Read to stay?

[Farmer Giles]

Afternoon friends

Really, I'm just trying to get the hang of this board, which is very attractive, although not as attractive as Brenda, my dairymaid. I posted one on the Beeb MBs this morning about Chris Read. According to Aggers, he has scored just 148 runs in 11 innings. These days, for right or wrong, 'keepers need to score runs. Can he keep his place? Now, where's the button to post this?

[Rachael]

Hi Farmer G.

What do you think Read needs to average to be worthy of the gloves? Does he need to be up there with Russell (a good bat in my books) or would, say, low 20s do?

Oh - you can post a "quick reply" with the odd looking button to the right of the proper "reply" button: it puts you in the window at the bottom of this screen and is much easier / quicker!

[Vinoth]

Hello


Yes Keeper Plays An Important Role As An Batsman In The Game.


We Have A.Gilchrist For Aus


Dravid For India

Boucher For SA

Sangakarakka For SL

Had Stewart For England, They Are In Need Some Quality Men Like Them.


They May Win Against WI But Cannot Withstand Against AUS , IND , SA.

[Richard Jenkins]

hello Every one!
i've escaped from BBc MB too, and thought I'd hang around here.
Read will score some runs really soon. i'd pick a "wickie" over a "batsman wickie" cos a "wickie" will more likely take wickets which equates to runs anyway. I like this MB .

[Farmer Giles]

Hello again Rachael, see if this works. The only trouble seems to be that, when I push quick reply, I get the last post on my screen, which in this case is Richard Jenkins, so I have to keep scolling up to see what you said. I think wickies do need to score some runs, and Read is averaging about 13 over the last 11 innings. That's real tail-ender stuff. He'll be undertaking Tufnell soon!

[Rachael]

Hi Farmer: the following was my response to Mark on the other board: sums up my thoughts really - he's stil got a lot to prove... but he ain't doing as badly as the headline stats suggest.

Mark - I think your summary of the Read situation is basically fair... and I'll be the first to admit that he needs to start convincing a bit more with the bat than he has to date... but if you look at the run from the start of the Sri Lanka tour to today... I reckon it's more encouraging than you suggest.

Sure... he struggled to get starts in Sri Lanka: so did Vaughan, Tresco, Hussain, Flintoff and the rest.

Read got a start in the 2nd innings in Galle and as I recall looked fine until he let himself down by an intemperate slog: more a temperament than a technique thing, but not a huge concern either considering what followed in the 2nd test, where he was unbeaten after 91 deliveries in the second innings in Kandy: only Thorpe (twice) Vaughan (once) and Batty (once) managed such a significant contribution to the England cause.

This was followed by an unbeaten innings in the 3rd test: you can't get more exemplary than that - he just ran out of partners. He didn't get a start in the 2nd innings... but that happens (Tresco didn't either). Bottom line: he got starts in 3 out of 6 innings (pretty impressive), batted more comfortably than anticipated in each (the wicket-keeper's eye for the ball helping) and was unbeaten twice.

That Sri Lanka record strikes me as pretty exemplary for a keeper.

Enough of that tour: now we're in the WI. He's played one innings against a Vice Chancellors XI where he didn't get a start (like Tresco, Flintoff and co), a 2nd innings where he belted a superb 61 off 105 balls against an attack that did for Tresco, Collingwood, Flintoff, Clarke and Giles, he's been unbeaten in a brief 2nd innings against the same attack... and he's played 2 test innings.. the first of which saw him looking extremely comfortable up to a rash shot that he surely regrets... and the second of which saw him join Tresco, Vaughan and Flintoff in a list of people who didn't get starts.

Thus far it ain't enough to say he's going to be a great no 7 bat... but if you'd offered me that sort of record at the start of the winter I'd have said "take it": it certainly ain't bad.

[Farmer Giles]

Afternoon Vinoth. Yes, a 'keeper who can score a few runs, as well as be tidy behind the sticks is well worth it. I mean, look at Gilchrist. Takes the catches and then scores the odd ton or two. Stewart did it for England as well. However good a gloveman is these days, he needs to be able to pile on the runs. After all, a wickie is only as good as the bowlers, or as bad as the opposition batsmen. He can't take catches if no-one nicks it, or stump anyone if they stay in their crease.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Originally Posted by Farmer Giles

Afternoon Vinoth. Yes, a 'keeper who can score a few runs, as well as be tidy behind the sticks is well worth it. I mean, look at Gilchrist. Takes the catches and then scores the odd ton or two. Stewart did it for England as well. However good a gloveman is these days, he needs to be able to pile on the runs. After all, a wickie is only as good as the bowlers, or as bad as the opposition batsmen. He can't take catches if no-one nicks it, or stump anyone if they stay in their crease.

Afternoon FG, afternoon everyone. VERY swanky in here dont you think, speedy too. Unlike Reads batting, give the next 2 tests, the warm the one dayers but I'd be giving alot of the thought to giving him the elbow before the NZ series, or definatley after it if he doesnt sort himself out.

[N.M.M]

Afternoon all, sick of the BBC forum, seems to have gone back to its slow ways. Heard a rumour of this site so thought i'd check it out. Very spiffy! Might take me a while to get used to it mind! In reference to Read, i would give him this Summer and if he still hasn't proved his worth i'd give Jones or Prior a go behind the stumps.

[Rachael]

Hello RBLC. Let's hope he delivers conclusively then. What I fear is a borderline thing that means we spend the next 10 years talking about whether he should be kept / droped / reselected!