Les Ames vs BJ Watling

[PlayerComparisons]

Best two wk bats are Gilchrist and Knott, but who is third best

 

[Bahnz]

Is Watling really in the conversation for this? Don’t get me wrong, he was an excellent player but I’m not sure there’s a whole lot to distinguish him from the other leading WK bats of his era like Dhoni, de Kock, Sarfraz, Prior etc.

 

[Line and Length]

Having not seen Ames, I rely on stats to judge players.

Statistically a no-contest. Both scored 8 Test tons but Ames only had 47 Tests compared with Watling's 75.

Ames's average (40.6) is superior to Watling's (37.5)

Against strong opposition (Australia) both performed below their overall average but, once again, Ames comes out in front - 27.0 vs 22.1

 

[Zinzan]

Ames.

Amongst cricket historians was always up there with Alan Knott in the discussion of All-time greatest keeper until Gilchrist came along.

 

[BazBall21]

Ames. Pioneer points and while his record against the strongest opponent of his era isn’t great, that is a weak area for Watling too, who struggled against Australia, India and South Africa.

 

[shortpitched713]

Best two wk bats are Gilchrist and Knott, but who is third best

Andy Flower

 

[trundler]

Pity vote for a favourite more than anything else but Watling was definitely a level above other keepers during his career. Series defining knocks in SL and UAE and a massive double ton at home, pretty impressive resume for a keeper bat.

 

[BazBall21]

I think QDK and Pant (not exactly the same generation) are better than Watling tbh. Not Watling's biggest fan.

 

[BazBall21]

The double ton was good but it was against a team that notoriously folded when the ball stopped laterally moving. Mitchell Santner made a hundred in the same innings. Having said that, it's a bit surprising Archer and his extra pace couldn't figure it out on that tour. Latham made a hundred against him in that series which is quite shocking considering his well-documented ineptitude against pace.

 

[Coronis]

Sangakkara

 

[trundler]

Only 8 WKBs have scored a double century though. It's a monumental achievement regardless. Think QDK could've been better but didn't really achieve as much in tests. Pant is closer to Gilchrist than anyone else in terms of batting output, yeah, but he's only been a competent keeper for a short while. Should end up better for sure.

 

[BazBall21]

Only 8 WKBs have scored a double century though. It's a monumental achievement regardless. Think QDK could've been better but didn't really achieve as much in tests. Pant is closer to Gilchrist than anyone else in terms of batting output, yeah, but he's only been a competent keeper for a short while. Should end up better for sure.

Fair point that Pant isn't as good a keeper as Watling. I was only really thinking about batting.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I think QDK and Pant (not exactly the same generation) are better than Watling tbh. Not Watling's biggest fan.

Watling is better than both of them. Quality keeper and involved in three absolutely monster partnerships. Concentration levels must be insane.

Mushfiqur Rahim has 3 test double hundreds and is better than all at batting. Keeping was worse than Watling's. In terms of batting against spin Sarfaraz is probably the best since Flower but dubious against pace and is as bad or worse than Pant at keeping.

Blundell is averaging 46 as a keeper and has a century opening in Australia. Won't play enough tests to be considered a great though.

 

[Flem274*]

I'm biased towards one player and know little about the other so will abstain.

It goes unmentioned a bit but Watling set up the 2013(?) test win in England with a second innings ton that was really good.

Watling was a high impact player with when he scored his runs and safe as houses with the gloves. A massive overachiever.

The double ton was good but it was against a team that notoriously folded when the ball stopped laterally moving. Mitchell Santner made a hundred in the same innings. Having said that, it's a bit surprising Archer and his extra pace couldn't figure it out on that tour. Latham made a hundred against him in that series which is quite shocking considering his well-documented ineptitude against pace.

Archer bowled rank medium pace.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

2015

Watling actually played as a specialist bat in that test as was injured. Ronchi debuted and scored runs too.

 

[BazBall21]

I'm biased towards one player and know little about the other so will abstain.

It goes unmentioned a bit but Watling set up the 2013(?) test win in England with a second innings ton that was really good.

Watling was a high impact player with when he scored his runs and safe as houses with the gloves. A massive overachiever.

Archer bowled rank medium pace.

That's true on Archer. Pace was down. Being overbowled didn't help.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Pity vote for a favourite more than anything else but Watling was definitely a level above other keepers during his career. Series defining knocks in SL and UAE and a massive double ton at home, pretty impressive resume for a keeper bat.

Insane match changing partnerships with MccCullum and Williamson and a matchwinning 100 in England too.

 

[Prince EWS]

John Waite.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Les v BJ

Me choosing what film to watch before bed

 

[CodeOfWisden]

Les ames was a revolutionary keeper batsman who showed the other specialist keepers that it's not necessary to be a tailender just bcoz you can keep.

Les ames by a country mile.