G O Jones

[Linseed_on_willow]

Has in two innings shown more with the bat than Read did in his whole test career. Read is good in the one-dayers, but is not a patch on Jones as a test keeper-batsman. Read supporters should step forrward and admit they were wrong. Jones brings far more to the team than Read ever did.

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Linseed_on_willow

Has in two innings shown more with the bat than Read did in his whole test career. Read is good in the one-dayers, but is not a patch on Jones as a test keeper-batsman. Read supporters should step forrward and admit they were wrong. Jones brings far more to the team than Read ever did.

LOW

I could never understand why people wanted to perservere with Read, Jones is a beautiful batsman, almost as good as a specialist and very exciting to watch.

Scott

[Linseed_on_willow]

He is a specialist. He averages 43! If it looks like a specialist, and scores like one. He could be the one to bring back the balance to the force!

[Linseed_on_willow]

Bye the way, do you agree that if robert Key is ever to be called up again, the time to do it is NOW. **** Collingwood (for the time being). And, I hate to say it but it might be tiime for Hussain to make way....

[Linseed_on_willow]

Damn! I had a sneaking suspicion Styris would get one of them out. Never mind, what I daid about Jones still stands!

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Linseed_on_willow

He is a specialist. He averages 43! If it looks like a specialist, and scores like one. He could be the one to bring back the balance to the force!

The difference for me is that Jones is a beautiful strokemaker, he's exciting to watch, a delight to watch and instill's far much more confidence than Read ever did. All I can remember of Read is someone looking very uncomfortable and it was only a matter of time before he was out. Jones is the opposite and looks solid.

Scott

[Whips_off_the_bails]

He's out now, unfortunately. Another half an hour of this batting could have put the Kiwis out of the game.

It all comes down to the balance of the side. If England want an extra 25-35 runs per match (over a career), obviously they should go with Jones. But dropping a batsman like Tendulkar could cost a lot more.

Obviously it is not just the runs he makes himself, but those that are made in partnership while he is at the crease that are important. There are many factors to consider.

Let's see how he keeps on a seaming wicket. He gave a few byes away in the Kiwis' innings here - Headingley could be the pitch to tell us how good he as a 'keeper.

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Linseed_on_willow

Bye the way, do you agree that if robert Key is ever to be called up again, the time to do it is NOW. **** Collingwood (for the time being). And, I hate to say it but it might be tiime for Hussain to make way....

If, Key is going to be recalled now's as good a time as any, but I still can't see it happening. Collingwood and Strauss are ahead of Key now and I would imagine there's a few others in front of Key right now as well. England do not have a shortage of middle order batsmen pushing for places right now.

At the end of the day, a couple of good innings do not propel Key to the top of the list - he's had his chance and never took it, so he goes back to the end of the queue.

Scott

[Linseed_on_willow]

I think its more significant than just a couple of good innings. By all accounts he tore apart the Kiwis, tore apart Northants, and has become a much better technician.

I was not the greatest Key fan when he was in the side, but if these reports are true, who do you see as ahead of him for a batting place. Duh, Strauss, obviously. but has the time come when England could conceivably exist without Hussain??

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Linseed_on_willow

Bye the way, do you agree that if robert Key is ever to be called up again, the time to do it is NOW. **** Collingwood (for the time being). And, I hate to say it but it might be tiime for Hussain to make way....

Why would Keys be called up? Even if Hussain is left out of the squad in favour of Strauss, we don't really need another batsmen - unless we also leave out Butcher, Thorpe, Tres or Vaughan. That isn't very likely!!!