Kevin Pietersen, captain - yes or no?

[The Reverend]

I think it might be good for KP. I dont think we'll see it change the way he bats, and hopefully it will make him a better batsman. Who else is there?

[Milky]

Well i think it's a good decision. I'm backing KP!

[Corky]

I think it might be good for KP. I dont think we'll see it change the way he bats, and hopefully it will make him a better batsman. Who else is there?

Andrew Strauss. Captained the side to a series win over Pakistan in 2006 and should have been captain for the Ashes tour that same year, but the selectors went with Flintoff

[Sparky]

Not for me either , great player but can see this pressure being too much for him . Katy made a good point yesterday by saying Alistair Cook is probably being groomed for the job in the future and is in both the 1 day side and the test side . He may be young but he seems a calm and intelligent lad maybe that would have been worth a shot .

As for Robert Key , not sure id have gone with him as skipper but i think he deserves another shot at international cricket

[Bert]

Is he the right man? Probably not. Is there any better for the job atm? No.

[ASH17LCFC]

Andrew Strauss is boring enough to be England Captain.

[LeeCovFox]

I voted no. Not because of any particular dislike for him, and certainly not because I don't think he is up to it - I think a little arrongance may help him in the job. But because he is South African.

I feel that in any international sporting competition, a nation should be limited to those from within it's borders an both the playing and technical side. If you don't have the talent required, then tough luck. Learn from others, and breed it as best you can. I think it is a form of cheating, even if the rules do allow it, regardless of sport.

Having said that, I wish him luck, I want our cricket team to be the best that it can be, and he Pietersen is successful, then I will give him the praise he deserves.

[C-man]

Yeah, he deserves his chance. He's arguably been our best player since the 2005 Ashes series, and has played some wonderful innings this season.

I'm glad Bopara is in but disappointed Shah has been left out.

[Fox You Forest]

Is he the right man? Probably not. Is there any better for the job atm? No.

There is the answer right there.

[Nationwider]

Pietersen for me. The captain should come after the team's been picked and Pitersen is a shoe-in for some time to come. Given his ego, his batting's likely to improve as captain.

I'm dead against our policy for years of nominating a captain for a series, regardless of form. No-one else ticks all the boxes in the captaincy stakes. Strauss's place in the team is not assured (or even deserved). Neither is Collingwood's. Cook may get the gig in a few years, but not just yet. Robert Key has missed the bus. I don't believe he's a test-standard batsmen, despite his county credentials.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

KP captain shows the state of decline in English cricket

Why isn't Strauss an option?

[wellsy]

KP captain shows the state of decline in English cricket

Why isn't Strauss an option?

Thats who I would have gave it to in all honesty. Pietersen has been chosen for the simple reason he can captain both sides. But to be fair he will give it his all, so lets see how he goes before we shout abuse at him

[Thracian]

It is years since I watched Test cricket and it'll be years before I watch it again. Seems the only reason you'd pay to watch would be the good excuse it provides for a day off work and the chance to get pissed and have a laugh.

Honestly some of those players wouldn't have got in my school team. No pace, no aggression, no accuracy apart from poor old Freddie who was worked like a pit pony and could hardly stand by the close.

Even our half decent spinner only turned the ball one way and rarely used the straight ball with a bit of extra pace. Talk about predictable but then I can remember the days of Lock and Laker.

Yes, there were one or two determined single saves on the boundary but I wouldn't say our fielders looked like trained racehorses and can barely remember a single throw speeding bullet-like across the top of the stumps.

Captain? I wouldn't envy whoever gets it.

But Vaughan was shit so I well understand why he's gone. Couldn't bat, couldn't field. What the hell was he there for in the first place?

I was relieved to switch to the Bridgestone golf instead and people who really were worthy of being called professionals.

.

[The People's Hero]

Robert Key's proved that he's not good enough to play in a Test side, let alone captain one.

Have you ever actually watched any cricket?

[Corky]

Have you ever actually watched any cricket?

To be honest TPH, I've never been convinced by him at Test level. He seems a bit like Ramprakash and Hick, great at County level but not quite able to make the step up.

Only my opinion though, you may disagree.

[Milky]

It is years since I watched Test cricket and it'll be years before I watch it again. Seems the only reason you'd pay to watch would be the good excuse it provides for a day off work and the chance to get pissed and have a laugh.

Honestly some of those players wouldn't have got in my school team. No pace, no aggression, no accuracy apart from poor old Freddie who was worked like a pit pony and could hardly stand by the close.

Even our half decent spinner only turned the ball one way and rarely used the straight ball with a bit of extra pace. Talk about predictable but then I can remember the days of Lock and Laker.

Yes, there were one or two determined single saves on the boundary but I wouldn't say our fielders looked like trained racehorses and can barely remember a single throw speeding bullet-like across the top of the stumps.

Captain? I wouldn't envy whoever gets it.

But Vaughan was shit so I well understand why he's gone. Couldn't bat, couldn't field. What the hell was he there for in the first place?

I was relieved to switch to the Bridgestone golf instead and people who really were worthy of being called professionals.

