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Originally Posted by Oliver Cook didn't really do anything wrong in Australia. He played pretty well actually and[...] Joyce didn't actually play in the Tests at all. |
No I am not blaming Cook Oliver - he did everything asked of him, and although Joyce did not play in the Tests, he was part of the ailing England set up.
By being "scarred" - I mean the horrible England set up experience they have been though.
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Originally Posted by Oliver But Ernest, this is the West Indies we're talking about it. They are decidedly NOT Australia, their attack is weak and their batting will have been considerably weakened by the loss of the enigmatic Lara |
That is true Oliver - but I am looking beyond this summer to 2009, and I don't see England becoming a force again with Vaughan - Collingwood and Bell in the top five.
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Originally Posted by Oliver It is possible however, that their team spirit will have risen immeasurably.[...]I imagine that Cook only took good things from his Ashes experience, |
Well I can't see one reason why the team spirit will have risen, it probably will if they beat the West Indies, but like you say "this is the West Indies we're talking about it" - not Australia or South Africa.
I think Cook will have got a lot of personal satisfaction from his tour to OZ, that's different than being part of of a winning side.
If Trescothick is fit - if Harmison is at his best - if Flintoff finds his batting form, and Simon Jones gets back into the England side, then my optimism will rise also.
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Originally Posted by Oliver What will you do, when Flintoff retires? |
Nothing! - England will then be one more bowler short.