Matt Prior-should he be keeper?

[Sureshot]

It's not exactly unusual for players to have problems and bad matches at the start of their careers though is it? Infact the majority of international cricketers have problems at the start.

Animator - I remember Prior dropping 2 catches vs the WI (one off Monty, perhaps it was just one?) and is that 2 vs India or is it 3?

Anyway, I still think he looks better behind the stumps than Jones did at times during his first year or so.

 

[BigCrickNan]

It's not exactly unusual for players to have problems and bad matches at the start of their careers though is it? Infact the majority of international cricketers have problems at the start.

Animator - I remember Prior dropping 2 catches vs the WI (one off Monty, perhaps it was just one?) and is that 2 vs India or is it 3?

Anyway, I still think he looks better behind the stumps than Jones did at times during his first year or so.

It would be ridiculous to drop him at this point I agree, but the keeping has been dodgy and the runs are drying up at present.

 

[Simbazz]

Exactly, Evo hit the nail on the head, You wont get a keeper knocking out 200 runs per match and holding 15 catches, it doesnt happen, and if it does, MoM goes to him, but its a one time occurence.

Its the same with allrounders, they can come out and hit 180* at 7, then take the ball and be push, pulled and nudged around off 10 overs and have 0/100 to thier name.

Its difficult to pull both parts of the game together as a youngster playing for the under-15's never mind an International cricketer!

 

[Animator!]

I think people need to realise that Gilchrist is a bit of a one-off.
Stop trying to aim for somebody just like him, he's a complete player, players like that don't come around often.

 

[rabeta]

Yes, although players like Sanga and Boucher get mighty close.

 

[evertonfan]

Nah, I wouldn't really put Boucher in that list. I'd say he's easily the best gloveman out there and he's always consistent in that aspect, but when he's out of form with the bat, he's really out of form with the bat.

 

[Simbazz]

Sanga, in all respects i feel is a better gloveman than Gilchrist, but thats due to Gilly's age more than anything. Influencial wise, and effects on the team, Gilly wins it all hands down, he gets the bowlers going and gets the batsmen down!

But yeah, Prior wont ever be the next Gilly, we need to learn that he'll probably be amazing in one aspect and pretty poor in the other on a good day!

 

[irottev]

Well Sangakara doesn't want to keep in tests any more to focus on batting. So whether you count him still is a question. It's a shame really, because he was a really good glove man.

 

[sd92]

He is a great gloveman, but i dont agree he is better than Gilchrist, Gilchrist is far superior IMO

 

[aussie_ben91]

Pietersen's the only one in the England team who averages over 50 in Test Cricket & the expectation of Prior is that his supposed to automatically become the next Adam Gilchrist who averages 48 in Test Cricket. :help

Generally what you want is Prior's bat average to float around 40 odd throughout his career & his wicketkeeping to keep on improving. That's a more realistic look at things.

 

[harishankar]

Dhoni's footwork seems to be better than Prior's although Dhoni still fumbles the ball from time to time.

 

[Will_NA]

Prior feet are very static while batting as well.

 

[Cricketman]

I think Dinesh Karthik would be a fine keeper-bat. He's already proved his worth with the bat and as far as I know is better behind the stumps then Dhoni.
Just wonder how 90-100 overs behind the wicket and immediately coming out to open the innings would effect his batting, though.

 

[MUFC1987]

I don't see the problem with Prior to be honest. Sure he's dropped a couple of catches which can be construed as a bad game, but it happens. Our best Wicketkeeper/batsman in recent time (Alec Stewart) wasn't that great at the start, he took his time to settle in and did superbly. The same luxury should be given to Matt Prior in my opinion.

 

[sd92]

Dhoni's footwork seems to be better than Prior's although Dhoni still fumbles the ball from time to time.

From time to time? At trent bridge he couldn't keep hold of the ball!