Although it is posssible Geriant Jones is not the best man for the job and could/ prob should be replaced, to look at the australian team that has/ it seems rarely changed much over the years, is replacing 1 or 2 of our team going to turn us into a team cpable of beating Australia in Australia!?? I think not! Although the Introduction on Monty was indeed the biggest step towards creating a team who showed promise. I think the boys have tried and I am still behind them but, its pianful to watch sometimes

He will certainly be dropped - again, and for the final time. Read will then have two Tests to prove himself, though I suspect the selectors are considering other options Matt Prior, James Foster and even Steven Davies.

We don’t know yet that Read wouldn’t be a great team player, either, since he’s hardly been given a chance. But he would certainly score more runs, and hold more catches. Otherwise, you might as well play Geoff Boycott’s mum for the team spirit (mind you, from what Boycs says, the selectors have really missed out by ignoring Mrs B…) Anyway, as 12th man carrying the drinks, he could still contribute to the team.

He may not have asked to be picked, and may not have expected it, and I’m sure he did his best, but frankly, there was no way he should have been playing. Remember last summer when he broke/dislocated his finger, and got dropped, and Fletcher specifically said it was NOT the finger, but the batting that was behind it? Well, his batting did not improve (facing Warne at Canterbury showed that!) and Read did a brilliant job. Then got dropped. As you do. Maybe Fletcher does think he has a temperament problem, and doesn’t want to play him. Fine, but why take him as back up? There are alternatives (better wicker keepers, who can actually bat) such as Foster (7 Tests, average 25) or Prior (Avg. 20 in ODIs).

Look, I don’t have anything against Jones, like I don’t against Giles or Anderson, and I know it’s harsh to blame them, after all they did their best, I’m sure, but their selection was outrageous, especially Giles’. We will never know if the 3-0 score would be the same had we played out best team, but it’s too late now. And it hurts.

Read needs a chance to prove himself. Jones had test after test to prove himself and he had failed. I am sure he’s a good bloke and adds to the team in more ways than simply wicketkeeper but at the end of the day that’s the position he’s in for. Read needs to be given the chance to shine and if he doesn’t, then we need to consider other options. Prior? His main claim to fame at the minute is as a forgotten man but he’s nifty with the gloves. Maybe give him a try? Jones doesn’t deserve to keep his place; even if he’s matey with the selectors.

Tim….i think Matt prior will get his chance finally…Chris Reed and GJ have tried there best but are not Batting wicketkeepers like the aussie slasher….

Gilchrist’s excuses are better than Jones…

“I’m sorry, I was tired from making the second fastest century in Test cricket“

I agree that the four bowler option is the way to go, especially since none of the fifth bowlers has shown himself to be any better than the part-timers. Give a bowl to Collingswood (who often bowls a full quota in one-day cricket), Pietersen, and even Bell. They may not take a lot of wickets, but they won’t do much worse that the specialist bowlers they replaced.

I guess by default the extra batting place goes to Joyce, though I wouldn’t be totally shocked if Vaughan suddenly parachutes onto the team. Probably not a good idea under normal circumstances, but when you’re down 3-0, a lot of normal reasoning goes out the window. On the other hand, no point in aggravating his injuries in a lost cause, so maybe (hopefully) it won’t happen.

I can understand why the selectors did not take the extra batsman option. If you have to win (not draw) a test match against a side with the best batting tail in the world, you choose the lineup most likely to take 20 wickets and hope your top-order batsmen will do their job. If they’d been able to pull out a draw at the Gabba they might have had the luxury of looking at a batting-heavy lineup, but going down 1-0 meant that they needed bowlers.

Jones is not at his best with the bat right now, but remember that he was under all sorts of criticism in last year’s Ashes because of his keeping, which was quite good this time (judging by the lack of criticism). I think now they need to give Read or Prior a chance, but I don’t begrudge the selection of Jones to this point.

The interesting debate should be about captaincy. If the test series ends 4-0 or 5-0 and the one-dayers are similarly dismal, do they give the captaincy to Strauss just before the World Cup? Politically, it might make more sense to give the captaincy back to Vaughan if he’s healthy.

I never liked the idea of Flintoff as captain. He does a good job of inspiring the players, but he did that before, too. The Aussies probably would have won against captain Strauss, too, but maybe not 3-0 in 3 matches.

