English Cricket's Problems: The Unacheivables

Adam Gilchrist changed the face of cricket forever. He is the greatest wicketkeeper batsman ever to play the game. With an average of 47.60 and a strike rate of 81.95 in Test matches alone, he revolutionized the role of the classic number seven.

Whereas before, the wicketkeeper was chosen for his glovework first and batsmanship a very firm second Gilchrist has changed the parameters selectors use.

His stats, as shown at the bottom of the article, are a tribute to the man.

However, this piece is not about Adam Gilchrist. It is about another of England’s problems. As I showed in my first article in this series, England suffered from a massive amount of injuries to key players. In this, the second in the series, I attempt to show that the wicketkeeper’s position has also contributed to England’s problems.

Englandwon the Ashes in 2005 with Geraint Jones as the gloveman. A maiden hundred in only his third match was followed up by a solid opening summer, at the end of which his average was 35.90.

Unfortunately for him however he never bettered that. After 34 matches he was dropped with his average down to 23.91 and only six 50’s to his name in 53 innings.

Surprisingly enough, he was dropped for his poor batting form, even though he had improved his abilities behind the stumps. Holding the record for the most number of Test matches without getting a duck, he got a pair in his final match.

Chris Read, who had previous Test experience, was called up in the middle of that shambolic tour. He had featured as a replacement for Jones, who broke a finger, for two of the Pakistan Tests the previous summer.

Despite only batting in three innings because of the disgrace at the Oval and getting scores of 38, 55 and 33 as well as being last man out on one occasion, Read lost his berth to Jones only to regain it very quickly.

Again though, the selectors changed their mind and replaced him with Matt Prior for the arrival of the West Indies, perhaps after Peter Moores had his say on the matter. One has to sympathize with Read as his performances against Pakistan were promising and he had an impossible task Down Under, especially given Gilchrist’s fireworks.

After this came the advent of Paul Nixon. “The Badger” was loved by all and, even though he only played limited-overs cricket, he can be proud of that achievement, especially at the age of 36.

Prior had the most promising start to a Test career I think I have ever seen, hitting 126 unbeaten runs from just 128 balls. Despite this knock coming against a substandard bowling attack, Prior kept up his good form with innings of 21, 75, 40, 0 and 62.

His form dipped against India as he only scored 73 runs in the series with 42 of them coming in one innings. He went on to show real grit and determination against Sri Lanka in back-to-back innings, in Kandy and Colombo, of 63 and 79 respectively. He finished the tour with 19* from 100 balls to seal a draw.

And there Prior’s Test career stops, for now at least. Tim Ambrose got the gloves for the tour to New Zealand. Prior played in 10 matches cumulating an average of 40.14 and hitting one ton and four 50’s in the process.

A lack of consistency while keeping and some dropped catches ended his stint.

Ambrose has had a decent start with the bat, hitting 50 on debut and a hundred in the next Test. However, of his other scores, he has only reached double figures in two of six innings.

Today he hit a patient 67 in an innings which lasted over three and a half hours and reignited the teams hopes. Regrettably he followed Pietersen to the pavilion before the end of play.

One hopes Ambrose can continue his form with both bat and gloves, but England’s selectors have shown they are fickle when dealing with this position in the team.

Matt Prior is currently having an incredible season with Sussex, having scored 3 hundreds already and amassing 615 runs in only 6 matches. His current average is 76.87.

The trend they have created shows that, if Ambrose slips up, the selectors will oust him and give Prior a second chance. They must decide their priorities for selection, whether glove or bat, and stick to them.

However, I started this article talking about Adam Gilchrist for a reason. In wicketkeeping terms, he is England’s biggest problem! His legacy is there for all to see and all England’s wicketkeepers will now be judged by his, the highest, standards. In short, they are unachievable.

The selectors must show consistency and back Ambrose now that he has the job, but if he too succumbs to the pressure England must remember one thing:

There’s only one Adam Gilchrist. Second best, to him at least, will do.

Gilchrist's career staistics: 

Batting and fielding averages
	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	4s	6s	Ct	St
Tests	96	137	20	5570	204*	47.60	6796	81.95	17	26	677	100	379	37
ODIs	287	279	11	9619	172	35.89	9922	96.94	16	55	1162	149	417	55
T20Is	13	13	1	272	48	22.66	192	141.66	0	0	27	13	17	0
First-class	190	280	46	10334	204*	44.16			30	43			756	55
List A	353	340	19	11217	172	34.94			18	63			526	65
Twenty20	27	27	2	708	109*	28.32	510	138.82	1	3	78	32	23	1

 All stats taken from cricinfo.com or Wisden Cricketers Almanack.