Pretty much anyone can be taught to bat... and one way or the other, it certainly helps if the four bowlers and gloveman, between them, can stick around for the benefit of whichever top-order bat looks like running out of partners - but the emphasis should be on ability to stick around for the benefit of someone like Ponting, Lara or Pietersen, not on ability to contribute as part of a partnership of near-equals!

For what it's worth.. I'd have been happy for Warne to bat at 7, Lee to bat at 8, Gillespie to bat at 9 and a keeper to bat at 10 during most of the Gilchrist reign: sure, Gilchrist wasn't shabby... but if he'd been as bad a keeper as Jones.... and if someone like Keith Piper had been available... I trust the Piper clone would have got the nod.