English County Season 2009 Thread (II)

[LeFromage]

Pwior (pronounced whilst making the universal Joey Deacon impression) was bang tidy behind the stumps this week.

Come on, give him some faint praise. Say he's better than cancer or something.

[Big_Bad_Bob]

Didn't see too much of this Test beyond the wickets and milestones.

Saw him fluff 4 byes in craptacular fashion mind you.

But yes, he's probably better than cancer.

[lardbucket]

Another shock stat from the game - Read conceded a bye - his first in 5 matches of FC and OD cricket, something around the 400 overs mark between this and the last.

Shock, horror. Still, England prefer backstops with a batting average of 35 to wicket-keepers who might just average 30.

At present, Australia has one of them as well, so it shouldn't hurt you too badly this year.

[beamer]

Another shock stat from the game - Read conceded a bye - his first in 5 matches of FC and OD cricket, something around the 400 overs mark between this and the last.

Shock, horror. Still, England prefer backstops with a batting average of 35 to wicket-keepers who might just average 30.

Read's Test average is 18.9 which is the major reason why we've been going round in circles with the keeper debate for the last 6 years or so! If we had a top-class gloveman who could average 30 with the bat then the problem would be solved - well, possibly anyway...

[Big_Bad_Bob]

I think Read would average 30 with the bat for the rest of his career if he was recalled now.

His FC average was about 28 when he was dropped in 2004. Since that time his FC average is in excess of 45, and probably nearer to 50, but he's only been given 4 further Test matches.

He averaged just under 40 in the first two, and then coming into a side that was 3-0 down with the Ashes gone, and with no cricket to speak of in 3 months, made a gritty 26* while the rest of the side of the collapsed around him at the MCG, but after two failures at Sydney was discarded seemingly for good despite immaculate and indeed record breaking glovework.

You'd struggle to make it up. Only in England.

[Chivalry Augustus]

I think Chris Read's keeping is a bit over-rated nowadays. He might not concede byes but he lets a few balls through that he never would have used to. He's still a very good keeper but it has dismayed me a bit in the last year and a half to see him, firstly, dropping catches quite often (just to contextualise that, quite often should be termed as less often than everybody else but more often than the GOD that is Chris Read would usually) and, secondly, to see him juggling with balls that haven't really gone through with much zip. Naturally, this deterioration is only relative and Read is still much better than the competition.

It's noticeable in recent years that he has often made runs when the team is in most trouble or when pitches are falling apart. His performance up at Old Trafford last week was a fine example. He is often interpreted as a batsman without a proper defence, I personally see him as a batsman with an ungainly defence. He can look very stupid when getting out, or rather very ugly.

[lardbucket]

Bob's argument is a good one, but one which is steadfastly ignored by the Read-haters.

If the anti-Reader's logic were extended to, say, Matt Hayden, he would forever be remembered (or forgotten) as a poor opener, not quite up to Test class, who averaged about 22, with one horrible century propping that up.

Read's batting ability and maturity NOW are what should be looked at; not his performances as a callow youth. Although I think this mistake was made 3 years ago, and now that it's been thoroughly made, his time has probably passed.

Steven Davies?

[Big_Bad_Bob]

The popular opinion of Davies is that he is another in the Jones and Prior mould of batsman-wk.

From what I saw of him last week, however, it seemed that Davies' keeping has improved substantially over the winter - something that Prior's never will, as he simply doesn't have the basic tools to do the job. I.E. Footwork and soft hands.

[DJ_Smerk]

GoJo might be secretly making a case to return to England.


Averaging 31. Considerably far behind the rest though one would think.

[Basil]

GoJo might be secretly making a case to get a game for Canvey Island Sunday Third XI

Fixed beyond all doubt.

[DJ_Smerk]

A player I've often wondered about is, Jonathan Trott. For a guy averaging over 40 with 16 first class centuries to his name and in his late 20's, how come he's only played 2 T20's for England?


He could challenge Cook for a place at the top of the order if he struggles.

[DJ_Smerk]

Bar the fact he's a Saffie.

[Red]

Hughes bowled by Parnell for 12 in the 50 over match. A rare failure for him.

[Brass Monkey]

Prior kept well in this Test, to whinge on is moot. Save it for a time when he underperforms. His 45 gave us some impetus when the chips were down and helped change the match in our favour. Attrocious to be getting your 'Prior is shit' cock out now.

[Big_Bad_Bob]

Nobody was getting their 'Prior is shit cock out' as far as I can see.

[Henry]

No matter what you think of his keeping, it's hard to argue that Matt Prior isn't a classy batsman. The feeling is growing that he could hold down a spot in the England team with his batting alone.

[Henry]

Trescothick and Hildreth tearing the Scottish bowlers apart at Taunton. Trescothick is in with a chance of a List A double ton.

[Big_Bad_Bob]

Tres gawn for 144 off 108 balls.

[Henry]

Pah. Woofed him good.

[lardbucket]

Nobody was getting their 'Prior is shit' cock out as far as I can see.

They might be; it's hard to tell when it's wall to wall cocks being waved about and juggled.

[tac]

Oh, shut up, lardy, and go back to rubbing your cock like a good boy.

[Big_Bad_Bob]

Nobody was getting their 'Prior is shit' cock out as far as I can see.

They might be; it's hard to tell when it's wall to wall cocks being waved about and juggled.

[PeterCS]

In fairness, it's hardly Crufts.

[PearlJ]

Nobody can stop the unstoppable Gloucestershire.

[horace]

Another shock stat from the game - Read conceded a bye - his first in 5 matches of FC and OD cricket, something around the 400 overs mark between this and the last.

Shock, horror. Still, England prefer backstops with a batting average of 35 to wicket-keepers who might just average 30.

At present, Australia has one of them as well, so it shouldn't hurt you too badly this year.

true...the comp between haddit and prior will be novel

who drops the most catches and concedes the most byes

and of course who scores the most runs...

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