Yes, I know. England won’t win the World Cup until there’s root and branch reform of the English game and we change our attitude to ODI cricket. I also realise we won’t win a global tournament until a franchise based ELP is established, and those responsible for abolishing 50 over cricket in England between 2009 and 2013 are hung, drawn and quartered. However, there is one thing the authorities can do to improve England’s performances right away: sack Peter Moores. I don’t mean to be harsh – as...
Anger and Recriminations
It’s hard to put into words at the moment. England have been humiliated. Booted out of the World Cup by lowly Bangladesh. Like you I’m angry. Really angry. I can’t possibly write anything objective today. For the last year or so English cricket supporters have been divided. For me the broader issue was always the ECB: their insularity, their aloofness, their propensity to back the good old boys they trust. It became an organisation for non boat rockers. How very old school and...
Nervous? Not As Much As Downton and Moores
The World Cup finally begins tonight. After weeks of essentially meaningless fixtures – let’s call it a phoney war – it’s finally time to do or die. The pressure is on. Careers are in the balance. Finally. So are you nervous? There’s considerable reason to be. This England team is pitiful in all departments – a true reflection of their board – and Bangladesh have beaten us in two of our last three meetings. If anyone has the capacity to fold under...
England’s Resurrection. Any Ideas?
Whatever changes Peter Moores makes ahead of our game against Bangladesh, the phrase ‘rearranging the deckchairs on the Titantic’ will inevitably spring up. The consensus seems to be that England are doomed whatever they do. We don’t seem to have either the confidence and / or the talent to make it past the quarterfinals even if we do win the next two games – which isn’t exactly guaranteed. However, this would be a pretty boring blog if we just raised the white flag and said ‘oh well’ (tempting...
More thoughts on the Pietersen ‘recall’
Here’s my – rather belated – three-pennorth on The Return Of The Pietersen. Many of these points have already been made here, and thank you. In some quarters the debate has wrongly been framed as whether Pietersen should be recalled to the England side. The real issue is whether he should be eligible for selection, which is a different matter. All that people of my persuasion have ever argued is that Kevin Pietersen should be treated exactly the same as any other England...
Do We Really Want Kevin Pietersen Back?
You’ll no doubt have heard that Colin Graves, the new head honcho of English cricket, made a few interesting remarks about former England cricketer, author and freelance T20 specialist Kevin Pietersen at the weekend. Twitter literally exploded. KP is, after all, England’s leading ever run scorer and one of the most entertaining yet divisive sportsmen on the planet. The reaction was mixed. Many, including a number of high profile journalists, recoiled in horror: “God help us all if Beelzebub –...
