Geoff Boycott and The Ashes.

[vegster]

We performed so badly, one wonders whether the team met up with a betting syndicate during their stopover in Singapore?

By the look of things they got to everyone bar Stokes.

 

[Diego Napier]

I don't really know much about cricket but is there any reason why Boycott is not used in an advisory role for the England team ?
He might of been used but like I say I don't confess to know much about this sport.

Exceptional batsman, atrocious team player.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Boycott has made a lot of good points but I'm not sure he's taken full account of the impact of the one-day game on players earnings.

Back in the summer Shane Watson was a walking wicket, a dead cert for an lbw, his technique exposed. Yet Shane Watson is one of the best one-day players in the world. Similarly, Kevin Pietersen is not difficult to get out at test level, but any one-day side would love him to be in their line-up.

When the England players arrive home or meet up with their one-day colleagues they'll no doubt be discussing earnings from the IPL or the Big Bash, and there must be some players thinking do I need the hassle of these long tours?

I just think the Aussies had lost three in a row and had had enough, whereas our players had put everything into the summer's Ashes and had nothing left.

Things will change again - Chris Rogers is 36, George Bailey has failed, Harris will get injured. I don't see this Aussie team as a dynasty who will dominate us for the next 16 years like the class of '89.

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

As per usual there's a lot of complaining from Boycott and not a lot of answers.
Except for we should get rid of some players (helpful)
and we should be playing Broad and Finn all next summer. So Finn (who's failed in two Ashes series in a good England team v average Aussie team) should be guaranteed a start as opposed to the players who've only failed in one series (for a miserable England team v A pretty good Aussie one).

Why should be involved in the England team? He's got no coaching experience at all and was a poor captain.

His point about Finn is that he was a good bowler and he's concerned that he's been over coached to change his action but at the detriment to his game. Whether its that or something else who knows but Finn certainly seemed to have the ability just needed to improve with experience like Anderson did

 

[spring hall convert]

Boyc's blames the one day/20/20 game for players who feel they have to keep scoring at all costs rather than see the shine off the ball or see off the front line bowlers and then work the ball.

I can't argue against that.

Nor can I. Though I wouldn't say it's score at all costs, more that they can't handle not scoring for long periods of time mentally.

 

[spring hall convert]

His point about Finn is that he was a good bowler and he's concerned that he's been over coached to change his action but at the detriment to his game. Whether its that or something else who knows but Finn certainly seemed to have the ability just needed to improve with experience like Anderson did

They did exactly the same with Anderson, coached him to not dip his head at the point of delivery and nearly ruined his career. He only started looking good again once he forget everything that the coaches had been saying to him

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

Boycott decided he was unavailable for his country and chose to play for Yorkshire instead. When he did play it was very much for himself rather than the team. He may well be able to analyse but I would want him as far away from the team as possible.

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

They did exactly the same with Anderson, coached him to not dip his head at the point of delivery and nearly ruined his career. He only started looking good again once he forget everything that the coaches had been saying to him

I didn't know that about Anderson, I just remember him looking good but always giving a "four" ball every over. You'd think they'd learn not to mess about with a sportsmans action too much. One of the snooker players changed his action and lost it. Just look at malinga, his action is unique and it's hardly held him back

 

[joeinbrighton]

Boycott decided he was unavailable for his country and chose to play for Yorkshire instead. When he did play it was very much for himself rather than the team. He may well be able to analyse but I would want him as far away from the team as possible.

He also went on the South African rebel tour in 1982 which effectively ended his England career. Admittedly he was 41 years old by then, but it shows he prioritised his finances over his patriotism.

Boycott talks a good game and I always enjoy listening to what he has to say. But, he is not very adaptable and doesn't really appreciate that the game has changed a lot since he played. Until recently he was still saying it would be a good idea to go back to playing on uncovered pitches. He also doesn't seem to appreciate that it is not possible for every batsman to play the same way as he did.

If you are saying that people in the coaching setup should be people who have played right at the top of the game, it is worth noting that England's current batting coach is Graham Gooch. England's highest run scorer of all time. Despite this, he has been batting coach during a series in which England have hardly ever made it to 300 runs in an innings. That suggests that either being a good cricketer doesn't necessarily make you a good or coach, or that whoever was tasked with coaching the batsmen wouldn't have stopped them having a nightmare. Or possibly both.

 

[spring hall convert]

He also went on the South African rebel tour in 1982 which effectively ended his England career. Admittedly he was 41 years old by then, but it shows he prioritised his finances over his patriotism.

Boycott talks a good game and I always enjoy listening to what he has to say. But, he is not very adaptable and doesn't really appreciate that the game has changed a lot since he played. Until recently he was still saying it would be a good idea to go back to playing on uncovered pitches. He also doesn't seem to appreciate that it is not possible for every batsman to play the same way as he did.