Having watched both, my not-so-humble opinion is that Read’s glovework is much better than Jones’ - I’d trust him to hold onto catches that Jones would drop, and remember, if a catch is dropped, your bowlers don’t have to take 20 wickets, they have to take 25-30 wickets. I think the difference between the two is the difference between capable and gifted.

And cricketgirl - it’s a good thing some of our cricket players are good wicker keepers, as we appear to be going to hell in a handbasket…;)

Kathy, the feedback I’ve received from so-called people-in-the-know back home if that Jones is a true-blue team man, and Read apparently had an attitude problem towards the team and training. That’s about it. They like Jonesey and don’t like Read as much.

Discipline, dedication and a will to win usually works out these problems. Seems to work for the Aussies, doesn’t it?

Sorry-L.N.

Ahh I’m glad someone mentioned Steven Davies. The Worcestershire keeper is someone who would make it into any county top six as a batsman. From what I hear he is a better gloveman than Jones, Prior and Foster and he is still only 20. In 28 first class matches he has already scored 4 centuries with a top score of 192. I believe he is out there with the academy right now.

I will throw a name into the hat for a few years time. Somerset’s Sam Spurway. Watch this space.

I’d also like to clear up the extra bowling debate which I think I can do pretty conclusively. It is all to do with Freddie’s foot. I am convinced that, given Monty’s good start in test cricket as a containing and attacking bowler, if there wasn’t the tiniest doubt about Fred’s foot they would have played 7 batsmen. But there was doubt and so a fifth bowler was included.

I think we saw that the extra protection offered by Monty was reflected in the number of overs bowled by Saj Mahmood.

My teams for the last two tests would be very close to:

Strauss
Cook
Bell
Collingwood
Pietersen
Joyce/Dalrymple
Flintoff
Read
Hoggard
Harmison
Panesar

I think there is always a case for playing two spinners in a five man attack and I’m amazed they didn’t play two in Adelaide.

The point regarding the keepers is that Jones had >30 games, consecutively, to prove himself and didn’t do it. Read had about a third of that number in three separate stages and is two years younger. What might he have achieved given similar chances and, more importantly, similar backing from the England management that Jones was luck enough to get?
Whatever, the whole thing has been appallingly mismanaged, and two players who are by no means enemies are looking at the ends of their international careers with one of them 30 years of age and the other 28.Ridiculous. All places should be genuinely competed for, all players of potential international status should be accorded similar treatment, and opportunities and any ‘old pals’ networks dismantled. In all a completely new management set-up, and one with clean hands!

This just in: Warnie wants to try out for the England keeper’s job… thinks he can keep up with the Joneses

Perhaps Warne summed him up perfectly. In retaliation for the slegding Warne gave him when he was in bat, Jones decided to give him some when Warne came in to bat.

Warne turned to him with a withering look and said “Don’t try giving me lip - silly boy. You are only the Club Pro”

Enough said

I think Shane Warne put it more eloquently and succintly than any one else could - ” Don’t you give me lip, mate, you’re only the Club Pro.”

Enough said

Blimey!Never thought I’d read ‘thekeeper’ again.Ofcourse you are correct.Nixon is a first rate work-a-day wkt.but not Test material.
Now where’s Kathy? Just wanted to explain ’stream of consciousness’and Universities etc.
The notice board was changed so quickly.

i Agree, so much, Why is matt Prior coming in, because he’s moores favorite, i have no problem with favorites, If we dropped every player who had a bad game/games in australia, then, Bye Bye Ian Bell, Andrew Strauss, Harmison, hoggard, Giles, Jones, AND ANDREW FLINTOFF. But There all diffrent, cause they have played well before….WELL SO HAS JONES. the only two mistakes Duncan fletcher made, was dropping jones, replacing him with Chris Read, who is clearly not liked by anyone, Jones is Loved by All except people who are perfectionists, if they stuck with jones he’d start to get scores, if they Stuck with Read, HE WOULDNT. For ONE Day Games NIXON SHOULD BE keeper, Hes impressed me, However Jones should be Top of the pecking order for tests, behind only mayb Paul nixon.

THE PECKING ORDER AS SHOULD BE…
Nixon
Jones
Sutton (Lancs)
Prior
Read
Foster

geraint jones is a excellent cricketer he is very nice in person.He should be england keeper because his great behind the stumps and with the bat.I miss geraint jones.If england was smart they would
bring him back into the first team.