Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
And another wicket keeper too. You can never get enough keepers in your side!
There was a great The cricketer article about wicketkeepers recently, and how the standard of wicketkeeper-batsman has shot up in recent years (with some sides like Kent and Gloucestershire etc sharing duties between two or even three players). Will dig it out.
Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
I can imagine the selectors looking at that list and immediately panicking about how they only have nine wicket keepers.
Kent and Surrey between them could easily put out a decent batting line up (1-6) who keep wicket as well!
I think the common denominator between those two counties is the specialist keeping coach. In Kent's case it was someone called Ray Willis who coached Sam Billings, Ollie Robinson (England Lions) and Jordan Cox (England U19) at age group level and started my own son on the road to keeping. Some counties have only in the last few years gone down the route of providing such a coach for their young keepers which, when you think how important a position it is, is somewhat bizarre.
The big "advantage" that keepers have is that they have to learn how to concentrate for long periods of time on each and every ball - not just for the delivery but the return to the stumps too and more to the point, even between balls, as they often have to offer guidance to the captain to ensure that fielders are in the right position taking into account the strengths of a particular batsman. It is that acquired concentration that should help them when it comes to bat - that's if they aren't too knackered to do so!
Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
I can imagine the selectors looking at that list and immediately panicking about how they only have nine wicket keepers.
Kent and Surrey between them could easily put out a decent batting line up (1-6) who keep wicket as well!
I think the common denominator between those two counties is the specialist keeping coach. In Kent's case it was someone called Ray Willis who coached Sam Billings, Ollie Robinson (England Lions) and Jordan Cox (England U19) at age group level and started my own son on the road to keeping. Some counties have only in the last few years gone down the route of providing such a coach for their young keepers which, when you think how important a position it is, is somewhat bizarre.
The big "advantage" that keepers have is that they have to learn how to concentrate for long periods of time on each and every ball - not just for the delivery but the return to the stumps too and more to the point, even between balls, as they often have to offer guidance to the captain to ensure that fielders are in the right position taking into account the strengths of a particular batsman. It is that acquired concentration that should help them when it comes to bat - that's if they aren't too knackered to do so!
Kent do have a "culture" of producing keepers as well, which probably helps continue it, whereas we don't have such a history of producing fast bowlers!
Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
I can imagine the selectors looking at that list and immediately panicking about how they only have nine wicket keepers.
Kent and Surrey between them could easily put out a decent batting line up (1-6) who keep wicket as well!
I think the common denominator between those two counties is the specialist keeping coach. In Kent's case it was someone called Ray Willis who coached Sam Billings, Ollie Robinson (England Lions) and Jordan Cox (England U19) at age group level and started my own son on the road to keeping. Some counties have only in the last few years gone down the route of providing such a coach for their young keepers which, when you think how important a position it is, is somewhat bizarre.
The big "advantage" that keepers have is that they have to learn how to concentrate for long periods of time on each and every ball - not just for the delivery but the return to the stumps too and more to the point, even between balls, as they often have to offer guidance to the captain to ensure that fielders are in the right position taking into account the strengths of a particular batsman. It is that acquired concentration that should help them when it comes to bat - that's if they aren't too knackered to do so!
Kent do have a "culture" of producing keepers as well, which probably helps continue it, whereas we don't have such a history of producing fast bowlers!
Who would you say is the best fast bowler, Kent have produced in your time?
Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
I can imagine the selectors looking at that list and immediately panicking about how they only have nine wicket keepers.
Kent and Surrey between them could easily put out a decent batting line up (1-6) who keep wicket as well!
I think the common denominator between those two counties is the specialist keeping coach. In Kent's case it was someone called Ray Willis who coached Sam Billings, Ollie Robinson (England Lions) and Jordan Cox (England U19) at age group level and started my own son on the road to keeping. Some counties have only in the last few years gone down the route of providing such a coach for their young keepers which, when you think how important a position it is, is somewhat bizarre.
The big "advantage" that keepers have is that they have to learn how to concentrate for long periods of time on each and every ball - not just for the delivery but the return to the stumps too and more to the point, even between balls, as they often have to offer guidance to the captain to ensure that fielders are in the right position taking into account the strengths of a particular batsman. It is that acquired concentration that should help them when it comes to bat - that's if they aren't too knackered to do so!