.

Complete bullshit.

[The People's Hero]

To be honest TPH, I've never been convinced by him at Test level. He seems a bit like Ramprakash and Hick, great at County level but not quite able to make the step up.

Only my opinion though, you may disagree.

I could write an essay here on Robert Key but I'll keep it fairly brief.

Essentially, he's what we need. He plays proper shots - a real innings builder. He's also adaptable as has been shown by extremely good performances and captaincy in ALL forms of the county game. He captains not only Kent sides in the long form of the game but also one day and 20/20 (where they reached both finals). His batting lacks a certain amount of fluency, certainly.

One of the 5 men named Wisden Cricketers of the year in 2005 and one of (not many) to score a double hundred in a test - although it was against the Windies (I think) - there weren't too many of ours batsmen making the most of some fairly wayward bowling at that time.

He then went through a period of indifferent and inconsistent batting - which left him rightly dropped and that point in time. Sometimes you need to let players ride out their poor form, sometimes you need to give them a break - it often depends how often and hard others are knocking on the door. The selectors were right to drop Key.

Quite why Key, Shah, Bopara and Denley aren't getting more of a look in now is a complete mystery to me though. I know you can't chop and change too often but I just don't understand why some players (very good players) seem to get dropped for a game and an immediate reprieve - whilst others get dropped and that's it.

Don't even get me started on bloody Ambrose keeping wicket for England.

[The People's Hero]

It is years since I watched Test cricket and it'll be years before I watch it again. Seems the only reason you'd pay to watch would be the good excuse it provides for a day off work and the chance to get pissed and have a laugh.

Honestly some of those players wouldn't have got in my school team. No pace, no aggression, no accuracy apart from poor old Freddie who was worked like a pit pony and could hardly stand by the close.

Even our half decent spinner only turned the ball one way and rarely used the straight ball with a bit of extra pace. Talk about predictable but then I can remember the days of Lock and Laker.

Yes, there were one or two determined single saves on the boundary but I wouldn't say our fielders looked like trained racehorses and can barely remember a single throw speeding bullet-like across the top of the stumps.

Captain? I wouldn't envy whoever gets it.

But Vaughan was shit so I well understand why he's gone. Couldn't bat, couldn't field. What the hell was he there for in the first place?

I was relieved to switch to the Bridgestone golf instead and people who really were worthy of being called professionals.

.

This is priceless. You first of all talk of nostalgia and fondness for old time players like Lock and Laker - and few would deny their ability or their class. But then you go on to criticise modern fielding in the English side!!!!

There is no comparison between fielding now and back then!

The England cricket side is not without it's problems, I agree but to claim that the fielding is below par - or that Vaughan could not bat or field is ridiculous. Take a look at what Vaughan has done for the England side over the years. I won't go as far as some other commentators etc have done in calling Vaughan one of our best captains ever - but he has certainly done a lot for the side and I tell you what, it meant a lot more to him than what the England captaincy does to any of our footballers.

You talk absolute bollocks, Thracian.

The only one point I'm inclined to agree with is Panesaar's lack of variety. He certainly needs to bowl at the stumps more. That said, I'm inclined to think this was the case of you making a number of statements and just hoping one might hit the mark. Well done.

[Corky]

It is years since I watched Test cricket and it'll be years before I watch it again. Seems the only reason you'd pay to watch would be the good excuse it provides for a day off work and the chance to get pissed and have a laugh.

Honestly some of those players wouldn't have got in my school team. No pace, no aggression, no accuracy apart from poor old Freddie who was worked like a pit pony and could hardly stand by the close.

Even our half decent spinner only turned the ball one way and rarely used the straight ball with a bit of extra pace. Talk about predictable but then I can remember the days of Lock and Laker.

Yes, there were one or two determined single saves on the boundary but I wouldn't say our fielders looked like trained racehorses and can barely remember a single throw speeding bullet-like across the top of the stumps.

Captain? I wouldn't envy whoever gets it.

But Vaughan was shit so I well understand why he's gone. Couldn't bat, couldn't field. What the hell was he there for in the first place?

I was relieved to switch to the Bridgestone golf instead and people who really were worthy of being called professionals.

.

Vaughan was not a shit captain. He masterminded an Ashes victory, a series win in South Africa, a whitewash of New Zealand, and in 2004 won 10 out of 11 Tests against New Zealand and the West Indies.

Statistically he is the most successful England captain of all time, and Dickie Bird said he was up there with Brearley. Both Vaughan and Hussain helped bring our cricket team up the bottom of the rankings.

He deserves all the plaudits he gets.

[The People's Hero]

Vaughan was not a shit captain. He masterminded an Ashes victory, a series win in South Africa, a whitewash of New Zealand, and in 2004 won 10 out of 11 Tests against New Zealand and the West Indies.

Statistically he is the most successful England captain of all time, and Dickie Bird said he was up there with Brearley. Both Vaughan and Hussain helped bring our cricket team up the bottom of the rankings.

He deserves all the plaudits he gets.

