Fourth one-day international, Cape Town:6th Febuary. >

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I may have to stand corrected, but I can't remember the two captain approach being tried with the England side, and if it has, for how long?

Well, Ern, now you have me worried about my own memory! Didn't Nasser Hussain step down from the ODI captaincy some time before he retired altogether? If not, then I made it all up and you've got me fair and square.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

No, I thik you're right OF. Dont know how long it was for though. Same thing (i think) with steve waugh and ponting.

[Ernest]

All I know is that Hussains last ODI was on 2-3-2003.at Post Elizabeth.
And Vaughans first was 23rd March 2001, in Shri Lanks.

Originally Posted by Hussains profile

after a disappointing performance by England in the 2003 World Cup, Hussain relinquished the one-day international captaincy, and he resigned the Test captaincy during the series against South Afrcia later in the summer explaining that he had "grown tired" of the role.

I am not that much wiser,

[Occasional Fan]

Yes, I think it would have been a short-lived situation, Ern, though I haven't looked into the dates (as you obviously have). I just don't recall any of the commentators or players talking of it as a great success.

[Pete]

Vaughan was captain of the one day team just after the world cup. While Nass was still in charge of the test team, Vaughan captained England in 3 one dayers against Pakistan and the Natwest Series with South Africa and Zimbabwe.

[Ernest]

Well OF, it was a matter that we had to have a seperate captain if Hussain had resigned as the one day captain, it was just a matter of somone filling in the breach, but that is not the same as having a policy of having a diferent ODI captain, like they had in Australia, that was a deliberate plan.

As for the commentators not talking about it being a success, we as a one day team, have been poor for while, regardless of who has been the captain.

I think you will agree there will always be two trains of thought here, there will be the one that says you have to pick your best 11, and play them in all formats of cricket.

And then there are those like myself, who think the one day cricket, should be apart from Test cricket, but at the moment we seem to have the worst option, out of form, and tired and home sick players, and so called one day players.

My main problem at the moment are the fact that both Vaughan and Harmison seem to be playing themselves right out of form, to the point of humiliation, and that can't be good with the Ashes series coming up, we need our no 1 bowler fit and confident, as we do our captain.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Too true about harmison. Found this on cricinfo.

"I think everybody knows by now how much I miss home. I'd have been home in the second week if you'd have given me a chance."

So why dont you just bugger off home now Steve. Put your feet up, visit freddie as he recuperates, watch your beloved Newcastle play average football - what ever. But aout in SA you've done **** all and in the coming ODIs you're unlikely to do much more. So go home and put this god-awful couple of months behind you.

[Occasional Fan]

I think that one goes a bit further, RBLC. Either he wants the job or he doesn't. I don't know about you, but I was never allowed to pick and choose which bits of my job I did and which I didn't. I did the lot and got paid, or I did nowt and didn't get paid. Harmison needs to make his mind up - and he may need some psychological help to do it. But if he can't play when he's outside Co Durham, well, bloody hard luck. Move over and make room for someone - anyone - else! On this one I am with Ray Jennings: it is a privilege to play for England, not a right which you can exercise or decline when it suits you.

[Occasional Fan]

All fair points, Ern. I'm not sure in my own mind whether a separation of the ODI and Test structures is the right way forward or not, but I don't think I can see the ECB heading that way in the near future. And, if the structures are the combined, I still incline towards having only one captain. I am not convinced that the possible benefits of having two bosses would outweigh the confusion and possible divided loyalties which could arise among the players. It would be good to see Vaughan discover some one-day form, though, that's for sure.

[Notts Exile]

Quite agree. I would ask him right now whether or not he really wants to go to Pakistan and India next winter. If he's in any doubt then someone else opens the bowling against Bangladesh and then the Aussies.

Potentially career over for GBH. A shame but that's the ways it goes.