Wicketkeeper for the Sri Lanka Test series?

[Speedboy Salesman]

On Sky Sports Rob Key says it should be Prior, Willis says it should be Mustard. Personally I would give Mustard a try, Prior for me is both shocking and dire, and it's only because it's Moores, who's blind at this sort of thing.

[Rachael]

Read is the obvious first choice... but Foster should certainly be in the tour party (and should be 1st choice if Read is unavailable).

To have two such excellent options is superb.

The 'A' team place should probably go to Davies.

Sadly... none of the above can be certain... and there's a reasonable chance that none of the trio will get a look in

[Speedboy Salesman]

I'll bet it'll be Prior though *sigh* when will Moores learn.....

[greg]

It will be Prior,i wouldn't go for Mustard as he isn't that good bat in first class cricket.My choice would be Foster but there is more chance of me finding a family of small rabbits in my shirt pocket.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Will Foster ever get to play for England? It seems like his name is always present when English wicketkeepers are discussed but he never plays. Always the bridesmaid never the bride I guess...

[Moss]

Read is by far the best wicket keeper in England, therefore he should be first choice. It's really not that difficult.
His treatment so far has been shocking, so let's hope he's given a proper chance and supported all the way.

Sadly, he won't be.

[engssmoothcriminal]

Originally Posted by Moss

Read is by far the best wicket keeper in England, therefore he should be first choice. It's really not that difficult.
His treatment so far has been shocking, so let's hope he's given a proper chance and supported all the way.

Sadly, he won't be.

Given that odds are it will be Harmison or Sidebottom batting at 8 sorry but such idealised notions have to be scrapped for the boring practicality's of picking the best balanced side which gives us the best chance of winning in Sri Lanka. Minus the option of Flintoff dropping down to 7 as part of a 4 man attack there is simply no conceivable way Read can be accomidated into the test side. Prior showed for at least the first 5 tests of his international career that he can fulfil the requirements of a test match number 7 batsmen and to drop him after a couple of failures would hardly be giving the guy a proper chance to solve the problem role in the side. We are not going to redress Read's questionable treatment (and even he was given a run of 8 test matches) by treating his successors equally shabbilly.

If he's fit Prior gets at the very least the Sri Lankan series and barring a total dissaster the New Zealand leg of the winter. If he's not fit then it should be a straight toss up between Ambrose or Batty. However one suspects they will be overlooked and of the underwelming triumvirate of Foster, Read and the nowhere near the end product Mustard, Foster should get the nod.

[Moss]

Prior batted well initially, but he ain't a keeper!

[Speedboy Salesman]

well according to the BBC, Prior takes the gloves. Good lord, that man must think he can do nothing wrong.

[Moss]

Oh dear. It's going to be a Geraint Jones all over again. A slow, painful death of a Test career in the full glare of the media spotlight, where Prior constantly gives interviews about how he and the lads are great and he'll only get better with practice.