hondo71 wrote:rod_rooster wrote:Secondly what he does with the bat is not an issue. He is in the side to keep wickets and that is what he should be judged on. Batting is a bonus for a wicket keeper and we will not see another Gilchrist.
I agree that he needs more time to prove himself
However I disagree with your statement I quoted, because I am sure Haddin won his test spot as a wicketkeeper-
batsman. The selectors would be expecting him to score runs because of his state record. Not that I know if he's the best technical keeper in Australia at the moment. Do you think he is?
These days I don't think you can go with the best technical keeper if he can't hold down number 7 (if he has to). And if Haddin can't then we need to find someone who can.
They don't have to be a Gilchrist or a Sangakarra but they need to bat better than Heals.
gee Hondo for such a good poster you let yourself down with that statement.
other than Billy Murdoch and Wayne phillips (who weren't full time keepers in tehir test careers, Ian helay has the next best test batting average for Australain 'keepers after Gilchrist.
I'll take his 4 hundreds and 22 50s in Tests anyday over a keeper who can bat better when you look at his glovework. the number of times he batted with Steve Waugh and put on partnerships to get Australia out of trouble or put us in a winning position Old trafford 93, Gabba in 96, Gabba in 98, Old trafford in 97 etc.
mate Heals was a great batsamn for a 'keeper. not to mention his outstanding 'keeping ability that, your unfortuante I watched Ashes 97 last night on video and as an ex-keeper I still crack a fat everytime I see his legside stumping of bevan that got butcher at Old Trafford....
Mate if Haddin or any other future Australain 'keeper can bat as well as Healy I'll be a very happy Australian Cricket supporter.
Heals' batting ability has been diminshed as the immediate predecessor to Gilchrist. People forget how good he really was save for his first and last years in the jobs where he stuggled with teh abt to an extent.