OK, lets start this latest of my blogs with a quote
" I don't want to think too far ahead, but I want to make sure I'm ready for Mitchell Johnson, for anybody. I'm confident it'll be alright" Moeen Ali- November 2014.
Well I always like a bit of humour in my blogs.
As England embark on the journey to Sri Lanka it is the start of an unbroken run of one internationals starting with 7 games against Sri Lanka, then a triangular tournament in Australia which leads towards the start of the world cup. I am fortunate to be visiting Australia in February and will be taking in the England v Australia game at the MCG. I must confess that watching an England/Australia game at the MCG has been a life long ambition and no matter what the result will be, I am determined to enjoy the occasion.
The selectors have taken a squad away the fine tune and I just hope we look to compete and at least look like winning a game or two. Captain Cook, still a controversial choice, stated at a recent press conference that the last time England were number 1 on one day cricket was when he was captain.
Yes you can laugh but apparently we were for a week or two.
Has a campaign ever been so meticulously designed? The schedule now puts the focus entirely on the 50 over game from now, until hopefully, the end of March so there will be no excuses if it becomes a total disaster.
But I have concerns;
-Not only are the conditions in Sri Lanka going to be totally different than those expected in the world cup in Australia/New Zealand.
-As the selectors try to fine the right balance of the team we are up against one of the best one day sides and in their own back yard.
Confidence could be shot to pieces even before I get on the plane. I hope not, and next Friday's first of two games against a Sri Lanka A side could be the start of something xxxxx you can fill in the gap because rest assured Swann/Vaughan/KP will all be having their say
Remember that if things do start really badly whilst in Australia we already have KP & Freddie there -just a thort'
Thanks for taking time to read this - please send any comments via twitter to @NotSubject.
More to follow over the coming weeks.
Sunday, 16 November 2014
Sunday, 12 October 2014
When is Bullying Banter
OK so the autobiogs' from Roy Keane and KP are out and they both focus on the relationships in the changing room and it was with interest that I read a really good article in todays Sunday Times by ex cricketer Ed Smith who wrote as his time as a young cricketer making his way in the game.
He wrote that conforming sometimes borders on bullying and ask's when is bullying banter?
When does a group of friends become a clique? Is freezing someone out bullying?
Respect for senior players can be overstated and gives them the opportunity for bullying, they had it bad when they were making it so "now it's our turn to dish it out."
KP says he saw it in the England changing room and singles out Prior, then Roy Keane was accused of it by Fergie but also states Fergie never tried to stop it.
Confused?
He wrote that conforming sometimes borders on bullying and ask's when is bullying banter?
When does a group of friends become a clique? Is freezing someone out bullying?
Respect for senior players can be overstated and gives them the opportunity for bullying, they had it bad when they were making it so "now it's our turn to dish it out."
KP says he saw it in the England changing room and singles out Prior, then Roy Keane was accused of it by Fergie but also states Fergie never tried to stop it.
Confused?
Sunday, 30 March 2014
Don't Panic, Paul Downton is in charge
Well it's been a few weeks since I last posted any comments on English cricket but now we have been eliminated from the WT20 comp' I felt I had to share my thoughts with you.
My main concern at the moment is the apparent status of Ashley Giles as odds-on favourite to get the Head Coach role, something that will baffle most English supporters and likely to have you shouting WHAT!!!
His record as one day coach is poor and stats aside, for the last year he has been a member of the selection panel that has seen such failure that many younger fans will not remember England being so bad. He also kept faith with Broad as captain when he simply isn't up to the task.
Now Ashley Giles appears to the public to be a very nice man, good with the media & generally a good professional, but when I read reports that the players like him for "what he is" does that suggest the players will influence the final decision, when what the public really want someone who will kick backsides and I am really not sure if being on the inside already he would willing do that and bruise a few ego's.
I have also read that the team would prefer on English man in charge of the team, (cue the Belly Aching laughter) that's a joke when you consider the players we currently have in the squad and their country of birth.
My final criticism of Ashley Giles is the selection of Jade (Dirtbag) Dernbach, the guy must have a little black book full of secrets to keep getting paid for what he does.
I could role out lots & lots of stats' to support my belief and many other Englands' fans continued amazement of his selection but decided however to use yesterdays bowling figures as confirmation.
