cook as captain?

[El Presidente]

Need to read Shane Warne in today's Telegraph re Cook's captaincy and his damning take on the Aussie press's treatment of S Broad.

http://www.telegraph...hane-Warne.html

I think Warne nailed it.

I can live without the press here demonizing Broad. It only incites the idiots and they need no encouragement.

On field banter/sledging is fine as far as I am concerned, as long as you can both give and take it.

Warner is an idiot. Even the Aussie press revile him (which is an achievement in itself).

So off to the batsmens paradise that is Adelaide. I think it is a great opportunity for England to get back on track. The WACCA will likely be a hellhole of bounce and fury. I pencil that one in for the Oz team. Adelaide becomes very important for England.

[Guest rob]

I feel sorry for Trott.

Breaking news has it that he's on the way back he for "stress related" illness. Poor bugger. I hope hes better soon.

[Ken Gargett]

will try and read these when home. just heard about trott. feel very sorry for the bloke but if he thought he was not right, should never have come. put himself under massive pressure. it is 'no prisoners' stuff and as mcgrath said, the ashes no place to fix yourself. good luck to him. might assist england with bell moving to 3 and bairstow coming in?

[Webbo]

very enlightening and well written article re Trott's problems by George Dobell on CricInfo

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/story/692537.html

[El Presidente]

Great article.

Having played rugby for some 20 years at a decent level I loved the mental toughness and physicaliy required. Yet, as a decent swing bowler I hated batting. Coming in at number 10 on green brisbane wickets I was absolutely clueless and honestly **** scared at that red ball whizzing past my chin as the fast bowlers came on to wrap up the tail. I couldn't wait to get back to the dressing room or the shade of the gumtree where the team was preparing to go home ( I never lasted long) or getting ready to field.

My hat goes off to anyone who can bat ...or even stand up and take a hit to fast agressive bowling.

Good luck to Trott. He has nothing to prove to Aussies or the press or anyone. The questioning of his character was sickening.

[winelover]

very enlightening and well written article re Trott's problems by George Dobell on CricInfo

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/story/692537.html

Many thanks for that, a real eye opener.

[Ken Gargett]

Great article.

Having played rugby for some 20 years at a decent level I loved the mental toughness and physicaliy required. Yet, as a decent swing bowler I hated batting. Coming in at number 10 on green brisbane wickets I was absolutely clueless and honestly **** scared at that red ball whizzing past my chin as the fast bowlers came on to wrap up the tail. I couldn't wait to get back to the dressing room or the shade of the gumtree where the team was preparing to go home ( I never lasted long) or getting ready to field.

My hat goes off to anyone who can bat ...or even stand up and take a hit to fast agressive bowling.

Good luck to Trott. He has nothing to prove to Aussies or the press or anyone. The questioning of his character was sickening.

played as much of my cricket as i could as a keeper/opener. was never happy batting anywhere else. then, the game is in your hands. if you are good enough, you can bat right through. no sitting around getting nervous or bored.

keeping and opening - the two very best things a cricketer can do!

[winelover]

The lead question of this thread is more relevant than ever. Absolutely wreckless and nonsensical decision making in the field. There are too many examples to mention. Ken you rightly called this one from the first test.

[Guest rob]

I was amazed that Monty was only used at the end when it was all over...... You can rest assured the Aussies are certainly glad he wasn't used. A bit of a shame, as he got picked to play, but the captain lacked the confidence to use him, so he never got a chance to really show what he had to offer.

[winelover]

I was amazed that Monty was only used at the end when it was all over...... You can rest assured the Aussies are certainly glad he wasn't used. A bit of a shame, as he got picked to play, but the captain lacked the confidence to use him, so he never got a chance to really show what he had to offer.

Absolutely. Inexplicable. Joe Root is only a part time bowler for his county, and bowling him ahead of Monty?

Just an example of many.