So, as an Aussie, my assessment on English cricket at the moment (and yes, I know, the Aussie side has its own issues)...
1. I don't understand why Cook has been kept for so long. His form over the last couple of years has been horrendous (apart from the odd innings every 6 months or so that have helped prop his averages up). The only thing he has going for him is his experience, but I'm not seeing that have much positive effect on the team as a whole. IMO you'd be better off bringing in a young player and getting them to build experience. I know you've not got any stand out obvious choices, but at the end of the day I still think you're better off blooding young players given that you aren't risking anything (given that Cook is so out of sorts).
2. Let's talk about Root. He's an absolute talent - no doubt about it. He's a potential match winner, and historically has been posting significant scores on a regular basis. But someone needs to work with him to sort out whatever it is that's preventing him converting 50's into 100's more often. I did an analysis of Root's test innings vs Smith's during the last Ashes series and it stood out like a sore thumb: Root scores 50's at the same rate (marginally better, actually) that Smith does. Smith converts significantly more of those 50's into 100's. It's an even more stark comparison when you compare Root and Kohli. If Kohli makes it to 50, more often than not he makes 100+. Root's conversion rate is abysmal for such a stand out talent.
It may simply be that he needs to hand the captaincy over to someone else. Who, I don't know, but it wouldn't be the first time that a bat freed of captaincy goes on to become a far better bat.
3. Who's the lead spinner in the country? The guy who's going to get picked for every game. If you can't find a Shane Warne or a Ravi Ashwin or Murali, can you at least find a Nathan Lyon? (Hint: Moeen isn't the answer. Bess or Leach might be. Or Rashid if given assurances of his place). Worth noting that Lyon took a while to establish his place (and even now doesn't seem to inspire automatic selection as the Aussie selectors are still searching for a Warne/McGill rather than a workman), but once he was given a run in the side he did settle into it nicely.
4. The one area that might be looking up ... if the selectors grow some balls ... is your fast bowling / all rounder stocks. Stokes (if he can keep his temper in check) is brilliant, Woakes (if he stays fit) isn't far behind, and you've now got Curran pushing his way in. Now going back to growing some balls (and getting a bit controversial): a) drop Broad, give Curran a prolonged run to settle in; b) tell Anderson he'll only be selected for home series from now on, and slot in Wood or similar for overseas. Why? You'll get an extra season or few of home series out of Anderson that way (and he remains the best bowler in English conditions), but he's no longer as effective overseas.
1. I don't understand why Cook has been kept for so long. His form over the last couple of years has been horrendous (apart from the odd innings every 6 months or so that have helped prop his averages up). The only thing he has going for him is his experience, but I'm not seeing that have much positive effect on the team as a whole. IMO you'd be better off bringing in a young player and getting them to build experience. I know you've not got any stand out obvious choices, but at the end of the day I still think you're better off blooding young players given that you aren't risking anything (given that Cook is so out of sorts).
2. Let's talk about Root. He's an absolute talent - no doubt about it. He's a potential match winner, and historically has been posting significant scores on a regular basis. But someone needs to work with him to sort out whatever it is that's preventing him converting 50's into 100's more often. I did an analysis of Root's test innings vs Smith's during the last Ashes series and it stood out like a sore thumb: Root scores 50's at the same rate (marginally better, actually) that Smith does. Smith converts significantly more of those 50's into 100's. It's an even more stark comparison when you compare Root and Kohli. If Kohli makes it to 50, more often than not he makes 100+. Root's conversion rate is abysmal for such a stand out talent.
It may simply be that he needs to hand the captaincy over to someone else. Who, I don't know, but it wouldn't be the first time that a bat freed of captaincy goes on to become a far better bat.
3. Who's the lead spinner in the country? The guy who's going to get picked for every game. If you can't find a Shane Warne or a Ravi Ashwin or Murali, can you at least find a Nathan Lyon? (Hint: Moeen isn't the answer. Bess or Leach might be. Or Rashid if given assurances of his place). Worth noting that Lyon took a while to establish his place (and even now doesn't seem to inspire automatic selection as the Aussie selectors are still searching for a Warne/McGill rather than a workman), but once he was given a run in the side he did settle into it nicely.
4. The one area that might be looking up ... if the selectors grow some balls ... is your fast bowling / all rounder stocks. Stokes (if he can keep his temper in check) is brilliant, Woakes (if he stays fit) isn't far behind, and you've now got Curran pushing his way in. Now going back to growing some balls (and getting a bit controversial): a) drop Broad, give Curran a prolonged run to settle in; b) tell Anderson he'll only be selected for home series from now on, and slot in Wood or similar for overseas. Why? You'll get an extra season or few of home series out of Anderson that way (and he remains the best bowler in English conditions), but he's no longer as effective overseas.
