I would like to think if a player is playing well they should be picked on merit, or at least get mentioned by people because of how well they have been playing for some time.
This is not the case with the player I am about to discuss.
Years ago I watched Ian Healy on television heaping large amounts of praise on Queensland’s Chris Hartley. Healy said Hartley was one of the best wicketkeepers at state level.
It’s akin to Darren Berry who, many years ago, was the best wicketkeeper at state level, but that never counted for anything as he never got a chance to play for Australia.
I like to think that a similar version of Darren Berry would have been South African Dave Richardson, yet he ended up playing international cricket.
Regardless, no one mentions Chris Hartley, even though he is in good form at the moment, had a great season last season and made a century in the 2011/12 Sheffield Shield final.
To me, he is second-choice keeper behind Wade – and yes, that means he is in front of both Tim Paine and Brad Haddin for me. Hartley is also younger than Haddin, but older than Paine.
What happened to Darren Berry was one of the reasons I stopped following Australia.
I couldn’t stand seeing it happen to another class keeper.
Roy
Guest
Marc, I agree with that and to be honest I wouldn't necessarily have Hartley in the national side either, despite his keeping. The blokes you mentioned as well as Neville are too good with the bat to look past.
Marc
Guest
Hartley was clearly the second best keeper a few years back. I watched him at Adelaide Oval and thought his glove work was very crisp and tidy both up to the stumps and standing back. At that time his batting was in the Ian Healy mould; dogged, determined and handy in a late order scenario but not up to upper order standard. His batting has improved markedly and can now be counted upon to provide a solid contribution to the runs for the Bulls. Unfortunately, his ship has sailed and there are a number of keepers ahead of him in the precedence of selection for Australia, Wade, Paine and Haddin the obvious choices. Roy, your fondness for Hartley is admirable but there is no way he will play for the Aussie team unless through injury to those who are currently preferred.
Sports Nut
Roar Rookie
I will keep on keeping an eye on Chris Hartley seeing how he goes. I just hope all is not lost.
Roy
Guest
Sorry to get under your skin mate. Did Hartley run over your dog or something?
sledgeross
Guest
Hartleys best chance might be to be a reserve on an Ashes tour ala Manou. Reminds me of Phil Emery to a degree. To be fair as well, Hartley may not have the avergaes of Wade, Paine, Nevill etc, but he scores his runs when it matters, like finals,
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Yep. At the moment, it's batting that's the issue..
Johnno
Guest
i was mate I was a keeper at my club and school, i loved crouching down to some good spinners, a lot of claps and tireless enthusiasm. And also some good quicks too was fun DingoGray.
Dan
Guest
Adam gilchrist -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Johnno, You sound like an old keeper at heart! A Old Senior pro once told me the Wicket keeping selection should always come down to the fact who is the best wicket keeper! Batting and scoring runs is a bonus! It's one aspect of cricket that seems to be have lost on the world. I take offence to comment about Hartley just doesn't score enough runs....Matthew Wade the current test keeper averages 39 in First Class Cricket.... while Hartley averages 31. And Hartley has shown significant improvement in last 2 seasons. He's hardly Glenn McGrath with the bat and is clearly the best keeper in Australia! I just wish more importance was made of the Glove work. It shouldn't be solely on one's ability with the bat!
Dan
Guest
Agreed James -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Johnno
Guest
Im from the old school and for me Tim Zoehrer was always the ultimate keepers keeper. He was there for one thing only to keep. That’s all Tim Zoehrer did keep. Then left out for Heals, and dropped for Gilly in the WA team. Shameful. And Greg Dyer too As was David Williams from the west Indies, a true keeper David Williams was. Batting should have no value for a wicket-keeper he is there to keep not bat. I am a fan of Chris Read too from England a keeper’s keeper, not like Matt Prior. It always annoyed me how Jack Russell was treated by England. They leaned towards Alec Stewart a batsmen and a part time keeper , was never a good move by England. Same with Chris Read being dropped for Geriant Jones who is an aussy, then Matt Prior. Tim Mustard is another keeper I like a lot too.
jameswm
Guest
I get sick of these claims that Hartley is by far the best gloveman in the country. Maybe he is, but only a very select few are in a position to comment. For keepers, you have to watch them day in day out, standing back and up. Wade used to be a bit messy but he's pretty good now. I still probably lean towards Paine and Nevill as better long-term bets for test cricket, but all 3 are very good. That's not an issue in our team. I'd rather sort out the top-order batting first.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Seccombe was the best keeper in the country in that period for sure.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I have watched a bit of Hartley this season and his form has been down for me. He has been untidy over the stumps at periods.
Dan
Guest
Sorry but Hartley doesn't score enough runs to get the top job. Can't pick a keeper who doesn't score runs, your just giving too much away to the opposition these days. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
jameswm
Guest
"Hartley has been far and away the best gloveman in Australia for years" Says who? Have you spent significant time watching Hartley, Haddin, Nevill and Wade? We need fos here to support you. Don't suppose you're from Qld are you, Roy? As you said, keeping is one of the functions. Batting is another.
Robert
Guest
Wade Seccombe was a better keeper than all of them but was caught behind a once in a life time player called Gilchrist.It's just the life of the keeper,there is only one spot available -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Roy
Guest
Hartley has been far and away the best gloveman in Australia for years. Unfortunately for him, Gilchrist changed the Test Match keeper's brief so that being devastating with the bat is a 'must have' requirement. That seems to be the conventional wisdom anyway.