3 overs for 44 runs and that included in the 18th over, a nine (yes I said 9) ball over that went for 26 runs and he's the guy we selected coz he bowls well at the death!!
Whether it is Giles or someone else I want to see the decision make quickly and can not believe that Paul Downton is waiting until the middle of April before starting the interview process and although he states the "the shortlist will be assembled from a strong multinational field" (cue more laughter) I remain to be convinced.
Leading candidates in the media have already ruled themselves out due to personal reasons or earning more cash coaching an IPL team, it's just not one of the top jobs in internation cricket Downton & Collier think it is anymore. Though I still understand Geoff Boycott (Mr Crickeeet) is available to offer his opinions should the ECB wish to accommodate him. (cue even more laughter)
As a Lancashire cricket fan I am particularly interested that Peter Moores has applied to take over again, his tenure came to an abrupt end last time and he's turned Lancashire around over the last few seasons.
Applications close this Friday so "Dear Reader" please feel free to apply.
Welcome any comments on Twitter to @NotSubject
Thanks for reading.
My main concern at the moment is the apparent status of Ashley Giles as odds-on favourite to get the Head Coach role, something that will baffle most English supporters and likely to have you shouting WHAT!!!
His record as one day coach is poor and stats aside, for the last year he has been a member of the selection panel that has seen such failure that many younger fans will not remember England being so bad. He also kept faith with Broad as captain when he simply isn't up to the task.
Now Ashley Giles appears to the public to be a very nice man, good with the media & generally a good professional, but when I read reports that the players like him for "what he is" does that suggest the players will influence the final decision, when what the public really want someone who will kick backsides and I am really not sure if being on the inside already he would willing do that and bruise a few ego's.
I have also read that the team would prefer on English man in charge of the team, (cue the Belly Aching laughter) that's a joke when you consider the players we currently have in the squad and their country of birth.
My final criticism of Ashley Giles is the selection of Jade (Dirtbag) Dernbach, the guy must have a little black book full of secrets to keep getting paid for what he does.
I could role out lots & lots of stats' to support my belief and many other Englands' fans continued amazement of his selection but decided however to use yesterdays bowling figures as confirmation.
3 overs for 44 runs and that included in the 18th over, a nine (yes I said 9) ball over that went for 26 runs and he's the guy we selected coz he bowls well at the death!!
Whether it is Giles or someone else I want to see the decision make quickly and can not believe that Paul Downton is waiting until the middle of April before starting the interview process and although he states the "the shortlist will be assembled from a strong multinational field" (cue more laughter) I remain to be convinced.
Leading candidates in the media have already ruled themselves out due to personal reasons or earning more cash coaching an IPL team, it's just not one of the top jobs in internation cricket Downton & Collier think it is anymore. Though I still understand Geoff Boycott (Mr Crickeeet) is available to offer his opinions should the ECB wish to accommodate him. (cue even more laughter)
As a Lancashire cricket fan I am particularly interested that Peter Moores has applied to take over again, his tenure came to an abrupt end last time and he's turned Lancashire around over the last few seasons.
Applications close this Friday so "Dear Reader" please feel free to apply.
Welcome any comments on Twitter to @NotSubject
Thanks for reading.
Sunday, 16 February 2014
Giles Clarke - Democracy is Dead
As the sweeping changes to the governance of world cricket are approved and start to roll out, the ICC seem keen to assert that No member will be worse of than they are at present as a justification for all the changes. In other words the richest nations can expect to be come disproportionately richer than the poorer ones. Sorry do I sound a little sceptical, or is it as ICC Preseident Alan Issac stated "the board made changes to the long term certainty of the financial models of the ICC"
As the dust begins to settle on the fact that 2 of the 8 full members abstained from voting it has been interesting to read the comments of Giles Clarke Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board. In an article in todays Sunday Times in which he tries to defend the KP saga, although officially this decision was actually taken by Paul Downton and Alastair Cook, Clarke talks about taking unpopular decisions.
