witty comment by Richie Benaud many years ago when he said something along the lines of, "When the Australian cricket authorities want to make changes they usually use a stiletto - the English ones tend to reach for a scythe......."
Cricket fans will know that 'irreconciable differences' have recently been revealed between the England captain, Kevin Pietersen, and the coach, Peter Moores.
It now appears that the decision of the England and Wales Cricket Board is that they will sack them both.............
Andrew Strauss is likely to be appointed captain. No word yet on who will coach the team that departs in a couple of weeks for a test series in the West Indies. No word either on whether Pietersen will stay on as a player.
Moo From Falkland Islands, joined May 2007, 3597 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1007 times:
I'd hardly call it 'chaos' - two people had difference of opinions, an ultimatum was issued and the bluff was called and decisions have been made. A clear path has been followed all the way through.
If Andrew Strauss passes on the offer, then you might be valid in applying the 'chaos' label, but not at the moment imho...
NAV20 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 9086 posts, RR: 37 Reply 3, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1000 times:
You could well be right, Moo. But the England team under-performed (well, barely 'performed' at all) in the one-dayers and tests in India recently. The 'fractures' must have been obvious for months - but nothing got done about it until an open breach occurred.........
Good news for Australia, anyway - with the Ashes tour starting in six months.......
[Edited 2009-01-07 05:16:33]
"Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards.." - Leonardo da Vinci
NAV20 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 9086 posts, RR: 37 Reply 5, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 949 times:
Moo's comment put me on 'adjective watch.' Lots of 'in disarrays' (BBC, ABC), one 'unholy mess' (Graham Gooch), a 'turmoil,'and now one genuine 'chaos' (BBC/TV) :-
Best comment I've read yet is from journalist Tom Fordyce:-
"There's something terribly English about the whole sorry shaboodle. Just as the Australian team looks to be at its weakest in a quarter of a century, with a home Ashes series just around the corner and barely a ticket left for any of the five Tests, English cricket has taken careful aim and shot itself in both feet."
Andrew Strauss has been appointed captain. Personally I welcome that, he was my candidate before Pietersen was appointed. Strauss probably has the best record as England captain so far, having won two matches and drawn two (v. Pakistan, 2006), scoring centuries in each of the two winning ones, and averaging about 55 in tests as captain.
It looks as if Andy Flower, the assistant coach, will take over as coach for now.
"Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards.." - Leonardo da Vinci
Baroque From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 15380 posts, RR: 60 Reply 6, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 919 times:
Quoting NAV20 (Reply 5): It looks as if Andy Flower, the assistant coach, will take over as coach for now.
They could do a lot worse. Always liked the Flowers - as it were! And a warm moist summer would be good for the flowers as well as for swinging a Duke.
Davehammer From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2007, 472 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 896 times:
This has definitely been in the cards since the Stanford debacle in the Autumn. Pietersen's ego was always going to rub someone up the wrong way and it seems to have finally come to a head.
Strauss is a good choice of captain, has done it before, has the brains and I reckon it wont harm his game too much. I'll also be happy if Andy Flower takes over. One things for sure though, this ashes summer is going to be entertaining!
Bill142 From Australia, joined Aug 2004, 8320 posts, RR: 9 Reply 10, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 789 times:
I'm sure that this was just a rostered change and that the ECB just wanted to spice things up a bit to get cricket some publicity. After all you can't join the English side without being captain at some point can you?
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