Former Australia captain Ian Chappell feels struggling Alastair Cook is not good enough to lead the England team as he lacks fire power and the home team will convincingly win the one day series with the visitors looking “terible” on the field.
“I don’t think Cook has it in him to be a good captain and he’ll always struggle against an aggressive leader like Michael Clarke,” Chappell told PTI in an interview.
Cook, 29, could only manage 246 runs in 10 Ashes innings and failed to inspire his side at crucial junctures, bringing his captaincy under scrutiny.
The Australian great said the English attack without pace bowler Stuart Broad lack wicket-taking ability and the hosts would continue to torment their opponents in the ongoing ODI series as well.
“Australia will comfortably win the ODI series. England is terrible in the field and the bowling without (Stuart) Broad lacks wicket-taking potential,” said Chappell.
The change of format didn’t change English fortunes as the Australian side inflicted yet another humiliating defeat in the first of the five ODIs on the tourists after the Ashes rout.
England management have rested Broad for the first couple of matches. The fast bowler has had a decent series taking 21 wickets in the five Test matches.
Reports have emerged of breakdown of relations between Kevin Pietersen and the England team director, Andy Flower, raising clouds of uncertainty over the star batsman’s future in the team but Chappell feels the 33-year-old was one the best in their ranks.
“Pietersen is one of the better England players. Why drop a good player?” he asked.
“I don’t believe in fall guys — you either pick or drop players because you think they’ll improve the side or they’re having an adverse affect on the team.”
After the limited-overs series, Australia have a tough overseas assignment in the form of world no. 1 Test nation, South Africa, and the 70-year-old said he is expecting a riveting series.
Chappell said Australia will be tested by the Proteas and will have to address their “shaky batting“.
“Yes, Australia will be really tested by South Africa, as their batting is shaky and they can’t expect the lower order to keep bailing them out. However, they have a strong attack, more versatile than South Africa, and Clarke is a far better captain than Smith. They’ll be competitive,” he concluded.
