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[imran75]

Morning all,

So, he's not had the best series. He's not the only one but he's not had the best few months either. Thus far, he's been the best option for us as his keeping has been as close to faultless as we can get. This test (arguably this series) he's fluffed chances that he normally would have taken and, more importantly, they have turned out to be defining moments. Missing a couple of stumpings last innings springs to mind immediately.

With his keeping now suffering as well as his batting, is it kinder to give him a break? Let him get his head together and find some form? I don't think changing things mid-way through a series is the way forward but I imagine that we'll see a different test wicketkeeper next series.

if that's the case, the question is, who would be the best replacement? Kiesey, Baristow, Buttler are in the frame but they aren't good enough yet...Maybe returning to someone like James Foster?

thoughts?

[Nickauger]

My thoughts are that there is no point in going back to foster or read, and I don't think that any of the others are a good enough all rounder to fill the role! Prior is struggling, but I doubt any-one else who came in will do a better job at the moment. I can't understand why Bairstow is even there to be honest!

[King pair]

Davies in my opinion is the next best thing. or Keiswetter

[imran75]

My thoughts are that there is no point in going back to foster or read, and I don't think that any of the others are a good enough all rounder to fill the role! Prior is struggling, but I doubt any-one else who came in will do a better job at the moment. I can't understand why Bairstow is even there to be honest!

Yeah agreed about Read, although Foster has been having a pretty good season, and could be a good interim until either Prior finds some form or one of the others improves. Completely agree about Bairstow - he's a waste of a place in the squad.

Davies in my opinion is the next best thing. or Keiswetter

Yeah. maybe Davies...I'm not sold on Kieswetter as a Test player; just don't think he's good enough....

[jbrommo]

I think Prior should be dropped as he's done nothing in the last year, although the real problem is who replaces him? Bairstow is not good enough at batting or keeping to play.

[The_Bird]

I don't think anyone is banging down the door.

The most accomplished gloveman apart from Foster and Read is Davies. If Stokes or someone grabs hold of the number 6 position and owns it then England can afford to sacrifice the batting capabilities of their WK and pick the next best glove man I feel they are trying to groom a keeper out of a decent batsman at the moment. A batting allrounder gives the option to play an out an out keeper who's batting might need improvement. Davies should've been Prior's understudy years ago.

[Byo]

Needs to spend more time on his batting and keeping and less time getting involved with the Aussie players!!!! 

[ajmw89]

IMO, Davies is the best bet.  He's a better keeper than Prior and is a good enough batsman.  Kieswetter worries me, and I'm still not convinced Buttler handles pressure all that well when batting

[imran75]

Davies should've been Prior's understudy years ago.

Absolutely...One can't help feeling that the fact he hasn't been brought through is something to do with his openness about his sexuality. He was England's next big thing until he came out. I know it's not the PC thing to say but it does seem a little odd. A discussion for another time perhaps.

[Mtown Don]

I think he should certainly sit out the rest of the series; I'm not sure how anyone benefits from Prior staying in the side in this kind of form. His confidence looks shot and frankly I think his allround performances are becoming embarrassing. This series probably signals the start of a difficult transition period for the team (as much as the phrase is overused) and I think the experienced players who are retained need to have the right attitude to lead/drag the team through tough games at times - Prior lacks that quality and temperament for me.

As Bairstow is the de facto alternative in the squad then I think he should come in for the remaining Tests. However, I don't rate his batting highly and what I've heard from others about his 'keeping suggests that he's unlikely to be able to nail down that spot. Buttler in my eyes is not likely to become a Test batsman regardless of 'keeping ability but seems popular with the decision makers in the England setup. Foakes definitely too inexperienced at this stage. Read (off the back of a dreadful season) and Foster (whose glovework is massively overrated based on his ability standing up to medium pacers in one-dayers) are not the answer in the short or long term in my opinion; if they want to go down that route then Ambrose has been in better form in recent seasons. Kieswetter and Davies represent the best balance of experience and potential with Davies better suited in my opinion. I also like John Simpson at Middlesex but probably well short of Test class.

