Ashes down under

[BlockD]

Our Joe's been put under alot of pressure wi the team's showin both on and off the pitch.I personally think he's made some poor decisions as skipper but there's no denyin it's a poor side we have out theer and even a thicko like me dint expect England to do much darn under.UTCB

No more losing sleep listening to TMS in the middle of the night,

[tomytony]

No more losing sleep listening to TMS in the middle of the night,

I've been checking the score on Cricinfo through the night then deciding whether to get up or not.

Sad to say I've had more lie ins than I wanted.

Joe looks shot and the idiots on Talksport mentioning making Stokes skipper.

I think it has been a big learning curve for Joe and he will be wanting to make his own mark on the side so it could be goodbye to some of the old stagers.It's getting to the stage where we need a team for English tests and a different one for overseas.

[bulmer1889]

I've been checking the score on Cricinfo through the night then deciding whether to get up or not.

Sad to say I've had more lie ins than I wanted.

Joe looks shot and the idiots on Talksport mentioning making Stokes skipper.

I think it has been a big learning curve for Joe and he will be wanting to make his own mark on the side so it could be goodbye to some of the old stagers.It's getting to the stage where we need a team for English tests and a different one for overseas.

It was interesting listening to swanny the other day he's always maintained joe shouldn't be captain,he thinks it makes our best player not as good cos he has it all to do instead of just concentrating on his game,he says we always seem to just pick the best player as captain which shouldn't be the case,I kind of agree with him on that but then who do you pick he said broad but I can't agree on that we'd use our reviews up in the 1st over !

Can't see Cooky carrying on after this tour,there have been a few chinks of light stoneman ,vince and Malan have all shown us glimpses of why they were taken and are worth persevering with unfortunately it's the experienced batsmen joe included who haven't turned up,we've got another month or so of misery before it's goin to get any better

[tomytony]

It was interesting listening to swanny the other day he's always maintained joe shouldn't be captain,he thinks it makes our best player not as good cos he has it all to do instead of just concentrating on his game,he says we always seem to just pick the best player as captain which shouldn't be the case,I kind of agree with him on that but then who do you pick he said broad but I can't agree on that we'd use our reviews up in the 1st over !

Can't see Cooky carrying on after this tour,there have been a few chinks of light stoneman ,vince and Malan have all shown us glimpses of why they were taken and are worth persevering with unfortunately it's the experienced batsmen joe included who haven't turned up,we've got another month or so of misery before it's goin to get any better

I was delighted for Joe when he was appointed but also very fearful Bully, knowing that an away Ashes tour was looming. I think Cook's resignation was also skewed by knowing this.

Going to Oz without ammunition and then without a world class fighter of an all rounder was always going to be trouble and, as you say, making Joe captain because he's the best player, is not a valid reason.

Before England he's captained Yorkshire TWICE, once at Lords when he set over 400 and they got them and then at Trent Bridge when Gale was banned and we were champions elect.

Previous tactical captains,eg Brearley, Illingworth were wily hardened pro's or great motivators ( or both) and trying to get the best out of an increasingly petulant Broad, an out of form, disinterested Cook , a bits and pieces spinner/batsman, a few rookies ( a couple of which did well) , an ageing leader of the attack and a few medium pacers picked off easily was always going to be difficult.

Joe will fight through it and will have learnt so much but will have to take a lot of stick in the coming months.Just as long as it does not erode his magnificent batsmanship he will come good.