How long has Nixon got?

[outswing]

How long do you think he will be picked for the ODI team, (and possibly the test team)?

He seems in great shape, and i think he can play on for a while, if he wanted to, which is a shame, as i would like to see Matty Prior with the gloves.

Either way, he has definately shunted Geraint Jones, and Chris Read away from the team, and now has to deal with Prior, Foster, and to a lesser extent, quite possibly Davies...

[adamberry]

Assuming Moores' Sussex bias isn't too prevalent , Nixon would probably have the job for the majority of the summer, barring injury etc.

I would love to see Foster or Davies make a challenge though. Preferably a long way ahead of Prior, who I have objected to even being in the squad.

[outswing]

i shouldnt think that Moores should be too biased towards Sussex. I expected Yardy to be in the squad, even if Fletcher was coach, and personally i think that Prior has deserved his place too...

In a few more years, i think Davies will be a prominent player in the England team. He just oozes talent, whenever i see him play.
Is it true, though, that his nickname is 'the mute'?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by adamberry

Assuming Moores' Sussex bias isn't too prevalent , Nixon would probably have the job for the majority of the summer, barring injury etc.

Tell you what adam - I thought when when Read was reinstated as keeper, I thought that the end of Jones/Read, and the whole keeper saga.

Now we have Prior/Read/Foster/Nixon(in possession of the gloves at the moment) and Davies .

[Rachael]

I've no age-related objections to Nixon... as I'm sure he could sustain his current standards (more or less) for another 4-5 years. My objection is merely to the standard of his glovework... and on that front... Prior is NOT a step in the right direction!

Read remains the obvious candidate on the basis that he would ensure Engand were ahead of the rest behind the stumps even if not in batting, bowling and fielding. Should he be unacceptable I suspect Foster would prove adequate. The headlong rush for Davies is understandable... but also ignores Mustard, and perhaps the new reserve wicketkeeper at Warwickeshire, Michael Barnes. IN addition... the captain of the U-19 side is a wicketkeeper... so let's not rule him out!

What England DESPERATELY need is a spinner so good that Panesar would become the second-spinner... placing a premium on glovework... but I'd settle for Rashid making the grade as a Test no 6, forcing Flintoff to 7 and thereby reducing the pressure on the wicket-keeper's batting.

Why the wicket-keeper's batting has to be better than that of Panesar or Simon Jones still escapes me: no-one complained about THEIR batting when they delivered in their frontline role.

[adamberry]

Be fair Rach, the gap between Test and U-19 level is a huge one to make up, many U-19 internationals don't even make it to the first-class arena. However, I agree entirely with your sentiments on the wicket-keeping side, to be fair I'd forgotten all about Mustard, I'm sure he could do a job with the bat as well (as a secondary feature to his keeping).

I'm not sure about Rashid as a Test no 6 though.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Rachael

but I'd settle for Rashid making the grade as a Test no 6, forcing Flintoff to 7 and thereby reducing the pressure on the wicket-keeper's batting.

Problem here Rachael is that you are assuming that Flintoff is going to be out of form forever, he is at the moment bating like a #11, but when his form returns - he will be wasted at 7, his batting at 6 was an important part of the run up to, and the winning of the 2005 Ashes, also Rashid in front of Flintoff???

Originally Posted by Rachael

Why the wicket-keeper's batting has to be better than that of Panesar or Simon Jones still escapes me: no-one complained about THEIR batting when they delivered in their frontline role.

Off course you are right - the best keeper should be selected, and should the spinner, regardless of their batting, but I suppose the England 'so called' selectors feel they NEED a batting keeper to cover up for the rubbish batting England have at the moment.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by adamberry

Be fair Rach, the gap between Test and U-19 level is a huge one to make up

True.. and I know nothing of him.. but he's not THAT much younger than Davies.

Originally Posted by adamberry

I'm not sure about Rashid as a Test no 6 though.

He broke into the Yorkshire side as a specialist batsman rather than as a bowler or all-rounder.... so how about focussing on slender grounds for hope

[greg]

Originally Posted by Rachael

He broke into the Yorkshire side as a specialist batsman rather than as a bowler or all-rounder.... so how about focussing on slender grounds for hope

So someone who bowls his team to victory with a 6 wicket haul on his debut is hardly in for his batting.

[Nostromo]

He seems fit enough and so he might be good for another 3 or 4 years at least in both forms of the game. Bob Taylor played on to his early 40s and although Nixon is nowhere near Taylor's class as a keeper (no one is), he bats reasonably well and some off his mad enthusiasm might gee up the team for the future.