The Slip Cordon

[PY]

Just been watching Channel 4 coverage of England vs Zimbabwe and they were talking about how England are weak in the slip cordon which was shown by Ashley Giles putting a dolly down off from an edge by Streak off Anderson. Our regulation slip fielders are unavailable or other circumstances. Who should be in the slips for England?

And who are the best slip fielders in the world currently? And who do you think is the best ever?
The strongest slip cordon in the world and ever?

 

[Rik]

Butcher is a fine slip fielder, Hussain was too. Tresco is ok but in the Slips England really are missing Thorpe. Key has taken some good catches but dropped quite a few too.

 

[Rich2001]

Butcher is a fine slip fielder, Hussain was too. Tresco is ok but in the Slips England really are missing Thorpe. Key has taken some good catches but dropped quite a few too.

Nasser is a top slipper to, but from becoming captain he wont stand there, maybe feels it's hard to captain the team from there??

As Rik said Key is a slip fielder as well, he does the job regularly at Kent, but as like Rik stated he does let a few go to ground but doesn't everyone?

As for best ever I blieve you would be silly not to say Mark Waugh one of the safest hands around.

 

[marc71178]

Flintoff would be there when fit.

 

[Rik]

Yes Flintoff and Butcher, 2 very fine slip catchers ideally with Thorpe at 3rd slip.

Re: Rich's comment about Hussain not wanting to captain from the slips, one of the most successful captains of the 90s, Mark Taylor, was a superb slip fielder and I can't remember him fielding anywhere else really!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Fleming stood in the slips on most times that I've seen him captain New Zealand.

 

[Rich2001]

Yes Flintoff and Butcher, 2 very fine slip catchers ideally with Thorpe at 3rd slip.

Re: Rich's comment about Hussain not wanting to captain from the slips, one of the most successful captains of the 90s, Mark Taylor, was a superb slip fielder and I can't remember him fielding anywhere else really!

That's true, but I can't think of any other reasons.. Ofterall he is one of our better slip fielders.

 

[krkode]

From what little cricket I've seen, some of the best slip fielders I've ever seen are Mark Waugh and Azharuddin. Both not playing anymore though...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Martin Love is my favourite slip fielder.

 

[luckyeddie]

From an England perspective - best ever (well, in my lifetime which is ALMOST forever), IMO, would be Phil Sharpe.
One of the greatest would be Ian Botham before he discovered beer. His reactions were utterly amazing.
Fred Trueman and Mike Hendrick were also class.
Corky's excellent, although he's more a specialist 3rd slip to gulley.

The catch which Butcher took today (Blignaut?) was really difficult - that horrible height - and he made it look quite straightforward.

 

[royGilchrist]

I think Hick was one of the best I have seen in slips, not very spectacular but very safe.

 

[Rich2001]

If we are doing England, then I can't say I could fault Mike Atherton much.

Ricky Ponting as looks very comfortable from what i've seen over the Ashes, WC and WI tour.

 

[Tim]

From NZ, The Crowe Brothers & Jeremy Coney were exceptional.

Nathan Astle & Stephen Fleming are probably 2 of the best currently around.

 

[marc71178]

After all the support for Hussain from the C4 box, he dropped 2 in the space of half an hour or so!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

After all the support for Hussain from the C4 box, he dropped 2 in the space of half an hour or so!

Commentator's curse.

 

[Anna]

Originally posted by Rik
Tresco is ok

Hmmm...he took 5 catches in the Zim match, 4 at slip.....Neway, he and Butcher are the only real 'specialist' slip catchers England have at the moment. Well, Nasser too at times.

 

[marc71178]

What about Freddie? A Safe pair of hands.

 

[Langeveldt]

Jacques Kallis is pretty awesome for Bucket like hands

 

[hourn]

aussies had a top slips cordon a few years back with Tubby, Junior and Warney in there.

All 3 gone now, and it does look a bit shaky outside of Ponting.

Hayden is a great fielder but i'm not convinced with him in slips yet.

Love has also been a great fielder in Pura Cup level, and started great in test cricket there but dropped a sitter against the Windies, and is still untested at this level.

 

[Rik]

All 3 gone now, and it does look a bit shaky outside of Ponting.

Ponting is a superb fielder in the gully/point region, so why waste him in the slips? He has a terrific throw which will hardly ever be used in the slips...