Time to ditch GO Jones?

[Whips_off_the_bails]

Rachael describes herself as a cricket fan, not an England fan. Within limits, I understand this, but partisanship is part of the thrill of sport.

I think her remarks about Stewart were grossly unfair, because he was almost as good as Jack Russell in his prime. But GO Jones' error-strewn display behind the stumps is another matter entirely.

As I speak, Richardson gives away four byes, releasing all the pressure that had been built up on the batsman. BRING BACK SPECIALIST KEEPERS! This is not quality cricket.

[sostenurter]

Originally Posted by Whips_off_the_bails

Rachael describes herself as a cricket fan, not an England fan. Within limits, I understand this, but partisanship is part of the thrill of sport.

I think her remarks about Stewart were grossly unfair, because he was almost as good as Jack Russell in his prime. But GO Jones' error-strewn display behind the stumps is another matter entirely.

As I speak, Richardson gives away four byes, releasing all the pressure that had been built up on the batsman. BRING BACK SPECIALIST KEEPERS! This is not quality cricket.

Richardson? You mean McCullum?

I think it's possible to have very, very good keepers who can also bat well. Stewart is a good example of this. There is no reason why Geraint Jones cannot go on to be like this as well. Yes, he had a bad day with the gloves, but he also showed some signs of being a good keeper - the catch off Vettori is an example. All I know is that Jones has a better chance of becoming a good keeper and a good batsman thatn Chris Read has. I still maintain that it's easier to improve someone's keeping skills than to improve their batting skills.

[Tom Partis]

are you joking about this not being quality cricket? this has been one of the tightest and most enthralling test matches in recent memories. it's not often that you get to the last drinks break of the match and any result could feasibly still occur. this has been a tremendously exciting game and mccullum and jones have contributed to that in no small way.

[Whips_off_the_bails]

Sorry, I meant McCullum.

And it is not quality cricket to release all the pressure built up by your bowlers by allowing easy byes.

Don't confuse excitement with quality. The batting and bowling on display is undoubtedly quality, but the wicket-keeping is soddin' awful!

[Rich Greenfield]

It is not the easiest pitch in the world to keep on. I'd like to see you do any better.

[Tom Partis]

Originally Posted by Whips_off_the_bails

Sorry, I meant McCullum.

And it is not quality cricket to release all the pressure built up by your bowlers by allowing easy byes.

Don't confuse excitement with quality. The batting and bowling on display is undoubtedly quality, but the wicket-keeping is soddin' awful!

so what is exciting cricket if it's not quality? poor quality? all i'm saying is that the erratic nature of the wicket keeper has added to this test match and it makes those individual moments of brilliance all the more exciting for their unexpected occurrence. i think jones has done enough in this test to be guaranteed the gloves for the rest of the series at least, and if he is to be given an equal chance to read, he should keep them for the entirety of the windies series as well. Flintoff and Jones are going to make the most excting 6/7 batting combination in test cricket, mark my words.

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Tom Partis

mccullum has let through byes and has fumbled the ball

Um, and put down catches! Almost identically strangely to the one Jones put down, even though it was a no ball, he wasn't to know that.

Scott

[Whips_off_the_bails]

Originally Posted by Tom Partis

so what is exciting cricket if it's not quality? poor quality? all i'm saying is that the erratic nature of the wicket keeper has added to this test match and it makes those individual moments of brilliance all the more exciting for their unexpected occurrence. i think jones has done enough in this test to be guaranteed the gloves for the rest of the series at least, and if he is to be given an equal chance to read, he should keep them for the entirety of the windies series as well. Flintoff and Jones are going to make the most excting 6/7 batting combination in test cricket, mark my words.

£r... You like bad wicket-keeping?!

[Rich Greenfield]

I really can't believe some people are writing Jones off. He has had one bad day. In the Antigua test he conceded 4 byes to a wide ball. Give him a break people have bad days at the office. Harmison didn't exactly have a great test (yes he took 8 wickets but he only bowled 1 decent spell) but i hear no calls for him to be dropped nor do I hear calls for Hoggard to be dropped and his bowling was pants.

[Whips_off_the_bails]

I'm not writing Jones off. He has been promised eight games to prove himself, the same as Read.

My problem is with those who are trying to defend his performance with the gloves in this match. To their credit, many of Jones' supporters have acknowledged that it was very poor.