Cricket

It's also the 'best' side ever. (Apart from the debutantes) How do you justify that?
They're just good players who are woefully off form and demotivated. And like the worst examples of 'overtraining' you see in athletes, it gets worse the longer it goes on.
It was clear from the second test that this would likely be a 5:0 whitewash, you can't expect tired and dissolusioned players to 'play themselves better'.

I think England will be in the top 2 again in a couple of seasons. The young players are more encouraging than they've ever been and although I don't agree that Cook should 'go' or even Flower right now, I do think the dedicated bowling and batting coaches need to be changed.

i agree, but i'd still get rid of flower. as you say, the core of players in the eng side have proven they are good enough at this level, but have lost motivation, become tired and perhaps complacent. the fact that they have run out of decent game plans (and plan bs) points to back room problems. look at the difference boof made with aus.

there are some good young players in the wings. hanging everyone in the squad that has underperformed is not the environment to develop them.