Australia's no. 2 WK

[The Argonaut]

There has always been a big debate about who is Australia's reserve wicket keeper. I've always considered that Seccombe is no.2 (FC only) and that Campbell is for the OD matches. Here are the FC batting stats for the state keepers along with Gilchrist.

Gilchrist 412 @ 59
Seccombe 330 @ 47
Campbell 257 @ 37
Haddin 186 @ 31
Deitz 318 @ 28
Berry 188 @ 19
Clingeleffer 109 @ 9

Seccombe has always been put down over his batting but has always been dependable for Qld and is having a good season. Clingeleffer who has been put forward as the next big thing is having a shocker and must be close to being dropped from the Tasmanian side.

I'd also submit that Seccombe is the best gloveman in the country at present and if Gilchrist wasn't such a freak would be the current test WK. Campbell and Haddin would be my preferred OD keepers. Any thoughts?

 

[Top_Cat]

Seccombe's batting has always been the thing to let him down. Now his age would be a problem for the selectors, despite the fact he's probably clearly the best pure 'keeper in the country (yes, he's better than Gilchrist).

I'd say that Brad Haddin would be the next-in-line for a Test spot in the event Gilchrist was injured, especially considering how well he can bat. The selectors could do worse than picking him.

Also, I think the low averages in the 'keepers is a reflection of the relative low standard of pitches this season.

 

[Eclipse]

Haddin is deffinatly the best batsman all of them (apart from Gilchrist)

Considering how good a batsman he is I am supprised Australia have been using Campbell as there back up in ODIs.

 

[Simon]

Haddin would have to be the next test keeper and current back up keeper. He is a very good gloveman as well as a good batsman. At the start of the season i thought Clingleffer would be number 2 keeper by now, but his batting has been shocking and theres no way he could make the test side in the near future.

 

[marc71178]

(SNIP)

Any thoughts?

Yes, why are people obsessed with picking a keeper based on his batting average?!

 

[Eclipse]

Simple keepers who cant bat are no longer wanted by team's in International cricket.

Considering they can all (apart from Secombe) keep at about the same quality the best batsman should be chosen.

Secombe is the best keeper but he cant bat very well and thats why hes not wanted. That and the fact he is pritty old.

 

[Langeveldt]

I would rather have a guy like Gilchrist or Sangakkara who make mistakes with the gloves but can bat, than a brilliant keeper who cant bat. Basically with a guy like Seccombe or Foster you are lengthening the tail, and some pretty horrible collapses can result, which are worse then the odd drop catch or miss-stumping IMO...

 

[Neil Pickup]

I disagree. Missed chances and stumpings over a match can cost you far more runs than a few with the bat.

For me, I'd always want the best gloveman available behind the stumps.

 

[Rik]

I would rather have a guy like Gilchrist or Sangakkara who make mistakes with the gloves but can bat, than a brilliant keeper who cant bat. Basically with a guy like Seccombe or Foster you are lengthening the tail, and some pretty horrible collapses can result, which are worse then the odd drop catch or miss-stumping IMO...

Actually Foster is a keeper-batsman, and he drops a lot of chances...

 

[Langeveldt]

Actually Foster is a keeper-batsman, and he drops a lot of chances...

Well im yet to see any batting prowess from him yet. I saw a lot of drops from him though, especially in Zim!

 

[Rich2001]

Gilchrist 412 @ 59
Seccombe 330 @ 47
Campbell 257 @ 37
Haddin 186 @ 31
Deitz 318 @ 28
Berry 188 @ 19
Clingeleffer 109 @ 9

It's intresting to see all the Aussie's saying that Seccombe is by far the best WK, but not a great batsman...... Is it just luck that he is by far leading the trailing pack behind Gilly, Ok Deitz is only 12 runs behind but Seccombe has scored his at nearly twice the avg.

What is the unable to bat based on? Iam not trying to say you are wrong or anything but iam genuienly intrested how a guy on paper is miles out front yet is considered poor???

 

[Top_Cat]

Simple. Seccombe has had an exceptional season with the bat this season whereas the other guys have had ordinary seasons except Campbell. Seccombe averages 25 at FC level and has 3 tons in 93 matches; not bad at all but he's most definately in the class of 'specialist wicket-keeper'.

Mind you, considering how well the Bulls have done in his career in the batting department, it's no surprise he's struggled; it must be tough to come out and go for the 'impending declaration slog' when your team is 5 or 6 down for 500...........

So I guess realistically, he's a better batsman than his figures suggest but still, you wouldn't put him in the batting class as any of the others.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

There's more than one wicketkeeper in Australia?

 

[The Argonaut]

Yes age probably does go against Seccombe. Here is the list.

Seccombe 31
Campbell 30
Deitz 27
Haddin 25
Clingeleffer 22
Berry (don't worry about it, ancient)

In terms of gloving though Seccombe is daylights ahead of the rest. The rest are of a similar standard though Clingeleffer would be next on my list.

Haddin can be very ordinary from what I've seen so I can't see why he's rated so highly. He's a good one day player but hasn't performed consistently enough in the longer form of the game.

If you're going to blood someone for the future I would go for Clingeleffer (if he can get some form with the bat).

The keeping skills should come first in the test format so Seccombe should get the nod (if he's ever required).

 

[Kiwi]

In New Zealand u hardly ever hear of any other wicketkeeper other than Gilchrist. If anyone else it seems to be about Campbell.
I think they should look at the keeping ability before the batting ability.

 

[age_master]

Campbell and haddin are the 2nd best Bat/keepers and they will be the ones that get picked, Seccombe isn't quite good enough with the bat consistantley to be picked as the keepers have to be good bats these days

 

[marc71178]

I can't see Seccombe or Campbell getting much of a chance since their similar age to Gilly.