Cricket

Super innings.

Okay, so what kind of lead is going to be enough? I'm thinking 250 would be good, but 300 would be much much better...

We might get 250, we won't get 300

Still 3 wickets to go. I think we could get a 300 lead.

It's looking pretty good!

Good knock from Sidebottom...

Oh.

From 65-0 to 93-4. Crazy stuff. All started from Flintoff's wkt, apparently McKenzie couldn't see the ball. Kallis seem to have got out in a similar way...

England have had nothing but shitty umpire decisions this series.

fucks sake that was off the glove. fucking umpires

England lose the series, deservedly so given their mostly shoddy batting performances (and fairly toothless bowling). Some people are gonna throw their toys out the pram and blame umpires/Kevin Pietersen, but really it's team responsibility, and England weren't good enough.

Also, the British have been traditionally terrible at "giving credit where it's due", and altho they bowled abysmally at Collingwood and company for long period yesterday and today, and altho half their players were useless at spotting 87 mph deliveries coming out of a dark background, the South Africans deserve all the praise they get.

Well done for extending Colly's career by another 2 years, a masterstroke. Remember, next time he's one game away from permanent expulsion, just bowl wide half-trackers at him! And bring on your worst-ever Test bowler for a 20-over spell!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Burial_at_sea_Feb2004.jpg/800px-Burial_at_sea_Feb2004.jpg

KP England captain then? I never thought I'd see the day, Neville Cardus will be rolling in his grave etc etc...

It's what absolutely needs to happen. Cardus would be loving it.

KP shouldn't be captain. His form will suffer and he's not mature enough and is far too irresponsible. Vaughan was by far and away the best man for the job.

You are a silly armchair fan who doesn't understand how cricket works, and is spouting tabloid opinion in lieu of any genuine consideration.

Pietersen is highly mature, works harder at his game than anyone, and is anything but irresponsible (hence his average being 10 higher than anyone else's).

You are a silly armchair fan who doesn't understand how cricket works

I played cricket when you were still in nappies.

Yes, pls to explain "how cricket works". Who are you, Fred Trueman?

Sorry, I'm just a bit het up about the weight of unthinking criticism KP is receiving for not scoring a hundred every Test. Also, playing cricket doesn't mean you know how it works; there are enough international cricketers spouting unalloyed shite in the commentary-box as it is. KP in charge would not mean an irresponsible captain, it would mean a dynamic, aggressive captain, rather like the fella who's just trodden all over us.

Good summation of Vaughan's captaincy:
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/363563.html

DEAR EVERYONE POSTING TO BBC 606 COMMENTS BLOG

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FUCKING STUPID

"KP is a big stupid ego player, no brain, let's get Rob Key in as captain!"

DIE

It's fair enough to have reservations about KP as captain IMO, it's just there is no other feasible candidate. Had Vaughan's knee forced him to resign permanently a couple of years ago, we'd have Strauss as captain now, and he would probably be a better captain than KP.

But it's too late for him now, I meant to add above.

Strauss is the ONLY alternative. And I'd still say KP is well ahead of him. The amount of ill-informed tabloid idiocy spouted by cricket "fans" is quite, quite amazing. We even get the merest hint of base comedy with the "Chris Read should captain England" brigade.

English cricket in disarray shockah!

"Chris Read should captain England" brigade.

Mondeo Pop XI?

Pissed off when I first heard about this...however there is nothing I'd like more than seeing Vaughan back in the runs. Which, as long as there are no more injuries, is a good possibility.

Well done on Collingwood's awesome hundred as well, and good timing on the announcement.

The thought process behind choosing the captaincy seems to be that it should not be split between one day and test, in which case KP is a no-brainer. otoh, the one day game might not be around for a lot longer, so I dunno if anyone should be thinking like that.

I'm ok with Kevin, I see him as Viv Richards like, but whenever I've seen Viv being interviewed (never seen him play) I sensed an inner steel that he'd pass down, maybe (anyone who has seen plz feel free to correct?), and not too much clowning around. Basically I don't see KP ever straddling that line between flamboyance on the pitch with the necessary toughness that you'd need to keep ppl in check.

Strauss is more in the Hussain/Vaughan mode...he is more detached. But we need his runs more, and like H/V the captaincy will work against his batting. Bcz KP is not in that line there is a chance it might improve his batting, so I'll go for KP.

None of this will matter if we don't find more incisive bowlers than Sidebottom.

KP doesn't clown around! He scores lots of runs with unconventional strokeplay, but do you see him messing around in the field? Of course not. He's deadly serious, his batting is deadly serious but not scripted along the lines of conventionality. KP is very tough, and I'd venture to say commands an aura of awe within that dressing-room. He works harder on his batting than just about anyone else, and the results are plain: bowlers fear him.

Also, you sensed an "inner steel" with IVAR? Good lord, the man was made of titanium.

Just inside the back of the Lord's pavilion (the players' and members' entrance) there is an enormous painting of Sir Viv. Staring straight at you. With a contemptuous sneer. "You play as much cricket as you want, but you will never, and I mean never, be as good as me." It's there for a reason.

Viv is god. Wish I had been old enough to have seen the 70s knocks but the 80s ones I saw were awesome.

Not clown around on the field, but he has a mouth in him off the field. The tabloids could have a field day with him, and like it or not that's important.

He really hasn't said that much that sets him up as a risk. The obsession with not saying anything that isn't about hitting the right areas or playing the ball on its merits is damaging, and so what if he expresses a somewhat forthright opinion? All other international captains do it, why can't ours? Besides, he really doesn't do it THAT much, and his private life is placid compared to most.

Vaughan/Hussain had plenty of fortright opinions. Its all a question of tone...

Vaughan's have been mostly kept under wraps. Hussain was outspoken but not often directly confrontational (off the field). KP is brash, so what? We need some of that brashness.

Totally disagree, brash becomes reckless and lack of attention for the small details. Vaughan and Hussain had the right tone and were tough. Can't say the same for KP but I'll give it time.

We'll see how it works...lots of questions have to be asked of the selectors, which unfortunately aren't being asked today.

KP has no attention for the small details? Have you watched him slowly and magnificently "work out" a bowler? Maybe he's not so good in the field, but there's only one way to find out.

er...we're talking here about how he projects himself off the field, not his batting.

Well, the bottom line is, we'll see. And we will. I have faith.

I read somewhere that Strauss average was higher as a captain (56 as opposed to 40). Admittedly that was over the course of only 5 tests but could this be a rare occasion where a players batting is reinvigorated by taking on the captaincy as well? He seems a more measured character than Pieterson.

Re Richards: he was indeed a brilliant player, he wasn't such a great captain though, and having his bowling attack meant that he didn't so much have to captain as to rotate his bowlers. Draw from that what conclusions you will about KP.

And yet again we will go into an Ashes series with a largely untested captain.

Yes, Ricky Ponting must be a very happy man right now.

Sure, but I'd rather have Vaughan (or his replacement) scoring runs against Australia and getting that middle order working again.

To those who have faith, they better get on their knees..

Sam Dingle appointed England captain
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44890000/jpg/_44890000_kppresser_pa466.jpg

better news, bhopara in for the next test.

KP's average to take massive hit.

Best day for English cricket since 2005.

KP has no attention for the small details? Have you watched him slowly and magnificently "work out" a bowler? Maybe he's not so good in the field, but there's only one way to find out.

you're referring here to trying him as a county captain first?