dee-luded

should have been, like we try to do in the afl, try to feed the young ones in at the appropriate times, to 'blood them'. in the right sort of games for their personalities. when the planets align, some will kill it from the start. When a player needs a rest or is injured, or is a naughty boy, feed in a kid for a match or 2. we are in 200% stronger position now, then a couple of years back when all the good players couldn't wait to get Out of the team... that cannot be a good thing, when things are so sick inside our better players want out. & some are sacked for the inner sanctum rivalry. Hussey prematurely retired, didn't like the vibe in the dressingroom. not fun anymore. that said a lot... 'boof' grabbed it by the proverbials, behind closed doors & squeezed it back into shape, until it hurt. now alls good again. you think watto was a problem, but hussey wanted out early.... what a shock that came as, to all of us. no watto wasn't the problem, he was a victim of it. a symptom of a team breaking up. the leadership was carp back then..

on they're way here,,, they were cook a hoop the tinman had rejoined them, to be back on the tour but alas, the strawman went back unwell then the lion pulled the pin half hearted & left the picture & their tour leader went right back into la la land. the Wizard of Oz was too tough.

I think they Need some old hands with a dash of shyte about them, to take over the runnings of their fairytale. even if they're up in the commentary box watching from on high. they need some to spice up the ship, & instil some ginger into their dna. atmo their on their way home

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/cricket/australias-victorious-cricketers-party-long-into-night-on-scg-pitch-after-ashes-win/story-fnhq5ybi-1226795679938 6 minutes to midnight, and not a Luxury Yaught, or even the Titanic insight. nor any pumpkins well done Boof.... & well done young fella, there's time for you Yet... even if your ciraff is a bit on the large side.

Well done boys!!! bringing back the boof aggression into our Wayz, & we've brought home the Bacon. the kippers are winging their way home.

maintain the current team & add new talent into the squad. openings only on form opportunities?

yeah I remember the 2 flowers, but had forgotten they played with Zimbabwe. I hadn't remembered where he fielded, but recall they were both outstanding competitors. & I remember now, thinking back, how I liked the idea of another country joining the test arena. but that information had gone deep to the back of my mind. I feel something is deeply wrong inside that English team & they are now playing below their ability, like we were under the old regime. I think change has to happen to get some strong leadership into that team to get the players back into gear. one player comes back into the side, prior to this tour, & their mojo goes out the door??? no pun intended. but something is wrong or out of kilter Re their national team culture, & their playing like schoolgirls.

i don't remember Andy Flower other than his name, as one of the brothers.... just looked him up.... > ah he's from Zimbabwe, not Sth Africa. petals. geographically close. no wonder I don't have a great recollection of him. we didn't play them much. & a wicket keeper I'm not one to watch cricket, when our Test or one day team isn't playing.

???????? is he gonna do a Bobby Simpson? a little ditty for the Poms to take back 'ome to uncle Albert....

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/cricket/25601894

what a pleasure it is to witness the rise of Devereux. finally after what seems 4 Yrs since his arrival as a spinner? he is arriving as a batsmen. I was hoping for a leg spinner, who bats back then. Devo Smith!!!

its time to bring back the old Windies e`mbience to grounds. those beating Bongo's etc, & the wave, crowd participation, a creative celebration of freedom, & of life. happiness. festival atmosphere

Llleadership, its quality, or its nothing. good leadership in the right way allows others to take up the fight. the wrong way can destroy the creative parts of us, & kill off happiness & desire. imo, england are in the midst of a divorce of sorts.

yes, but from my observations of them & the behaviors thats we've witnessed of the poms, its a bit of both. I think we've gone from being a 'C' grade team to a 'B' grade team.... & imo ther poms have gone from being an inform 'C' grade team to a 'D' grade outfit. I put Sth Africa i think at 'B' +.... the windies used to be the power test team back in the day, sound like a pack of "Scouts on Jamboree"

sounds like a rudderless ghost ship, doesn't it? just a silhouette of the former team. Llleadership! it just aint there, one player gets unwell & goes home another then decides to retire mid tour. all failing, & in poor form. no leadership & all unhappy??? sounds familiar doesn't it? & the only international test side in real form in recent years is the Sth Africans, & 2 of their home boys have coached their opponents really badly. good culture demands the right fit as coach.

No I'm not, probably the best cricketer in the world, or close to it. but I haven't kept up with the world of cricket for years so I don't know who's-who anywhere really. but I know they have been strong for some years now, & we are just climbing back up onto our feet after some Major setbacks in recent years, so they have a real deeply instilled mental momentum, that we would naturally lack at this point, when under pressure. Our team morale` will be Critical over there.

what I mean by turnaround is just simple players back onboard with the team & playing for the common goal. to improve & win tests. all the same direction has made the big difference. all willing participants, giving of free will, generosity. theres more to do & then add more talent along the way. but the spiritual health of the team is back. it can only grow from here with the selfless off-field team inplace. I don't expect us to beat Sth Africa, but to be highly competative... anything beyond that will be a bonus.

I just don't can't watch it. sorry but it just doesn't turn me on. I put it on last night for 10 minutes & thats all I could take, then switched over.

I reckon the turnaround has happened, & they are playing for one another & their country again. next for boof & the selectors is to grow the talent into the list over the next few years; particularly to transform the batting. Our bowling stocks look strong with many young players getting themselves right. its an enjoyable ride again following the team.

In a leadership vacuum, you end with lieutenants pulling in differing directions, because one isn't respected by All; that the team will willingly follow. enter the coach who has the respect, the plan in mind, & the guile to implement it; then the support of the players... the disharmony & individual competitiveness between leaders, created by noOne really leading & without Real support becomes a fragmentation. loss of focus & output. Boof has taken back the Rudder from Clark, & freed Clark to do what he's good at, to the benefit of all & the rebuilding of team Unity. focus returns & form follows. we're still pretty much the same list, the same squad, but with less worry about each-other, & about their own positions, within natural reason. They can start to smile, & start to play good cricket; & sledge the opposition, rather than one another behind their hands.

I was wondering IF not talking about him much on here was something you perceived as a put down of his abilities? I think he's been great but I can't claim him as 'one of my hombre`s', because I wasn't on his bandwagon in passed years. I didn't stick by him, but he's been a bright surprise packet this summer for sure. Pup has been ordinary off-field in the past years, but now with the right sort of support around Him in the team, he's able to do what he does best, bat & direct the field. Imo he's learning from Boof, & is being more generous with his team-mates, & I think this is hugely important for team harmony & the teams onfield output.

all in all we are on our way with momentum. SAfrica will be a big hurdle for us. but I hope we keep our strong competitiveness.

the poms have played a bit like we played over there 6 months back. the camaraderie has allowed our players to play closer to their abilities, & form is returning to our side. IMO, the Poms main issue is Cook. he's too conservative & unsure of himself & I reckon the poms are resembling his leadership, dropped catches & all, bickering, going home, etc. I think they need a more outgoing leader, with utmost confidence in himself. I think Ian Bell could do the job, & I don't see any others in their lineup who could.

I suspect Boof has been working to a plan, since just before he started in England, to right the culture & the competitiveness, plus morale. this may have been part of his selection Ideas. it looks like it has come together quicker than anyone may have dared imagine. I guess the next part of any plan would be to slowly overhaul the team between now & the next ashes tour. I'm unsure of their ages.

the agar thing, doesn't that now lock him to our test team? that he cannot now go off to play Tests for another country in the future, like some of our homegrown lads have, or can? will?