His keeping was also a timely reminder of how good he is, but the simple fact is that he will not play a Test in Australia whilst Jones is injury free.

I can't wait to read his comments once he retires from all cricket, when he can actually say what went on behind the scenes in Fletcher's time.

__________________
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi

Right now the Aussies would stick with Gilchrist out of loyalty... but I'm sure his lack of form has been discussed... and I'm damn sure they would love to have Read available as an option: the Aussies tend to value world class glovework pretty highly.. play on home pitches where wickets are hard to come by... have a top six that can be relied on to score runs... and like to have an edge over everyone else in every department, including glovework.

Curiously, I suspect Read is actually closer to a World XI (where the top 6 is great and glovework is paramount) than he is to an England XI (where pragmatism reigns).

That said.. if Flintoff had been fit enough to play as a specialist bowler in an attack with just Hoggard, Harmison and Panesar for company.. I suspect Read would have kept his place: ditching him would have been hard to justify with the 'keeper batting at eight!

Rachael, I think you spelt quality wrong. You made a mistake and it came out as loyalty!


I don't think you made a spelling error here.

But there's an error there.

Just can't quite put my finger on it...............!

What would a World XI top six look like right now? Something like the following:

Hussey
Dravid
Ponting
Lara
Yousuf
Kallis

If you'd rather have Inzi, Jayawardene or whoever then put them there instead: the point is that with a top order like that... you'd not worry about having batting from seven down!

So who is the best gloveman? forget other considerations... a world XI should have the best gloveman... even if that 'keeper has to bat at XI. I suspect Read is that man.

My concept of a World XI is actually different from yours then.

Seeing as this is the only cricketing world that we know, the World XI are not going to have to actually PLAY anyone.

Thus, it really is the best collection of the world's top cricketers.

e.g. the best 2 openers, 3 middle order bats, 1 allrounder at six, keeper at 7 and four bowlers rounding out the XI.

Selection of that being dependent on actually being the best in the position you are picked for in the world Test arena for some time.

Now seeing as Read has not got England selection pinned down, it confounds me how he is closer to WORLD selection!!

Now that would certainly be surprise choice! Now I would probably pick Read but its hardly a good example of Pragmatism reigning supreme. Its not the worst sin in the world that Fletcher wants a wicketkeeper who can bat.

__________________
"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

I would take issue with that statement. Jones has contributed (albeit it far too fitfully)

1) 85 against Aussie at Trent Bridge, in conjunction with flintoff, the highest partnership in the entire ashes series of 2005.

2) 100 against new zealand in 2004 at headingly. Named man of the match as england won. May have done better than read against chris cairns' slower ball.

3) 41 against Aussie at OT, partnership with flintoff pushing england towards a 400 plus total in the first innings, followed by 27 off 13 balls as they looked to set up a declaration.

4) Unbeaten on 30-odd in pakistan last winter to draw a test...a la the Read innings you mentioned. Cant remember if he got a fifty in first innings or if it was the next test..

5) 70-odd in 2nd innings against south africa as, in conjunction with Thorpe, they pushed england towards a winning position...