Geraint Jones smacks a ton off the Kiwi's

[Scott-Wozniak]

G O Jones c S E Bond b C S Martin 101 107 11 5

I'm sure you've all seen the Kent v NZ Scorecard at Canterbury, sadly I haven't seen the Geraint Jones innings, would love to have seen it - it looks like a corker! 101 runs off 107 balls - just less than a run a ball including 11 fours and 5 sixes!

And people wonder why Read was replaced by this guy! This guy can bat, and all he's doing here is further confirming his place in the England side, and just as importantly - his right to that place. I'm sure Fletcher and Vaughan will be really pleased by this century - it bodes well for the Test series.

Scott

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Scott-Wozniak

G O Jones c S E Bond b C S Martin 101 107 11 5

I'm sure you've all seen the Kent v NZ Scorecard at Canterbury, sadly I haven't seen the Geraint Jones innings, would love to have seen it - it looks like a corker! 101 runs off 107 balls - just less than a run a ball including 11 fours and 5 sixes!

And people wonder why Read was replaced by this guy! This guy can bat, and all he's doing here is further confirming his place in the England side, and just as importantly - his right to that place. I'm sure Fletcher and Vaughan will be really pleased by this century - it bodes well for the Test series.

Scott

I almost went to see that game too..bloody typical . Damn, wish I'd gone!

Still, that's food for thought for us Read fans! If he can bat like that for England, it can only be a good thing...

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

Still, that's food for thought for us Read fans! If he can bat like that for England, it can only be a good thing...

Kirsty

This is exactly why he did replace Read. Without wishing to reopen that 'can of worms' Read had plenty of chances to show what he could do with the bat for England - and never shone, never really looked like getting a decent score. You have to be able score runs at County level, and Read never did - I think he's got one First Class Century to his name.

Jones however has scored runs at County level, and proved again he can score runs against a decent bowling attack too, as you say it bodes well - I just hope he can do it at Test Level.

Scott

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Scott-Wozniak

Kirsty

This is exactly why he did replace Read. Without wishing to reopen that 'can of worms' Read had plenty of chances to show what he could do with the bat for England - and never shone, never really looked like getting a decent score. You have to be able score runs at County level, and Read never did - I think he's got one First Class Century to his name.

Jones however has scored runs at County level, and proved again he can score runs against a decent bowling attack too, as you say it bodes well - I just hope he can do it at Test Level.

Scott

Yep, I know he had a good average in first class cricket, but I was not (and still am not) convinced he can repeat it at test match level without his keeping suffering....time will tell! Since he came in to the side for the last test v WI, in spite of my disappointment at Reads treatment, I do feel Jones needs to be given a fair run in the test side. Certianly, a few innings like that this summer in test matches and Read will be yesterday's news!

[sostenurter]

Originally Posted by Scott-Wozniak

Kirsty

This is exactly why he did replace Read. Without wishing to reopen that 'can of worms' Read had plenty of chances to show what he could do with the bat for England - and never shone, never really looked like getting a decent score. You have to be able score runs at County level, and Read never did - I think he's got one First Class Century to his name.

Jones however has scored runs at County level, and proved again he can score runs against a decent bowling attack too, as you say it bodes well - I just hope he can do it at Test Level.

Scott

Certainly seems like a very nice century, but is anyone worried that the Kiwis might have worked out his game a bit? Initially, Jones wasn't going to play against the Kiwis, Fletcher didn't want to let the Kiwis get any advance practice against our Test side. In the end, he let him play because Jones had hardly had any cricket since getting back from the WI. Hopefully, Jones has revealed no flaws and has thoroughly intimidated the Kiwi attack!

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

I do feel Jones needs to be given a fair run in the test side. Certianly, a few innings like that this summer in test matches and Read will be yesterday's news!

Kirsty

I think Jones will, sadly for Read, keep him out of the side. But I don't see that as being bad at all - competition is good! Read is in my mind - probably one of the best Wicket Keepers in the world in terms of keeping ability. But in modern Test Cricket - that's just not enough, you have to contribute with the bat as well, and Read couldn't/didn't, which was ultimately his downfall.

