As I sat down to write this piece, the news came through that Graeme Swann had retired from cricket with immediate effect. How fitting. There has been an ‘end of an era’ feel about this tour from the very beginning. Geoff Miller stepped down as chairman of selectors before the team left Blighty; Hugh Morris did the same; and rumours were also circling about the future of Andy Flower. The grin on Ashley Giles’ face was broadening by the day. The truth is, this series was always going to be the...
Anatomy of a failure part 1 – The ECB
When England were knocked out of the European Championships on penalties last year, most people blamed the manager – failing to realise, of course, that most England mangers since 1966 have been sacked after failing miserably. Were they all rubbish? Largely overlooked was the fact that Gerrard and Parker, the only two central midfielders left standing, were running on empty after a gruelling domestic season in which they, unlike players from rival nations, didn’t get a mid-season break. Was it...
