Monday, July 10, 2006
Read all about it
Imagine in a parallel universe there are two wicketkeepers. Keeper 'A' and keeper 'B'. Keeper 'A' is a better batsman but keeper 'B' is the better keeper. Keeper 'A' struggles with his batting form although his keeping improves, although, it must be said, not to the levels of Keeper 'B'. Keeper 'B plaugs away. Since his demotion from the team he has averaged more than 50. It is almost 3 years since he was omitted. His keeping remains much better than Keeper 'A'. Conventional thinking would see Keeper 'B' being recalled.
Using this as a template it is simply inconceivable that Geraint Jones is preferred to Chris Read with England Chairman of Selectors given the implausible reasoning that "We have selected Geraint Jones, because we believe he is the best wicketkeeper" . Simply put: you believe wrong.
Playing for England 'A' against Pakistan Read struck an unbeaten 150 and kept assuredly. What more does he need to do? Jones must have some incriminating photos of Graveney, Fletcher et al.
Interestingly, after England's second innings declaration in which openers Butt and Farhat bowled 40 overs between them, England captain, Robert Key respondned by bowling every England player aside from Matthew Hoggard (an injury scare after Tim Bresnan trod on Hoggy's hand requiring six stitches). The bowling card was:
Bowling O M R W Econ
TT Bresnan 5 1 20 0 4.00 (1nb)
SCJ Broad 7 1 23 0 3.28
JWM Dalrymple 12 1 47 0 3.91
AGR Loudon 5 0 22 0 4.40
RWT Key 4 2 7 0 1.75
OA Shah 5 3 8 0 1.60 (1w)
AN Cook 2 0 4 0 2.00
IR Bell 5 5 0 0 0.00
RS Bopara 2 0 13 0 6.50
CMW Read 3 1 8 0 2.66 (1nb)
Using this as a template it is simply inconceivable that Geraint Jones is preferred to Chris Read with England Chairman of Selectors given the implausible reasoning that "We have selected Geraint Jones, because we believe he is the best wicketkeeper" . Simply put: you believe wrong.
Playing for England 'A' against Pakistan Read struck an unbeaten 150 and kept assuredly. What more does he need to do? Jones must have some incriminating photos of Graveney, Fletcher et al.
Interestingly, after England's second innings declaration in which openers Butt and Farhat bowled 40 overs between them, England captain, Robert Key respondned by bowling every England player aside from Matthew Hoggard (an injury scare after Tim Bresnan trod on Hoggy's hand requiring six stitches). The bowling card was:
Bowling O M R W Econ
TT Bresnan 5 1 20 0 4.00 (1nb)
SCJ Broad 7 1 23 0 3.28
JWM Dalrymple 12 1 47 0 3.91
AGR Loudon 5 0 22 0 4.40
RWT Key 4 2 7 0 1.75
OA Shah 5 3 8 0 1.60 (1w)
AN Cook 2 0 4 0 2.00
IR Bell 5 5 0 0 0.00
RS Bopara 2 0 13 0 6.50
CMW Read 3 1 8 0 2.66 (1nb)