The Fall of the Empire

I have finally decided to give up on England till the current management of Fletcher and Vaughan is still on the helm. Its time English cricket needs a revamp and they need to overhaul it in a big way. How can a country whose domestic cricketers play more one day matches than any other nation play so miserably? The answer lies right at the top of the order. England has never had a great opening combination and without Trescothick they are clueless. Vaughan after more than 80 odd games in about 7 odd years is yet to make a century while the Irish openers Bray and Porterfield have 2 each. Ian Bell is a class act but he is a player who is at best a grafter and can keep one end up rather then come out and destroy a bowling line up. England needs Trescothick more than ever before and he needs a solid partner. The only person I can think of is Alastair Cook. He has the technique and in the 2 games he got, he was impressive. If England thinks that KP is their best batsmen then he should bat at no. 3. The great Richards and even Lara batted only at one down when they were at their peak. England needs someone like Thorpe at no. 4 and I guess either Strauss or Joyce should take up that position. All teams need 5 and 6 to play either play reconstruction role or a stop gap hitting role. Australia was lucky to have Steve Waugh and Bevan there for a very long time. England can have Paul Collingwood and Ravi Bopara. I am sorry to say this but Flintoff should play only at no. 7 as he just lost it in him and he should play there till he gets back into form. As far the keeper, Nixon is old and its time England stop persisting with Jones, Read or even Foster. Its time they either give Prior an extended run or blood in Steve Davies or even Riki Wessels. Monty Panesar should continue to be their number one spinner with Dalrymple and Blackwell as the backup. As far as the seamers go Anderson should continue to be the spearhead with the likes of Plunkett and Mahmood as the support bowlers. England can also try some fresh cricketers like Will Jefferson and Nick Crompton at the top and the likes of Jonathan Trott in the middle. They have some young talented bowlers like Broad, Footitt and Tom Smith. The future looks good provided they pick the right squad and have a proper order. As far as today’s match goes, only a miracle can save them.