Andrew Strauss Retires.......
Discussion
I didn't expect that in the press conference:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/19408311
I thought he would stand down as captain - but suprised he has retired...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/19408311
I thought he would stand down as captain - but suprised he has retired...
hm, shame this but he's not been performing as a batsman for a while now, but you can't drop the captain! The team got thoroughly outplayed by SA, and he probably had a huge row over Pietersen, and the issue still is yet to be resolved.
He's probably enjoyed enough success now to retire and enjoy it before the knivees really some out.
Look forward to whoever is next, but please don't be Cook as he needs to concentrate on batting!
He's probably enjoyed enough success now to retire and enjoy it before the knivees really some out.
Look forward to whoever is next, but please don't be Cook as he needs to concentrate on batting!
On reflection England havent looked sharp all yr. Not out in the sand, during the Windies or against the Bok. Fielding standards that Strauss himself set were no longer being attained throughout the team. How many catches have England put down since the winter?
So yes a time for change was in the air. I didnt expect him to quit all forms though, that really is a man who has fallen out of love with his job/profession/career/the game.
Straussy...on behalf of all England cricket fans around the world and the 'net, by God we thank you. I think it is fair to say that not a single one of us when you took over ever expected to see this England side top the rankings. You moulded one of the best England teams of all time and lead them to success around the globe. It would seem that you are the very definition of that Englishman noted for being a good man in a crisis and you faced a couple of crackers!
Whatsmore...Ashes, home & away. We salute you Sir and you have our deepest, deepest gratitude.
As always though...the King is dead, long live the King! FEC the 2nd gets promoted to Chef
So yes a time for change was in the air. I didnt expect him to quit all forms though, that really is a man who has fallen out of love with his job/profession/career/the game.
Straussy...on behalf of all England cricket fans around the world and the 'net, by God we thank you. I think it is fair to say that not a single one of us when you took over ever expected to see this England side top the rankings. You moulded one of the best England teams of all time and lead them to success around the globe. It would seem that you are the very definition of that Englishman noted for being a good man in a crisis and you faced a couple of crackers!
Whatsmore...Ashes, home & away. We salute you Sir and you have our deepest, deepest gratitude.
As always though...the King is dead, long live the King! FEC the 2nd gets promoted to Chef
Straussy...on behalf of all England cricket fans around the world and the 'net, by God we thank you. I think it is fair to say that not a single one of us when you took over ever expected to see this England side top the rankings. You moulded one of the best England teams of all time and lead them to success around the globe. It would seem that you are the very definition of that Englishman noted for being a good man in a crisis and you faced a couple of crackers!
Whatsmore...Ashes, home & away. We salute you Sir and you have our deepest, deepest gratitude.
Good player for England, remember when he scored 158 against India in the 2011 world cup, proper captains knock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--7lruL73C4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--7lruL73C4
Edited by tommy vercetti on Wednesday 29th August 12:45
So - KP is now officially the elephant in the room, eh. I imagine Bell will move up to 2 from 5.
Leaving our batting order looking something like:
Cook
Bell
Trott
....
Bairstow?
Bopara?
Prior
Broad
Swann
Jimmy
Finn
I think it's a bit early to get Taylor in at 4... or is it? Either way we are now missing two massive names from the Top 4 and look half the batting side we were.
Thoughts?
Leaving our batting order looking something like:
Cook
Bell
Trott
....
Bairstow?
Bopara?
Prior
Broad
Swann
Jimmy
Finn
I think it's a bit early to get Taylor in at 4... or is it? Either way we are now missing two massive names from the Top 4 and look half the batting side we were.
Thoughts?
Bairstow to 4. Got the skills and desire and I suspect would make a useful 3,4 link with Trott.
My thoughts on Bopara are clear.
Id experiment a little this winter.
Invite Morgan to have another shot at 5. Prior 6, Broad 7.
Gives Woakes a go at 8. He is an all rounder, mainly bowling, but his batting is comming on strong. It gives England 4-5 man bowling attack option.
The other option is going with James Taylor, no reason to not blood him.
My thoughts on Bopara are clear.
Id experiment a little this winter.
Invite Morgan to have another shot at 5. Prior 6, Broad 7.
Gives Woakes a go at 8. He is an all rounder, mainly bowling, but his batting is comming on strong. It gives England 4-5 man bowling attack option.
The other option is going with James Taylor, no reason to not blood him.
DJRC said:
johnfm said:
Heard interesting early rumour as to Strauss' next career move...
MP for Corby, parachuted in to replace Mensch...
Is there a joke there and Im being too thick to see it?MP for Corby, parachuted in to replace Mensch...
I think he donated £25k to the Conservative party a while back. He went to a good school too, so unlike most cricketers he can read and write too - in fact, he's probably too bright to be an MP.
The other option is to find another opener. Have we got one anywhere? That way you don't lose Bell and KP from the top/middle order. Don't like the sound of Bairstow/Taylor/Bopara too risky for me, JB I like, he needs to come in at 5/6 and work his way up. Woakes is definitely a prospect and his batting is improving all the time. Interesting times...
johnfm said:
No joke - just what I hear.
I think he donated £25k to the Conservative party a while back. He went to a good school too, so unlike most cricketers he can read and write too - in fact, he's probably too bright to be an MP.
