Robert Key to replace Butcher?

[marc71178]

Err, yes, I know that.
That's what I was saying...

My mistake, for some reason I read "somewhere" as "nowhere".

 

[badgerhair]

The last Ashes showed us Key can play every now and then - it didn't show us that he can play consistently.
This summer has suggested otherwise, with him batting somewhere near his proper position.
It is good that he has kept himself in the frame while not by any stretch pushing Butcher out.
I hope it stays that way for the next while.

In terms of consistency, what this summer has suggested is that he can consistently be out for under 20, although if he survives the chances he always gives early on (eg when Gayle dropped a sitter off him when he was on 17 at Lord's), he can go on and get some runs. That *is* what the first-chance average theory suggests, isn't it?

Cheers,

Mike

 

[Richard]

In terms of consistency, what this summer has suggested is that he can consistently be out for under 20, although if he survives the chances he always gives early on (eg when Gayle dropped a sitter off him when he was on 17 at Lord's), he can go on and get some runs. That *is* what the first-chance average theory suggests, isn't it?

'Tis indeed.
Key hasn't scored a single chancless half-century in any of his 6 dismissals (remember, 1 of the 7 was a run-out for which he can't really be blamed).
However, the fact that he scored 204 without giving a chance remains an impressive achievement.
And the challenges of greater fielding will hopefully await him, and we'll see for certain whether he really can score runs without let-offs.