posted Aug 12, 2008

I hate to say this but I would be very irritated if Prior was brought back as keeper - the way he has batted this season might make a case for him as a batsman alone in the team. but not keeper. He will drop catches that need to be taken if we are to win matches and progress as a side. Therefore, Prior taking the gloves would be a retrograde step for England. Either take Read or Foster, because out in India chances will be more difficult to come by and therefore we need the best keeper to take them.

On the Gilchrist-Sangakarra note, Gilly fell away towards the end of his career after averaging 55 for the majority of it, whilst consistently keeping well. Sangakarra is not as good a keeper whilst batting higher up and therefore having more time to build an innings, borne out by that strike rate statistic.

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posted Aug 12, 2008

Ambrose hasn't done much wrong behind the stumps but his batting has deteriorated rapidly. Prior's glove work isn't bad and his batting pretty good; maybe he was dropped to soon. A;though Ambrose has been messed about a bit in the order which won't have done anything for his confidence I believe he was selected too soon as we should take prior on tour plus Foster who by all accounts is the best gloveman in the country. Although this position is a worry the bigger problem for me is the fact that we need 5 bowlers but if Freddie is going to bat at No6 then that IA a worry.

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posted Aug 12, 2008

Its whether or not a new wicket keeper can cope with the test arena.Most of the current keepers are average as you say but only a few would be test material because they are "big" match players.Keeping wicket to an empty ground in the week is not the same as 20-40,000 people looking at everything you do including your mistakes -big and small.I think that there are about 3 or 4 who could cope with that. The others cannot including Ambrose and it shows.If its a new broom with KP then a new keeper needs to be included in the test side along with a known one.

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posted Aug 12, 2008

RapidDavide

You make some interesting points about Gilchrist.If I recall he didnt do to well against England in 2005,considering his reputation so not that good in his later career.On the matter of who you take,Read will not be considered because he wont be acceptable to the Indians.The selectors wont rock the boat so he wont even be mentioned.
Foster is an interesting choice with many for and many against.I dont rate any of the English keepers put forward at present but he is as good as any.To be fair I dont think G.Jones was given much support and he was part of the side who beat the Australians.He wasnt the best keeper but he could bat a bit and was a big occasion player.It was the "purists" and stuffed shirts in the media who got him pushed out-unfairly I think.The days of Alan Knott,Bob Taylor,Jack Russell and Alec Stewart have gone so there isnt much we can do about it.We might get the Somerset Wicket keeper soon and then you will have a class batsman but not sure about his keeping?

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posted Aug 12, 2008

OLDGIT57 (if I may),

The 2005 Ashes was probably the beginning of Gilly's descent as he could not cope with the swinging ball, notably from Flintoff.

You may well be right on Read and ICL recriminations, which would be detrimental to our standing in world cricket. That the BCCI were influencing our selection policy, especially as Read signed in good faith before the acrimony began, would show real weakness from our governing body. Still, Foster should go as he is one of few keepers who could cope standing up to spinners in India.

Your point on Kieswetter is interesting as I have heard others raving about him. Also mentioned has been Ben Scott of Middlesex - quality keeper technically who avergaes over 40 this season. Steven Davies was with the Lions last winter so wonder if he might be under consideration.

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posted Aug 12, 2008

You're talking about Keiswetter.

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posted Aug 12, 2008

Strauss
Cook
Key
KP
Bell
Broad
Flintoff
Rashid
Read
Harmison
Jones

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posted Aug 14, 2008

If Australia beat South Africa later this year, I dont think it matters who plays for England next year in the Ashes. The Australians seem to be putting together a very strong side again led by Ponting, Clarke, Lee, Hussey (and his brother looks good), Clark etc... A lot of the players have been very successful in England which is also a worry. The batsmen know English conditions very well and the bowling squad is getting stronger all the time. Unless England can unravel another Petierson and one oor two of the bowlers hit their peak, I just cant see England doing it, despite all the bravado.

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posted Aug 15, 2008

Ive read comments about Pietersen making the only century of the match in his maiden test match as captain.
The truth is he was dropped twice early in his innings.
In the second innings where the match was there to be won he failed, and left it to others to bring home the bacon.
I am not saying he is not a fine batsman, but so far his batting as England captain has not been the best.
But for the embarrassing drops from Sth Africans it would have been two failures.

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posted Aug 15, 2008

How can anyone judge on how Pietersen will captain the side following the match at the Oval which exerted zilch pressure on the captain? How can Pietersen himself be so arrogant as to say that if England play like they did at the Oval they can win the Ashes? He shows his stupidity in making such assertions which Little Sir Echo Moores repeats.

After the big Moores/Pietersen love in of the last week, what will happen in India? A stern test, as Vaughan might have said.

Barrymanulow - you're right. Pietersen was lucky to be dropped; the Saffers can and will pick him. Pietersen refuses point blank to change his game - so other people will have him sussed. I have no doubt the Aussies are watching all the videos and are well prepared.

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