The idiocy of the ECB

Andrew Deacon

As we say in Ireland: 'What can you expect from a pig but a grunt?' Pietersen has a track record of picking fights and I'm sure he expected vocal support from his England - and English - colleagues that was not forthcoming. His appointment was a mistake in the first place.

Frank

Whoops: I thought you were talking about the European Central Bank at first.

Greg

Moores had his backers in the changing room (Flintoff and Harmison in particular, I believe). Therefore it isn't simply a case of the ECB refusing to give in to KP. His (idiotically public) moves against Moores have lost him part of the changing room.

IdlingAway

Looks like the ECB have been taking lessons from the RFU!

Ken Wortelhock

Is there any body controlling professional sport which is not controlled by political appointees?

Leo McKinstry

To be honest, I find all this talk of "crisis" and "shambles" misplaced. What has happened today is the best possible outcome for English cricket. A mediocre coach has disappeared; incidently, Peter Moores always struck me as a classic modern management type of the sort that now prevails in New Labour's public sector, full of jargon but no achievement. Our best batsman has been freed from the shackles of captaincy. And in Andrew Strauss we now have the man who should have been made permanent captain two years ago. Far better than this boil was lanced now rather than ruining any chance of winning the Ashes. The timing could not have been better. My solution on the coaching front would be to bring back Michael Vaughan as player/manager. After all, we have batting, bowling and fielding coaches and Vaughan's presence would give the team the tactical direction and unity it seems to lack.

Justin

The ECB appears to have learnt from the government - lots of overpaid executives delivering precious little to the people they are meant to serve.

It is also no surprise that the major under-achievers since Ashes 2005 seem to have supported Moores.

LS

A captain who has forced out a coach has an untenable position, sadly.

TomTom

Michael Vaughan had to sort out things before now Pietersen undoes everything again. He should grow up and stop being a prima donna

Paul B

I agree with Leo Mckinstry with most of his points, but I cannot agree with bringing Vaughan back as player/coach. For a start, on form , he does not deserve a place in the side- Shah surely deserves a chance. Secondly, his presence as player/coach undermines Andy Strauss. No far better to have Strauss as captain, appoint a new coach and make Vaughan go back to Yorkshire and score runs in county cricket.

Incidentally, nice to see a Middlesex back in charge.

Austin Barry

Were it not for cricketers who are clearly bonkers (KP, Warne, Botham) the game would be very dull indeed. It would be amusing to select an all-time unhinged eleven.

Damon

When I read the headline, I thought this was an article about Frankfurt based bankers persisting in having high interest rates that were sending Ireland, Spain, Greece etc into recession.

Ian C

Pietersen was always so high risk a choice I cannot even remeber if I bothered to say so at the time.

Flintoff should be brought back as the skipper. He only lost it before as he had the same problems with Fletcher as JP clearly had with managerialism.

The ECB have, as said above, taken 2 leaves from the RFU. These organisations need ex-pro players with proven business nouse to run them.

cuffleyburgers

We are reminded of that Great British management that brought the country's manufacturing to its knees in the seventies...And then finance in the noughties

Thank go there is Gordon to save us.

Thank you nurse.

JONNY

Referring to Will Carling's apt dismissal of the English Rugby Control Quango as '57 old farts' -how many old farts comprise the ECB? Anyone know?

Personally I'd trade in the lot for a touch of KP's manic wayward genius.

aidyboothroyd

Absolutely did the ECB know what personality they were getting when they appointed Pietersen, as did Moores who surely would have know him well enough by then to have expressed concern if that is what he felt.

It makes the ECB look completely inept.

Are we heading for an England side with the most number of former England captains contained within it ever? Pietersen, Flintoff, Vaughan, Collingwood....

Gatehanger

Can't help but think an opportunity has been missed. Cook would have been a fantastic long term option which would give the team stability and structure for the next 10 years. He’s got broad enough shoulders – look at his test debut but would need a coach which would keep the egos in the dressing room in check.

If you want an example of what appointing a young inexperienced captain with a long term stratergy can achieve look at South Africa.

john problem

The thing is, old boy, it's a part of England. God knows there's not much of it left and we must rejoice, dear boy, that somewhere in our treasured isle, there is something that is forever England. The demned foreign johnnies have taken over our soccer, bought every business in sight in the poor old UK and the City and publishing (God help dear Jane if she tried to get her stuff in print today, what?), not a rural Georgian box left to be bought- all Russian, every decent address in London is owned by Middle East types - even the Naval and Military, dammit, the old 'In and Out', and meanwhile our leaders in Westminster stuff grapes down their vile throats and rattle on. God help us, I say. it's definitely decline and fall. Except for the cricket. She walks in beauty and custom will never stale her infinite variety

Fergus Pickering

All time unhinged England X!
W.G. Grace
Geoffrey Boycott
George Gunn
Kevin Pietersen
Douglas Jardine (cpt)
Iain Botham
Alan Knott
Johnny Briggs
John Snow
Sidney Barnes
Bomber Wells

I'm not sure that George Gunn was unhinged but he used to advance down the wicket to the fastest bowlers as a matter of course. I would say that team could beat any eleven, even one containing Bradman. Jardine has Bradman's number, after all. Perhaps Kortright might play instead of Snow, though some say he was not mad but just magnificently bad-tempered. know the Bomber neverplayed for England but he was no worse with the bat and in the field than Monty, and (I think) a much cleverer bowler. IfJardine sticks in your craw then youcan bcaptainm the side with Tennyson, whomust have been mad since he smashed Gregory and McDonald all round the field with one hand. Mad cricketers are what we need. Look at Graham Smith. Certifiable and magnificent.

HJ

Strauss should have been made captain in Australia and should have been made captain when Vaughan went.

Unfortunately, great cricketers though they are, it was always obvious that neither Flintoff or Pietersen were bright enough to do the job. Strauss is intelligent and well respected.

Reading between the lines of what Vaughan has been saying this morning, it's obvious that he thinks that Strauss should have had the job in the first place. I agree.