3RD ASHES TEST EG V AU EDGBASTON 2009

[mal]

I'm in the camp that says Haddin is just a 'keeper. Fine bat, but short of many keepers we've had and being judged strongly now because he's coming straight on the back of two of our greatest in history, and us older types can remember Rod Marsh as well.

MARSH /GILChrist/HADDIN after about 15 tests
All were scrutinised for thier keeping
MARSH was called Iron Gloves from all the catches he dropped early in his career
GILchrist was labelled at times one of the worst keepers ever seen
HADDIN is also been mocked [quite rightly so] for his inept keeping

HADDIN
Why is his International keeping so poor ?
When Ive seen him keep for NSW he keeps well
Is it the demands of playing so much International cricket?
Is the rigmorale of cramming in 20/20 and 50/50 and Tests games too much ???
When he kept at Domestic level he played far less cricket and seemingly kept better

QUESTION: Has anyone seen him regularly at domestic level to comment on his keeping ability

[Dogwatcher]

Mal, I don't care about his domestic keeping.
From my recollection, people have always doubted his ability as a keeper.

However, you are right that Marsh, Healy, Gilchrist were all maligned.
Haddin may change things.
But his keeping needs to be questioned. That bye tally is unforgiveable - especially if he has pride in his job, which I'm sure he does.

[spell_check]

Happy to see Manou in there, but he would be feeling a bit down for Haddin, I'd imagine. Although I bet he can't wait to get out there and show the selectors the difference in standard! So long as he isn't overly nervous.

[mal]

Mal, I don't care about his domestic keeping.
From my recollection, people have always doubted his ability as a keeper.

However, you are right that Marsh, Healy, Gilchrist were all .......MALigned.......
Haddin may change things.
But his keeping needs to be questioned. That bye tally is unforgiveable - especially if he has pride in his job, which I'm sure he does.

His domestic keeping is worth finding out about
IF he is a shocker at state level than sobiet he is a dud keeper
HOWEVER
IF he is a good state keeper than we can perhaps say the rigors of International keeping is perhaps a reason why he is a dud keeper

Ive seen him several times in shield games and I didnt notice any dud keeping

[rod_rooster]

QUESTION: Has anyone seen him regularly at domestic level to comment on his keeping ability

Yes, and he can be very tidy with the gloves. No world beater but still quite tidy. He has always lacked footwork but it seems to be getting worse and worse. He appears to have lost all confidence with his keeping. His best keeping is easily good enough to justify his spot in the Australian side when coupled with his obvious batting ability. Frankly i have been surprised at how poorly he has done behind the stumps in International cricket given what i saw of him before.

[mal]

QUESTION: Has anyone seen him regularly at domestic level to comment on his keeping ability

Yes, and he can be very tidy with the gloves. No world beater but still quite tidy. He has always lacked footwork but it seems to be getting worse and worse. He appears to have lost all confidence with his keeping. His best keeping is easily good enough to justify his spot in the Australian side when coupled with his obvious batting ability. Frankly i have been surprised at how poorly he has done behind the stumps in International cricket given what i saw of him before.

IF i was answering my own question this is almost exactly how I would answer

If we take your summation then surely he is worth perservering with
His batting far outweighs his poor keeping[as did Gilchrists at a comparative stage ]
As long as he is making runs he KEEPS his spot

[rod_rooster]

QUESTION: Has anyone seen him regularly at domestic level to comment on his keeping ability

Yes, and he can be very tidy with the gloves. No world beater but still quite tidy. He has always lacked footwork but it seems to be getting worse and worse. He appears to have lost all confidence with his keeping. His best keeping is easily good enough to justify his spot in the Australian side when coupled with his obvious batting ability. Frankly i have been surprised at how poorly he has done behind the stumps in International cricket given what i saw of him before.

IF i was answering my own question this is almost exactly how I would answer

If we take your summation then surely he is worth perservering with
His batting far outweighs his poor keeping[as did Gilchrists at a comparative stage ]
As long as he is making runs he KEEPS his spot

I think he is worth perservering with to a point. He is a very good player with the bat for a keeper but he is no Gilchrist. Gilchrist was a once in a generation player and we won't see another like him for a long time if ever. Comparisons are unfair but will inevitably be made. My point though is that Haddin's batting is what is keeping him in the side currently. How long can that continue if he doesn't show improvement with the gloves? If he doesn't improve he can't be stuck with forever.

[NFC]

I'll pay that Manou is a very good keeper. Batting is woeful though.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I'll pay that Manou is a very good keeper. Batting is woeful though.

I'd hardly call 647 runs @ 46.21 (including 2 centuries) batting in the middle order "woeful".

[spell_check]

I reckon all the talk about a wicketkeepers' batting ability says the most about Adam Gilchrist. He is only one of two players to ever play Test cricket who has shaped the way someone chooses an all time best XI.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I just want to make comment on Watson. About time. About time he played in a specialised batting role instead of trying to make a middle-order all-rounder out of him. I've been saying for some time now that Watto should concentrate on batting, throw his medium quicks in the bin, and if he must bowl, learn off-spinning. Height and good bounce are valuable weapons for "genuine" off spinners and he could be handy.

[spell_check]

Watto start for England indeed!

[NFC]

Here comes the collapse.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Three batsmen out missing straight ones.

[spell_check]

Yes, well that's the first two balls I've seen for the Test match and it's unreal to me.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I hope Mitchell Johnson is watching. Mitch ... this is why it's important to bowl STRAIGHT!!!! ... especially to batsmen trying to play themselves in.

[Pup]

What a start to the day.

Hussey will be praying he gets another bat this match otherwise he is in big trouble.

[wycbloods]

Yep lets drop Hughes who has a huge career ahead of him for Hussey who is obviously in desperate need to be dropped and to think people wanted to open Hussey . I don't want to see the same privileges given to Hussey as what Hayden received.

[Adelaide Hawk]

What a start to the day.

Hussey will be praying he gets another bat this match otherwise he is in big trouble.

He'll need 100 I think, and the way he's batting it would appear unlikely. I think the end is coming quicker than expected for Mr Cricket.

[Interceptor]

What a start to the day.

Hussey will be praying he gets another bat this match otherwise he is in big trouble.

He'll need 100 I think, and the way he's batting it would appear unlikely. I think the end is coming quicker than expected for Mr Cricket.

Mr Cricket = Mr Finished.

That's just shithouse.