You said bats at 7, you didn't say keep wicket as well. In saying that though, I'm not being overly critical, I'm making a statement and simple point. Also, just fyi, Adam Gilchrist and De Kock are in the 40's and there's a plethora of WK averaging high 38 and 39.secretzimbo wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:23 am
There's 'many' who bat at 7, and keep wicket, who average above 40? Nope, there's only a very small handful.... Matt Prior the only one I can think of in the past several decades.
I admire your high standards and expectations but it's unrealistic, I'd say ridiculous, to expect anyone who has grown up in our system, plays in our Logan Cup, has played through all the chaos of ZC etc to get anywhere near that average, let alone batting at 7 and taking the gloves.
Only Williams has an average in that region and he doesn't keep wicket, he bats up the order, and he's one of the most naturally talented players on Earth.
Anyway this doesn't matter as we haven't played a Test in 13 months and won't play one for another six months! In white ball he's terribly out of form, but he's better than any alternative (which is very worrying.....). Let's hope he gets a dose of the Houghton magic soon.
It's not about high standards and expectations, it's about basic standards. We want to play at an international level, so players need to be working at being on an international level. Simple. I get we've had issues with ZC and their shithousery, but many of the players have just accepted that, so don't really put it in any more work than they should, and it shows come game time.
All I'm saying is that it's a worry that our number wk is 34 and the stats don't back up him being a number 1. It's something management needs to actively work on.