Bell called up - Butcher out of Tour

[flanflinger]

As pointed out Butcher is only 32. Only two years older than Vaughan.. Why do people right him off as Old, I recon barring injury he has three to four years left at the top level!!

The real long term opportunity for Bell and Key is Thorpe - he has made no secret of the fact that this may be his last tour (I imagine taht he will go after the Ashes) so Key or Bell will get their opportunity then

People often make a point that he has poor career avaerage but fail to take into account that his first years his average was awful and he has managed to drag it back. As Rachael pointed out he was one of the few genuine grafters in the team, prepared to work for bis runs. If fit I would have him over Key and Bell at he moment.

[Chuck Palumbo]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

People often make a point that he has poor career avaerage but fail to take into account that his first years his average was awful and he has managed to drag it back. As Rachael pointed out he was one of the few genuine grafters in the team, prepared to work for bis runs. If fit I would have him over Key and Bell at he moment.

But you can't ignore the fact that he hasn't scored a test century for 18 months and his form in the series against NZ was quite appalling. I just feel that we need a more consistent No.3 that can get us big hundreds and not just battling 50s- and as a famous cricketer once said-it is more of a crime to get out in the 50,60s and 70s then it is to get out for 0 and Butcher invariably gets out when well set due to poor shots and its so infuriating.

[flanflinger]

Chuck,

Yep I agree, the funny thing was that a year ago many people would consider him the most consistent of the English Batsmen and the best for the pivotal No 3 role. He did have a bad series agaisnt NZ and has looked way off form here, but should you serioulsy consider dropping permenatly a player for having a bad one and a half series.

I still think that at 32 he is still a very good option at No 3. With Thorpe probably off at the end of the Ashes, it would be good to have two experinced guys in the middle order (Vaughan and Butcher) rather than a make up of one experinced guy and two relative newcomers (Vaughan, Bell and Key).

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by John

I think England ought to stick with Butcher once he has recovered from his injury. I just don't see any batsmen knocking at the door. I think if Key was the answer we would know it by now. Bells been talked about on and off for a couple of years hardly a ringing endorsement.
But you know Butcher has got important runs before and not just against the hopeless attacks of New Zealand and West Indies.

John - thanks for this great post. Did it take you long? I was just thinking that, if you have a Key you don't need to be knocking at the door, and then in the next sentence I see the comments about Bell and ringing. Fantastic stuff, thanks!

[David W]

Originally Posted by John

I think if Key was the answer we would know it by now.

If Key is the answer it must be a bloody strange question!

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

How long is butcher out for? if he keeps getting injured then he should be dropped, but as FF said he is still 32 and has a minimum 3 years in him probably..... but if he keeps gettign injured he is a liability and is bad for the team. you want a permanent member for that no.3 position.


i also read somewhere robert key wants a permanent place in the side.... is this true?

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1

but if he keeps gettign injured he is a liability and is bad for the team. you want a permanent member for that no.3 position.

He has been unlucky a bizare accident at home and Car crash accounted for two of his injuries

Originally Posted by Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1

i also read somewhere robert key wants a permanent place in the side.... is this true?

Do pigs eat swill? Course he does, he is desperate to make it as an international. What self-respecting Cricketer would not want to play for their country and have a permenant position in the side...

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

no but i mean has he come out and publicly complained about it? he must be very annoyed if he has done. course i know every cricketer wants a permanent place!

yes butcher has been unlucky with his injuries, that dosnt change the fact he gets injured

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1

[...]if he keeps gettign injured he is a liability and is bad for the team. you want a permanent member for that no.3 position.

Butcher had his eyes on the record for the longest run of consecutive games for England when he was playing in England at the beginning of the summer: he'd played for several seasons without missing a match. Just bad luck since.

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

yeh luck has not been with him recently..... injury and then car crash and then another injury, if he recovers from this one, and then keeps going for a while, england should definately keep him because he has a few years in him still..... but if he does get injured more than they some bring in some young blood for sure.