Cricket

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?

Yeah, that'd work, what with him being available for about three games all season. Get on with ye!

Without wishing to get ILX into trouble, has anyone else heard that this might be connected to cricket: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/public_law/article659930.ece

I heard adulterous rumours surrounding a recently-retired England cricketer but those made him out to be the victim rather than the perpetrator.

Yes. Sounds like a real pickle, would explain a lot.

Although I heard another rumour that the cuckolder is ALSO a recently-retired England cricketer, albeit one still involved with the set-up.

Harmison back for the Oval match, with Bell at 3.

Glad that KP has been made captain, English cricket needs a kick up the jacksey

He's already talking a good game, or mouthing off a great deal, depending on your viewpoint. I'm still wavering between the two.

Massive Twenty20 match for me tonight. Physics vs. Humanities. If we win we're into the end of season play-off, if we lose is the end of our season. I will doubtless be bowling my woeful medium pace and scoring 7 before holing out at long on.

I thought you bowled chinamen?

I've gotta miss Charlton's first game of the season thanks to a match. Not that I'm complaining. Last week I went to Greenwich Park and ended up playing for a team of strangers (on a proper pitch), taking two wickets and a catch as we won a 2020 game by about 30 runs. :D

Oh, and Harmison deserves his recall significantly less than Kabir Ali does, but what can you do when someone plays for a trendy county? :P

Well remembered! Changed to medium pace this year as they've laid an artificial pitch which doesn't take turn. Turns out I'm actually OK at medium. I even got some orthodox inswing a couple of weeks ago when it was really humid.

x-post Yes, Durham, that's a trendy county all right!

Has anyone told them up there yet?

Cool, daddy-o!

http://www.northeastengland.talktalk.net/ElvetBridge.jpg

It does look nice doesn't it? Never been to Durham, want to go now!

It is nice

Who would've thought Harmison would trigger a collapse like that!

Not Louis, that's for sure

lol hi

maybe he has been bowling like this all season. let's see him keep it up. overseas.

He's bowling a helluva lot better than Broad anyway.

this is very true

Monty gets the cheat out!

What a day :)

Only problem is we can bat even worse

Century partnership coming up for Morkel and Harris?

"Panesar doesn't see it initially; sets off... eventually."

Love 'im.

KP's all-new inclusive policy of giving the kid a bowl pays off handesomely.

Broad gets a wicket!

haha morkel went off the wrong way straight to the groundsmans shed instead of the pavillion

That all-night bender is really catching up with the Safricans.

Internet Claim: England Owes Success to Walkabout Pub Chain

"handesomely" wtf