* * * The Ashes - Official Thread * * *

[hans kraay fan club]

"I find it amusing that to be considered a 'specialist keeper' by some purists, you have to be a shit batsman! As if the two disciplines are in any way connected, and that very shitness with the bat, makes them a better keeper. "

Not sure that's right. I'm not an expert at keeping (other than to grumble when they don't stop the one ball in 50 I bowl that I actually turn) but I understood that it is broadly accepted that there are better glovemen but they aren't as good with the bat. Matt Prior is the best compromise (a good keeper and a batsman with an average of 40) but I don't think "specialist keeper" equates directly to shit batsman.

Would you agree that there are some better keepers even though it can't be argued that there are no better batsmen who could keep.

The upshot is - could Matt get better or would any top keeper have missed the stumping and not gloved the edges? [Halisham's point about the thick edges noted].

I didn't see the two edges, but the fact is that Prior has held EVERY regulation catch all series, and a couple of really good ones. His byes total has been miserly, despite some extravagant late swing (after the stumps). This is all down to his hugely improved footwork - note he is throwing himself around far less than he used to - he doesn't need to, as he's getting across early. When he does need to throw himself, he's as athletic as anyone. After all his experince keeping to Mushy, Monty and Swann, he is actually pretty good standing up. I doubt Swann would want to swap him for Read or Foster, tbh.

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

This was my point, "specialist keeper" is bull shit bought on by TV "experts", most who have never pulled on gloves only to bat.
There are great wicket keepers about, Foster for example at Essex, but his batting is not so great. Likewise there are great batsmen that are adequate behind the stumps, Alec Stewart for example.
Matt Prior fell into this category IMHO, but his keeping has improved no end, so much so that even the "experts" that used to slag him off now admit he is a world class keeper and a very good lower order batsman.
In fact his keeping has improved so much that some feel his batting has deteriated a bit because he has focussed too much on improving his keeping.
I cant think of another English wicket keeper that can bat (anywhere in the top 7 if required) that can compete with Matt.

 

[El Presidente]

England win the Ashes for the first time in 24 years in Australia, the England team contains a Sussex player, and we're picking holes in him despite him being involved in the RECORD seventh wicket partnership at Melbourne

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I'm not picking holes in him. Just trying to undestand how much better he can/could get.

(And we've retained them at the moment - not won them yet )

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

Just reeived a text from two mates in Melbourne.
They are in a pub with Swany, Matt, Bresnan, Finn, Jimmy A and Morgan. They are all absolutely wankered.
Awesome

:dance:

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

So they should be - brilliant win.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

[yt]tVUCiWDLavY[/yt]

 

[H block]

[yt]tVUCiWDLavY[/yt]

I wish they`d win the series before they do that. Still cringe at the 2005 open top bus tour which was completely over the top.

 

[Beach Hut]

I think Strauss if extremely determined and disciplined enough to rally the troops for a 3-1 win or at least a draw.

Good choice of captain once we wasted time on KP.

I suspect this time next year Cook will captain England.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Ricky Ponting ruled out for fifth and final test with finger/hand injury could need surgery and may be back to lead Australia in the ICC world cup ?

 

[OzMike]

Ricky Ponting ruled out for fifth and final test with finger/hand injury could need surgery and may be back to lead Australia in the ICC world cup ?

My guess is that we wont be seeing him again.

 

[Gwylan]

They don't seem to have a "whole bunch" of youngsters ready to come in, and there is no obvious replacement as captain - which was admitted last week by one of the selectors (although he later retracted it). Anyway, although the Ashes are lost for them, it wouldn't do them any good to replace the team wholeseale only to get thumped in the last test. I don't know what the answer is for them, but Ponting has been such a good player I hope he gets to leave the post on his terms, when he wants to. But then, who cares, we won

They have to find some youngsters from somewhere: Ponting, Hussey and Katich are all mid-30s and have a couple of years at most (and if Clarke's loss of form is permanent, they may need to replace him too).

Clarke is the obvious, immediate stand-in captain but he really has to score some runs soon.The other option as captain is Cameron White, widely regarded as the best captain among the state sides. I suspect Marcus North was being groomed as the future captain, so his loss of form was bad news for the selectors.

As for young players coming through: Khawaja, Ferguson, Marsh, George, Hastings should surely get a chance soon

 

[Beach Hut]

Ponting will be back for the World Cup no matter what.

 

[rcf0712]

They have to find some youngsters from somewhere: Ponting, Hussey and Katich are all mid-30s and have a couple of years at most (and if Clarke's loss of form is permanent, they may need to replace him too).

Clarke is the obvious, immediate stand-in captain but he really has to score some runs soon.The other option as captain is Cameron White, widely regarded as the best captain among the state sides. I suspect Marcus North was being groomed as the future captain, so his loss of form was bad news for the selectors.

As for young players coming through: Khawaja, Ferguson, Marsh, George, Hastings should surely get a chance soon

Cameron White, if not an obvious one to many, is a good call as some Aussie cricket tragic mates of mine have been suggesting he's been ahead of Clarke for a while now....

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Khawaja will take Ponting's batting slot in Sydney, and for extra comedy value, Doug the Rug is back in the squad for Harris

 

[Gwylan]

Khawaja will take Ponting's batting slot in Sydney, and for extra comedy value, Doug the Rug is back in the squad for Harris

Joke selection. Bollinger was way off in Adelaide - and it's another left-armer to scuff up some rough for Swanny. Hughes is no test opener and Smith may be a test cricketer for the future but not at no 6.

Do the selectors have a video of Hauritz in a threesome with a goat and a pig? The bloke has taken more wickets in the past month than Beer has taken in his career, has scored two successive tons and is on home turf and STILL can't get in. 3-1 for England it is then.

 

[Beach Hut]

Joke selection. Bollinger was way off in Adelaide - and it's another left-armer to scuff up some rough for Swanny. Hughes is no test opener and Smith may be a test cricketer for the future but not at no 6.

Do the selectors have a video of Hauritz in a threesome with a goat and a pig? The bloke has taken more wickets in the past month than Beer has taken in his career, has scored two successive tons and is on home turf and STILL can't get in. 3-1 for England it is then.

Hauritz must have seriously pissed off the Aussie selectors at some point

 

[Marc]

I suspect this time next year Cook will captain England.

why so? Personally I think this England team needs to carry on under one Captain for another 2 years of its growth, we still have a long way to go before we're the best in the world. Also I dont think Cook has the experience needed yet to lead a team in tough situations, if anything Strauss is still learning and growing with confidence each series, keep him at the helm I say.

 

[Beach Hut]

why so? Personally I think this England team needs to carry on under one Captain for another 2 years of its growth, we still have a long way to go before we're the best in the world. Also I dont think Cook has the experience needed yet to lead a team in tough situations, if anything Strauss is still learning and growing with confidence each series, keep him at the helm I say.

Don't get me wrong I would like him to stay as well but he has a young family and may want to take time off at some point or call it a day as it really does take its toll on family life.

That said didn't he miss a tour once and was allowed to ?

 

[Gully]

Ricky Ponting ruled out for fifth and final test with finger/hand injury could need surgery and may be back to lead Australia in the ICC world cup ?

I have heard of tennis elbow and housewife's knee...is this the first case of chicken finger?