Tim Paine should be Australia’s number one gloveman. The reason? He is…
If it wasn’t for a meaningless demonstration T20 match a few years ago, in which Paine suffered a completely unnecessary injury that cost him his rightful second place in the pecking order behind Brad Haddin, he would be Australia’s number one.
Matthew Wade hit an outstanding century against Sri Lanka in the recent Sydney Test match – a real gutsy innings. He then however proceeded to fluff a number of regulation opportunities with the gloves, thereby continuing the form behind the wickets he had shown all summer.
Alarmingly, in some post match comments Wade himself was a little dismissive of one or two of these misses, as if he expects it to happen every now and then.
If I had the choice between a wicketkeeper who hits a century and drops three catches and a wicketkeeper who gets a duck and takes those three catches – give me the latter any day of the week.
It’s quite simple; the wicketkeeper’s job is to keep wickets. If he is doing a good job, he is barely noticed, and regulation opportunities should never be noticed.
We tend to notice Wade. Think about it…
If it were not for Adam Gilchrist, Wade would never have even come into consideration. ‘Gilly’ managed to turn the position of wicketkeeper into wicketkeeper/batsman – something England has been attempting to do for generations (think Alec Stewart, Geraint Jones and Matthew Prior).
Australia, however, had always employed the best ‘keeper. Rod Marsh and Ian Healy didn’t even learn how to bat until they were in the national team!
Wade is a terrific batsman and he has every right to pursue selection in the team based on that. There is always room in the Australian set-up for a fighter such as Wade – however a ‘fighter’ with the gloves is not always as beneficial as it is with the bat.
Catching is a natural instinct – the harder one tries, or indeed ‘fights’, the harder it is.
So far we have failed to mention Paine’s batting. It is all class. He is a natural batsman (as well as ‘keeper), so the team would not lose anything in this department if he were to replace Wade – rather, it would only provide the team with the best pair of hands in the land.
Again, there is still a role for the less natural, more fighter-like Wade in the team for his hitting.
With the Ashes looming, we want our batsmen to fight like never before but we also want our man behind the stumps to go unnoticed.
dennis trevor
Guest
As Wicketkeepers go Paine is the best in the land and it's an absolute disgrace that he is not once again playing for Australia Given the brittle nature of our Test batsmen Selectors could do a lot worse than select both Haddin and Wade purely on their batting ability,but to suggest that either one occupy the Keepers role when Paine is available is a nonsense and not in the best interests of our National side
Bearfax
Guest
Funny how we get an illusion in respect of players performances, and one of the reasons I criticise the Oz selectors becoming enamoured by the occasional brilliant performance But statistics dont lie and tell you just how consistent and reliable a person is over time For example the issue about Mark Waugh averaging 40 or so. Yes at test cricket he averaged 42. But at first class cricket his average was 52. Australia could afford that with most other batsmen averaging in tests over 50 Then there's Ian Healey being described as a fine batsman. He averaged 27 in tests and 30 in first class matches. Haddin averages 34 in tests, 39 in first class matches. Paine averages 36 in tests (though he's only played four so its not a good gauge) but only 31 in first class averages which is more likely his level. Like Finch he's attractive to watch but also like Finch he's not a stayer. Finch averages 30 at first class level. Being attractive doesnt win you games. Wade is second only to Gilchrist as a test batsman wicketkeeper in Australia with a test average of 42.5 and a first class average of 41. Gilchrist averaged 47.6 in tests and first class average a little less. And yet Gilchrist would rarely be 6th batsman in a test team. Selectors in those days were sensible enough to recognise no matter how good a batsman your wicketkeeper was, it was best to have 6 other batsmen..and that's when we had almost every batsman with an average of 50 or more at test level..Go figure.
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Thanks Sheek. Yes I was going to mention Knott. There has been a lot of support for Hartley in the comments, I just think the best gloveman should get the gig (especially when there is room at the moment for Wade as a batsman) and probably should have made this point clearer rather than giving Paine a free ride...cheers
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Yeah good point, the selectors should broaden their view to include Hartley, Neville, Ludemann - they are all better than wade. I too hope Wade improves if they stick with him tho... Yep agreed Paine probably got too much of a free ride in this article but he really made a great start to his international career and seemingly didn't need 'time to improve' when he was behind the stumps...
