Who will take over from Vaughan?

[flanflinger]

Well it looks most unlikely that Vaughan will be playing in the first Test, so who can replace him as Captain...

For me there are several candidates

Strauss - did well last summer when given the role, but had an awful winter, does he even deserve a place in the team, let alone lead it!!

Flintoff - technically he is the incumbent Test captain, but after the Ashes and the Pedalo, can he really come back as skipper, plus also his form with the bat is low.

Collingwood - would be a good short term pick, but if Vaughan returns Colly could be the guy who he replaces in the team, so would he be a good choice?

Trescothick - He will get a mention, but to me he is not even close

Cook - an outside bet, young and gifted, a hundred in his first Test says to me that he is the mental ability, and if it for just one Test what would be the harm?

[darksideofthemoon]

I would make Cook vice-captain to Strauss.

[greg]

The captaincy has to go to Strauss for this game in my opinion with Collingwood as his vice-captain and then hope that Vaughan is fit for the 2nd test.Anyone but Flintoff will do though.

[Mike]

Why isn't Pieterson in the mix? Australia usually give the captaincy to the best batsman (currently Ponting). Pieterson is, by far, the best batsman in the England team. I'd try Pieterson first and, if he fails, give it to either Strauss or Collingwood depending on their form. It's important for the skipper to be in form to set an example to the other players.

[A Walking Wicket]

The worrying thing is looking through the list no candidate jumps out as an obvious choice. Strauss appears to be the favourite despite not appearing as first choice in the first half of the world cup, however that was under the old regime! With Vaughan looking likely to miss the opening Test that basically makes it certain that Strauss will be one of the first names on the team sheet despite a torrid run of form over the last 6 months.

I dont quite understand how the claims for Collingwood to become captain have come from, As far as Im aware he has had no experience at all in the role at county level so I think id keep him in the role as "Engine room" of the England team rather than steering the ship.

Flintoff- well lets just say that I appear to have more chance to lead the England side out as Andrew Flintoff does after the shenanighans in the West Indies.

Allow me to throw a name in the arena for discussion, how about Nixon as a short term replacement for the captaincy?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by A Walking Wicket

Flintoff- well lets just say that I appear to have more chance to lead the England side out as Andrew Flintoff does after the shenanighans in the West Indies.

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.

Originally Posted by A Walking Wicket

Allow me to throw a name in the arena for discussion, how about Nixon as a short term replacement for the captaincy?

Well as a one off not the worst suggestion I have read, even in the bad time during the world Cup - his enthusiasm did not wane, a better option than either Strauss or Collingwood as captain.

[Verso]

I think the ECB needs to act quickly on this or we could face the debacle of 85 when we had a million captains during the dreadful "BLACKWASH" West Indies series.............


Remember Cowdrey getting told he would be captain for two tests? Had 1 then done his toe in........ Never heard of again..........

[Pete]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Strauss - did well last summer when given the role, but had an awful winter, does he even deserve a place in the team, let alone lead it!!

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.

Likewise I don't think we should go handing it out to anyone and everyone. Strauss has captained well before, has a decent record and has played well when captain.

[cantplaycantalk]

To me Strauss is the man who Vaughan will replace if he replaces anyone, Collingwood is the potential short term captain, with Cook as vice captain. I also think that it won't be too many years before Cook is the natural captain.

As to Colly's lack of captaincy experience well he has been in the England team for quite a while in either Test or One day line ups and did miss most of one year with a nasty injury. He has had some captaincy experience with Durham but not much granted. What he does have is a good work ethic, a good attitude, plenty of international experience and a calm head on his shoulders.
I really could not imagine Peiterson as captain it would be like giving Gazza the captaincy of the England football team in his prime. Loads of talent but not overly gifted in some of the other aspects which captaincy may call on...

[darksideofthemoon]

Originally Posted by A Walking Wicket

Allow me to throw a name in the arena for discussion, how about Nixon as a short term replacement for the captaincy?

One minute Nixon's organising his benefit and next he's flying out to Australia at 36 to play for England. Then he is playing in the the World Cup so to wake up next Friday and find he is captain of England would be beyond his wildest dreams. And then he carries on playing for England until he is 45.