Who will take over from Vaughan?

[pie_chucker]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

And Vaughan should never captain England again in the one day game.

Agreed, especially if our 1970's tactics were his fault. I have a feeling that it will eventually come out that they were indeed his idea.

Regarding the test team it seems likely that Strauss will get the job as he did well last summer although if its a one off they could name anyone as skipper (remember Butcher?).

As for my personal opinion, well I havn't formed one yet . I think that Freddie captained very poorly at times down under and to be fair Strauss did nothing wrong last summer. Collingwood would do a fine job for a one off game as would someone like Pieterson. As for the longer term it could be anyones guess, all of the above plus the likes of Cook and Tres (it fit).

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Pete

Bit unfair on the guy - everyone seems to be piling into Strauss. It's not like he's had that many bad series, 10 hundreds from 36 matches is pretty good and I don't think we should go back to dropping players after one bad series.

was trying to make a bit of a pro and anti case for each player....

I am a bit concerned by his form, and I wonder whether a guy looking for form, uncertain of his place in the team, is the best guy to be mentally trying to lead the team.

Think Vaughan is different as I get the feeling he relishes leading the team, and his place is certain even if he is not in the best of form.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Ernest

that was the case up to 2004, when only myself Kirsty and Scott thought he would come good.

Think you will find that I was also in that camp.. and like you I have championed his place for years. But for me being the key bowler, slip fielder and in the top six, and having to Captain the side is too much for one man. The stress has clearly got to him as he looks flat on the field, and has taken to ill-discipline off it.

For me Flintoff was on a hiding to nothing as Ashes captain, and that is not the reason he would not be my first choice as skipper. If Flintoff is playing well England look balanced and play aggressive winning cricket. But if he is out of form we tend to struggle.

To heap the captaincy on him would be a mistake, let him get back to winning games with the bat and ball. Then everyone will be happy.

Originally Posted by Ernest

Mike chucked Pietersen's name in the hat earlier, but like Flintoff some people think he is to arrogant, but IMO a bit of arrogance is needed in the England side.

Arrogance is one thing, and in an individual sport it is great, but as we have talked about Cricket is not down to one man, and the guy in charge needs to know how to get the best out of the other 10 players.

Playing by example will work in the short term, but long term success needs something much more. Mike makes the point that the best players are often the Captain, what about Tendulkar?

Sometimes Captaining the team can ruin a player, and with it the team, particularly if that player is a leader by example and the best player.

I would not pick an Adams as a captain purely because his concern will be on his own game, his own "chance". You need an established player who is comfortable in the team, is good with the other players, and one who has the ability to see the bigger picture.

[acker]

You cant go past Ian Bell he should be England captain for the next 17 years.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

If its a one off - strauss, no question even if his form is a bit iffy. The match (i think ) is at lords and he hardly ever has a bad trot down there.

Thats put the kiss of death on him then !

[Speedboy Salesman]

apparently, Vaughan is "rushing" to be fit for the first Test, and personnel working on him have said that he's a lot better than before. I hate that word. "Rushing".

[Alison]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Well he got a public warning - a fine and dropped for one game, taking the vice captaincy of him was silly, as he has the best record as captain including Vaughan in the last 12 to 15 months.

If England choose Strauss, then that will be a very backward step.

Flintoff has the best record as captain over the last 12 to 15 months?

In Tests (and after all the upcoming series is a Test series) his results as captains read W2, D2, L7

His personal stats haven't been much affected, his batting average as captain is 33.23, a minor increase on his career batting average of 32.50, his bowling average as captain is 34.44, slightly worse than his career bowling average of 32.02

On the other hand, Strauss' results as captain read W3, D1, L0 and his batting average as captain was 63.42 a very substantial increase on his career average of 43.09.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Think you will find that I was also in that camp.[''']The stress has clearly got to him as he looks flat on the field, and has taken to ill-discipline off it.

Sorry about that FF - but there were only a very few of us.
I don't agree that the stress got to Flintoff at all, I think all the England players looked flat after a tour counting the Ashes of about 7 months, that was to long.

Originally Posted by flanflinger

For me Flintoff was on a hiding to nothing as Ashes captain, and that is not the reason he would not be my first choice as skipper.

But why was he on a hiding to nothing FF, IMO that could be right - but that was down to the team that was selected, with main players like Trescothick and Harmison having to go home IMO.

Originally Posted by flanflinger

To heap the captaincy on him would be a mistake, let him get back to winning games with the bat and ball.

I don't think it would be a mistake because he wants to be captain of England, he did not find it a burden.

Originally Posted by Alison 138550

Flintoff has the best record as captain over the last 12 to 15 months? [...]On the other hand, Strauss' results as captain read W3, D1, L0 and his batting average as captain was 63.42 a very substantial increase on his career average of 43.09.

I don't dispute your stats Alison, what I do dispute is their meaning.

Flintoff getting a fighting draw in India, (with a batting average of over 50), and winning to CB Trophy in Australia, must rank higher than what Strauss achieved against a weal and unsettled Pakistan side.

[greg]

Strauss it is then,right choice just 8 months too late.

[Moss]

You have to laugh at Graveney's comment:

"The selectors came to the conclusion that Andrew Strauss did a very good last summer but in Andrew Flintoff's case we want him to concentrate on his batting and bowling."

So, this is why you failed to pick him to skipper out in Australia?!