The lack of opening batters coming through is Cook's fault

I remember reading from some quarters, bafflingly, at the time.

For the longest time we've mismanaged players. We are replete with great all-rounders. There's a decent argument that Bairstow, Foakes and Buttler are at least as good as some of the batsmen we've picked.

Most concerning is how all our batters deteriorate when they come into the fold.

We've leant heavily on Root and flashes of brilliance from a few players. The potential of the players picked looks decent, our inability to get the most out of them is the core of the problem. The management team seem completely at sea, even taking account of the covid situation.

I take no pleasure in seeing Leach struggle in the same way that Moeen did in recent years - it's the same mismanagement which meant the (talented) players are thrown to the wolves with every underbaked performance. It does however, put paid to the lazy argument that Mo should have been dropped because Leach would be better/provide more control.

They're both good spin bowlers, messed around by selectors, scapegoated for others failings and not used properly by the captain.

When we do have decent players we overplay and break them, the physios don't seem to be able to judge fitness properly.

Our succession planning (apart from right arm fast medium seamers & keepers) is a mess.

Apart from that we're grand.

Posted By: Cardiff Canary, Dec 9, 10:33:46