4th. Ashes Test. Manchester.
There is an article by Brettis asking "Why not Khawaja for captain?" I'm too horrified to read it yet. I'll probably read it later. If he's speculating about Paine replacements when Paine retires, there are many reasons why not, one of which is Khawaja's not batting well enough to earn a place in the Test side.
Meanwhile Baum (see Brettig post above) votes for Smith.
Hmm... There's much less justification for banning Smith (and co) for a year from playing (which, of course, they did) than there is for banning him from captaincy forever (which, of course, they didn't). Partly, that's because there has never been a right for anyone to have the captaincy in principle. e.g. Warne was denied the captaincy. But restraint of trade is always an issue in sport.
No one wants Cummins, just because he's a bowler? Others can help him set the fields, etc. They can have a committee of 11 for every decision if they want. What is needed is a squeaky clean face to front the media, to toss the coin, etc.
[I guess this is suddenly coming up now because Khawaja is captaining a tour game and Paine is not playing well.]
Hmm... There's much less justification for banning Smith (and co) for a year from playing (which, of course, they did) than there is for banning him from captaincy forever (which, of course, they didn't). Partly, that's because there has never been a right for anyone to have the captaincy in principle. e.g. Warne was denied the captaincy. But restraint of trade is always an issue in sport.
No one wants Cummins, just because he's a bowler? Others can help him set the fields, etc. They can have a committee of 11 for every decision if they want. What is needed is a squeaky clean face to front the media, to toss the coin, etc.
[I guess this is suddenly coming up now because Khawaja is captaining a tour game and Paine is not playing well.]
Media are reporting that Anderson re-injured his calf and is out of the Ashes. He's beginning to sound like a Collingwood player, though it happens to Collingwood players a decade (or two) younger than he is.
TBH, I reckon it'd have been better if he broke down again in his first spell of the fourth Test.
TBH, I reckon it'd have been better if he broke down again in his first spell of the fourth Test.