Makes sense, especially as Bell's best position is arguably No. 3, and this would then allow that. Just makes the ongoing number 6 question harder as you have to fill 5 as well. Bairstow and Taylor need time. I'm sure the selectors would love Bopara in there, as he fills a bowling spot too, but he just doesn't seem to do it at test level (West Indies being the exception, and he was bizarrely dropped after that tour).
Wondering if instead of bringing in another batsman they could simply move Prior to 6 and add a bowler Prior, Swann amd Bresnan can all bat to a decent standard can't they ?
hmmm... Bopara played in the Ashes after that and struggled. I love him but don't think he's test quality. We seem to have better bowlers in the wings than batters. with Strauss and Pietersen out of the equation , we need more south africans and fast. Recall Tony Greig?
hmmm... Bopara played in the Ashes after that and struggled. I love him but don't think he's test quality. We seem to have better bowlers in the wings than batters. with Strauss and Pietersen out of the equation , we need more south africans and fast. Recall Tony Greig?
Going into politics as a Cameron chum, I suspect. Last year he donated a prize to a Tory fund-raising raffle in which the highest-bidder got to play a round of golf with him. Someone paid £25,000 for the honour, which works out at £1,388 per hole.
There's even a rumour that he could be the Tory candidate in the Corby by-election,following Louise Mensch's resignation.
Bopara is a rare case of being treated shockingly by the england management. Never given time to settle in a particular area of the team like other players and was constantly used as a stop gap. No wonder his confidence is shot to pieces
Joe Root,Bairstow, Taylor are promising players.With the Pietersen saga and Strauss retiring we are severely weakened in the batting department.Bopara has been given a number of chances at Test level but he is very inconsistent.It is time to blood the likes of Root,Bairstow and Taylor in the NewZealand series to see how they go.My England team would be:
Going into politics as a Cameron chum, I suspect. Last year he donated a prize to a Tory fund-raising raffle in which the highest-bidder got to play a round of golf with him. Someone paid £25,000 for the honour, which works out at £1,388 per hole.
There's even a rumour that he could be the Tory candidate in the Corby by-election,following Louise Mensch's resignation.
I think its the right decision, although sad to see him go as he seems a nice bloke. Bit worried about the batting line up though, think Morgan will be given another try with Trott to open. Can't see Root getting a game at the moment. Be something like this I would imagine: Cook, Trott, Bell, Bopara, Bairstow, Morgan, Prior, Broad, Swann, Finn, Anderson
same! I remember freddie, who celebrated every wicket he took that series like he won the world cup, just looked bewildered and speechless that strauss had actually held on to it
Can't wait for an ashes tour down here in Oz with a captain 'Cook'!
Can't say enough good things about Strauss, all of that team gave me one of the best sporting occassions of my life. The MCG in 2010 was a brilliant 5 day's, especially after the convict's had won the Perth test the previous week.
Going into politics as a Cameron chum, I suspect. Last year he donated a prize to a Tory fund-raising raffle in which the highest-bidder got to play a round of golf with him. Someone paid £25,000 for the honour, which works out at £1,388 per hole.
There's even a rumour that he could be the Tory candidate in the Corby by-election,following Louise Mensch's resignation.
Strauss would be daft to go into politics at this stage of his life, he has only just got off the cricket treadmill so to go straight into a similar life in politics would be madness.
Plus the fact that 'celebrity' candidates are almost always a disaster wherever they are tried, the party wants them to add a bit of spice and get some good PR but they very rarely want to give them any actual power.
Strauss has not done any of the hard yards that other Tory MP's have done, if he came into parliament he would be resented by many if Cameron started giving him plum jobs because he would be seen to be stepping on a lot of people's toes who had been there a lot longer than him.
If I were Strauss I would decline any invitation to join parliament - especially in Corby where the Tories are going to lose anyway - and go and do something else for a couple of years and earn my place in parliament the proper way.
Look at the train wreck of Louise Mensch's career to see how being parachuted into a seat can turn out.
The Conservatives would never select Strauss for Corby - that is a marginal seat with the Conservatives winning it in 2010 by less than 2000 votes and that was on a bad-night for Labour. Two years on and with the Lib-Dem vote in terminal decline they are going to need an experienced and credible person to run, not the ex-England cricket captain.
Bell looked pretty ordinary at first but England stuck with him and are reaping the rewards -you could even argue that Cook was supported- Bopara has the talent and needs a bit of faith.
No doubt england have lost their way in the last year. Whatever benefits strauss has brought as captain during that period have been negated by his lack of runs. Its the right time to freshen the team up a little. I think cook will make a decent captain the only real issue is whether the responsibilities of the role impact on the runs he scores.
Comments
Prior, Swann amd Bresnan can all bat to a decent standard can't they ?
There's even a rumour that he could be the Tory candidate in the Corby by-election,following Louise Mensch's resignation.
Shouldnt be anywhere near the England team ever again.
Root,Cook,Trott,Bairstow,Bell,Taylor,Prior,Broad,Swann,Anderson,Finn.
We need to let the new boys get some experience against a weaker bowling attack before the Ashes.
Most of the other decent teams have an all rounder in there somewhere
Cook, Trott, Bell, Bopara, Bairstow, Morgan, Prior, Broad, Swann, Finn, Anderson
If so i would go
Cook Trott Bell KP Taylor Bairstow Prior Broad Swann Anderson Finn
Bell is a number 3, thats his Favorite position, and i think he is experienced enough now to go up there and do the business.
Can't say enough good things about Strauss, all of that team gave me one of the best sporting occassions of my life. The MCG in 2010 was a brilliant 5 day's, especially after the convict's had won the Perth test the previous week.
Plus the fact that 'celebrity' candidates are almost always a disaster wherever they are tried, the party wants them to add a bit of spice and get some good PR but they very rarely want to give them any actual power.
Strauss has not done any of the hard yards that other Tory MP's have done, if he came into parliament he would be resented by many if Cameron started giving him plum jobs because he would be seen to be stepping on a lot of people's toes who had been there a lot longer than him.
If I were Strauss I would decline any invitation to join parliament - especially in Corby where the Tories are going to lose anyway - and go and do something else for a couple of years and earn my place in parliament the proper way.
Look at the train wreck of Louise Mensch's career to see how being parachuted into a seat can turn out.