Fifth Test, Centurion. South Africa v England Day 1.

[Zainub]

I think England should bring back Butcher as soon he's fit - I assume to date he is not, until he isn't I'd stick with Key. I'd definately prefer to see Butcher in there at 3. His experience will be invaluable against Australia, with all the talent Bell has got I don't think there is any substiture for experience, in a high pressure series like the Ashes I would personally always prefer on someone who knows what it feels like to be in the thick of things. Bell is young, he can wait, he'll get more opportunties in the future.

For SA, Aby de Villers has to be the best find of the future for them, I liked the look of his keeping as well, speaking of him, he got man of the match today for scores of 92 and 109 in the match.

[cantplaycantalk]

I like the look of Bell, and I think he could do the job at no 3.
I don't think Key is currently capable at this level.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by cantplaycantalk

I like the look of Bell, and I think he could do the job at no 3.
I don't think Key is currently capable at this level.

Butcher is more experienced, it can be argued he might as well be the more reliable/safer option to go with

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by cantplaycantalk

I like the look of Bell, and I think he could do the job at no 3.
I don't think Key is currently capable at this level.

I agree that Bell looks the better prospect as a no.3 - I wouldn't say that Key isn't Capable, more that he isn't reliable enough. I think that Butcher is going to find it hard to get back into the side now, and it's worth remembering that by the time the next test series starts he will have only played in two tests out of nine. I suspect Key will be retained for the time being. The one thing in Butcher's favour, however, is his previous Ashes experience.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

The one thing in Butcher's favour, however, is his previous Ashes experience.

That one thing is being used as a reason that England have more chance than ever of beating the Australian's this summer.
It is merely the point that England do not have so many players used to being crushed in Ashes series.

Somebody wrote that until Stewart and Hussain (I think it was Hussain, it might've been Thorpe or anyone really!) retired England would never win the Ashes.

Horrid defeat is not good for the soul, whatever anyone says. Even glory in defeat, such as one very large score to win a dead rubber, is not good for the soul.

Victory, however, is a splendid habit. Much of the current England side have this habit. I would suggest that a typically often-crushed-by-Australian's England side of the late nineties would not have forced victory in two sessions over South Africa in the fourth Test. Nor do I think they would have hauled themselves out of the mire, and into a winning position, in the way that Strauss and Trescothick, then Thorpe, Flintoff and Jones did in the second Test at Durban.

So I think Butcher's Australian experiences will not count in his favour.

As you say he has only played two of nine Tests. The two match series with Bangladesh will offer chances for someone to claim his spot. There is a chance, depending on how Fletcher views the Bangladeshis, that some of our South Africa tourists will be rested. There is therefore a chance that Butcher could stake his own claim again.

But I suspect that Bell will be the next claimant, though he will be batting at four, one place below his skipper.