ECB News Conference

[Funya Chin]

One has been called at 1PM today after delaying the team selection. Odds on that it's Vaughn being dropped - about time.

[Funya Chin]

Pietersen is expected to be announced as both test and ODI captain.

[Smiddy]

I don't get why people are considering Rob Key for the role :S Yeah he had a good record, yeah, he's an Englishman who has led his County very well, but he was shocking on the international scene without the pressures of captaincy!

Look past Pietersen, give Cook a go. He's at the top of the order, he plays sensibility, he racks up runs, he's a good fielder, he has a good mentality.
We can't attempt to impede our best players (Bowling - Flintoff, Batting - Pietersen) with the extra responsibility. Plus Cook has a strong chance of staying around in both forms of the games assuming the ECB keep their act up and not drop him stupidly!

A good captaincy career finished a year too late. Well done Vaughan, now we have little time to prepare for the ashes next year :).

[Funya Chin]

They'll go for Pietersen you know even though it's not the logical choice. I would say Cook is the only one but Rob Key has been out of the international frame for so long even considering him for the role is ludicrous. It'll be interesting tomorrow both for the team selection and captaincy. I can see the same team apart from Broad in for Vaughn.

[Smiddy]

To be fair I reckon they'll go for Strauss, but they shouldn't go for him at all cos he's rubbish.
I was going to say I won't find out til 4:30 but I'm on my lunch break at the conference time so i'll have to use my mobile to find out!
And yeah I can also see that, although I wouldn't mind seeing them give Sidebottom a rest & bringing in Shah also. Sidebottom's preformance did seem a little down on his general standards, needs to rest his body.

[Smiddy]

Just to confirm, it was confirmed that Pietersen is the new England captain.
Ravi Bopara replaced Vaughan in the initial 13 man squad for the 4th test.

Matt Prior is back as the ODI WK for the forthcoming series against SA. Samit Patel has been called up again also.

:)

[Funya Chin]

Should've given the youngsters a go in the 4th test because it's worthless anyway.