On Picking an English Keeper

[Richard]

That's as maybe. As long as they don't make a habit of spilling chances, though, that's all that really matters. And so far Ambrose has dropped a sum-total of 1 Test catch, and that cost virtually nothing.

Which is pretty acceptable really. Certainly not poor enough to be excluded on the basis of poor wicketkeeping.

 

[zaremba]

That's as maybe. As long as they don't make a habit of spilling chances, though, that's all that really matters. And so far Ambrose has dropped a sum-total of 1 Test catch, and that cost virtually nothing.

Which is pretty acceptable really. Certainly not poor enough to be excluded on the basis of poor wicketkeeping.

AWTA 100%.

The jury's still out on his batting but his 2nd innings knock at Leeds will have secured his place, simply because he didn't look entirely out of his depth. I can't see him batting at 6 in the long term though.

 

[Uppercut]

That's as maybe. As long as they don't make a habit of spilling chances, though, that's all that really matters. And so far Ambrose has dropped a sum-total of 1 Test catch, and that cost virtually nothing.

Which is pretty acceptable really. Certainly not poor enough to be excluded on the basis of poor wicketkeeping.

Certainly, and when he's scored runs it's been when England really needed him to.

It's probably a good idea to pick someone, stick with him and work on his batting and mould him into a top-class wk-batsman instead of chopping on changing all the time. Whether he's the right one, I really don't know.

 

[Richard]

As I've said a few times now - the only person I really want to see replacing Ambrose is Steven Davies. And that not yet. I really do think Ambrose is likely to do as good a job as anyone until the time, which I hope will arrive, and hopefully soon, when Davies is ready to step in.

I do not feel there is anyone in the country likely to do an acceptable job with the gloves and as good a job with the bat as Ambrose has so far.

 

[aussie]

As I've said a few times now - the only person I really want to see replacing Ambrose is Steven Davies or maybe Prior if his keeping improves. And that not yet. I really do think Ambrose is likely to do as good a job as anyone until the time, which I hope will arrive, and hopefully soon, when Davies is ready to step in.

I do not feel there is anyone in the country likely to do an acceptable job with the gloves and as good a job with the bat as Ambrose has so far.

corrected.

 

[Richard]

No, not really. I don't consider Prior a better batsman than Ambrose and never have.

And certainly not the potential Davies.

 

[zaremba]

So who's the best keeper that David Lloyd has seen all year?

Sussex's 3rd choice:

David Lloyd's view

I saw the best wicket keeper I've seen all year in Ben Brown. He plays for Sussex and he looks the part; I'm quite excited about him.

This was for England U19s. He can't get a game for Sussex because of Prior and Hodd. Perhaps Hants will try to sign him - they could do with a decent keeper.

 

[stumpski]

I don't think Kieswetter did his chances any harm today - would prefer Foster to get the nod in the Test side though. Another in form with the bat.

 

[andruid]

Any body think these buggers will ever make up their minds

 

[zaremba]

5.6
Broad to Smith, OUT, gone! brilliant catch from Prior, outside edge from Smith and Prior dives one handed in front of Owais Shah at first slip and snaffles a stunner. Sweet moment for Prior after all the talk about his keeping, there were no half measures in that effort.

...and he goes on to equal the national record for most catches in an ODI. Sweet moments indeed

 

[Richard]

Fair irony there indeed.

You think Pothas is soon-to-retire BTW?

 

[Richard]

I don't think Kieswetter did his chances any harm today - would prefer Foster to get the nod in the Test side though. Another in form with the bat.

Kieswetter and Malan - two South Africans with extremely tenuous British connections (unlike Pietersen who is simply half British half South African) who are now apparently England prospects.

 

[zaremba]

Fair irony there indeed.

You think Pothas is soon-to-retire BTW?

Not as far as I know. Btw I'm not happy about the news that Chris Adams has been given permission to talk to Pants about becoming some kind of player/coach. I hope he does to them what he did to Yorkshire

 

[Richard]

Not as far as I know.

Then why this comment?

Perhaps Hants will try to sign him - they could do with a decent keeper.

Btw I'm not happy about the news that Chris Adams has been given permission to talk to Pants about becoming some kind of player/coach. I hope he does to them what he did to Yorkshire

Adams has been poor this season. This sort of poor season often means players of his age think about retiring - and TBF I'd hate to see him go on longer than he can continue to score for.

 

[zaremba]

Then why this comment?

Just a cheap jibe at Pothas - who isn't popular in Sussex circles

 

[Richard]

Ah, I see.

Why not?

 

[zaremba]

Ah, I see.

Why not?

Just some ill-judged disparaging comments about Sussex's team. Nothing earth-shattering.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Reading through this thread I'm trying to think of the keepers who I've really seen close-up on Sky this season, and it does seem that the only times I'm in and have the chance to sit down and watch a decent bit of FP Trophy or Pro40, it's Sussex, Essex, Kent, Hampshire, Middlesex or Surrey... so my judgement is a bit Home Counties-centric at the moment. Out of what I've seen, Ben Scott and James Foster are a cut above: watched Hodd for the first time yesterday against Hampshire at Hove and whilst he seemed decent enough, my overwhelming impression was that he reminded me of my own keeping in that he didn't bloody shut up, and appealed for a load of crap that clearly wasn't out and swore profusely when he got whacked on the outside of the knee.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Interesting to note that out of Pothas, Davies, O'Brien, Kieswetter, Read, Nixon, Batty, Jones, Prior, Foster, Mustard, Nash, Ambrose, Pipe, Sutton, Brophy, Scott, Frost, Wallace and Snell, Mustard has the lowest FC batting average.

 

[Uppercut]

Just a cheap jibe at Pothas - who isn't popular in Sussex circles

Why not? And by that I mean, why only Sussex circles? He's probably the most annoying (and therefore probably the most effective) sledger on the circuit.

The other thing that REALLY annoys me every time I see him is that he looks exactly like a villain in some kid's show but I've never been able to figure out who. Seriously, i've been losing sleep over it for years.