solution for gilly??

[romanwfw]

If you look throughout the series (maybe barring the 1st test), gilly has had to come in under alot of pressure when he bats simply because the top order has failed so many times

The reason why he's done so well before this series is cause he's had the licence to go and there and not have any pressure and just go for the shots. The top order had been performing and he's under no pressure to build up a big innings or bat for a long time

I know he's saved up several times before when our top order has failed but that was for one single occasion at a time. When was the last time our top order has failed so consistently all series? i can think of any time recently at least

I think, and others have said it too, we should move him up to opener and just give him free licence without any pressure. We know he can bat, but we have to give him confidence

Remember, gilly has always regarded batting as priority no.2 and that's why he's been so good at it cause he doesnt pressure himself to bat well as long as he's keeping well. I think the constant scenario of him coming out to save the Australian innings with warney/lee is not positive for his batting mentality

[Wicked Lester]

You're probably right, but it diminishes his claims to greatness in my view.

In fact its a cop out.

Great batsmen modify their game according to the circumstances (Ponting has had to do it, and singlehandedly saved us at Old Trafford).

It's the easiest thing in the world to smash attacks with gay abandone safe in the knowledge that our bowlers are up to the task irrespective of what total we're defending. But our bowling lineups not what it was.

The challenge for Gilly is to adapt to change. Our upper order is not what it was either - the reflexes and footwork are a little slower, the eyesight's not what it was and so on.

So Gilly might have to learn to grind out an innings.

If Gilly can't adapt we might have to confront the unthinkable sooner than we expected.

[romanwfw]

you are right, if gilly cant adapt then his batting status will diminish, but i dont care whether he makes a big score as an opener or no.7, as long as he does well

[dan warna]

he is the wicket keeper, except in the second test his keeping has been sound.

his batting is a bonus.

simply ask the question, that if his batting drops to say an average of about 30 per series, and he still a world class keeper does he still deserve his spot in the side???

looking at the keepers in Australia, only Haddin really comes into serious consideration and his batting may or may not be as good as Gillies, and their keeping seems to be about the same.

Gilly to stay IMO.

his catch yesterday was sublime.

[romanwfw]

never said gilly should be dropped, he's my favourite player, alongside warne

just maybe a different batting spot for him to help him sort out his problems

btw, i'm not sure if gilly could be considered a world class keeper, in fact i dont think there are many very very good keepers atm, he's definitely not as good as healy or marsh were, but he is very good

[utility]

One good reason for pushing him up to opening is that England have planned extremely well and wouldn't be expecting it (though I'd rather Katich open).

[Wicked Lester]

Nor do I advocate for one moment that he should be dropped. His spot is not even up for discussion IMO.

BUT he has to date probably represented the disappointment of the series from Australia's perspective.

A little Gilly magic in any of the last three tests would probably have got us over the line. If Gilly is our all rounder then in the battle between him and Flintoff he's been trounced.

Furthermore, and as I suggested, there's been no shortage of folk (including many on this Board) who've been ready to elevate Gilly to "world's best" status as a batsman. IMHO this series has answered that question once and for all.

He's not even the best batsman in the side. That title sits firmly with the bloke doing the hard yards, increasingly against a relatively new ball, at number 3.