Jesus don't go into politics Straussy, couldn't bear the thought of listening to you talking political bI think he donated £25k to the Conservative party a while back. He went to a good school too, so unlike most cricketers he can read and write too - in fact, he's probably too bright to be an MP.
ks 
I was never a cricket fan, but Andrew Strauss is my first real memory of cricket watching. I watched the Ashes in 2005 on the TV, and really enjoyed it. Then in 2007 I was in Australia early February. We had just been spanked in the Ashes, and had at that point won only one match against the Aussies in the one day series.
I was visiting my Dad in Melbourne and needed a break from family duties, and due to lack of competition in the cricket the tickets were not exactly selling like hotcakes. So me and my wife turned up at MCG and bought two tickets. As we walked in, you can see into the nets from above ground, and I was watching Strauss practicing. He was getting so much st off of the Aussies, and even some of the English, and my Mrs asked who he was. I proceeded to explain to her that she was watching a guy with no confidence, and probably on his final tour. How wrong I was!
Anyway in a thrilling match - after looking like losing again - we won!
http://www.espncricinfo.com/cbs/engine/current/mat...
Two days later I was in the SCG for a mates stag do, and we won again!
http://www.espncricinfo.com/cbs/engine/current/mat...
Strauss was not really that great in either game (Collingwood and Flintoff were!), but it gave me a taste for cricket, and although I am not an expert, I have watched more cricket in past 5 years than in previous 30. Strauss has been skipper most of that time, as we have won the Ashes twice, got to the top of the rankings, and won the 20/20 (I know he was not there - but during same timeframe!).
I won't forget him as skipper, and wish him all the best for the future. I am not sure that Cook has the right personality as skipper - but I also wish him all the best.
Also regardless of what has gone on, KP was wrong to not comment to the Sky reporters yesterday to give a message to Strauss. Wrong because it was rude, and wrong because it may have started to mend some bridges with the new regime - if he wants to play again.
I was visiting my Dad in Melbourne and needed a break from family duties, and due to lack of competition in the cricket the tickets were not exactly selling like hotcakes. So me and my wife turned up at MCG and bought two tickets. As we walked in, you can see into the nets from above ground, and I was watching Strauss practicing. He was getting so much s
t off of the Aussies, and even some of the English, and my Mrs asked who he was. I proceeded to explain to her that she was watching a guy with no confidence, and probably on his final tour. How wrong I was!Anyway in a thrilling match - after looking like losing again - we won!
http://www.espncricinfo.com/cbs/engine/current/mat...
Two days later I was in the SCG for a mates stag do, and we won again!
http://www.espncricinfo.com/cbs/engine/current/mat...
Strauss was not really that great in either game (Collingwood and Flintoff were!), but it gave me a taste for cricket, and although I am not an expert, I have watched more cricket in past 5 years than in previous 30. Strauss has been skipper most of that time, as we have won the Ashes twice, got to the top of the rankings, and won the 20/20 (I know he was not there - but during same timeframe!).
I won't forget him as skipper, and wish him all the best for the future. I am not sure that Cook has the right personality as skipper - but I also wish him all the best.
Also regardless of what has gone on, KP was wrong to not comment to the Sky reporters yesterday to give a message to Strauss. Wrong because it was rude, and wrong because it may have started to mend some bridges with the new regime - if he wants to play again.
I grew up watching us getting spanked by CLive Lloyd and his merry men, or by Lillee and Thommo.
Slowly, steadily since then we've been improving and it was Strauss who finally got us up to the top and kept us up there for a while.
We need to rebuild, bring in some more youth and more importantly sort out the production line so that we're bringing in batsmen at the same standard as our bowling. We also need to remember how to hang on to catches.
However the last seven years of cricket have been very good, plenty of progression and some real team performances. Thanks for the memories, especially the home and away Ashes victories.
Slowly, steadily since then we've been improving and it was Strauss who finally got us up to the top and kept us up there for a while.
We need to rebuild, bring in some more youth and more importantly sort out the production line so that we're bringing in batsmen at the same standard as our bowling. We also need to remember how to hang on to catches.
However the last seven years of cricket have been very good, plenty of progression and some real team performances. Thanks for the memories, especially the home and away Ashes victories.
I think he did the honourable thing, the Pietersen clue us a shame simply because I think he'd have retired anyway. He;d been struggling with the bat and the team hadn't played well all year but he'd have had every right to play on that said.
Can't see Bell opening, surprised people are even speculating that. The only player in the side that will potentially move up to open is Trott....I think Bell then goes three. My money is on KP coming back in for India now...they need him having lost the experience.
I would also use this opportunity to move Prior up to 6 which gets round the problem of finding another batsmen and gives us the extra bowler we need in India.
So I think we'll see Cook, Trott, Bell,KP, Bairstow. If they don't move Prior up I think Bopara gets a go as he can turn his arm over and is a decent player of spin.Cook and Trott as an opening partnership are potentially every bowling attacks worst nightmare.
Can't see Bell opening, surprised people are even speculating that. The only player in the side that will potentially move up to open is Trott....I think Bell then goes three. My money is on KP coming back in for India now...they need him having lost the experience.
I would also use this opportunity to move Prior up to 6 which gets round the problem of finding another batsmen and gives us the extra bowler we need in India.
So I think we'll see Cook, Trott, Bell,KP, Bairstow. If they don't move Prior up I think Bopara gets a go as he can turn his arm over and is a decent player of spin.Cook and Trott as an opening partnership are potentially every bowling attacks worst nightmare.
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