Prior as Keeper

[flanflinger]

I am concerned that I am opening a big can of worms here, and I am sure there will be a debate about Read/Mustard/Davies...

But Jack Russell, a genuine keeper and probably one of the best judges around at the moment said this about Prior

Originally Posted by Jack Russell

"As far as I'm concerned, he is already a better keeper than some people reckon. He kept very, very well in this match.

BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Prior comes of age

[adamberry]

Interesting to see the likes of Russell coming out and saying that. Having watched an England Test match for the first time since Sky took the rights (the wonders of life at University ), I can say I'm satisfied rather than impressed with his keeping in this match. Sure, his constant chirping behind the stumps is an annoyance, but he didn't make any mistakes with the gloves that I can recall seeing.

That said, I still rather have Read in the side instead. Then again, personally I'd rather see Geraint behind the stumps, at least he is a wicket-keeper (of sorts)...

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Russell

England have long been looking for a batting keeper ala (Australian) Adam Gilchrist and in Matt they've found that player. He's already better up to the stumps than Gilchrist, in my opinion, and he is a fine batsman

Now there's a glorious inditement of Gilchrist: no match for a batsman with gloves on who is prone to being caught back on his heals and whose promise as a gloveman is actually lower (if that is possible) than that of Geraint Jones!

[acker]

Originally Posted by Rachael

Now there's a glorious inditement of Gilchrist: no match for a batsman with gloves on who is prone to being caught back on his heals and whose promise as a gloveman is actually lower (if that is possible) than that of Geraint Jones!

People often get carried away with stumping opportunities. Statistics prove even with the likes of Warne and Murali bowling stumpings are rare events, yet purists jump to wicket keepers weaknesses by pointing out other keepers are better at stumpings.

Many stumpings are going to be fairly easy anyway, because the batsmen has over committed going forward been beaten by flight and spin; and does not have any chance getting back in time.

A marginal percentage are going be due to lack of keeping hand speed or cleaning gloving the ball.

Another marginal percentage are going to be hypothetical unrealistic chances that the commentators in hindsight turn into disastrous missed chances that probably 95% of the time the best keeper that ever lived would have missed.

Far more important to concentrate on their skill at taking part in the type of dismissal they are most frequently and likely to be involved in...caught

And as long as they are not a monkey, they get their fair share of run of the mill stumpings, and catch and take the ball well. Then the decision of which one to play should come down to their batting skill

[greg]

I have to say that this is the first game since his debut that Prior actually impressed me,Jayawardene is a better keeper for Sri lanka but he wasn't that far ahead of Prior with his glovework in this game and Prior showed he has fight with the bat.

He deserves a bit of slack after an indifferent summer as he has started the winter well and i hope he carries on as he did in Kandy.

Also that catch down the leg side off Hoggard was as good a piece of glovework as any keeper in the world could have done standing up,even Read would have been proud of that one!!

[first change]

Originally Posted by Rachael

Now there's a glorious inditement of Gilchrist: no match for a batsman with gloves on who is prone to being caught back on his heals and whose promise as a gloveman is actually lower (if that is possible) than that of Geraint Jones!

I find this so irritating. Gilchrist is one of the players of his generation. He is a quality batsman, perfectly competent (and sometimes spectacular) keeper, but just because he doesn't bat at nine, average 8.4 and block for hours, you can't stand him. So infuriating!!!

[first change]

Originally Posted by greg

Also that catch down the leg side off Hoggard was as good a piece of glovework as any keeper in the world could have done standing up,even Read would have been proud of that one!!

Quite right - great catch. If Read had have taken a catch like that (and he probably would have) certain people would be on here saying 'Prior wouldn't have got near it' or 'He wouldn't have the bottle to stand up to the stumps' etc etc. Now, I'm actually of the opinion that Prior's not the best man for the job, but he recovered well from an awful first innings dismissal, and we shouldn't be to precious to give him credit for it.

[Notts Exile]

Jack Russell seems to say whatever the England hierarchy want him to say. Before the Ashes he was saying how good Jones' keeping and batting was!

That said, Prior certainly helped himself behind the stumps in this Test and batted well yesterday. His first innings dismissal was poor, though. One match doesn't change things and the jury must still be out on him.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by first change

Gilchrist is one of the players of his generation. He is a quality batsman, perfectly competent (and sometimes spectacular) keeper

It wasn't me that said (of Prior) "He's already better up to the stumps than Gilchrist": that's Jack Russell for you.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Jack Russell seems to say whatever the England hierarchy want him to say.[...] Before the Ashes he was saying how good Jones' keeping and batting was!

Well Jones did well for a while, His late partnerships saved England more than once, I think Prior will turn out to be another Jones - but if England can't have Read the best, then stck with Prior, the best of the rest IMO.