View Full Version : Time for a new 'keeper?.
Is it time the Australian team opted for a new gloveman and allowed Gilchrist to concentrate on his batting, perhaps at the top of the order?. After that decision not to go for a catch in the Test v Sri Lanka I am beginning to have my doubts about his stature as the best gloveman in Australia at the moment.
Australia has always been at the pinnacle of all facets of the game and 'keeping is not immune from the pursuit of excellence.
Fall Out Boy
10 Mar 2004, 16:33
So you want to drop the BNG?
Originally posted by jozeph
Is it time the Australian team opted for a new gloveman and allowed Gilchrist to concentrate on his batting, perhaps at the top of the order?. After that decision not to go for a catch in the Test v Sri Lanka I am beginning to have my doubts about his stature as the best gloveman in Australia at the moment.
Australia has always been at the pinnacle of all facets of the game and 'keeping is not immune from the pursuit of excellence.
That is the biggest load of garbage I have read this year.
Adam Gilchrist has never been the 'best gloveman in the country' - and never will be. He is an adept keeper, and amazing batsman. His keeping ability is merely a bonus that gives the Australan team added flexibility.
One miscalculation on his behalf, and you're ready to rob the team of that luxury.
Gopies 2002
10 Mar 2004, 16:40
I don't think Gilly is keeping well at present (probably the last 12 months). However having him keep gives us a great deal of depth.
CatManDo
10 Mar 2004, 16:48
Its not the first time he has mis-judged one like that... but the benefit of having him keep and bat far outweighs the other option. Maybe later in his career.
Anyway Jozeph Gilly is not a Test opener and never will be. Its only the field restrictions in one dayers that make him a good opening option.
EssJayW
10 Mar 2004, 16:59
Originally posted by Zeke
That is the biggest load of garbage I have read this year.
Adam Gilchrist has never been the 'best gloveman in the country' - and never will be. He is an adept keeper, and amazing batsman. His keeping ability is merely a bonus that gives the Australan team added flexibility.
One miscalculation on his behalf, and you're ready to rob the team of that luxury.
What he said....
Kane McGoodwin
10 Mar 2004, 17:27
Gilly's main strength is that he gives us a longer batting line-up & is a heck of a dangerous #7 batsman. Playing him solely as a batsman severely dilutes that strength.
dr nick
10 Mar 2004, 17:40
he's revolutionised the way the game is played in that specialist keepers are now redundant.
Dogwatcher
11 Mar 2004, 08:40
Originally posted by nicko18
he's revolutionised the way the game is played in that specialist keepers are now redundant.
For now.
I don't really think he has made specialist keepers redundant - by your statement I'm assuming you mean giving the gloves to someone who can do an okay job but is selected in the side because of his batting ability.
Alec Stewart played that role for years (the most leaden footed keeper I've seen) but I would think Adam Parore, Mark Boucher, Patil and others would have a say about that comment.
Originally posted by Dogwatcher
For now.
I don't really think he has made specialist keepers redundant - by your statement I'm assuming you mean giving the gloves to someone who can do an okay job but is selected in the side because of his batting ability.
Alec Stewart played that role for years (the most leaden footed keeper I've seen) but I would think Adam Parore, Mark Boucher, Patil and others would have a say about that comment.
I tend to agree with Nicko - but I think it is predominantly an Australian attitude. I don't think the australian cricket team can ever revert back to a specialist keeper who averages 20ish batting at 8. Gilchrist has changed the mindset. We are going to see alot of young batsmen take up keeping, just to add an extra dimension to their game. I for one think it's an exciting period of change.
The Spornstar
11 Mar 2004, 09:10
Originally posted by Zeke
I tend to agree with Nicko - but I think it is predominantly an Australian attitude. I don't think the australian cricket team can ever revert back to a specialist keeper who averages 20ish batting at 8. Gilchrist has changed the mindset. We are going to see alot of young batsmen take up keeping, just to add an extra dimension to their game. I for one think it's an exciting period of change.
I don’t like it at all. This will mean the art of keeping will start to die. I still think, however, that Gilly is just a freak and that this won’t always happen. I think there is still room for specialist keepers in cricket – all you need is 1 or 2 missed chances in a test match and the extra 20 runs with the bat per innings is wiped away.
Originally posted by The Spornstar
I don’t like it at all.
Get used to it, sunshine!
Black Thunder
11 Mar 2004, 09:31
Gilly's keeping when he first started was very underrated. I can remember him taking some absolute screamers (particularly leg-side) in the past.
but over the past 12-18 months i do agree that he's keeping has definetaly gone downhill.
It will be interested to see what happens if he's keeping continues to regress and what the selectors decide to do.......
No matter what happens he'll still stay in the team for a period as a specialist batsmen.
CatManDo
11 Mar 2004, 09:46
Originally posted by The Spornstar
I still think, however, that Gilly is just a freak and that this won’t always happen.
Exactly.
Its nice to be able to say the specialist keeper is dead, but theres never really been anyone like Gilly before, so its not exactly a given that we'll always be able to call on a keeper batsman with similar ability.
Anyway, does the selection of Seccombe on this tour not give out a few clues, at least for the mean time?
Russian
11 Mar 2004, 10:30
Out of the current squad two keepers would probably improve the batting lineup if Martyn and Symonds were the two to make way. Gilly shouldn't make the trip to Zimbabwe, give him 3 months off after this series.
But in general, Gilly should be the Australian keeper.
CatManDo
11 Mar 2004, 10:42
Originally posted by Russian
Gilly shouldn't make the trip to Zimbabwe, give him 3 months off after this series.
Interesting... why do you say that?
Russian
11 Mar 2004, 10:54
Originally posted by CatManDo
Interesting... why do you say that? Because they keep resting him but it only gives him 5 days off or something, doesn't really achieve a lot. He needs some time off all cricket IMO