Strauss and Moody Still the Right Men for England

It's a mess, but not a terrible mess. In fact, the chaos of the last week might be for the best. The ECB still has the chance to get their house in order ahead of the Ashes. After the sackings and resignations, which have had the commentators digging around for more striking superlatives about the disarray of English cricket, there is now a chance that the right men might be in the right slots before too long.

Ardent readers of this column will note that the appointments of both Peter Moores and Kevin Pietersen, for all their obvious and contrasting virtues, were greeted here with a mixture of surprise and despair at the time of their making.

Now England have the man, Andrew Strauss, who should have been made captain when Michael Vaughan resigned, at the helm. And the search for the best coach is on. Twenty months ago we advocated Tom Moody, who has since taken up office in Perth on behalf of Western Australia. He would still be an excellent option this time around.

April would be a spicy time for Moody to take over, since this would mean an Australian taking on the role of England coach just ahead of the Ashes series. That may be a complication, but not a stumbling block. There are precedents for this sort of situation, but none quite so stark: Duncan Fletcher's first undertaking as England coach was in southern Africa. Dav Whatmore took his Sri Lankans back to his native Australia soon after his appointment.

However, the ECB might have to woo Moody with some vigor this time around. Back in Barbados it would have been an easier job; then Moody was coming to the end of a successful two-year tenure in charge of Sri Lanka. He had not committed himself to WA.

But the ECB did not even bother to talk to him in the Caribbean, so convinced were they that Moores was the man they wanted, so eager were they to get everything sorted within 24 hours. Now Moody is ensconsed with his young family back in his hometown. It may not be easy to prise him away.

In the short-term we expect Andy Flower to act as the chief coach in the Caribbean. Given what has just happened to Moores, who headhunted the Zimbabwean a year ago, Flower may take some persuading to take on extra responsibilities. But he has a tough upbringing and a contract to fulfill. So he will fulfill it. It is possible if England are invincible in the West Indies that Flower might also become a candidate for the full- time post.

So with some straight-talking, which Andrew Strauss can manage in his calm, understated way, and a few victories in the Caribbean the ship can be steadied. Yet judging by some of the headlines this week The Bounty was a much more tranquil place to inhabit than the England dressing room has been of late. There has been constant talk of mutiny, of schisms in the team that has made for some wonderfully diverting copy, though none of it has come from the players.

Whether this paints an accurate picture of that dressing room is another matter. England's performance in the Test series in India certainly did not betray a team at war with one another. England were beaten - on the last day in Chennai - but no one could question their endeavor or commitment.

Moreover, only those inhabiting cloud cuckoo land can believe that every successful team purrs along on a wave of mutual love and affection. There were several players in Don Bradman's great Australian sides, who could not stand their captain. Gary Sobers and Rohan Kanhai were no great pals but, if anything, their rivalry spurred one another on.

The great Yorkshire side of the 60s could hardly be described as harmonious unless it was under attack from outsiders. And rejoicing was not always unconfined when Geoff Boycott hit another century for England though the team would be grateful for his runs. Stalwarts such as Mike Atherton and Alec Stewart shared much mutual respect but hardly a single dinner in their long careers.

There are tensions and cliques within every good side. In any team of decent cricketers there have to be several who crave to be the number one man. Pietersen wants to be that man: so does Andrew Flintoff. It would be nice if Steve Harmison did as well. Yet these tensions need not undermine the performance of the team.

The former Australia captain Steve Waugh seems to think so too. "I don't see this as an issue that's going to split the side and make them perform poorly," said Waugh. "I think, if anything, it may have the ability to make the team a bit stronger. I think players just get on with the job."

Pietersen is no fool, nor is Flintoff. Both will recognise that it is in their own interests to bust a gut for England. Untold riches and fame in the UK and India will follow if the national team is successful over the next 12 months. It should not be beyond Strauss and his coach to persuade his two key men of that fact.