Kent do have a "culture" of producing keepers as well, which probably helps continue it, whereas we don't have such a history of producing fast bowlers!
Who would you say is the best fast bowler, Kent have produced in your time?
Can't speak for @killerandflash but I don't think we've produced anyone as good as Graham Dilley in the last 50 years. In fact, as he intimates, we probably haven't produced anyone else in that time - unless you include someone like Matt Coles who might have been better had he applied himself a bit more!
Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
I can imagine the selectors looking at that list and immediately panicking about how they only have nine wicket keepers.
Kent and Surrey between them could easily put out a decent batting line up (1-6) who keep wicket as well!
I think the common denominator between those two counties is the specialist keeping coach. In Kent's case it was someone called Ray Willis who coached Sam Billings, Ollie Robinson (England Lions) and Jordan Cox (England U19) at age group level and started my own son on the road to keeping. Some counties have only in the last few years gone down the route of providing such a coach for their young keepers which, when you think how important a position it is, is somewhat bizarre.
The big "advantage" that keepers have is that they have to learn how to concentrate for long periods of time on each and every ball - not just for the delivery but the return to the stumps too and more to the point, even between balls, as they often have to offer guidance to the captain to ensure that fielders are in the right position taking into account the strengths of a particular batsman. It is that acquired concentration that should help them when it comes to bat - that's if they aren't too knackered to do so!
Kent do have a "culture" of producing keepers as well, which probably helps continue it, whereas we don't have such a history of producing fast bowlers!
Who would you say is the best fast bowler, Kent have produced in your time?
Graham Dilley, Dartford's finest. Definitely a childhood hero of mine (so sad he died so young)
Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
I can imagine the selectors looking at that list and immediately panicking about how they only have nine wicket keepers.
Kent and Surrey between them could easily put out a decent batting line up (1-6) who keep wicket as well!
I think the common denominator between those two counties is the specialist keeping coach. In Kent's case it was someone called Ray Willis who coached Sam Billings, Ollie Robinson (England Lions) and Jordan Cox (England U19) at age group level and started my own son on the road to keeping. Some counties have only in the last few years gone down the route of providing such a coach for their young keepers which, when you think how important a position it is, is somewhat bizarre.
The big "advantage" that keepers have is that they have to learn how to concentrate for long periods of time on each and every ball - not just for the delivery but the return to the stumps too and more to the point, even between balls, as they often have to offer guidance to the captain to ensure that fielders are in the right position taking into account the strengths of a particular batsman. It is that acquired concentration that should help them when it comes to bat - that's if they aren't too knackered to do so!
Kent do have a "culture" of producing keepers as well, which probably helps continue it, whereas we don't have such a history of producing fast bowlers!
Who would you say is the best fast bowler, Kent have produced in your time?
Graham Dilley, Dartford's finest. Definitely a childhood hero of mine (so sad he died so young)
Yes I would agree, Graham Dilley, I can remember as far back as Fred Ridgeway who played a few test matches, but nobody else comes to mind.
Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
I can imagine the selectors looking at that list and immediately panicking about how they only have nine wicket keepers.
Kent and Surrey between them could easily put out a decent batting line up (1-6) who keep wicket as well!
I think the common denominator between those two counties is the specialist keeping coach. In Kent's case it was someone called Ray Willis who coached Sam Billings, Ollie Robinson (England Lions) and Jordan Cox (England U19) at age group level and started my own son on the road to keeping. Some counties have only in the last few years gone down the route of providing such a coach for their young keepers which, when you think how important a position it is, is somewhat bizarre.
The big "advantage" that keepers have is that they have to learn how to concentrate for long periods of time on each and every ball - not just for the delivery but the return to the stumps too and more to the point, even between balls, as they often have to offer guidance to the captain to ensure that fielders are in the right position taking into account the strengths of a particular batsman. It is that acquired concentration that should help them when it comes to bat - that's if they aren't too knackered to do so!
Kent do have a "culture" of producing keepers as well, which probably helps continue it, whereas we don't have such a history of producing fast bowlers!