If you are saying that people in the coaching setup should be people who have played right at the top of the game, it is worth noting that England's current batting coach is Graham Gooch. England's highest run scorer of all time. Despite this, he has been batting coach during a series in which England have hardly ever made it to 300 runs in an innings. That suggests that either being a good cricketer doesn't necessarily make you a good or coach, or that whoever was tasked with coaching the batsmen wouldn't have stopped them having a nightmare. Or possibly both.

And if we are really going to shovel sh*t, he's a wifebeater.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Boycott decided he was unavailable for his country and chose to play for Yorkshire instead. When he did play it was very much for himself rather than the team. He may well be able to analyse but I would want him as far away from the team as possible.

This. He's a nasty piece of work who beats women.

 

[vegster]

Nor can I. Though I wouldn't say it's score at all costs, more that they can't handle not scoring for long periods of time mentally.

Yes, It's exactly that, 2-3 overs of maidens and you know someone will have a swoosh/ waft/ fish/ nibble/ hoick.

 

[joeinbrighton]

Yes, It's exactly that, 2-3 overs of maidens and you know someone will have a swoosh/ waft/ fish/ nibble/ hoick.

They need a player in the middle order who is able to scamper singles when the opposition are keeping it tight. Graham Thorpe and Paul Collingwood used to be good at performing that job as they were good runners between the wickets. We don't seem to have a player who has that mentality now and they get frustrated if they aren't getting opportunities regularly to put the bad ball away for four.

 

[banjo]

Exceptional batsman, atrocious team player.

I bow to your better knowledge.

 

[Lower West Stander]

Boycott decided he was unavailable for his country and chose to play for Yorkshire instead. When he did play it was very much for himself rather than the team. He may well be able to analyse but I would want him as far away from the team as possible.

Hear hear.

Possibly the most selfish layer ever to represent his country.

Why did he pull out? Because he didn't like Mike Denness. Anyone remember him running out Alan Knott deliberately by ignoring his call? The hypocrisy of the man in criticising Pietersen for playing for himself is unbelievable.

 

[joeinbrighton]

Why did he pull out? Because he didn't like Mike Denness. Anyone remember him running out Alan Knott deliberately by ignoring his call?

Wasn't that Derek Randall he did that to? I remember reading in Botham's autobiography that later in the same test match when Boycott was batting slowly for his own benefit when the team needed quick runs, Botham called Boycott and got him run out, on the instructions of Bob Willis who was captain for that match. Boycs wasn't best pleased.

 

[Lower West Stander]

Wasn't that Derek Randall he did that to? I remember reading in Botham's autobiography that later in the same test match when Boycott was batting slowly for his own benefit when the team needed quick runs, Botham called Boycott and got him run out, on the instructions of Bob Willis who was captain for that match. Boycs wasn't best pleased.

Yes - you're right.

It was a long time ago!

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Plenty of answers from Boycott, if you actually listen.
One of the primary solutions is about getting the mindset of players right when they are batting, ie shot selection, coping with pressure and learning how to build an innings. Boycott says that the current players can't cope with being tied down by good bowling and so flash the bat/try a reverse sweep off the wrong ball or try to hook even though the field is set exactly for that shot. Currently our batsmen are getting themselves out more than being bowled out and yet seem powerless to control themselves.
Boyc's blames the one day/20/20 game for players who feel they have to keep scoring at all costs rather than see the shine off the ball or see off the front line bowlers and then work the ball.

I can't argue against that.

Two things i like about Boycott he keeps it simple in his advice if you have a problem playing a certain 'ball' you speak to other players and not a 'specialist expert' you get my drift,also you build an innings as you take strike you are 0 so look to get to 5 then 10,15 and so on i rather have a Boycott mindset of by lunch on day one England are 46-4-0 as opposed to modern thought of 71-4-3.

 

[joeinbrighton]

rather have a Boycott mindset of by lunch on day one England are 46-4-0 as opposed to modern thought of 71-4-3.

Yes that modern day mind set of hitting the ball out of the ground at every opportunity that in the Melbourne test saw Ian Bell score 2 runs off 32 balls in 55 minutes and Michael Carberry score 12 runs off 80 balls either side of the lunch interval.

 

[vegster]

Yes that modern day mind set of hitting the ball out of the ground at every opportunity that in the Melbourne test saw Ian Bell score 2 runs off 32 balls in 55 minutes and Michael Carberry score 12 runs off 80 balls either side of the lunch interval.

Yes, because they went TOO negative. you don't have to stand there just blocking for hours, whatever happened to nudging singles and rotating the strike. This is his point, the mind set is all wrong, they gave away their wickets by playing the wrong strokes then realised that then thought dropping anchor completely was the solution. Thats what started the rot in the 5th test when Cook was lbw not playing a shot because his mindset was occupancy rather than building an innings.