He may well a better 20/20 player than test player, but that shouldn't preclude him from playing test cricket should it? In my opinion, his innings on Saturday showed that he can adapt his game and that he is worth a run in the team. It is relevant information.
He’s had 32 test innings and top scored 85, averaging 32. He’s not a beginner. Ideally you’d be looking for an average in the 40s, but he is plenty good enough for the current England team where we have to lower expectations, and most players will have to be good at multiple forms of the game, after all they probably earn most playing 20/20 nowadays. What we need is consistency, which hardly anyone gives us. What I would give for a Doug Walters.
Having a specialist batsman at number 7 is quite unusual, so I thought I'd check up the averages of a couple of past England players who found themselves in that position at one time or another. Graeme Hick averaged 31.32 from 114 innings, and Mark Ramprakash averaged 27.32 from 92 innings. Not sure what that tells us, but one that surprised me as I scanned the list was WG Grace, who only averaged 32.29 from 36 test innings!
Jeez! It's like debating with a 3 year old at times mate. My pre-conceptions are not blind as I've watched him play and don't think he'll be able to sustain multiple test innings with his style of play. Occasionally yes, regularly no. That's my opinion based on having watched him over the years. As I said, I hope he proves me wrong.
Well as Stan pointed out, he already averages 32 from 32 innings, which is plenty good enough to bat at number 7 in this side.
Good start by England, Pakistan 23/2 both wickets to Broad.......Sounds like ideal bowling conditions although Pakistan won toss and chose to bat as they thought it was a good batting track as well..........should be an interesting few days.....