If you look at all the other Test Nations, putting keeping ability to one side, pretty much all their keepers are capable of scoring runs - even India's patel can score a few runs when needed. Just look at what a PITA Ridley Jacobs was in the West Indies - that guy consistently came in down the order and annoyed/frustrated the England bowlers - and put valuable runs on the board, which kept the West Indies in the game in a couple of matches. Just look at Sangakkara who bats at No 3 for Sri Lanka and averges 43 in Test Matches or Gilchrist who averages an amazing 53 for Australia and bats in the middle order.

People will try and make you think these two examples are anomalys - they're not - they're what makes those sides successful. Having a WK/Allrounder allows extra options elsewhere - another bowler, another batsman - it just makes the side that much stronger and more difficult to beat. Thankfully, I think England realise this and have done something about it, in the form of Jones. I have high hopes for Jones, and can ultimately see him perhaps moving up the batting order into the middle order, which with a bit of luck will allow England to experiment with that 5th bowler slot in the form of a specialist spinner (who isnt expected to make any runs) or a 5th seamer.

Scott

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by sostenurter

Hopefully, Jones has revealed no flaws and has thoroughly intimidated the Kiwi attack!

sostenurter

11 Fours and 5 sixes certainly looks like intimidation to me! It looks like he smacked them about all over the place, and was out to a big one caught near the boundary!

It's great to see, and I'm delighted for him - just hope he can do it in the Tests!

Scott

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Scott-Wozniak

G O Jones c S E Bond b C S Martin 101 107 11 5

I'm sure you've all seen the Kent v NZ Scorecard at Canterbury, sadly I haven't seen the Geraint Jones innings, would love to have seen it - it looks like a corker! 101 runs off 107 balls - just less than a run a ball including 11 fours and 5 sixes!


Scott

Hi Scott,well done Jones

R Key c CBB McCullum b D L Vettori 114 130 20 0

It looks like key is a forgoten batsman,he's in good nick this season,recall?

Ernest

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by ernest

It looks like key is a forgoten batsman,he's in good nick this season,recall?

Afternoon Ernest

Can't see Key being recalled - I think he's had his time. I was reading an interesting article on the BBC site this morning about Rob Key and that will give you the answer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/3714673.stm

Scott

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Scott-Wozniak

Kirsty

I think Jones will, sadly for Read, keep him out of the side. But I don't see that as being bad at all - competition is good! Read is in my mind - probably one of the best Wicket Keepers in the world in terms of keeping ability. But in modern Test Cricket - that's just not enough, you have to contribute with the bat as well, and Read couldn't/didn't, which was ultimately his downfall.

If you look at all the other Test Nations, putting keeping ability to one side, pretty much all their keepers are capable of scoring runs - even India's patel can score a few runs when needed. Just look at what a PITA Ridley Jacobs was in the West Indies - that guy consistently came in down the order and annoyed/frustrated the England bowlers - and put valuable runs on the board, which kept the West Indies in the game in a couple of matches. Just look at Sangakkara who bats at No 3 for Sri Lanka and averges 43 in Test Matches or Gilchrist who averages an amazing 53 for Australia and bats in the middle order.

People will try and make you think these two examples are anomalys - they're not - they're what makes those sides successful. Having a WK/Allrounder allows extra options elsewhere - another bowler, another batsman - it just makes the side that much stronger and more difficult to beat. Thankfully, I think England realise this and have done something about it, in the form of Jones. I have high hopes for Jones, and can ultimately see him perhaps moving up the batting order into the middle order, which with a bit of luck will allow England to experiment with that 5th bowler slot in the form of a specialist spinner (who isnt expected to make any runs) or a 5th seamer.

Scott

well, my issue was mainly that Read had been doing a good job with keeping wicket so it seemed rather harsh to dump him at that stage. Had Jones been picked from the start, it wouldn't have been such an issue for me. I do like the idea of having the option to pick a 5th bowler, and you are right when you say if Jones does bat well it could facilitate this. We shall see.

However, the Read/Jones debate will linger for a long time - if Jones doesn't get off to a good start in the test series with the bat, then HIS place could be under threat from Read. In this situation, competition ISN'T really healthy, because it is preventing consistancy. That's why I hope Jones will be given a good run in the side - if he doesn't get a big score v NZ in the test series, we must persisit with him a while.

Meanwhile, bravo to the fellow! Very well played!