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
All credibility? Did you make it to the end at least?! This comment was a little outlandish perhaps, but was making the point that Healy was picked for his keeping, not his batting...if you look at earlier comments then it is suggested that this was not the case for Marsh - and I take this point. There is a lot of positive feedback from other comments. Cheers.
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Well I'm glad I gave you a good laugh Justin. You're obviously a Wade fan. I too am a fan of Wade's batting, especially with Hussey now gone, but his keeping is not up to it. Yep probably too much slack given to Paine, but the best gloveman should get the job... (Hartley? Neville? Ludemann?) All you've really offered me in your response is that I'm wrong, but also saying that you 'guarantee' Wade will improve... do you not then agree that he is not up to it right now? Why wait for someone to improve when there is someone who already has the skills (Wade can take Hussey's batting spot because we need his gritty determined batting). If they choose to persist with Wade then I too, like you and any fan, hope he improves because he needs to. Finally, if you know your cricket, then you know that cricket is subjective, and opinons can't be wrong... Cheers
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Yep, nice one, the argument really is that the best pair of hands should get the gloves, so happy to see Neville, Hartley, or even Ludemann in the role - they are all better gloveman than Wade. Yes Paine probably got too much of a free ride in the article when more should have been given to the others who are also better than wade. There's a spot for Wade in the batting line up though - the 'gritty/dig-in" spot... Cheers
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Interesting comments Big Merve... my argument is really that the best pair of hands should get the job (yes Paine was the focus of the article but probably shouldn't have been given so much of a free ride - there's a lot of support for Hartley). Yes good comment about Hadds and Gilly and that Wade should be given the same opportunity. I too watch the keeping closely as an ex-gloveman. Cheers.
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Yes good comments Timmuh, we are on the same page... why wait for someone to improve when we don't have to? cheers
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
I agree it took time for Gilly and Marsh, but why must we wait for someone to improve when there are people that already have the skills and keep Wade for his hitting? Agree that Cowan is not up to it...
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Good point, cheers...lets hope Heals can help him!
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Fair call. I’ve seen a lot of Paine bat though and he is definitely a classy batsman, he does have an international century to his name too, as well as a 92. Yes his first class averages are down, but his international average is up! Yes I take your point about Hartley, my argument really is that the best pair of hands should get the job – and that Wade should/could keep his batting spot. Maybe gave Paine a bit too much of a free ride compared to Hartley. Yes I take your point that people tend to forget that many Australian keepers didn't start well with the gloves. Why should a keeper NOT start well with the gloves? Should we just accept that they don't start well and hope that they get better? Interesting comments tho, thanks...
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
They're pretty good actually. Whoever it is, it should be the best pair of hands - maybe I gave Paine too much of a free ride and Nevill, Hartley, Ludemann could have got more of a look-in... cheers!
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Good point! The dismissals average could be a reflection of the Tas v Vic bowling perhaps?? Interesting. There's a lot of support for Hartley too... Happy to take your point that Wade will grow into the role. Hope so! Cheers.
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Yes interesting comment, Hartley is also a superior keeper to Wade, and could well be better-off taking the gloves - my argument is really that the best pair of hands should take the gloves - and I think wade is worthy of a batting spot. Cheers.
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Hi DC, thanks for your input. Just so you know the editors chose this title. My title was originally 'Pick Paine' - but that may have read the same anyway... not sure! Cheers
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Interesting comments, cheers...
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Fair call. I've seen a lot of Paine bat though and he is definitely a classy batsman. Yes his average is lower than Haddin's and Wade's test average - but his first class average is ALSO lower than his own test and international average! People pay a lot of attention to averages - understandably, but remember Mark Waugh only averaged 40 or so though and he, in my opinion, was brilliant. My argument is that the best pair of hands should get the job - and that Wade should keep his batting spot. But interesting comments, it made me think, cheers.
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Fair call, there is a lot of support for Chris Hartley, it should be the best pair of hands...
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Hi josh, the article praises Wade's batting, and honestly think he deserves a batting spot, just think the best keeper should get the job behind the stumps unless you are Adam Gilchrist. Agreed on Cowan.