A forlorn, over-tired Dmitri will not be up in time for the start of this game, as at 6:30 UK time, I’ve not gone to bed yet. It’s 1:30 in New Jersey, and I’m not a happy camper, but this isn’t a politics blog and I am friends with people of many political persuasions, not many of my own!
So to this game between an insulting scratch England squad and a keen and enthused Irish team. If anyone feels inclined to comment on this game, please do so. I’ll probably be asleep for half of it.
Thanks for the comments on the press people. You know, if they read it, people like Ed Smith, they may see why some get a barrage of comments on their posts. It might be of benefit to think about how they come across. I tried to call a truce a while back, a bit silly of me, open to discuss with some people, but now they don’t even seem to try, and I guess they feel the need to interact with the great unwashed is less.
That’s fine by me. I’m at least happy in this pursuit. Good night.
Being Outside Cricket 
Ed Smith wants to have his cake and eat it too…
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He’ll be choking on the crumbs first day of test v NZ – TMS line up – Aggers, ED, Vaughan, Coney, and Boycott….
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I don’t mind that England are a scratch squad – we just failed utterly at the World Cup, we need to start putting different players in the frame. I have issues about the actual squad selection – maybe I’ll comment on that later.
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England are on a hiding to nothing. Losing would just be more confirmation of their bad record while winning would raise the question why not more of the young tyros were at the world cup.
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Ireland 1 William Porterfield (capt), 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Ed Joyce, 4 Niall O’Brien, 5 Andy Balbirnie, 6 Gary Wilson (wk), 7 Kevin O’Brien, 8 John Mooney, 9 George Dockrell, 10 Alex Cusack, 11 Craig Young
England 1 Alex Hales, 2 Jason Roy, 3 James Vince, 4 James Taylor (capt), 5 Zafar Ansari, 6 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 7 David Willey, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Tim Bresnan, 10 Steven Finn, 11 Mark Wood
So, what is the rationale of not picking Billings? Fear that he might do well?
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Bairstow temporarily promoted from drinks carrier… I can’t see what Finn is doing there – no form this summer, at least Bresnan is in a bit of form having revamped his style (not with the ECB team coaches) and with England needing a steady 3rd/4th seamer this summer (neither Jordan or Stokes can be relied upon to keep it tidy…)
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And it looks like Moores is finally getting the chop in the next few days. I say looks like, since that would be dangerously close to a decision that is based on merit, and the ECB appear hyper-allergic to that..
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Ali Martin reckons Moores to go next week. Justin Langer mentioned as a possible replacement which is the first time I’ve heard him linked to the post:
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/may/08/peter-moores-removed-england-coach-andrew-strauss
The Guardian has also a wretched ‘Yeah Colin Talk Nah’ piece by Richard Williams
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Lawrence Booth has the same story with a few add-ons:
“Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie is regarded as the favourite to replace Moores, but the former Australian Test opener Justin Langer has also emerged as a surprise candidate for the role. Langer, who currently coaches Western Australia, was flagged up earlier this year by Australian coach Darren Lehmann as his likely successor. But Strauss is a known admirer, having worked closely with him at Middlesex and penned some kind words for Langer’s well-received autobiography. Personal circumstances may rule Langer out, but his presence in the debate underlines the ECB’s determination to appoint a big-name coach with an international reputation”.
All of which certainly suggests Strauss has no problem with a coach born overseas – and specifically with an Australian in an Ashes’ year.
“Joe Root is being lined up as England’s new one-day captain”.
No great surprise – that WC v/c decision looks weirder and weirder though.
“There could also be a specialist role in England’s one-day set-up for Nick Knight”.
Oh joy……
Overall, I’m no fan of Moores but it does seem particularly crass for all this to be appearing while England are playing a match and where Moores is coach having traveled a considerable distance to do so. I suppose this way it doesn’t look like a reaction to the match result but it is typically classless by those involved.
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I think this is the worst form of humiliation and nobody deserves that!
I wanted Moores out of the job but this is totally classless.
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It’s also a strong indication to the candidates for the job of what kind of organization is looking to hire them and how they are going to be treated after they are hired.
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“There could also be a specialist role in England’s one-day set-up for Nick Knight”
Strauss and Knight? Working for Sky truly is a pathway into the ECB setup.
