Root resigns

He’s finally made the call after reflecting on the WI series. So WTF now? Seven weeks to the first Test of the season, and we have no director of cricket, no head coach and no captain.

His captaincy felt like it had run its course, and he was keeping the job through lack of alternatives. But now we have to find an alternative. Stokes will be odds-on favourite but if his physical and/or mental health aren’t right we shouldn’t burden him. Some have suggested Broad as a stop-gap but that would be quite an about-turn. Buttler and Billings have been touted as well but neither is the man currently in possession of the gloves. Beyond that we’re probably into the realms of true outsiders. I think the last debutant Test captain, other than new nations, was NZ’s Lee Germon in the 90s. Could England really end up going down that route?

stop gap Morgan

cant put up any worse effort with the bat that some incumbents

A couple of years ago, that would have made a lot of sense. But he hasn’t played a single game of red-ball cricket for three years now, and can’t be relied on fitness-wise either.

I suppose if the off-field top jobs aren’t filled soon and we start the summer under an interim regime, it might make sense to just pick the XI and then select a captain from within it, rather than have the fanfare of a “permanent” appointment. Kind of like Southgate’s initial approach with the England football team, though Harry Kane eventually grew into the full-time role. I know cricket captaincy has more responsibilities than the largely symbolic football equivalent, but perhaps there isn’t the need to burden someone with a formal appointment at this stage.

Interesting development.

Will be even more interesting to see what the ECB does from here.

With nobody in any of the top jobs they can’t do a lot right now!

Seems Blobert’s in line for the managing director role. Yet another one deserting Sky, Athers and Nasser really will be working overtime this summer!

co-captains

beamer wrote:Seems Blobert’s in line for the managing director role. Yet another one deserting Sky, Athers and Nasser really will be working overtime this summer!

I meant to post something during the Pak v Aus Test series. Blob Key sounds so much like Nasser Hussain on commentary that I regularly thought it was Naz on the mike. Must be an Essex thing.

skully wrote:

beamer wrote:Seems Blobert’s in line for the managing director role. Yet another one deserting Sky, Athers and Nasser really will be working overtime this summer!

I meant to post something during the Pak v Aus Test series. Blob Key sounds so much like Nasser Hussain on commentary that I regularly thought it was Naz on the mike. Must be an Essex thing.

Blob’s actually a Kent qunt, well, born within the boundaries of London itself in fact, but not too far removed from Chavsville anyway…

Ah, cheers beams. Assumed the Blob must've been from Chav country.

Blob confirmed, anyway… interesting analysis of his past comments on players emerging. I know he’s not going to be the selector personally, but…

On Anderson and Broad: “Do I think they’re going to be the ones to take us into this new era and make us the best team in the world? No I don’t. And they can’t help if they’re monopolising the new ball all the time.”

Kind of agree with that, they might help us get a few morale and ranking-boosting home wins here and there, but this is a bad team and likely to remain a bad team for a few years, and by the time that’s changed they will no longer be a factor. Question is, does their presence help or hinder the transition? Leaning more towards the latter, even if it costs us a few results.

Surely Ben Compton is a shoo-in as opener after the 2022 season start he’s had.

Seems Stokes is everyone's pick for new skipper.

skully wrote:Seems Stokes is everyone's pick for new skipper.

Freddie Flintoff vibes, but with menace.

skully wrote:Seems Stokes is everyone's pick for new skipper.

no pub celebrations I guess

skully wrote:Seems Stokes is everyone's pick for new skipper.

Well, given he’s the only player other than Root who’s sure of his place, it’s a one-horse race if said horse is happy to enter the starting stalls. The idea of reaching for the red nuclear button that’s been gathering dust since launching the “Cowdrey 1988” missile that crashed and burned, still feels a far-fetched one, despite all the chaos unfolding. If Stokes has second thoughts though, all bets are off.

I think Stokes has a better cricketing brain than Fredalo and Lord Brexit, as per the inevitable comparisons, but the physical and mental burden is the concern. He might just oversee a transitional couple of years until a new “best batsman” emerges to take the iron throne from him.

Has there been anything beyond 'faint praise' in the media for Jo Root?

Seems ages since he was the happy young Yorkie. He has nothing more to prove and I expect retirement may be in his thoughts.

Hanging around trying to make the team competitive is a two edged sword. Future wins and honourable draws relying on his bat will draw 'you see' type comments critical of his former captaincy.

He is in an invidious position. Who could blame him for telling all and sundry to get stuffed?