Who would you say is the best fast bowler, Kent have produced in your time?
Can't speak for @killerandflash but I don't think we've produced anyone as good as Graham Dilley in the last 50 years. In fact, as he intimates, we probably haven't produced anyone else in that time - unless you include someone like Matt Coles who might have been better had he applied himself a bit more!
We produced a few decent all rounder/swing bowlers like Ellison and Ealham (and Coles), but even that has dried up. Quite sad looking at the current Kent squad that the regularly injured Ivan Thomas and the youngster Marcus O'Riordan are the ONLY home grown bowlers in the squad other than batsmen who've turned to bowling like Denly and DBD
Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
I can imagine the selectors looking at that list and immediately panicking about how they only have nine wicket keepers.
Kent and Surrey between them could easily put out a decent batting line up (1-6) who keep wicket as well!
I think the common denominator between those two counties is the specialist keeping coach. In Kent's case it was someone called Ray Willis who coached Sam Billings, Ollie Robinson (England Lions) and Jordan Cox (England U19) at age group level and started my own son on the road to keeping. Some counties have only in the last few years gone down the route of providing such a coach for their young keepers which, when you think how important a position it is, is somewhat bizarre.
The big "advantage" that keepers have is that they have to learn how to concentrate for long periods of time on each and every ball - not just for the delivery but the return to the stumps too and more to the point, even between balls, as they often have to offer guidance to the captain to ensure that fielders are in the right position taking into account the strengths of a particular batsman. It is that acquired concentration that should help them when it comes to bat - that's if they aren't too knackered to do so!
Kent do have a "culture" of producing keepers as well, which probably helps continue it, whereas we don't have such a history of producing fast bowlers!
Who would you say is the best fast bowler, Kent have produced in your time?
Graham Dilley, Dartford's finest. Definitely a childhood hero of mine (so sad he died so young)
Yes I would agree, Graham Dilley, I can remember as far back as Fred Ridgeway who played a few test matches, but nobody else comes to mind.
Not as fast, but Kevin Jarvis and Alan Igglesden were both decent bowlers as well
Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
I can imagine the selectors looking at that list and immediately panicking about how they only have nine wicket keepers.
Kent and Surrey between them could easily put out a decent batting line up (1-6) who keep wicket as well!
I think the common denominator between those two counties is the specialist keeping coach. In Kent's case it was someone called Ray Willis who coached Sam Billings, Ollie Robinson (England Lions) and Jordan Cox (England U19) at age group level and started my own son on the road to keeping. Some counties have only in the last few years gone down the route of providing such a coach for their young keepers which, when you think how important a position it is, is somewhat bizarre.
The big "advantage" that keepers have is that they have to learn how to concentrate for long periods of time on each and every ball - not just for the delivery but the return to the stumps too and more to the point, even between balls, as they often have to offer guidance to the captain to ensure that fielders are in the right position taking into account the strengths of a particular batsman. It is that acquired concentration that should help them when it comes to bat - that's if they aren't too knackered to do so!
Kent do have a "culture" of producing keepers as well, which probably helps continue it, whereas we don't have such a history of producing fast bowlers!
Who would you say is the best fast bowler, Kent have produced in your time?
Derek Underwood.
Looking at the length of his run-up and the pace he bowled I'm only half joking.
Given the choice of a batsmen who averages 85 and doesn’t keep or one that does keep and averages 45 , there’s only one winner there !!
Trouble is we have to find a batsman that averages 85 - we've hardly got any that do average even 45 in First Class Cricket. These are 30 of those who have played for England or might be in the frame to play (*denotes wicket keepers, #denotes all rounder)
I can imagine the selectors looking at that list and immediately panicking about how they only have nine wicket keepers.
Kent and Surrey between them could easily put out a decent batting line up (1-6) who keep wicket as well!
I think the common denominator between those two counties is the specialist keeping coach. In Kent's case it was someone called Ray Willis who coached Sam Billings, Ollie Robinson (England Lions) and Jordan Cox (England U19) at age group level and started my own son on the road to keeping. Some counties have only in the last few years gone down the route of providing such a coach for their young keepers which, when you think how important a position it is, is somewhat bizarre.
