Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for 10 years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
It was very sad today to watch Michael Vaughan relinquish the England captaincy, and I'm not sure he should have done it.
He has quite clearly lost confidence and that has been reflected in his batting, without doubt. But Vaughan is a great captain and has the respect of his colleagues, and with no ready made replacement I think he should have stuck it out. Cricket is not like football where the captain's only job is to toss the coin and decide which way to kick. In cricket the captain is in charge of the whole team on the field, he is the leader, and he decides what happens from the time the players leave the dressing room.
My solution would have been to move him down the batting order. Coming in at No. 3 he was often coming to the wicket with less than 50 runs on the board, and if he went cheaply it precipitated a 'crisis'. I would have moved Bell to no. 3 where he could have provided some reliability and steady batting, (he averages over 40 in test matches), keep KP at 4 and Vaughan at 5, where he would have been under less pressure. I just hope they don't write his test career off too quickly.
Instead, we may risk our one world class batsman, Kevin Pietersen, losing form himself because of the responsibility of the captaincy, but now Vaughan has gone, I suspect the selectors will go with Pietersen. Personally, I would have given it to Ian Bell, who only averages one run less than KP in the series, and although he is only 26 he has been around for ever. Ten years ago Sir Richard Hadlee described Bell as the best 16-year old cricketer he had ever seen, and if the selectors are really bold tomorrow, he could be made the Test captain.
Every cloud... though, in a couple of weeks time Michael Vaughan can buckle down to a proper job, making sure Yorkshire cricket is still being played in the first division next season.
When I read the headline on the politics home strapline , I thought you meant Gordon. Of Course you did. ;)
He's has been written off because he's a complete and utter loser. Knives being sharpened by the blairites, leaked e mails, the propensity for internecine warfare is endless.
And what do the electorate think. Go into any pub and "feeeeeeeeeeeeel" the hostility......
I think it's a great pity that Vaughan has gone. I wish he had just followed Gooch / Boycott in asking not to be selected so he could get his form back in county cricket. This would have earned him respect from a lot of people and he wouldn't have needed to give up the England captaincy for ever.
KP is (nearly) a great player, but England captain? No. Great personal commitment but where is the leadership and, to be blunt, the intelligence necessary to be a good captain? Strauss would be my choice out the current crop with Bell or Cook if he doesn't want it.
Do you know why some in the media keep talking up Robert Key? I admit that I'm out of touch with what he has been doing recently. Has he revealed himself to be a captain of Brealey-like status??
I just hope that Vaughen doesn't regret all this in 6 months time...
I'm a very rounded person - can I be captain of England, please?
Also, you'll probably choose to ignore that your favourite Staffordshire Mining Village (Cannock, readers) was responsible for bringing 'KP' to this country and kick-starting his career.... 'KP', Gerry Hitchens, Stan Collymore; chuck yer medals on the table, Councillor!
The Manager In The White Trainers said:
August 4, 2008 11:19 AM | permalink
I've got a good position for the Yorkie Pudding.
No. 11 - worse average than Monty! Good riddance.
Bob Piper said:
August 4, 2008 12:33 PM | permalink
Less of the Yorkshire pudding and more of the trainers and you might be a bit sharper yourself mate!
It was very sad today to watch Michael Vaughan relinquish the England captaincy, and I'm not sure he should have done it.
August 3, 2008 9:19 PM | permalink
When I read the headline on the politics home strapline , I thought you meant Gordon. Of Course you did. ;)
He's has been written off because he's a complete and utter loser. Knives being sharpened by the blairites, leaked e mails, the propensity for internecine warfare is endless.
And what do the electorate think. Go into any pub and "feeeeeeeeeeeeel" the hostility......