Jones or Read

[R W S]

How would you like to see the WK position allocated ?

[Sean Beynon]

I think the most important thing here is continuity. I don't think Read should have been dropped in the first place, he kept perfectly and helped his team to a 3-0 lead.

However, he was, and Jones batted superbly at Lord's. He looked to have a solid technique, shots around the wicket, and looked like he belonged in Test cricket as a batsman. In short, with the bat, he was everything which Read was not.

He was clumy with the gloves, but the selectors (or rather, Fletcher) have taken a punt and should stick with it. With the talent of Jones, and Read's undoubted superiority behind the stumps, I can't help but wonder whether we will see both of them in the side within a few years.

[Rich Greenfield]

Geraint Jones

[Rich Greenfield]

Originally Posted by Sean Beynon

I think the most important thing here is continuity. I don't think Read should have been dropped in the first place, he kept perfectly and helped his team to a 3-0 lead.

However, he was, and Jones batted superbly at Lord's. He looked to have a solid technique, shots around the wicket, and looked like he belonged in Test cricket as a batsman. In short, with the bat, he was everything which Read was not.

He was clumy with the gloves, but the selectors (or rather, Fletcher) have taken a punt and should stick with it. With the talent of Jones, and Read's undoubted superiority behind the stumps, I can't help but wonder whether we will see both of them in the side within a few years.

I'd be suprised if Read came back. Mark Wallace will be given a chance before Read comes back.

[Sean Beynon]

I'm not sure that's true. If we can assume Read will remain one-day keeper, I would guess he would replace Jones if some injury or another were to befall him.

[Notts Exile]

I've suggested Jones retains his place until the end of the summer. However if his keeping is shoddy then he gets dropped. Who should replace him I haven't a clue, Reda would be the obvious choice as ODI keeper. Prior has hardly kept all summer so he cannot be seen to be a real candidate. Foster and Wallace have to be in with a shout. Can't say I ever liked the Essex lad though.

[Rachael]

Strikes me that we're in a hole.. and have no way out: if it were his batting that converned me I'd be saying give him until this time next year (which isn't actually that many chances to impress: no batsmen should face the chop on a shorter run than that); alas, it's the glovework that worries... and that's so pivotal to the role... I think the situation has to be under review already.

If we'd drawn or lost the opening match of the series and I were a selector I'd force Fletcher to put up his hand, admit a mistake and give Read the next two (critical) Tests. As it is... we're ahead... look the stronger team.. and don't need to even contemplate such drastic measures: give him 2 more Tests (that's probably 500-600 deliveries) and see if it's just poor early season form and lack of match practice or just a plain simple case of not being ready for the big time.

I don't see the argument for taking 6-8 tests to assess glovework: several balls every over thud through to the 'keeper... lots of balls every session give him a bit extra to do... and there's always a score or so of telling takes to be made in any innings - he's under the microscope pretty closely and has far more opportunities ina single innings to show his class than a batsmen might get in an entire series.

Upshot: review ona match-by-match basis.. but bear in mind that there will never be a better chance to blood someone like Wallace than during this summer's tour by the WI.

[Electric Vic]

If there had been another category, "continue to pick Jones for Tests unless his keeping isn't up to it", I would have voted for that. I'm all for giving new players a decent run in the team, but we need more time to see how Jones fares - especially in English conditions - before booking him in for the next six or seven matches. He kept well on a shirtfront in the Windies, but how will he fare when the ball is moving off the seam and in the air?

[flanflinger]

He should be given as many opportunities as Read, i.e. at least two series to prove himself. He should then be judged on his contribuiton to the team with both gloves and bat. If he is making big runs and doing a decent job behind the stumps, then I will be happy. However, if is keeping is letting the side down, or his batting is not up to scratch, then he should be given the No 1 Keeper spot for South Africa.


PS - I don't think we are in a hole.. I think we are in a great postion, where we can make rational decisons based on performance over a long period. This is better than the appauling short-termism that dogged the late eighties and early nineties.

[Sean Beynon]

I think that's a little harsh Rachael, Read's keeping was far from perfect when he made his debut. Nobody in their right mind would argue that Read looks the better keeper, but it is much too soon to write Jones off as a failure with the gloves.

In addition, its perfectly possible to argue that Jones and Flintoff went a long way to winning the game. Even without (the valid response) that they gave their wickets away, England would have been in awful trouble if both had failed.

In the short term, England need to stick with Jones. In the long-run, assuming his keeping remains below Read's standards, they have to decide whether his contributions with the bat are worth putting up with a few errors behind the wicket. Obvious, I know, but a tough choice.