On Picking an English Keeper

[The Masterplan]

I'd stick Geraint Jones back in the team.. he understands what it means to play for England having taken part in that epic ashes series of 2005... Legend

 

[steds]

Problem is he's woefully short of any sort of score.

 

[Richard]

And has been since 2003, too.

Jones demonstrates as well as anyone how much of a hole you can get into by picking someone based on 1 good season.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Another hat into the ring, maybe?

Steve Snell of Gloucestershire. 599 runs @ 74.87 is not too shabby at all. I've never seen him bat or keep, but given his figures I've surprised he's not be mentioned at least.

 

[Pup Clarke]

I'd wait a bit for him, think this his first full season for Gloucester coming in for Adshead UIMM.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'd wait a bit for him, think this his first full season for Gloucester coming in for Adshead UIMM.

You're absolutely correct in principle of course, but his case looks stronger than a certain Anglo-Aussie seamer's was tho, so....

 

[Richard]

How about James Pipe if you're considering Snell?

Or maybe Andrew Hodd? Or Richard Johnson?

Really, if you set any stall by Pattinson's case anyone who comes in and has a decent 4 or 5 games should be in the picture - which will number the vast majority of players at some point in their careers. Pattinson's case should not be taken to read anything into any other cases.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

They either pick the best keeper - which means forgiving Read - or the second best keeper Foster or go on picking an endless supply of batsman-keepers who won't be consistant with bat or gloves.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

It's not as simple as "forgiving Read".

 

[Lillian Thomson]

It's not as simple as "forgiving Read".

I didn't mean getting Father O'Hara to absolve him of his sins, I just meant if they want the best keeper it means finding a way to pick Read (which is unlikely to happen in the forseeable future.)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I know what you mean, but it's really not in the ECB's hands at all. That's how powerful the BCCI is.

 

[zaremba]

I know what you mean, but it's really not in the ECB's hands at all. That's how powerful the BCCI is.

Is this actually correct? I realise that the BCCI is trying to prevent English counties with ICL links playing in the Hit-and-Giggle Cup, but are they seeking to influence national selectors in Test matches which have no connection whatsoever with India, or even, for that matter, the opposing selectors in Test matches involving India?

It's possible that they have done but I've missed it (my eyes tend to glaze over whenever I see the initials BCCI and/or ICL). If this is the case they should be told to get stuffed.

 

[Athlai]

Is this actually correct? I realise that the BCCI is trying to prevent English counties with ICL links playing in the Hit-and-Giggle Cup, but are they seeking to influence national selectors in Test matches which have no connection whatsoever with India, or even, for that matter, the opposing selectors in Test matches involving India?

It's possible that they have done but I've missed it (my eyes tend to glaze over whenever I see the initials BCCI and/or ICL). If this is the case they should be told to get stuffed.

Shane Bond.

 

[Goughy]

Is this actually correct? I realise that the BCCI is trying to prevent English counties with ICL links playing in the Hit-and-Giggle Cup, but are they seeking to influence national selectors in Test matches which have no connection whatsoever with India, or even, for that matter, the opposing selectors in Test matches involving India?

It's possible that they have done but I've missed it (my eyes tend to glaze over whenever I see the initials BCCI and/or ICL). If this is the case they should be told to get stuffed.

ICL players are not supposed to be allowed to be selected for International cricket.

However, special provision was made for Ireland that did.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Essentially the BCCI has warned against picking ICL-linked players and, AFAIK, all the major countries are on board for the moment. To pick an ICL-linked player would be to make a powerful enemy. England is definitely wary of this because initially there were questions over such players in CC. Of course, part of this was dealing with the boards of foreign/Kolpak players.

 

[zaremba]

England is definitely wary of this because initially there were questions over such players in CC.

Well yes I remember this clearly because we were afraid at Sussex that Mushy would be ineligible due to the (plainly unlawful) stance of the ECB.

I hadn't realised that the ECB was adopting the same stance as regards non-selection for England - I suppose Chris Read is just about the only player affected so it may have just passed me by.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Well yes I remember this clearly because we were afraid at Sussex that Mushy would be ineligible due to the (plainly unlawful) stance of the ECB.

I hadn't realised that the ECB was adopting the same stance as regards non-selection for England - I suppose Chris Read is just about the only player affected so it may have just passed me by.

I don't actually think Chris Read would be under consideration anyway despite being one of only two international quality English keepers.

 

[zaremba]

I don't actually think Chris Read would be under consideration anyway despite being one of only two international quality English keepers.

I think you're right.

 

[Richard]

They either pick the best keeper - which means forgiving Read - or the second best keeper Foster or go on picking an endless supply of batsman-keepers who won't be consistant with bat or gloves.

Ambrose hasn't been perfectly acceptably consistent with gloves?

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Ambrose hasn't been perfectly acceptably consistent with gloves?

Depends how you define acceptable. When you grow up watching Alan Knott and then see this bunch of deranged druids attempting to keep wicket it gets very frustrating. None of these are even as good as the likes of Bruce French and Jack Richards purely as wicket-keepers.