England's cricket tour to South Africa

(18-01-2010 20:17 )colino Wrote:  I reckon you're being a bit hard on Prior.

He's worked bloody hard to improve his game behind the stumps (a year or so ago he was probably the worst keeper i'd ever seen) and also you have to remember the situation that we were in at the time......Yes it was a dumb shot i agree, but there were a lot of proper, recognised batsmen who had failed (twice!!) before him with the bat, the damage was all but done by the time he got to the crease. He's aggressive with the bat, that's his game, and there was certainly no mileage in trying to "pad up" for a day and a half, the only (very slim) chance that we had when he came in was to try somehow to make S.A bat again.....

In the last 18 months or so he's become a VERY good keeper who can bat a bit, Foster's a better keeper but bloody hopeless with the bat, and the days of holding down a test team spot by purely being a good keeper have long gone.

As for being a cocky bastard, you gotta be kidding....Compared to Pietersen and Swann, Prior's a fuckin' choirboy

Prior is an imbecile! I don't think there's a more stupider person in international cricket than him. U only have to be reminded of the time he tried to sledge Sachin Tendulkar with "I drive a Porsche, wot car do u drive?". Since then i've wanted him out of the team. Granted he's improved his wicket keeping, but on his attitude alone he's not fit to wear the shirt.

And yes there's no point padding up all day, but if he played a sensible game, with colly at the other end they cuda built a partnership, it was hardly the worst pitch to bat on, u get ur eye in n u score runs. Which is y it was shameful, it was a total lack of application.

In terms of alternatives, wotever happened to Mustard, n Davies, they're given half a chance then shoved to the side.

N ur a bit harsh on Swanny no? He's not arrogant, he doesn't bait the oppo, dnt reli c him sledgin, he's respectful, he's jus a happy chappy, it'd wuda been more appropriate to list Trott.

You've obviously got a bee in your bonnet about Prior.......As for Mustard and Davies, again good keepers, but not good enough with the bat when called upon, as they've both proved when turning out for England in the past.

Actually, i thought i was light on Swann, you've obviously forgotten that he almost got sent home from a tour a couple of years back, and also got smacked in the mouth by a senior England player for behaving like an arse. He's also had numerous "informal chats" with captains and England officials as regards going too far with his "jokey" demeanour. As for him sledging, have a listen next time he's bowling and the stump mike's turned up!!

His international future was on the line not so long ago, purely because of his loutish behaviour, although fair do's he's cleaned up his act a bit since and become invaluable to the team.

(19-01-2010 11:26 )colino Wrote:  You've obviously got a bee in your bonnet about Prior.......As for Mustard and Davies, again good keepers, but not good enough with the bat when called upon, as they've both proved when turning out for England in the past.

Actually, i thought i was light on Swann, you've obviously forgotten that he almost got sent home from a tour a couple of years back, and also got smacked in the mouth by a senior England player for behaving like an arse. He's also had numerous "informal chats" with captains and England officials as regards going too far with his "jokey" demeanour. As for him sledging, have a listen next time he's bowling and the stump mike's turned up!!

His international future was on the line not so long ago, purely because of his loutish behaviour, although fair do's he's cleaned up his act a bit since and become invaluable to the team.

Ye, i hate the bastard! lol. He's a complete and utter merchant banker lol. Mustard wasn't reli given a long run in the team was he? i remember him playin in Sri Lanka in the ODI's. Which by the way i have no idea how and why Prior is in the ODI team as a top order batsman, he's suppose to be a pinch hitter, yet rarely goes over a strike rate of 80 and as an average in the mid 20's.

To be fair, swanny's a changed man nowadays. Does he sledge?? i've never seen him or heard him, will look out for it next time tho. He's our 'MVP' at the moment. Finger spinners never succeed in SA yet swanny was our leading wicket taker, although i'm not sure if that's a reflection of the mediocre nature of our side, or his own ability. He does pick up key wickets tho.

Now that his wicketkeeping has improved so much, Prior is virtually untouchable as England's test wicketkeeper. Despite a poor series with the bat in South Africa, he still averages over 40 in tests, so there's virtally no competition for his place.

I'm just of the opinion that if six recognised batsmen fail to grasp the situation and give up their wickets cheaply, it's a bit of a stretch to expect the No.7 to come in and bat like Geoff Boycott (yes, i know that Jack Russell did it once, but it's rare) I agree, he had a poor series generally with the bat, and it was an absolutely crap shot that got him his walking papers in the final test, but overall he's done well.

I mean, if he was fit and available Fred Flintoff would have batted at 6 or 7 and he's hardly the most reliable bloke in the world with a bat in his hands!!

Like woolleysheep said, there's no one even come close to Prior's recent record as a wicketkeeper/batsman, so like him or loathe him he's probably going to be around for a while.

Prior's keeping has improved and his recod with the bat is good but his approach to the game situation let's him down. Sometimes its more important when you get runs than how many you get - Colly hasn't scored a hundred in 20 test innings but does anybody doubt his value to the side? I reckon Craig Kieswetter from Somerset (okay - originally from South Africa!) has the talent and game management skills to give Prior a run for his money.

That's exactly the point i've been trying to make, his application his poor. It wasn't a demonic pitch, it was fairly flat. U can't be 1 dimensional in test cricket. The whole point is that u've got to be able to adapt to different situations.. I agree at the moment he's the best we got, having said that Craig Kieswetter as our gd Doctor above said, he's got the pre-requisite to play for England....he's born in South Africa! lol .

I jus hope sum1 steps up so Prior can be kicked out the team. He's a complete baboon

An imbecile, a cocky bastard, a load of shit, and now a baboon.......


654321, I'm guessing you're not too keen on Matt Prior then..... You really should stop sitting on the fence and say what you mean!!