In a PR exercise worthy of those undertaken by the Royal Family's press machine (and we all know my thorts' on that) Clarke actually says " The ICC has 105 members of whom 10 have voting rights, it's not a democracy and doesn't aspire to be"
Now I am not going to suggest that the ICC is run alongside the lines of North Korea and it's democratically elected leader Kim Jong Un who has such a wonderful relationship with all his relatives, but his comments and his power grabbing colleagues seem to me to be so far removed from the true feelings of the real fans. Although any protests that took place recently were ignored by both the majority of the media and the ICC.
Clarke claims that huge numbers (meaning true cricket fans) have not actually understood the decisions taken that benefit so few countries, ooops sorry, world cricket. Well perhaps Mr Clarke you should be open and transparent in the discussions you undertook ahead of the ICC meeting and try to understand why Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting.
Every organisation can change over time but Giles Clarke's faith in future ICC broadcasting rights as the answer to all problems is a dangerous step, just like getting rid of KP. I worry that the ECB may well spend their future income in advance, rather like those football teams in the English Premier League and then when results go against them and fans stop turning up rely on the pound or dollar to sustain themselves.
Financially cricket should be in a very healthy position, the various T20 competitions around the world have injected interest in the game whilst the Ashes series (although a disaster for this writer) proved how a nation can get behind the test team.
In the ICC we have to trust, Don't We?
any comments welcome on twitter to @NotSubject
thanks
Terry
As the dust begins to settle on the fact that 2 of the 8 full members abstained from voting it has been interesting to read the comments of Giles Clarke Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board. In an article in todays Sunday Times in which he tries to defend the KP saga, although officially this decision was actually taken by Paul Downton and Alastair Cook, Clarke talks about taking unpopular decisions.
In a PR exercise worthy of those undertaken by the Royal Family's press machine (and we all know my thorts' on that) Clarke actually says " The ICC has 105 members of whom 10 have voting rights, it's not a democracy and doesn't aspire to be"
Now I am not going to suggest that the ICC is run alongside the lines of North Korea and it's democratically elected leader Kim Jong Un who has such a wonderful relationship with all his relatives, but his comments and his power grabbing colleagues seem to me to be so far removed from the true feelings of the real fans. Although any protests that took place recently were ignored by both the majority of the media and the ICC.
Clarke claims that huge numbers (meaning true cricket fans) have not actually understood the decisions taken that benefit so few countries, ooops sorry, world cricket. Well perhaps Mr Clarke you should be open and transparent in the discussions you undertook ahead of the ICC meeting and try to understand why Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting.
Every organisation can change over time but Giles Clarke's faith in future ICC broadcasting rights as the answer to all problems is a dangerous step, just like getting rid of KP. I worry that the ECB may well spend their future income in advance, rather like those football teams in the English Premier League and then when results go against them and fans stop turning up rely on the pound or dollar to sustain themselves.
Financially cricket should be in a very healthy position, the various T20 competitions around the world have injected interest in the game whilst the Ashes series (although a disaster for this writer) proved how a nation can get behind the test team.
In the ICC we have to trust, Don't We?
any comments welcome on twitter to @NotSubject
thanks
Terry
Sunday, 2 February 2014
Flower Power
It seems such a shame that a proud and talented man who was able to stand up against the injustice of Robert Mugabe's regime and who took England to the number one spot in world cricket, will end his coaching role with the national side and all that has been built previously, falling apart so badly during this Ashes series. Many coaches in different sports have found it very difficult to keep a team at the top once they have got there.
You could argue that his standing in the England set up started to go downhill when he gave up half of his job to another coach. Relentless schedules, work-life balance and a young family were all cited as reasons behind his decision. As admirable as this may have been it has meant that he was absent from the squad for long periods of time.
Andrew Strauss suggested in his article today that Flower "cared about the players and cared about the support staff". This maybe true but it becomes difficult to be that paternal figure when you are not around 100% of the time. Perhaps 5 years in charge of a national side is as much as any coach can be expected to devote, do coaches have a limited shelf life?
The elephant in the room has obviously been KP despite any attempts by the ECB to suggest otherwise. We often read how Flower was very protective of the team (that's TEAM) environment, but it appears KP would throw a spanner in the works from time to time oblivious to what effect it has. "Textgate" is just one example, and lets not forget that when KP was captain he wanted Flower sacked along with Peter Moores.
I wish Andy Flower all the best in whatever role he will take with ECB and from listening to both current & ex players he is too talented to drift away into a minor role.
