The Official Gareth Hopkins isn't terrible thread

[Meridio]

Gareth Hopkins' average this series: 12

Chris Martin's average this series: 9

Strong chance of Martin finishing with a higher average IMO. Hopkins probably undeserving of his current lead too; if Murali Vijay could catch he'd be averaging around 8.

 

[M0rphin3]

There is more than one other domestic keeper with a good record, which is why it's so annoying the selectors keep barking up the Hopkins tree.

Hopkins has a good domestic record too, but he's a proven failure at this level IMO.

Then time to get someone else, this guy sucks. Martin's been better than him in this series.

 

[Blocky]

There are several guys in NZ cricket who should be licking their lips at McCullums preference to become solely a batter.

Guys like BJ Watling who can kept to a good standard should work hard on his keeping over the next year or two.

Then you've got guys like Kruger Van Wyk who are already there.

Hopkins is not a good enough batsmen nor consistent enough keeper in my view to be there. I wonder if they've picked him for his reputation of being ballsy rather than his actual performances.

 

[Flem274*]

Where has this idea of BJ Watling being a possible test keeper come from? I heard it on the radio this morning as well. The guy is a part time keeper and has been a specialist opening batsman for years. Peter McGlashan takes the gloves at Northern Districts for a reason.

Every single keeper in the country should be ahead of Watling for the gloves. Even the new ND keeper Owen Ivins who bats at eleven for ND.

 

[Athlai]

Hopkins isn't terrible. But he is ****.

 

[straw man]

Hopkins isn't terrible. But he is ****.

Athlai has succumbed to acceptance.

 

[straw man]

Where has this idea of BJ Watling being a possible test keeper come from? I heard it on the radio this morning as well. The guy is a part time keeper and has been a specialist opening batsman for years. Peter McGlashan takes the gloves at Northern Districts for a reason.

Every single keeper in the country should be ahead of Watling for the gloves. Even the new ND keeper Owen Ivins who bats at eleven for ND.

Was quite funny while looking at cricinfo the other day, as numerous people wrote in to criticise Hopkins.

Though that wasn't the funny bit - here's who they suggested for alternative wicketkeepers:
BJ Watling
Lou Vincent
Neil Broom

 

[Hurricane]

Athlai has succumbed to acceptance.

I noticed that his resistance has ended. I wouldn't give up if I were Athlai - Hopkins could get a fifty in his next dig.

Also India don't have Zaheer - he was half the reason why I made this bet.

 

[Athlai]

I don't like or support Hopkins, but he isn't terrible.

 

[straw man]

I will admit that he is probably not a terrible human being.

 

[Hurricane]

I don't like or support Hopkins, but he isn't terrible.

That's the spirit.

 

[straw man]

I noticed that his resistance has ended. I wouldn't give up if I were Athlai - Hopkins could get a fifty in his next dig.

Also India don't have Zaheer - he was half the reason why I made this bet.

Maybe he'll score 250 and save the match?

 

[Flem274*]

I don't rate Hopkins that much, and he's done some flat track bashing in Auckland, but I still think he's better than current performances suggest. I'm reluctant to write him off as completely dire after O'Brien (tests) and Elliott (ODIs) came in and performed like **** in their first few games before coming right.

 

[DingDong]

I don't like or support Hopkins, but he isn't terrible.

give it up

 

[Hurricane]

@Athlai avatar is attached...

 

[Hurricane]

Which is, really, a terrible way to judge someone's Test prospects. Hopkins played several of those ODIs before his noticeable improvement as a batsman, not to mention the fact that he was playing a role completely unsuited to him, or the fact that he's a much better First Class batsman than he is a one day batsman anyway.

It's actually quite similar to the Broom case which you also brought up.. Broom should be right in the mix for a Test middle order opportunity. He never should've played ODIs to begin with - much like Hopkins - and unsurprisingly he failed in them - much like Hopkins.

Look, I wouldn't pick Hopkins as a specialist batsman either, but the fact that if I actually did think it was a good idea I could build a very convincing case for it with the numbers shows that he's more than qualified to bat seven or eight where he'll be playing.

I'm with Athlai on this. Hopkins is under-rated. He's actually put the numbers on the board in the last few seasons to be considered as a specialist batting option even if McCullum decided to keep. Not that I'd flirt with the idea of doing so at all, but the fact that you could make a case for it says something.

Pro Hopkins posts from before the series.

I do think he will go better at home against Pakistan.

 

[NZTailender]

Was quite funny while looking at cricinfo the other day, as numerous people wrote in to criticise Hopkins.

Though that wasn't the funny bit - here's who they suggested for alternative wicketkeepers:
BJ Watling
Lou Vincent
Neil Broom

That's funny, I don't remember writing into Cricinfo the other day. Must've had some kind of black out while that happened...probably induced by Hopkins rancid performances.

 

[irottev]

It's official. Hopkins is terrible. He failed hard. Time to move onto someone new.

 

[straw man]

Well, 44 runs at 11 from Mr Plopkins for the series.

It's so utterly dismal I can't even summon up the will to gloat, partly because I was hoping for a totally out-of-character double hundred to save the match. Athlai, will make you an avatar... soonish

 

[straw man]

Pro Hopkins posts from before the series.

I do think he will go better at home against Pakistan.

Surely surely SURELY the selectors will Dropkins him before then