Time to ditch GO Jones?

[Whips_off_the_bails]

I did resent Stewart's replacing Russell as keeper, particularly as Stewart was hugely successful as an opening batsman. However, our lack of a batting all-rounder made this almost inevitable once it became apparent that Stewart, while not Russell's equal, was not far behind. Don't let Stewart's decline in his last couple of seasons make you forget that at his best he was very good. A spectacular diving catch to dismiss Lara at Lords lives on in my memory.

Russell got dumped after a poor series with bat and gloves in the Carribean. With the gloves at least, Read's display in the Windies was as near to perfect as is imaginable.

Jones' performance today would have looked bad following Stewart's in the latter's last couple of seasons in international cricket. Following Read's performances in the Carribean, it was shockingly bad.

The Astle chance that he dropped was hard, but I wouldn't bet against Read's having taken it. The second dropped catch was a regulation chance.

[yubeingfunny]

Originally Posted by sostenurter

Actually, Read's one weakness as a keeper was a tendency to have a very conservative catching circle. There were a couple of times in the Caribean when the first slip had to dive toward him to take a catch - but because they always caught it, it never occasioned comment. In contrast, Jones was willing to view his catching circle as wider than this, as seen in the catch of Vettori (which was, I have to repeat, pretty good - the guy is not someone who has been turned into a keeper overnight - he is a specialist keeper who has had a bad day).

Don't get me wrong i'm a big fan of both Read and Jones - I'd be happy with either one of the pair - I also think the reaction to one poor-ish display is a little over the top, but i get the impression Read is more agile than Jones, I'm willing to concede the point about catching circles (as someone not acustomed to slip fielding - i have no idea!!!) but in terms of athleticism Read is so natural that anyone would suffer in comparison. The comment about the confidence comes from one or two looks Freddie and Simon Jones seemed to give in response to minor fumbles - a kind of sypathetic look which never really is a good sign

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Scott-Wozniak

I'm staying out of this pointless discussion.

The guy's had (almost) two Test Matches, and already people are calling for him to be dropped - it was only a matter of time before he made a couple of mistakes behind the stumps for people to start going hysterical and calling for Read's recall.

The way Jones bats, I can't ever see Read getting back in the side no matter how bad he is behind the stumps, but that's just my personal view. The guy's young, he needs Test Match experience to find his feet.

This is probably going to be my only post on this subject because I see it as being pointless.

Scott

Scott, I really don't think that many people are calling for Jones to be dropped. It is clear you need to give him a run in the side now he here. Look, I'm a Read fan, and I felt he was treated very badly this winter, but now Jones is here i wish him well. If he can do the job as well as Read and bat as well as he did the other day, that will be that for me (and I found his batting totally charming!).

However, given that Read was being anayalised by many before, during and after almost every test inninngs he played, it is understandable for some Read fans now to apply the same standards to Jones keeping. You are correct to say Jones needs time to find his feet. I (and many others) are happy for him to have it....but we ARE going to be keeping our eyes on him in the meantime.

To say it is a pointless discussion is unfair: It could be argued that since Read was doing a good job as keeper, it was pointless to discuss his batting...afraid it doesn't work that way.

I just wish that this situation had been resolved better, because if we aren't careful, it could become an issue that effects the overall performance of the team.

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

To say it is a pointless discussion is unfair: It could be argued that since Read was doing a good job as keeper, it was pointless to discuss his batting...afraid it doesn't work that way.

Kirsty

What I'm really saying is it's 'pointless' to start criticising Jones's performance when he hasn't even played 2 full Test Matches yet. I hear what you're saying about the 'stick' that Read got, but lets just not forget that Read had played in 9 full Test Matches before people started to moan about his batting - for goodness sake let's give this kid a chance before people start jumping on his back - he deserves that at least.

It was inevitable of course - many of the pro-Read people were just waiting for Jones to make a mistake before they could raise their smug faces and say - 'told you so'. Well sorry, you've proved nothing.

Nothing will change my mind that its easier to raise a gloveman's keeping game to a required level with the right coaching, but very difficult to get someone's batting up to the required level.

Scott

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Scott-Wozniak

Kirsty



It was inevitable of course - many of the pro-Read people were just waiting for Jones to make a mistake before they could raise their smug faces and say - 'told you so'. Well sorry, you've proved nothing.



Scott

Absoultly right: but I DO understand why... and I agree nothing has been proved yet! I hope Jones hits the Kiwi's all over the park tomorrow!!

[high_on_linseed]

Ok, Rachael, I've suspected before, but now you've convinced - me you are Chris Read's mum aren't you ( ; Or at least a relative. Friend? Acquaintance? Go on, admit it.

Bottom line? Jones deserves as long a run in the side as Read did. At least the summer. I would suspect he had a case of nerves in this match, and that alone was enough to lead to a poor performance with the gloves. Or maybe the concentration started to dip in this, the longest, form of the game.

In any case, he should be afforded the chance to come to terms with those factors, just as Read was afforded the chance to come to terms with his apparent nervousness with the bat.

One thing is darn certain, chasing down 280 on the last day of the test, I know who I'd rather have coming in at seven....

[R W S]

You can see the reverse argument - Jones owes his byes & extra runs from the ONE dropped catch so England would need about 40 less! As I am part of the pro jones lobby I guess we have to take as good as we gave and see how he pans out during the rest of the summer - then make them fight for a place on tour to Zim!!!

[high_on_linseed]

From David Hopps in The Guardian, talking about Jones keeping to Giles marathon bowling spell:

"His six-hour spell was particularly taxing for England's new wicketkeeper Geraint Jones. So this was what Test cricket was all about: constant scrambles down the leg side, partially unsighted, and the knowledge that his byes count was slowly creeping up. Had the wicketkeeper still been Alec Stewart, he would have swung round to Trescothick at slip and made a vehement case for a change of bowling."

[high_on_linseed]

David Hopps in The Guardian on Jones keeping to Giles' marathon bowling spell. Interesting I thought.

"His six-hour spell was particularly taxing for England's new wicketkeeper Geraint Jones. So this was what Test cricket was all about: constant scrambles down the leg side, partially unsighted, and the knowledge that his byes count was slowly creeping up. Had the wicketkeeper still been Alec Stewart, he would have swung round to Trescothick at slip and made a vehement case for a change of bowling."

[Mike_Hock]

Don't forget, Lords is a difficult place to keep. I remeber Andy Flower looking like a mug in a test match there. The ball does tend to swing after the stumps. Although the catch he did drop was regulation.

No matter how good Read is, he is going to drop the odd catch.

I wanted to persist with Read also, but the selectors decided he wasn't good enough and Jones has shown what a solid bat he looks. He looks as if he has potential to average 35-40. Plus he gets his runs quick which is vital as he will spend a lot of time batting with the tail.