THE POSTBAG: Stuart Broad to captain England? Recall Ravi Bopara?

The Cricketer and thecricketer.com have been inundated with letters and emails this summer. Here is the latest offering from our devoted readers...

Cultured Ravi deserves another chance

The England selectors have made some inspired left-field picks in recent times. So now that we need to rebuild our red-ball credentials, how about a name from the past? 

Ravi Bopara has had a great season and we all know he can bat properly and bat long. A seriously cultured batsman. His Test average of 31.94 trumps Rory Burns, James Vince, Jason Roy, Moeen Ali, Joe Denly, Ollie Pope, Mark Stoneman and many others who have had a good run.

Furthermore, his medium pacers would provide variety and support to a four-man attack. He probably has three years left in the tank – maybe his approach could also help the Jos Buttlers and Jonny Bairstows to acquire a more balanced technique?

Reading Nasser Hussain in The Cricketer and listening to him on Sky Sports, I totally agree with him. The over-rate is stuck at 12.5 per hour, which is appalling. This figure is unlikely to rise while there is a drinks break every hour, 12th men coming on with pads, helmets etc every half-hour, plus the time it takes between overs. 

And when a bowler comes on for a new spell, he has to practise his action three times to a colleague. Add to that the time it takes for a review, to ask for someone to sit down or close a door, it seems that the spectator is getting a raw deal. 

David Hewitt, Heacham, West Norfolk

Inspired Broad can lead England

I’d really like to see Stuart Broad made England captain. He has been incredible in the Ashes, bowling fast again with the new ball, and straight too. 

I think a lot of this is down to Jofra Archer's emergence and Broad thriving on his seniority & relishing his pace being rivalled and challenged. This would mean Joe Root can solely focus on batting, which is what he does best.

Rich Snowdon, Astley Bridge, Greater Manchester

^{Ben Stokes and Nathan Lyon's embrace was among the iconic images of the Headingley Test}

Still a place for sportsmanship

Congratulations to Huw Turbervill on his excellent special report in the summer issue on the divisive Hundred – or, as Barry Kitcherside put it so well in his letter in that issue, the ECB’s ‘disparate 100-ball charade’. I await with some trepidation the publication of the 2020 fixture schedule, hoping that Championship fixtures aren’t mostly in March and October. 

Though the Ashes have now been retained by Australia, their players must surely be congratulated on the truly sporting way they reacted after losing the Headingley thriller, all going up to Ben Stokes (not forgetting Jack Leach!) after he had struck the winning runs. The same must be said of the New Zealand players under their exemplary skipper Kane Williamson at the end of the World Cup final. 

Finally – and after all the articles in recent issues about cricket in state schools – may we congratulate Castle School in Taunton on winning the Lady Taverners National Under-13 Girls Indoor title. Under their excellent coach Russell Jones, they defeated a number of private schools along the way, so a great achievement on their part.

Chris Twort, Wells, Somerset

ICC solution

The view of Gerry Cotter (letters, Summer 2019) that he felt no elation at England's World Cup final win and that winning because of an arbitrary decision about the number of boundaries scored “is hugely unsatisfactory” has, it seems, yet to be shared by your magazine and your columnists. 

As Jerry says, the team losing fewer wickets is surely the solution, as it was in domestic one-day cricket for so many years; this formula combines runs and wickets, batting and bowling. Were two teams to be all out in a tie let the trophy be shared! 

The representatives of each country present at ICC meetings must ensure that, for future 50-over World Cup tournaments, the cricket committee of the ICC agrees to introduce the above.

Brian O'Sullivan

^{Should England have come out on top in the World Cup final?}

The curious case of the Aussie allrounder

I enjoyed Huw Turbervill’s article on The Cricketer website on the lack of Australian allrounders. From 1989 to 2005, this is certainly the case. 

However, I reckon the reason is that an Australian player has not had a chance to become an allrounder. Mark Waugh was a batsman, he could bowl off-spin. But with Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne getting all the wickets he did not have many opportunities to get wickets and/or improve. Warne could bat, but with seven batsmen ahead of him, all averaging about 45¬50, he probably came in to swing the bat and it meant he never had the chance to break into the top six.

With Botham, he was opening the bowling at his peak and there was rarely a settled top order in his era, so he had more opportunities and time to make a score. Warne was coming in at 400 for 7, Botham was coming in at 120 for 4. Also, there was no incentive (or any intensity) for the Australians to develop the other skill. The bases were so well covered.

Rajiv Radhakrishnan

Still a place for specialism

There are two sorts of Cricket: arena, and first-class. The first is a ‘product’ which assumes the need for noise and marketing, catering for those who attend. And needs different playing skills. County Cricket played on outgrounds – marvellous venues: Chesterfield, Maidstone, Basingstoke, Arundel, Isle of Wight etc is to be savoured.

The atmosphere and unfolding of a long match are important for those who appreciate the finer skills of the game. The authorities should recognise this and players will have to decide which form they want to play in. This will encourage specialism – distinct teams for different skills. The whole cricket scene would be strengthened.

Brian O'Gorman

^{Chesterfield was among the venues used during the 2019 summer}

Less is more

Thank goodness for the sane and sensible Andrew Samson. Talking about Headingley 2019 he states: “I was there, although I didn't actually say very much in the final stages of the match.”

He added: “I think that when the cricket gets really exciting it is best if the statto on the radio keeps quiet. Then gives an example of an uncalled for and uninteresting interference with the flow of the commentary. 

Could you arrange for him to pass this very helpful information on to Andy Zaltzman, please?

Brian Baker, Peterborough

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