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Jul 2014
4:52pm, 21 Jul 2014
9,039 posts
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TRO Testeur dégoûtant
True, however sometimes simply the wrong man is in the job, and his removal helps both the team and sometimes the player himself. That's very different from change for change's sake, or change to take the heat off selectors.
Question is how good/bad are England? Not as good as we thought a year ago, but not as bad as we have looked last winter and so far this summer. Confidence is shot, key players have retired, others are off form........but the basics, the gameplan - even fight are lacking. This hints at a deeper problem.
Truth is that as fine a fellow as Cook is, he is not a leader of men. You can possibly get away without that natural leadership, 'officer material' as it would be referred to in the army if you have personal authority through your performances and past decision making.
The disaster that unfolded during the winter holed Cook's captaincy below the waterline. Every man in the dressing room knows it. When Sir Alex Ferguson gave a team talk, or instructions in the dressing room every player would follow it with 100% beleif. It had a chance of working even if wrong simpy because every player will follow it totally.
I suspect when Cook says something, or issues instructions players follow half heartedly and without true belief. Even if what he says is correct, it probably won't work because players do not have confidence in what their Captain tells them and therefore do not go after it 100%. He is unable to lift, to inspire - individually players can get themselves 'up' for short periods but that collective team intensity you need won;t happen under Cook.
Anyone who has done team sport knows what this is like; it is almost certainly irreversible. No change means more of the same to follow for the rest of the Summer.
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Jul 2014
5:20pm, 21 Jul 2014
896 posts
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Heavyweight
So if not Cook then who ? I don't see anyone who is currently in the side.
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Jul 2014
5:35pm, 21 Jul 2014
9,040 posts
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TRO Testeur dégoûtant
Who knows. Who cares. There is no obvious captain in waiting, but continuing with Cook means this is 100% certain to carry on.
Maybe Bell has something hidden with him. Maybe Anderson, not ideal as a bowler but some fight and the odd attacking field might emerge. Root inexperienced but maybe a born leader worth promoting while young, like Graeme Smith. At the end of the day these are all gambles, keeping Cook is not a gamble since it represents 100% certainty of fsilure. Got to be worth rolling he dice surely?
The other thing is that removing Cook the captain may mean we get Cook the batsman back, so worth a try for that reason as well.
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Jul 2014
9:26pm, 21 Jul 2014
9,041 posts
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TRO Testeur dégoûtant
So teflon gloves falls on his sword, citing a range of fitness issues that need sorting in order for him to perform.
Sounds like he's been struggling with these issues for a while...seen in performances, yet they were still picking him. And would have kept picking him.
A worrying indictment of Moores and the selectors.
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Jul 2014
8:09am, 22 Jul 2014
4,445 posts
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Q Mac
TRO, the perfect summing up of Cooky. He would have made a half decent 'officer' but maybe not one for the get stuck in with and lead hgis team-mates.
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Jul 2014
8:41am, 22 Jul 2014
897 posts
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Heavyweight
I think Prior would have been dropped if they hadn't already recently lost 3 senoir players, at least I hope he would have.
I am a huge fan of Cook the batsman and obviously have been very disappointed by Cook the captain, but I'm not sure we are at the ABC (anyone but Cook) stage.
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Jul 2014
9:36am, 22 Jul 2014
4,093 posts
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Dooogs
Annoyingly, the one recent top-class player who seemed to have a potential flair for captaincy (or for tactics, at least) was Swann.
Who's next up for the gloves then? A Proper 'Keeper like Read or Foster, or an iron-gloved walloper like Buttler or Kieswetter?
(or, heavens forbid, Bairstow just to bugger up Yorkshire's CCC chances even further?)
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Jul 2014
9:38am, 22 Jul 2014
14,727 posts
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fetcheveryone
Kieswetter is out with his facial injury, no?
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Jul 2014
9:41am, 22 Jul 2014
4,094 posts
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Dooogs
Oof - I'd seen that pic but hadn't realised he had a fractured eye socket. I've always wondered how well cricket visors keep out a ball at face height...
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Jul 2014
10:06am, 22 Jul 2014
4,462 posts
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Q Mac
Ref WKs. how about doing something drastic like picking a man in form?
A Wheater 524 at 75
M Prior 396 at 66 (self imposed exile)
J Bairstow 910 at 62
J Bairstow 910 at 62
E Morgan 644 at 61
J Buttler 568 at 55
T Ambrose 542 runs at 53
J Simpson 511 at 53
...and if you need another batsman - Bill Tavare (Chris' son) doing wonders for Glos!
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The Ashes 2009
Jun 2022