There is not a lot wrong with the quality of players England have at their disposal, but there is a heck of a lot wrong with the leadership, or rather, the lack of it. Cook is a sublime batsman when in form, but he has proved that he does not have the qualities to be a test captain. Who else could do the job? There is no point in bringing in a county captain not known to and respected by the players, which leaves Stuart Broad, or one of the old guard. I would choose Collingwood, who is a crusty and experienced competitor, known to and respected by the players. Desperate times need desperate remedies and that would be the immediate fix. Whilst at it, I would bring back Ben Stokes and look for the best spinner available - not sure that Borthwick fits that billing yet. Good players, but no leadership, especially on the field. Drawn one we should have won because we only really put pressure on at the end. Now at risk of losing one we should have won, because of poor leadership and motivation on the field yesterday (can you remember a poorer England performance?) and immediate collapse of confidence throughout the team. Call Collingwood .... I don't are how old he is!!!!
Captains aren't responsible for poor shots or rank bowling performances. England have batted poorly and at times bowled poorly. They're lacking a spinner and batting in certain positions. Ballance isn't a number 3 for instance. Robson might become a good test player, but he's just another of the rotations in that position since Strauss retired. What worries me isn't so much Cook, but the selectors who have panicked and gone back to the bad old days of selecting players, barely giving them a chance before deciding they aren't up to the task and sacking them off. Carberry, Compton, Bairstow, Stokes, Borthwick, Kerrigan ....to name just a few off the top of my head.... All of which is not Cook's fault given he has a limited say in the team he is given. You can't bond a team when players are changing so often. Players look over their shoulder, wondering if they are just a couple of games away from being dropped. That's not good. Cook might not be a great captain or even a good one, but to be honest you have a good team and the captaincy looks after itself. Ask Ricky Ponting. A decidedly average captain who had at his disposal some great plasyers who would be relied upon to take wickets and score runs and dig them out of a hole when (seldom!) needed.