Edit:

Absolutely...One can't help feeling that the fact he hasn't been brought through is something to do with his openness about his sexuality. He was England's next big thing until he came out. I know it's not the PC thing to say but it does seem a little odd. A discussion for another time perhaps.

I disagree with this, regardless of political correctness. While I agree that the co-incidence of his 'coming out' (although everyone within the set up was already aware) and his dropping was unfortunate, I think it was exactly that. Davies' form had dipped drastically until the season past (he admits that he was badly affected by Maynard's death and stopped enjoying the game) and with Prior's form being so consistent 'prior' to the last year, England haven't really focused on an understudy (I wouldn't consider Bairstow as such)

[400notout]

Davies never scores runs for me on Cricket Captain, therefore stick with Prior. He's having a bad spell, he'll get through it.

[Jimmyg]

Whoever I personally think is the best WK for the England team, surely Bairstow as the reserve test keeper deserves a chance in the team. The selectors must have thought he was next best to Prior when the squad was selected so should have conviction to play him. I feel sorry for some of the England reserve players that it appear no matter how poorly established players perform they don't get a chance.

[Manormanic]

Prior should stay as their number one keeper for the series next Summer. 

I don't think at this stage that we have seen anything other than perhaps the ability of the Australians to bowl at his strengths and turn them into weaknesses, and I am far from convinced that any opponent England face in the next eighteen months have the quality of seam attack to do that.  As such, he'll click into gear again and, lets face it, the Prior of every test up to the Summer is a guy we want in the side.

There is a certain argument toward resting him for the final to games of the series though; it would be good experience for Bairstow, who is going to be the long term successor whatever anyone may think.  If English planning, like Australian, centres on the Ashes, then it would be good for him to have played test cricket in Aussie conditions before going down there in 2017.

[Manormanic]

Absolutely...One can't help feeling that the fact he hasn't been brought through is something to do with his openness about his sexuality. He was England's next big thing until he came out. I know it's not the PC thing to say but it does seem a little odd. A discussion for another time perhaps.

I don't know that that had anything to do with his slide from prominence really - I suspect he was one of those players who was thought to be the best we had rather than quite of the top standard, just like Phil Mustard who was his immediate predecessor in the one day side.  And, lets be fair, he probably suffered both form and perception wise from his time in the poisonous Slurrey dressing room of Hamilton-Brown et al.

[imran75]

I disagree with this, regardless of political correctness. While I agree that the co-incidence of his 'coming out' (although everyone within the set up was already aware) and his dropping was unfortunate, I think it was exactly that. Davies' form had dipped drastically until the season past (he admits that he was badly affected by Maynard's death and stopped enjoying the game) and with Prior's form being so consistent 'prior' to the last year, England haven't really focused on an understudy (I wouldn't consider Bairstow as such)

I don't know that that had anything to do with his slide from prominence really - I suspect he was one of those players who was thought to be the best we had rather than quite of the top standard, just like Phil Mustard who was his immediate predecessor in the one day side.  And, lets be fair, he probably suffered both form and perception wise from his time in the poisonous Slurrey dressing room of Hamilton-Brown et al.

Fair enough, it probably was unfortunate coincidence. I do think that the timing could have been managed better though. I'm sure that there are/will be others in the county game who are gay but feel that if they come out it will damage their chances of progressing. Perhaps a more sensitively managed transition for Davies might have been more sensible in the long run. Maybe i'm overthinking it and a policy of "treat everyone the same, regardless" is what they were going for. Slightly off topic!

Bairstow's selection, however, has always been a bit of an enigma to me. He might have been good enough at county level but it's pretty clear that he's woefully out of his depth at Test level. I can't believe they brought him on tour. If they wanted to blood a young 'keeper, why not Buttler?