posted Feb 13, 2007

I agree with you MikeCricket, Nixon did his job and is getting unfair criticism. He kept well, and although he won't be there much longer, Steven Davies looks a good bet for the future. As for KP he would get into any ODI side in the world as is one of the worlds best batsmen in both forms of the game.

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posted Feb 13, 2007

Addendum: I agree with you flyhack, you also have to take into account the situations in which Nixon was batting - for example, the fact that he was out for 6 in his last game should not be held against him when he was out off the last ball trying to hit over the top to a tight ball on off stump. He arrived in 2 situations: 1) when the RR needed to be pushed and he needed to try and score quickly; and 2)to support the man in form at the other end and turn the strike over. He did 1) well once and gave it a go the other times, and he did 2) superbly well once. Just looking at his average is the wrong way to judge his performance.

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posted Feb 13, 2007

thanks wise one and I agree with you on Davies, he is talent and I expect him to come through. Did well for the U19s.

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posted Feb 13, 2007

KP doesnot get runs when needed is it a joke! because one has to remember that bristol match when he singlehandedly won a match against our team or for the matter the champions trophy match against Westindies where he did the same.

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posted Feb 13, 2007

Mathna, KP is in the top few in the world for both Test and ODI batting, and he's only played against top sides. His record against the best side in the world is far better than Inzamam's, Kallis's, M.Yousuf's, G.Smith's, etc. Presumably all these players are flat-track bullies? There HAS, though, been one flat-track bully in evidence this winter. Step forward Mr Hayden!

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posted Feb 13, 2007

littlejerry, a few points. Firstly, you will not find too amny people saying that Vettori is a world-class one-day spinner - his record is worse than many.

Secondly, those figures are significantly better than Monty's. An extra wicket, average of 5 runs less per wicket, and an economy rate of 0.3 per over cheaper is quite a bit better in my book.

Finally, Vetttori's career average in ODIs with the bat is twice as high as Monty's at a vastly better strike rate. Note, though, that Monty has hardly batted so this may change. I certainly can't see Monty averaging more than Vettori's 15 though.

One more thing to note, for everyone who is still on the Monty wagon, is that he has an inferior economy AND wicket-taking average AND batting average AND batting strike rate than ANY of England's recent picks for the spinner slot, except for Dalrymple. This includes Blackwell, Giles and Yardy. Most people seem to conveniently forget this. Blackwell, for instance, was hounded for his stats whilst Monty is lavished with praise for his inferior record....!

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posted Feb 13, 2007

I agree with mikecricket and flyhack - i think the outrage about nixons rating is really an overreaction. 7 was maybe too high, but he is neither a disgrace or an embarassment! his low average is more an indication of hte situations he found himself in and I think most sensible people can see the contribution that he made was telling, indeed everyone in the england camp - the people who do actually know - have been applauding him. people clamouring for Read's inclusion...I dont know I just think its baseless. 36 odi's average 16....good keeper but so is nixon, and nixon has the guts and the fire.

to the guy that said KP might not be worth a place...that is possible the stupidest thing Ive heard in my entire life.

On reflection I think giving Jon Lewis the same rating as saj mahmood is rather ludicrous, and joyce possibly deserved higher too.

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posted Feb 13, 2007

GenisisTub i read your opening line and knew that it was pointless to go any further. All through this one day series people such as Gower, HUssain, Botham and Lloyd have said on many an occasion that Vettori IS a world-class spinner, I doubt u know more about the game then them. Your extra wicket point is clutching at straws for me. He was better than the majority of the English bowlers. Therefore deserves his place. I'm not even that big a Panesar fan.... But he deserves his chance at the WC

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posted Feb 14, 2007

Of course Vettori is a world-class one-day spinner. Left arm spinners have always had a harder time of it than right-armers as regards picking up wickets (even the greatest left-arm spinner of all, Bedi - a genius according to many pundits - has a record nothing like Warne's, Murali's, etc). It's pretty scary that there's even a single person on the planet who wouldn't put Monty in an England WC squad.

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posted Feb 14, 2007

littlejerry, if you read the first line and ignored the rest then you will have missed out on the fact that Panesar actually has the worst record of any recent England left-arm spinner. That includes greats such as Yardy, Blackwell and Giles. And by record I don't just mean wicket-taking average. I mean economy too.

P.S. messiisgod, where is this person who wouldn't put Monty in the England WC squad? I certainly would. He is still my first choice spinner at the moment (and if you look back at my past posts, he always has been!) because he has potential. All I'm saying is that he hasn't done as well as people are making out. Blackwell was slaughtered by many despite the fact that he scored more runs at a higher average at a better strike rate, and took more wickets at a better average and at a better economy rate.

P.P.S. Yes now the smoke has cleared from my eyes, Vettori is *definitely* a world class *left-hand* spinner. Firstly, I was annoyed at the fact that people were just saying that Monty's record was nearly as good as Vettori's, so since Vettori is world class the implication was that Monty's performances were near world class, which they clearly were not.

P.P.P.S (!) my "extra wicket" was merely a statistic - not "clutching at straws". The difference in average of 5 runs per wicket is practically the same as the difference between Courtney Walsh and Steve Harmison in tests, for example; or Panesar vs Dalrymple in ODIs (in fact that difference is less than 5). Still don't think it makes a difference?

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