English Cricket: Too Much Navel Gazing, Not Enough Guts?

Cricket writing has never been so excitable: Did KP resign, or was he sacked? Was there a dressing room revolt? Who will be the new coach? Can we regroup in time for the Ashes?

Luckily there has been some actual cricket played in Australia and New Zealand this week to take my mind of the catastrophe unfolding in the England setup. What a joy it is to see teams revelling in the chance to display new talent on the field.

For the Kiwis there's the instant hero, opening batsman Martin Guptill who on debut made 122 not out from 135 balls, carrying his bat in the process. 

Meanwhile at the MCG in the latest instalment from the thrilling clash between Australia and South Africa; the Aussies fielded a new look side for the shortest form of the game, with huge success.

Not only did they pull of a convincing win, but their own opener David Warner, also on debut, made the second-fastest half-century in international 20-over cricket. His 89 off just 48 balls is made even more remarkable when you consider Warner is yet to make his first-class debut for NSW, and did it in front of 65,000 spectators.

Then there's JP Duminy. Brought into the South African test team for the injured Ashwell Prince, Jean-Paul's first experience of test cricket was reaching his half-century with the winning runs in his team's record breaking run-chase in Perth. He then bettered that with an exquisite century in Melbourne. In the two 20Twenty matches he's knocked up attractive 50s—albeit in losing causes.

And so back to England. Where our latest addition to the one-day setup is Andrew Strauss as Captain. A man who hasn't played international limited overs cricket since the 2007 World Cup.

It seems while the rest of the world is eager to find new blood, and unleash exciting cricketers of the future, England are too busy focusing on the players already in the dressing room.

Could it be that the men in suits are so focused on this year's Ashes series and sorting out the management mess caused by the recent sackings/resignations they've forgotten about planning for the longer term future of England cricket?