There are times in ones life where you sit back, consider what you have just heard and shake your head.
You try and empathise with the position of whom you are ridiculing, but it is impossible to do. The rationale given for their choice is so absurd and counter intuitive that one wonders who is giving them advice, if any was given at all.
This morning, I quietly suspect that you are in total bewilderment over two mutually exclusive decisions. One by the ECB (probably not a surprise) and one by smiling George Bailey (a total surprise)
Let’s begin with the ECB.
Their latest contribution to comic relief is that Alastair Cook has been excused, or as they label it ‘rested’, from the remainder of the English domestic season.
This is the same Alastair Cook who is under pressure for his Test spot, his ODI spot and his captaincy in both formats. This is the same Alastair Cook who hasn’t made an ODI 100 in 41 innings. The same Alastair Cook who publicly thinks that England’s chances of winning the World Cup equal Holland’s.
The same Alastair Cook who can only shut the mouths and scathing keyboards of his critics by making runs.
So in ECB logic, if runs are the answer, why not remove his opportunity to make any by resting him when he is out of form and out of favour?
What are they resting him from?
More failure?
On the other side of the globe, not that globes have multiple sides else they wouldn’t be a globe, George Bailey has resigned from being Australia’s T20 skipper.
George wants to focus on First Class cricket. This in itself is very noble. George believes he has another shot at Test cricket. This in itself is plain ridiculous.
The next time we see George playing Test cricket for Australia will either be via a pay TV replay of this year’s Ashes or the moon will be blue.
In fact, you are more likely to see Jade Dernbach lead England to a World Cup win.
Who is advising Bailey?
Surely before making this decision, he spoke to the Australian selectors to ensure his plan was not entirely fanciful? Surely the Australian selectors didn’t lie to George to make him feel better?
I’ve checked the calendar.
Yesterday was not April Fools Day.
Only a matter of time until Kevin Pietersen is welcomed back into the England dressing room with tearful hugs.
It’s a nice fairytale but the ECB won’t swallow that much pride.