I think he just enjoys scoring runs, though. Cook’s records will be in his sights as well. A few more years in a crap team might impact his motivation, and with back issues etc. he may not be a player still going at the top level in his late 30s, but I don’t see him as the sort of player to jump ship for the franchise circuit.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/cricket-news-2022-simon-katich-linked-to-vacant-england-coaching-role-justin-langer-rob-key-county-cricket-video/news-story/0876e80304a1477e6d2128cbb2b39889

Katich for Head Coaching role?

They seem keen on having an Aussie… not sure what Fleas’ red-ball coaching credentials are like really. Plenty of experience of the English game though.

Anyway, Blobby Key seems a smart enough guy and not afraid to make tough calls, even if his level of experience is a question mark. Hopefully he will be more effective than the likes of Wheelie Bin and Downton Shabby in the role. It’s some responsibility. Even without my partisan hat on, I don’t think Test cricket can survive an uncompetitive England for a significant period of time, in terms of being a commercially viable proposition. And his decisions will go some way to determining whether that happens.

Nath wrote:https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/cricket-news-2022-simon-katich-linked-to-vacant-england-coaching-role-justin-langer-rob-key-county-cricket-video/news-story/0876e80304a1477e6d2128cbb2b39889

Katich for Head Coaching role?

I think Fleas comes across a bit more relaxed (Michael Clarke circa 2011 may disagree) than the NLWL. This may fit better with Blob's plans.

Though the England side clearly needs a dose of discipline ala Langer-style, perhaps Blob doesn't think England players will respond accordingly (as per Aus players).

Fleas also had a pretty long County career, so maybe he knows a lot of the England players quite well.

So the Gnome is not in the running?

Stokes set to be given the nod. More interesting will be the choice of vice-captain, a role which presumably Root won’t take in the short term. Broad? Anderson? Bairstow? Whichever wicketkeeper is in favour? One of the youngsters? Could be key (pun intended) to the longer term direction of the side, though everyone bar Stokes and Root is one poor series with bat/ball/gloves from the scrapheap. Moeen and Buttler have been VCs recently. So yeah, on second thoughts, it might mean sod all, though Stokes will probably miss the odd match unlike his predecessor.

horace wrote:So the Gnome is not in the running?

Gary Kirsten looks like getting the role, apparently*.

From Wisden (26th April)

Ruled in
Gary Kirsten
A strong contender who has come close to getting the job before. Kirsten came into the picture after reports suggested that Justin Langer had fallen out of the race following Rob Key’s preference to split the coaching roles. Kirsten was firmly in the race in 2019, before Chris Silverwood pipped him to the role, but the former India and South Africa head coach is interested and back in the reckoning this time. He’s currently serving as batting mentor at the Gujarat Titans in the IPL.

Graham Ford
Ford’s long-standing association with Rob Key gives him a possible edge: the 61-year-old was Kent’s director of cricket when Key was skipper and has been spoken highly of by England’s new managing director in the past. Ford worked as Ireland’s head coach from 2017 through 2021, being at the helm for 102 internationals before stepping away in November last year. He’s previously taken up coaching roles with Sri Lanka (two stints), South Africa, and Surrey.

Simon Katich
Given that most of the early chatter was around Justin Langer, Katich’s name emerged as a surprising twist. The current Manchester Originals coach has largely taken up white-ball roles in the past, but could go either side of the red-ball, white-ball split, as suggested by reports. Given Katich’s extensive county experience as a player, as well as captaincy and coaching experience, Katich remains a solid name on the contenders’ sheet.

In the conversation
Justin Langer
A favourite not too long ago, Langer’s name dropped a few rungs on this list after fresh reports stated that his position wasn’t as strong, especially with Key keen on splitting the coaching roles and reported reservations about his suitability of working alongside the likely next Test captain, Ben Stokes.

Paul Collingwood
England’s interim coach during their 1-0 loss to West Indies last month, Collingwood expressed interest in a long-term role when he was temporarily handed the reins, saying he’ll “never say never” to the prospect of taking on the job. Other candidates have emerged since, but Collingwood still remains in the picture, especially for the white-ball role.

Ruled out
Ricky Ponting
One of the game’s greats, Ponting has stayed involved in the game through coaching and broadcasting commitments but reportedly turned down a chance to take up the coveted job in England. He’s currently serving as head coach at Delhi Capitals in the IPL.

Mahela Jayawardene
The Sri Lanka great’s name briefly popped up in discussions, reportedly for the white-ball role, but didn’t appear keen on taking up the role. Currently the head coach at Mumbai Indians, Jayawardene has worked as a consultant with the England setup in the past.

Ottis Gibson
Gibson’s vast experience of playing in England, combined with his numerous recent coaching gigs, made him a worthy candidate, but the former quick reportedly turned down the chance after being approached by Andrew Strauss. He’s currently committed to his future with Yorkshire, where he took up the head coach’s role in January this year.