Gerriant Jones-Worst Wicketkeeper I've seen

[robbiez666]

He is appauling. I've never seen the like. He consistently misses stumpings and drops easy catches. It is a specialised role and I'm sure Trescothick would do as well and then we could bring Collingwood in.

[Alan b]

We have discussed this before, infact many times on here and I don't think to many people will disagree with you. He is in the team for his batting alone, and sadly his glove work at this level is not up to standard. I know Gilchrist has not a particularly good series but Jones mistakes might/could have proven costly. My own personal view is that Chris Read should be given a go, he is a much better gloveman and isn't to bad with the bat.

[Harold1066]

Rodney Marsh was nicknamed Iron gloves and he turned out to be a half decent WK :D

To be honest, I can`t see them changing a winning team. Unfortunately we don`t have an Alan Knott, Bob Taylor or Alec Stewart. As already said Jones is only in for his batting but his 85 in the 1st innings helped to set up the victory.

Chris Read`s batting is not up to the same standard as Jones but he is definitely a better gloveman.

[SpankySpanky]

If I was Read I'd get practising his batting any spare time he gets, because that wicketkeeper role is definitely up for grabs. BTW, Jones didn't exactly look like a real batsman in the second innings....


SS

[john316]

If I was Read I'd get practising his batting any spare time he gets, because that wicketkeeper role is definitely up for grabs. BTW, Jones didn't exactly look like a real batsman in the second innings....

Who did? :p

[Art Vanderlay]

I don't think they will go back to Read. His batting was shown up to be well below test class for number 7 when he was in the team before. Unless it has come on loads since then, his time has been and gone.

We should think about trying someone else, but as has already been said, they won't change a winning team. How many times has a key Flintoff/Jones partnership put us in a winning position during England's good run? Plus, you never know how changing a member of the team will change the dynamic in the dressing room. Jones seems very popular, and whoever comes in is bound to have a struggle to fit in.

The time to make a change will either midway through the winter tour, or next summer. This will give the heir apparent time to gel with the rest of the squad on the tour.

[kjn6371]

I'd give Read another chance, he's averaging 46 in First Class games this season which isn't that shabby. Luke Sutton of Derbyshire's impressed me with his glove-work whenever I've seen him although he's in his late 20's which would count against him.

[SpankySpanky]

I'd give Read another chance, he's averaging 46 in First Class games this season which isn't that shabby. Luke Sutton of Derbyshire's impressed me with his glove-work whenever I've seen him although he's in his late 20's which would count against him.


So is Jones. Although he has the face of a young cherub, he's actually 29 and one of the older members of the team!!


SS

[Harold1066]

Read will probably end up going on tour but it`s unlikely he`ll play before then and if England keep winning the only way in is through an injury.

[lostboy182]

I take it Read has learned not try to duck under another Chris Cairns yorker again....

[kjn6371]

So is Jones. Although he has the face of a young cherub, he's actually 29 and one of the older members of the team!!


SS

Suprised by that Herr SS, I would have said he was about 22-23.

[mattwakeman]

I take it Read has learned not try to duck under another Chris Cairns yorker again....

Oooooh, I remember cringing at that shot at the time.

[kjn6371]

Didn't he fox Thorpe with one as well?

[Nick[Blarg]]

I don't think you can ever change a winning team. Jones has been frankly terrible this series but we are still winning and as others have said, we don't want to go messing with the squad now and 'upset the apple cart'. Let Jones fluff his way through the 5th test and look at changing things afterwards.

The only change we should have to make ahead of the Oval is Collingwood in for Simon Jones should he not be fully match fit. We don't want to go playing a 'nearly fit' Simon Jones and break him for good.

[SpankySpanky]

Suprised by that Herr SS, I would have said he was about 22-23.


I know, he must have had a very easy paper round, eh? :D Here's the proof:

http://www.sportism.net/ism/sites/sportism/g-jones.shtml


Born in Papua New Guinea to Welsh parents as well. ;)


SS

[cheeseypuffs]

']I don't think you can ever change a winning team.
Are you serious :eek:

[Barny79]

I think Jones is worth his spot for his batting and partnerships with Flintoff. Read is a better keeper, but his batting in Tests has been woeful, it may be better now and worth a chance against weaker opposition, but against Australia his batting ability would be seriously exposed.

[Nick[Blarg]]

Well no, I don't mean EVER but what I'm getting at is the fact the whole team is working together and obviously have a lot of respect for one another. I don't see how changing a line-up that is working so well together can be a good thing.

[cheeseypuffs]

So you would only replace an underperforming player once the team has lost? Surely that would be too late after the Oval match, if the Aussies retained the Ashes?

Personally, I think his batting has been solid enough to give him the benefit considering there is no-one else performing considerably better than him. But I think his main problem is concentration, Jack Russell has said there is nothing wrong with his technique and he can quite obviously take good catches and stumpings. It just seems to me that he switches off a bit at times, like with that run out shenanigans :(

[midknight]

I'd give Read another chance, he's averaging 46 in First Class games this season which isn't that shabby. Luke Sutton of Derbyshire's impressed me with his glove-work whenever I've seen him although he's in his late 20's which would count against him.

Jones is 29 ...

[cheeseypuffs]

So is Jones. Although he has the face of a young cherub, he's actually 29 and one of the older members of the team!!


SS

Jones is 29 ...

Acoustics are good in here ;)

[daz_75]

The thing that worries me is that all the commentators have been saying "If he keep dropping them or missing stumping it will cost us a match eventually" Let all pray it isn't the next one it costs us :cry:

[Art Vanderlay]

The thing that worries me is that all the commentators have been saying "If he keep dropping them or missing stumping it will cost us a match eventually" Let all pray it isn't the next one it costs us :cry:

But it could be argued that Jones' first innings performance with the bat put us in a position to win this test match. If he hadn't stayed with Freddie, then it may have ended up with us all out for 350.

I would like to see a long term alternative brought forward, and I agree that at some point a crucial drop/miss will lead to someone making a critical big score, but he has already been crucial in winning more matches than Read is likely to. Bring along a young keeper/batsman to the winter tour, so that we have a replacement in place if Jones doesn't improve, but it would be a big risk to drop him for the last test.

[Alan b]

What I don't understand with Jones is why at the age of 29 has these problems not being corrected earlier in his career, or did he not take up wicket-keeping until late in his cricketing life ?

[Harold1066]

Maybe he should have a read of this :D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/cricket/video_masterclasses/newsid_4637000/4637445.stm