The big "advantage" that keepers have is that they have to learn how to concentrate for long periods of time on each and every ball - not just for the delivery but the return to the stumps too and more to the point, even between balls, as they often have to offer guidance to the captain to ensure that fielders are in the right position taking into account the strengths of a particular batsman. It is that acquired concentration that should help them when it comes to bat - that's if they aren't too knackered to do so!
Kent do have a "culture" of producing keepers as well, which probably helps continue it, whereas we don't have such a history of producing fast bowlers!
Who would you say is the best fast bowler, Kent have produced in your time?
Graham Dilley, Dartford's finest. Definitely a childhood hero of mine (so sad he died so young)
Yes I would agree, Graham Dilley, I can remember as far back as Fred Ridgeway who played a few test matches, but nobody else comes to mind.
Not as fast, but Kevin Jarvis and Alan Igglesden were both decent bowlers as well
Yup was going to say iggy, he was head of cricket at my school, great character despite the toll his brain cancer took on him, funnily enough he ended up running off with my fit English teacher (about 15 years his junior) just after I left.
dean headley. Does he count as he signed from another county
I was discounting players signed from elsewhere. We've brought in a number of bowlers from outside who peaked at Kent, Headley, McCague, Saggers, Stevo and now Podmore
dean headley. Does he count as he signed from another county
I was discounting players signed from elsewhere. We've brought in a number of bowlers from outside who peaked at Kent, Headley, McCague, Saggers, Stevo and now Podmore
Doesn’t saggers count? He was signed from minor counties and spent his pro career at Kent? Edit: just saw he was at Durham first... never knew that! Was a great bowler over many years with the new ball, both in white and red ball. My love affair with cricket was sparked by attending a day night match vs Yorkshire in 99 and saggers and masters tore through the Yorkshire top order after Fleming smashed a run a ball 79 opening the batting
Someone asked me today, having seen a picture of Jimmy Anderson using hand gel while standing on the outfield, whether gel has been - or could be - used to change the condition of the ball, in order to help bowlers.
It's certainly not legal, and I don't even know whether it would work. But it would surely be an advantage when the ball is reversing, because using gel dries out hands - and moisture, transferred from hand to ball is the enemy of successful reverse swing.
Has anything been written about this? Would using it in that way be "legal"?
Someone asked me today, having seen a picture of Jimmy Anderson using hand gel while standing on the outfield, whether gel has been - or could be - used to change the condition of the ball, in order to help bowlers.
It's certainly not legal, and I don't even know whether it would work. But it would surely be an advantage when the ball is reversing, because using gel dries out hands - and moisture, transferred from hand to ball is the enemy of successful reverse swing.
Has anything been written about this? Would using it in that way be "legal"?
Using saliva on the ball i’m guessing is not allowed during Covid? Way of balancing out battle between bat and ball
Julian Thompson? South African born but only ever played for Kent
The good Dr probably doesn't qualify as I think we are only talking about home produced in the sense that they came through our system i.e. age group or academy. Equally, he wasn't as good as Dilley.
Comments
The big "advantage" that keepers have is that they have to learn how to concentrate for long periods of time on each and every ball - not just for the delivery but the return to the stumps too and more to the point, even between balls, as they often have to offer guidance to the captain to ensure that fielders are in the right position taking into account the strengths of a particular batsman. It is that acquired concentration that should help them when it comes to bat - that's if they aren't too knackered to do so!
Who would you say is the best fast bowler, Kent have produced in your time?
Yes I would agree, Graham Dilley, I can remember as far back as Fred Ridgeway who played a few test matches, but nobody else comes to mind.
Looking at the length of his run-up and the pace he bowled I'm only half joking.
Someone asked me today, having seen a picture of Jimmy Anderson using hand gel while standing on the outfield, whether gel has been - or could be - used to change the condition of the ball, in order to help bowlers.
It's certainly not legal, and I don't even know whether it would work. But it would surely be an advantage when the ball is reversing, because using gel dries out hands - and moisture, transferred from hand to ball is the enemy of successful reverse swing.
Has anything been written about this? Would using it in that way be "legal"?