England v West Indies - 3rd Test

[Statto]

mmmmm.... its starting to look a bit worrying...

More than a bit worrying.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Not sure how England have managed to get into a position where we might lose this test. Does not bode well for the India series!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

In the same over, the new man, Denesh Ramdin, was dropped by Matt Prior diving down the leg-side.

The debate reopens? Is that three drops now?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I haven't been too impressed by Prior's keeping in this match. For me, Chris Read should never have lost his place.

James Foster was pretty tidy with the gloves today and regarded as being on par with Read. His batting was supposedly a weakness, but averaged over 50 last season. Hmmm...

I was quite happy with Nixon, although he hadn't been tested in the Test arena.

I am a firm believer that a wicketkeeper should be the best glovesman, unless you have a Gilchrist type player on your hands. A 'worldclass' 'keeper can save you countless runs and 'take wickets', with a knock on effect of saving runs.

For me, I would go for Foster. Haven't seen much of Davies, who seems to be regarded as another one for the future.

Foster?
Read?
Nixon?
Prior?
Davies?
Pothas?

Why don't we have this conundrum with the bowlers!?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Read was in the team in the home series against Pakistan last summer, then inexplicably dropped. Had he been allowed to continue, I don't think we would be having this debate now. I guess Prior will be given a long run, largely due to Moore's influence, but from what I have seen of him in these test matches and for Sussex, I don't really see him as a long term answer.

As for the bowlers, god only knows. I think we should definitely persevere with Harmison, and Monty and Hoggard are decent when fit. In my opinion though, Sidebottom is not up to Test standard, and nor at this moment in time is Plunkett. Problem is, possible replacements like Anderson and Mahmood are even worse. The one I am interested in is Stuart Broad, who I admit I have NEVER seen. People seem to say good things about him - worth a go?

I read about Read being unpopular and something about a 'bag dumping' incident at Notts. Shame if he has been dropped for that sort of reason alone.

On the bowling - we dearly miss Simon Jones, but I don't think, sadly, he will ever be the same player again. I have only seen a small amount of Chris Broad, on TV and in real life, but not enough to make any sort of balanced assessment. It really is a worry that we have so few pacemen on the scene, but I think the appointment of Allan Donald can only be beneficial, although you have either got it or you don't.

I noticed that James Harris took seven wickets vs Gloucs and he is only 17!!

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/212739.html

Although obviously not the immediate answer and too early to tell if he will build on this blinding start to his career.

 

[vulture]

England will still win.Once the Windies lose another wicket then the other 4 will go very quick.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Is his name not STUART Broad, BoF??

That is the one.

Sadly, I think the great Chris Broad played in the first game I went to see in '86, although I didn't pay much attention to the game then. Counting down the minutes to play on the outfield.

 

[Horsham Gull]

Sussex unlovers how can you mock Prior!!!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Sussex unlovers how can you mock Prior!!!

Don't get me wrong. He has been fantastic with the bat, but it is against a very ordinary Windies attack. I truly hope that he keeps the gloves for years, but if he is not the right man for the job i.e. keeps dropping catches, then I would rather he was dropping them for Sussex and England employ a world beater behind the stumps.

 

[Gwylan]

I would rather he was dropping them for Sussex and England employ a world beater behind the stumps.

I wonder if he'd get his place back behind the stumps: Hodd's done OK since he came into the side. It wouldn't surprise me to see him picked as batsman only.

 

[keaton]

I think he's done very well with the gloves. The problems are created because no-one, not even the bowlers no where most of Harmison's and Plunkett's delivieries are going

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I think he's done very well with the gloves. The problems are created because no-one, not even the bowlers no where most of Harmison's and Plunkett's delivieries are going

I'm with Keaton. One of the commentators on TMS described it as 'two keeper bowling' and considered that Prior was on a hiding to nothing keeping to that dross.

Anyone who has ever kept wicket at any level, knows that the better the bowling*, the easier it is to keep. How hard do you think it is for Gilchrist to look good keeping to McGrath when he knows excatly where every ball is going to go?


* Top spinners are an exception to this rule. A top spinner will make a poor keeper look VERY stupid indeed!

 

[Uncle Buck]

311-6

 

[Beach Hut]

WI 335/6 only 120 runs to win

 

[Uncle Buck]

348-7

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

Sammy gone c&b Panesar

 

[hans kraay fan club]

All over. Ten-for for Monty.