We really don't have an obvious captain apart from Root - Cook doesn't want it, typically front line quickies don't do it these days and how long has Jimmy got left anyway, Stokes is a mile away from being handed the job and too much of a hot head, it would be too much for Bairstow as keeper and batsman and no one else is certain of their place.
I don't understand why bowlers aren't seen as captains these days
Batting is the feat which requires great concentration, where the mental energy required from captaincy may take its toll. Bowlers have to think about field placings and the weaknesses of batsmen anyway, so it should come as second nature.
Jimmy wouldn't be the long term choice, but could have done it for a couple of years.
I think part of it is that it's usual for a quickie to be fielding at fine leg or third man - obviously not in Jimmy's case. The batting captain also has no element of bias, either way, when it comes to bringing a bowler on and/or to go for a review. You can imagine what would happen if Broad was captain - he'd be bowling from both ends and be the only one allowed to review.
The final thing about Jimmy is that whilst he does get in the face of the opposition he is very much an introvert. And introverts tend to lead by example as opposed to leading the team.
Jimmy has done plenty of radio work over the last few years, so can't that shy, and has been "the leader of the bowler" for many years now. Unlike Broad, I think he can be trusted to think about the team's interests!
Anderson said this about the captaincy prior to Root being appointed:
"I wouldn't be against a fast bowler but one issue could be fitness.
"Bowlers get injured a lot more so are they going to play every game? The international schedule is hectic so it can be difficult."
He has the experience of playing but not captaining and I can't recall him ever doing it at county level either. He is the second best candidate but there are more doubts about him than Root who has to learn to do both jobs - at 27 now he isn't a kid and has plenty of experience of playing at the highest level.
Under Root's captaincy we've beaten South Africa and the West Indies and got beat by the Aussies on their turf. Root has averaged in those series 58, 67 and 47 respectively. That last is hardly a disaster - he hit five 50s in nine innings but didn't make that big one whereas, by comparison, Cook scored two runs less than Root but 244 of his 376 runs came from that one knock. I know who I would say was in better form. Root was still our best batsman in the Ashes and just needs to learn to turn those 50s into big tons which I'm sure that he will.
Australia win the toss in Sydney and bowl first. Think it's more a hope on Steve Smith's part that having a target set for the batsmen will force them to bat a bit more urgently than they have in the previous two matches...
Thanks Callum much appreciated. Sounds like a good comeback from 189 for 6 to make 300.
Commentators have been saying all innings that this pitch is much slower than the Gabba and 270-280 looked like a par score so to get to 300 puts us ahead you'd have to say.
Comments
"I wouldn't be against a fast bowler but one issue could be fitness.
"Bowlers get injured a lot more so are they going to play every game? The international schedule is hectic so it can be difficult."
He has the experience of playing but not captaining and I can't recall him ever doing it at county level either. He is the second best candidate but there are more doubts about him than Root who has to learn to do both jobs - at 27 now he isn't a kid and has plenty of experience of playing at the highest level.
Under Root's captaincy we've beaten South Africa and the West Indies and got beat by the Aussies on their turf. Root has averaged in those series 58, 67 and 47 respectively. That last is hardly a disaster - he hit five 50s in nine innings but didn't make that big one whereas, by comparison, Cook scored two runs less than Root but 244 of his 376 runs came from that one knock. I know who I would say was in better form. Root was still our best batsman in the Ashes and just needs to learn to turn those 50s into big tons which I'm sure that he will.
https://streamable.com/x9bdt
Cummins, Hazlewood, Zampa, Paine in. Richardson, Tye, Head, Carey out.
England are unchanged.
38-1, 7 overs
45-2, 9.4 overs
90-3, 18.5 overs
107-4, 22.3 overs
Morgan 33 (37)
Buttler 26 (29)
Morgan gone for 41
Ali gone for 6
Buttler 45 (47)
Buttler 49 (51)
Woakes 7 (7)
Buttler 60 (62)
Woakes 29 (26)
Buttler 67 (66)
Woakes 30 (28)
Buttler 70 (69)
Woakes 37 (31)
Buttler 80 (75)
Woakes 37 (31)
Buttler 97 (80)
Woakes 42 (33)
Buttler 100 (82)
Woakes 53 (37)
Buttler gets his century off the last ball of the innings!
Sounds like a good comeback from 189 for 6 to make 300.
Aussie commentators were talking about restricting us to 240-250 when we lost Ali at 189-6 with 12 overs left.
Woakes is absolutely brilliant considering he bats at 8!
24-1, 3.5 overs
Arguably best one day side in world at minute. Would certainly be if we had a quality spinner.
44-2, 8.3 overs