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Because Knight was used as an expert analyst for test cricket last time around…..
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Does this not reek of Downton-ism? The new guy is not even hired yet, but basically his first official decision has already been announced. If it true, Strauss is off to a flier as Downton 2.0, if not, then the leaks from the ECB and the factional infighting is so damning, that no one would even want to be associated with the ECB.
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Alex Hales:
““Over the last few years I have always looked up to Kevin Pietersen. He has been one of my idols growing up because he is tall like me and a strokemaker as well. I just like the flamboyance and almost arrogance, if that is the right word, he has to his batting. He has absolutely no fear of any bowler coming at him and is willing to dominate and that is what I am trying to do as well. I have tried to imitate his game. I only played two or three games with him and I would love to play more with him and pick his brain because of our similar characteristics as a batsman”.
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Oh, Alex. You’ve just signed away your international career with that statement.
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Hmm…things seems to be hotting up. Selvey’s saying its not a leak, but claims the glory for “breaking” the story! Eh? What?
If it looks like a leak, sounds like a leak, it’s a bloody leak! Bloody shameful that a man potentially losing his career, cannot rely on him being informed in an honourable manner!
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Unless Moores told Selvey himself. Then it wouldn’t be an ECB leak.
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Lawrence Booth has tweeted not to assume the story came from within the ECB.
I think the story first broke on Sky so it may be the story originated there.
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Technically Strauss is not yet part of the ECB.
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IBM, I think that you’ve forgotten that the ECB do not leak. Ever.
Period.
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Interesting comment on TFT thread about the supposed motivation of writers there.
(I’m not posting this to encourage anyone to have a go at it here – just pointing anyone interested towards it).
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Nothing appeals to me more than someone telling me why I’m thinking what I’m thinking. I will admit there is some class stuff in there with me, but actually it’s more about woolly liberal stuff like fairness, a total antipathy to misplaced management bullshit, and sport being talked about as process and method, rather than brilliance and inspiration. Oh yes, and because you were a success in business and stroked the right egos doesn’t make you infallible.
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I replied, but I shouldn’t have bothered. Just silliness.
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Surely Collingwood is in the running for the head coach job?
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Collingwood’s not experienced enough as a coach yet. And he’s still playing for Durham and doesn’t show any sign of wanting to stop. But one day, hopefully.
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I was never happy with the re-appointment of Moores.
And he didn’t inspire confidence with some of his selections etc.
However, it’s hard to rejoice until we find out who the successor is and have reason to believe it’s an improvement.
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A reminder that the Moores’ sacking (if that’s what’s happening) may not necessarily be solely or even mainly Strauss’s decision:
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My God. He’s surpassed himself:
MikeSelvey:
In response to ballsintherightareas
came from me and it wasn’t an ecb leak.
Discuss.
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The decision was/is made by the ECB and it’s out there. That’s a leak. The rest is semantics.
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Six inches of carry klaxon as well.
Man, even I can’t be arsed with his delusion and bias today.
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It’s not the delusion that gets me but his vanity and stupidity: if it isn’t an ECB leak it’s a Mike Selvey leak. Either way he comes across as a shit.
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WCC’s response is priceless given his uncritical swallowing of all things KP related.
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Moores joins the never ending list of bodies that have to be buried to prop up Cook. Flower, KP, 5 openers, Downton, Saker, various assortment of players, and now Moores. But the captain remains.
He must be very good. a tactical genius even.
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Flower buried? Alas not.
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Alas no Simon……
But his initial resignation, before we knew he was coming back to the ECB gave the impression that he was taking responsibility for the loss. That helped protect Cook. Flower appeared to take the blame for the Ashes debacle along with scapegoat KP.
Oh and I forgot Gooch in that list. Another man overboard to protect you know who.
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I knew that enough people on here would nail the Moores situation and you haven’t disappointed. Much as I doubted the guy’s ability to have the strategy and nous to manage the talent of elite players, (Buttler, Root, Bal(l)ance and Stokes) let alone the direction of the England team, it does seem he’s being sacrificed at the altar to protect others and sort of keep the supposed reboot of the ECB on track. Tactless and very sad.
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