Whoever does take the role on they need to decide who will be the core of the team now the break up has begun, they must install Cook with belief to be his own man on the pitch and remove what appears to be a general state of defeatism in the changing room. Good luck to that man.
Thanks for reading and I welcome any comments or thorts' via Twitter @Notsubject
Terry
You could argue that his standing in the England set up started to go downhill when he gave up half of his job to another coach. Relentless schedules, work-life balance and a young family were all cited as reasons behind his decision. As admirable as this may have been it has meant that he was absent from the squad for long periods of time.
Andrew Strauss suggested in his article today that Flower "cared about the players and cared about the support staff". This maybe true but it becomes difficult to be that paternal figure when you are not around 100% of the time. Perhaps 5 years in charge of a national side is as much as any coach can be expected to devote, do coaches have a limited shelf life?
The elephant in the room has obviously been KP despite any attempts by the ECB to suggest otherwise. We often read how Flower was very protective of the team (that's TEAM) environment, but it appears KP would throw a spanner in the works from time to time oblivious to what effect it has. "Textgate" is just one example, and lets not forget that when KP was captain he wanted Flower sacked along with Peter Moores.
I wish Andy Flower all the best in whatever role he will take with ECB and from listening to both current & ex players he is too talented to drift away into a minor role.
Whoever does take the role on they need to decide who will be the core of the team now the break up has begun, they must install Cook with belief to be his own man on the pitch and remove what appears to be a general state of defeatism in the changing room. Good luck to that man.
Thanks for reading and I welcome any comments or thorts' via Twitter @Notsubject
Terry
Monday, 13 January 2014
Now The Dust Settled (and the Ashes have gone)
Ok lets get this out of the way before I go any further;
Q) What do English batsmen and a drug addict have in common? both spend most of their time wondering where there next score will come from!!
Q) What is the difference between Cinderella and the English batsmen? Cinderella knew when to leave the ball!!
Now that you have had a good laugh lets see if I can analyse our performance and the way forward.
Batting
I have previously stated that our batsmen just have not scored enough runs for nearly 18 months and the last time we scored over 400 runs Gordon Brown was still PM (slight exaggeration)
The top 3 would normally score big then allow KP and Bell to play a free scoring innings and take the game away from opponents. Cook, Bell, KP and Root are our best batsmen and we just don't have better players to come in so perhaps they need to get back into county cricket to get some runs before the next test series.
I gave KP as much stick as anyone #KPtoTheTower but he was top scorer on the tour, the talk of making KP Vice Captain to make him more of a team player and be more responsible could be an interesting option.
I also feel sorry for Carberry he did not do much worse than others but I think he could be a scapegoat due to his age (Note to selectors remember Chris Rodgers)
Bowling
The lack of runs has obviously effected the bowling unit, rather than frustrate and tie down opposition batsmen and wait for mistakes they have had to work out a different plan to take wickets and THAT just didn't work.
Jimmy Anderson was fortunate to take as many wickets on the last Ashes tour as we all know the conditions and ball don't suit him, for someone who excels in England he's struggled in Australia.
For all Aussies dislike, Broad he was our best bowler and we should not forget that there were a number of occasions the Aussies were 5 or 6 wickets down for less than 150 because of his efforts only for Brad Haddin to walk in. (Note to selectors remember Haddin's age)
The emergence of Ben Stokes does freshen up the bowling attack and give more variety to the unit and if the selectors let Steve Finn use his full run up and bowl at around 90mph rather than changing both and make him carry the drinks tray we may have a far more potent attack in the next 6 months.
Captain Cook
Still not too sure if the leadership role suites him but who is a better option? If he is to stay as Captain then Flower needs to encourage him to develop a more decisive style as it sometimes appeared others were deciding field placings and sometimes under minding him. Having 3 different Captain's for each form of the game doesn't help either. Much was made of Clarke's & Lehmann's ability to think and rebuild on the hoof last summer, can Cook & Flower do the same?
and finally
This has been a reality check for fans and players, we have been out played and out thought on the pitch and lost the mind games off it. But it does not mean wholesale changes should happen just yet, perhaps 2 or 3 changes at most. However I would consider changing some of the backroom staff and certainly not adding to them as some have suggested and this would result in more confusing ideas.