All of that is very difficult to argue with - but Thracian will have no problems in doing so.

[Alexikokopops]

All of that is very difficult to argue with - but Thracian will have no problems in doing so.

Ah, but the stats back this one up so it'[s ok :thumpup:

[Thracian]

This is priceless. You first of all talk of nostalgia and fondness for old time players like Lock and Laker - and few would deny their ability or their class. But then you go on to criticise modern fielding in the English side!!!!

There is no comparison between fielding now and back then!

The England cricket side is not without it's problems, I agree but to claim that the fielding is below par - or that Vaughan could not bat or field is ridiculous. Take a look at what Vaughan has done for the England side over the years. I won't go as far as some other commentators etc have done in calling Vaughan one of our best captains ever - but he has certainly done a lot for the side and I tell you what, it meant a lot more to him than what the England captaincy does to any of our footballers.

You talk absolute bollocks, Thracian.

The only one point I'm inclined to agree with is Panesaar's lack of variety. He certainly needs to bowl at the stumps more. That said, I'm inclined to think this was the case of you making a number of statements and just hoping one might hit the mark. Well done.

I was talking about Vaughan in the last Test. As I made perfectly clear from the start I've never watched test cricket for years so what he did before was irrelevent to my comments. And I don't remember mentioning "old time" fielders at all.

Even as a captain Vaughan looked lost in the last session. No inspiration whatsoever. As for his attempt at a diving stop which went straght undeneath him for four it was comical. Remind me what Vaughan scored in such a decisive match as leader. I can't be bothered to look it up but I'm sure it it wasn't many.

In people like Trueman, Statham, Bob Willis, even Ian Botham we had some really agressive pace and swing bowlers. I didn't see anyone who was even a serious threat at Edgbaston.

I turned the game on to watch a thrilling fight to the death. We surrendered tamely. Make whatever excuses you like but to me it was like watching City under Kelly. Totally uninspired.

They were even talking about whether Flintoff had the right to bowl another full-toss at a bloke's body cos he couldn't easily see the ball. Bloody hell, he had a bat.Willis and Ambrose would bounce em round people's heads and not give it a second thought whether they could see the ball coming or not.

To me the Edgbaston test was more like an exercise in diplomacy that a fierce international contest betwen people determined not to get beaten. Anyway you're welcome to it.

[LeeCovFox]

Far too much is made of the 2005 Ashes victory. We won a test series. Just. It really isn't that much to be proud of. The very fact that our cricket team took part in an open top bus celebration for one test series victory over Australia in 16 years says a lot about the mentality of the nation in sports generally. It was embarrassing. I cannot imagine the Aussies doing the same. There, winning is expected.

[dandannieldanok]

Far too much is made of the 2005 Ashes victory. We won a test series. Just. It really isn't that much to be proud of. The very fact that our cricket team took part in an open top bus celebration for one test series victory over Australia in 16 years says a lot about the mentality of the nation in sports generally. It was embarrassing. I cannot imagine the Aussies doing the same. There, winning is expected.

I see where you are coming from, but it was an extremely unlikely victory against of one the best teams even Australia has produced for a long while. Although Warne and McGrath were definitely on their way out for the game, they still were immensely good bowlers but our own attack countered them brilliantly. Considering we've just been outplayed by what is a reasonably average South Africa side with no real stand-out performers except for Smith, it serves to enhance the achievement of 2005.

Anyway it's a new era now, and I personally can't think of a better man to replace Vaughan. Unlike the doubters, I don't believe Pietersen's own personal game will be affected and he has always struck me as a man bold enough to make and stick by potential match-deciding tactics. I wouldn't read much into this final test though, for me his captaincy starts in the test arena against whoever our next opponents are.

[The People's Hero]

I was talking about Vaughan in the last Test. As I made perfectly clear from the start I've never watched test cricket for years so what he did before was irrelevent to my comments. And I don't remember mentioning "old time" fielders at all.

Even as a captain Vaughan looked lost in the last session. No inspiration whatsoever. As for his attempt at a diving stop which went straght undeneath him for four it was comical. Remind me what Vaughan scored in such a decisive match as leader. I can't be bothered to look it up but I'm sure it it wasn't many.

In people like Trueman, Statham, Bob Willis, even Ian Botham we had some really agressive pace and swing bowlers. I didn't see anyone who was even a serious threat at Edgbaston.

I turned the game on to watch a thrilling fight to the death. We surrendered tamely. Make whatever excuses you like but to me it was like watching City under Kelly. Totally uninspired.

They were even talking about whether Flintoff had the right to bowl another full-toss at a bloke's body cos he couldn't easily see the ball. Bloody hell, he had a bat.Willis and Ambrose would bounce em round people's heads and not give it a second thought whether they could see the ball coming or not.

To me the Edgbaston test was more like an exercise in diplomacy that a fierce international contest betwen people determined not to get beaten. Anyway you're welcome to it.

Fancy that, this England team can't boast individuals such as Botham, Willis, Statham and Trueman!

The sheer audacity of them eh?

It's almost as bad as Leicester City not playing identically to Manchester United.