Cook not Pietersen

From Doug Perrins, United Kingdom
I write regarding the state of English cricket and what, in my opinion, should be done before Australia arrive next summer. Firstly, the announcement of Michael Vaughan stepping down from the captaincy was premature by one match. He should have seen the series through at The Oval before blooding the next captain. Alastair Cook (former Under-21 captain!) should be the next Test captain and he would have learnt a great deal having Michael Vaughan on the field next to him giving instructions at The Oval, he won't even be there let alone advise.

Have a look at how Michael Clarke is being prepared by Ricky Ponting in the Australian set up, always listening and being included in the decision making with the other senior players. Kevin Pietersen is not a captain, a talent but not a captain. His decisions in certain situations in this series have let England down badly, not to mention his captain. There has been suggestions that he should be either dropped or made captain, both of these are wrong, keep him at four and teach him how to play "team cricket".

The another strong candidate is Andrew Strauss, he has won a series, has respect and is playing very good cricket. He must be slightly confused as to how he is not on top of the pecking order, considering he was covering Vaughan in the last test at certain times.

The selectors have mis-managed this team with some daft selections. Dropping Collingwood for a game due to form was sensible, so he went back to his county, played a couple of limited over matches and failed. So there was no basis for him to be re-instated to the test team, not a very good message being sent out to players in waiting (Bopra, Shah etc.). The selectors got lucky with his second innings hundred, very lucky. Stuart Broad was told he was tired and that he needed a break (he wasn't, he was dropped), so he goes back to his county and was bowling quick, getting wickets with no signs of fatigue.

If you're good enough, you're old enough. Ryan Sidebottom is injured, so why play him? England cannot continue to carry Monty Panesar, a good bowler but terrible batsman and fielder. On a wicket that was supposed to of "aided" him as the match progressed, he returned with the match figures of 40-3-116-2 (ave 58 rpw!), scored 1 run and dropped catches. Sorry but he should be "rested" and Rashid from Yorkshire given a go at The Oval for the experience. My Oval test team should be: Cook (C), Strauss, Bell, Pietersen, Bopra, Collingwood, Flintoff, Foster (WK), Rashid, Broad, Anderson.