Neither should we panic and start to blame "the system" for all the problems during this Ashes series. The system of the Lions or Development teams feeding the one day and test squads works, in previous times the best emerging players were not ready for test cricket until mid-twenties.
Now Root(2) and Stokes both scored centuries before their 23rd birthday, something only achieved 4 times in the last 50 years!! Add Buttler, Balance and Jordon to that mix and you can understand why many think a rebuilt team will be competitive again and may even score over 400 runs again. Bring on Sri Lanka & India.
To End on a Controversial Note
I listened to an ex player suggesting England's younger players should be allowed to play in the IPL thus missing the beginning of the season. His reasons, "it will toughen them up mentally playing cricket in a pressure cooker atmosphere with win or bust matches against some of the world's best cricketers" Interesting point of view.
That's all for now until we lose the ODI series and I get my soapbox out again.
Q) What do English batsmen and a drug addict have in common? both spend most of their time wondering where there next score will come from!!
Q) What is the difference between Cinderella and the English batsmen? Cinderella knew when to leave the ball!!
Now that you have had a good laugh lets see if I can analyse our performance and the way forward.
Batting
I have previously stated that our batsmen just have not scored enough runs for nearly 18 months and the last time we scored over 400 runs Gordon Brown was still PM (slight exaggeration)
The top 3 would normally score big then allow KP and Bell to play a free scoring innings and take the game away from opponents. Cook, Bell, KP and Root are our best batsmen and we just don't have better players to come in so perhaps they need to get back into county cricket to get some runs before the next test series.
I gave KP as much stick as anyone #KPtoTheTower but he was top scorer on the tour, the talk of making KP Vice Captain to make him more of a team player and be more responsible could be an interesting option.
I also feel sorry for Carberry he did not do much worse than others but I think he could be a scapegoat due to his age (Note to selectors remember Chris Rodgers)
Bowling
The lack of runs has obviously effected the bowling unit, rather than frustrate and tie down opposition batsmen and wait for mistakes they have had to work out a different plan to take wickets and THAT just didn't work.
Jimmy Anderson was fortunate to take as many wickets on the last Ashes tour as we all know the conditions and ball don't suit him, for someone who excels in England he's struggled in Australia.
For all Aussies dislike, Broad he was our best bowler and we should not forget that there were a number of occasions the Aussies were 5 or 6 wickets down for less than 150 because of his efforts only for Brad Haddin to walk in. (Note to selectors remember Haddin's age)
The emergence of Ben Stokes does freshen up the bowling attack and give more variety to the unit and if the selectors let Steve Finn use his full run up and bowl at around 90mph rather than changing both and make him carry the drinks tray we may have a far more potent attack in the next 6 months.
Captain Cook
Still not too sure if the leadership role suites him but who is a better option? If he is to stay as Captain then Flower needs to encourage him to develop a more decisive style as it sometimes appeared others were deciding field placings and sometimes under minding him. Having 3 different Captain's for each form of the game doesn't help either. Much was made of Clarke's & Lehmann's ability to think and rebuild on the hoof last summer, can Cook & Flower do the same?
and finally
This has been a reality check for fans and players, we have been out played and out thought on the pitch and lost the mind games off it. But it does not mean wholesale changes should happen just yet, perhaps 2 or 3 changes at most. However I would consider changing some of the backroom staff and certainly not adding to them as some have suggested and this would result in more confusing ideas.
Neither should we panic and start to blame "the system" for all the problems during this Ashes series. The system of the Lions or Development teams feeding the one day and test squads works, in previous times the best emerging players were not ready for test cricket until mid-twenties.
Now Root(2) and Stokes both scored centuries before their 23rd birthday, something only achieved 4 times in the last 50 years!! Add Buttler, Balance and Jordon to that mix and you can understand why many think a rebuilt team will be competitive again and may even score over 400 runs again. Bring on Sri Lanka & India.
To End on a Controversial Note
I listened to an ex player suggesting England's younger players should be allowed to play in the IPL thus missing the beginning of the season. His reasons, "it will toughen them up mentally playing cricket in a pressure cooker atmosphere with win or bust matches against some of the world's best cricketers" Interesting point of view.
That's all for now until we lose the ODI series and I get my soapbox out again.
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