Leekbrookgull
Well-known member
As the England Ashes shambles rolls-on now this Sure Pietersen is a team player it's called Team Pietersen.http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/25648554
I hate all this nonsense that KP gets accused of not being a team player. He gives his wicket away at silly times but I don't think he's being selfish, he just gets on a roll and doesn't know when to stop. His ego makes him think he's never going to get out and that is both his strength and his weakness, as is often the case in cricket.
Contrast that with players like Cook or Trott who I've seen poodle along at 2 runs an over to get their hundred when the game really needs to be sped up to get a result. Those types of incidents never seem to get mentioned.
To see the influence of coaching input on a team, just look at the transformation of the Aussies, since Darren Lehman stepped in.
Flower seems to have had his day.
Why is Gooch never mentioned in these debates? It's our woeful batting that has got us into this situation and as the batting coach, surely he has to take a big chunk of responsibility.
Gooch was a player when it was ok to score at 2 runs an over in test matches and grind your way to a massive score. He didn't play at a time where there are 15 test matches and about a million ODIs in a year, giving the players no rest at all.
It's as much about managing the relentless slogging around the world without any down-time, as it is being out in the middle.
It's ridiculous that recently retired players like Michael Vaughan are in the commentary box, rather than in the dressing room, imparting their knowledge.
Selection on this tour has been nothing short of scandalous. Heads should roll, and [MENTION=6625]Badger[/MENTION] is right - Gooch needs to go.
1. What has James Taylor done wrong? He played for Sussex against the Ozzies to prove he can score runs against the best. He scores a ton, and then doesn't get in the team for the Ashes test or even the touring party
2. We have the best wicket-keeper/batsman in the world. Yes he has had a poor series, but you don't drop a world class player like that - especially for someone like Bairstow who has proved he's not up to it and isn't a wicket-keeper
3. Carberry/Root. Dropping Root down the order showed a lack of confidence in Root, and Carberry was never going to be a decent option.
4. Monty - Can't bat or field. He hasn't been an test-class spinner for a long time. Why bother?
5. Finn/Rankin/Tremlett - What was the point in bringing all three of them? Finn has been treated appallingly & should have played the last two tests once the series was over. Rankin is just TOILET
This tour is a reminder on how England used to operate when we were the worst team in the world. Cook & Flower must both be held to account, and frankly Gooch needs to leave
Now I don't mind criticisms of Gooch the coach, someone who has always been a slightly odd, enigmatic figure. But to besmirch his batting career is plainly ridiculous. 580 first class matches at an average of 49, 45,000 first class runs, 8900 test runs....I'll take that anyday of the week thanks!
I'd agree with every bit of that apart from #2.
I have it from a reliable sauce (family member) that Prior is looking at a last big pay day in the IPL, which would mean retiring from the England set-up. It's certainly not a done deal apparently - it will all depend upon a number of variables - but it is at least an option being considered.
With that being the case, using a couple of dead rubbers to see if Bairstow is ready to step up isn't a bad idea. It's worth remembering how hard Prior had to work to get his keeping up to scratch, so repeating that process with Bairstow is entirely feasible.
Now I don't mind criticisms of Gooch the coach, someone who has always been a slightly odd, enigmatic figure. But to besmirch his batting career is plainly ridiculous. 580 first class matches at an average of 49, 45,000 first class runs, 8900 test runs....I'll take that anyday of the week thanks!