Cook resigns as captain

horace wrote:Just announced.

lardbucket wrote:doctorspin wins in a triumph of patience and quiet persistence

skully wrote:Well done Chef. Other than your shit catching at 1st slip and dodgy field placings, you done OK.

At 32 he probably has 4 or 5 years left to extend his formidable batting record in Tests.

taipan wrote:Aren't SA due to tour England this year?

JGK wrote:

taipan wrote:Aren't SA due to tour England this year?

Steyn nearly done; Morne nearly done; Abbott walked.  Just needs to worry about Rabada.

taipan wrote:

JGK wrote:

taipan wrote:Aren't SA due to tour England this year?

Steyn nearly done; Morne nearly done; Abbott walked.  Just needs to worry about Rabada.

Was referring to the Vaughan/Hussain/Strauss curse. But maybe that ended with Smith.

PeterCS wrote:For the most part - a couple a significant dips apart - a mighty opener. And a core of adamant.

Until recently, a farcically timid captain. Improved quite a bit in that regard, but that was not hard.

I hope, freed of the shackles, he bats on, and on.

And that Root grows fast into the role. Because it would be shock if anyone else was drafted in. Even on the old Aussie principle - choose your most secure players, then your skipper from that core - he is the glaring standout candidate.

Funny he has been given (as far as I know) no leadership role for years. Not even as temporary in-match stand-in (?).

Bradman wrote:

PeterCS wrote:For the most part - a couple a significant dips apart - a mighty opener. And a core of adamant.

Until recently, a farcically timid captain. Improved quite a bit in that regard, but that was not hard.

I hope, freed of the shackles, he bats on, and on.

And that Root grows fast into the role. Because it would be shock if anyone else was drafted in. Even on the old Aussie principle - choose your most secure players, then your skipper from that core - he is the glaring standout candidate.

Funny he has been given (as far as I know) no leadership role for years. Not even as temporary in-match stand-in (?).

I thought that due to almost zero county stuff for test regulars and thus leadership opportunities you sent some of your probables on army style leadership courses?  Or do they just tick a box saying they'd done outward bound as kids?

Basil wrote:

Bradman wrote:

PeterCS wrote:For the most part - a couple a significant dips apart - a mighty opener. And a core of adamant.

Until recently, a farcically timid captain. Improved quite a bit in that regard, but that was not hard.

I hope, freed of the shackles, he bats on, and on.

And that Root grows fast into the role. Because it would be shock if anyone else was drafted in. Even on the old Aussie principle - choose your most secure players, then your skipper from that core - he is the glaring standout candidate.

Funny he has been given (as far as I know) no leadership role for years. Not even as temporary in-match stand-in (?).

I thought that due to almost zero county stuff for test regulars and thus leadership opportunities you sent some of your probables on army style leadership courses?  Or do they just tick a box saying they'd done outward bound as kids?

I don't know about the leadership courses, but if you have a group of individuals together over a long enough period, leaders will emerge.

PeterCS wrote:All I was getting at is, since the Radical One has been talked of as likely next Test skipper for a couple of years (i.e. basically since he established himself in the side), it's odd they haven't given him any experience at all.

Whether as a trial, an acid test, a seasoning, a tempering, or just a go. Experience. Even for a session or two. Not odd?