Ben Foakes

[ataraxia]

Knott takes the gloves for England, South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies easily. Pakistan, India, and NZ are maybes, but considering how important wicketkeeping is then probably those too. To say he wouldn't have had an international career is preposterous. He's half a cut below Botham, centuries (2 v Australia, 1 v WI) be damned.

Ah I see, the closest any poster has come to admitting they are wrong: deleting their post.

 

[halba]

It's not just about picking the best keeper. Bob Taylor was a better keeper than Alan Knott, not by much but he was better.
But Knotty's batting was so much better than Taylor's that he was the obvious pick.

I would pick both Foakes and Bairstow but if its one or the other, its got to be Bairstow.

He's usually decent enough behind the stumps, not as good as Foakes but good enough.

I think he's very rusty after being out for so long and as the series goes on, he'll return to his normal level.

top order is bang average- duckett, zak and pope to come...better to have foakes who is a steadier bat and better keeper, and put bairstow at no.3

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Good time to point out that keeper dismissals are the most meaningless statistic in cricket.

 

[chris.hinton]

Foakes averages 32, Bairstow 37

 

[halba]

Foakes averages 32, Bairstow 37

Bairstow is significantly better since Bazball tho. 50+ ave
Bairstow pre Bazball was average

 

[ashley bach]

Get him back in there ffs it's a no brainer.

 

[halba]

Get him back in there ffs it's a no brainer.

100% agree. he should be in there as a permanent keeper. Bairstow should replace Duckett or Pope who dont look good against Aussies

 

[sledger]

Foakes is extremely pap.

 

[Michelle Fivefer]

Good time to point out that keeper dismissals are the most meaningless statistic in cricket.

Not to the keepers.....

 

[andruid]

The Bairstow v Foakes debate will never emulate Read v Jones.

Who the Prior equivalent to make both Bairstow and Foakes irrelevant?

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Who the Prior equivalent to make both Bairstow and Foakes irrelevant?

In a couple of years Jamie Smith maybe?

 

[Aidan11]

James Rew got a double ton today for Somerset.

 

[Socerer 01]

James Rew got a double ton today for Somerset.

but i thought tests are dying in England and no youngster wants to play them

 

[Aidan11]

but i thought tests are dying in England and no youngster wants to play them

Not as far as I'm concerned. Test cricket is alive and well. Doesn't need a pacemaker, mobility aids or even viagra.

It's punching like a heavyweight boxer.

 

[Owzat]

The Bairstow v Foakes debate will never emulate Read v Jones.

loved the classic argument that the keeper should be picked on keeping ability, but oh yeah, "Read is averaging 45 with bat in the county championship"...........

and with regard to OP, no Bairstow should not bat #3 any more than Ali should have, neither should