ENGLAND : Take Your Pick !

The candidates to replace Matt Prior 

Jos Buttler (Age 23, Tests 0)
The favourite for the role. Has proved himself a hugely talented batsman, but is in his first season as a full-time wicketkeeper in county cricket. Likley to be picked if the selectors feel that his early exposure - and the inevitable mistakes - will not damage his long term development.

Chris Read (Age 35, Tests 15)
At almost 36, probably past his peak, but remains a fine gloveman and a far better batsman than when he last played Test cricket in 2007.
A calm head and a successful captain of Nottinghamshire, could be the man if England are looking for a short-term solution.

James Foster (Age 34, Tests 5)
Rated by some as the best wicketkeeper in the world and by Jack Russell as the best there has ever been, would certainly improve England's fielding.
With Ben Stokes currently at No. 8, they could probably accommodate his more than respectable batting too.

Jonny Bairstow (Age 24, Tests 14):

Took the gloves for the final two Tests of the Ashes in Australia but has slipped down the pecking order surprisingly quickly. Did not look an especially polished keeper in Australia and also has some batting flaws.
But it is not so long since he hammered an impressive 95 against South Africa.

With prior deciding to take a break,Butler will be a great replacement.he was there on stand-by for the 1st test,but wasn't needed at all.
Broad can be replaced by woakes/Jordan.Cook can be replaced by Carberry.Give the mantle to Bell/Ali,lets see what they can do.This England side needs a revamp for sure.

With a chance to level and then Win the Series :

my pick is Johnny Bairstow ! 


with all due respect to Chris Read.......Cook can use some captaincy ' help ' !

Jos Buttler is a crisp-hitting batsman with immense promise.

He made his international debut in late 2011 and became a fixture of England's T20 side,

His breakthrough innings came against South Africa at Edgbaston, with a blistering :

32 off 10 balls, and he was given the wicketkeeping gloves in India in the 2012-13 tour,

after Craig Kieswetter - his club team-mate and Somerset's first-choice keeper -

finally lost the position......

Jonny Bairstow, the son of the former England wicketkeeper David Bairstow :

is an ebullient wicketkeeper-batsman who remains in or around the fringes of the England side
in all three formats.

He was a talented all-round sportsman at an early age even having trials with Leeds United
as a right back. 

But it was cricket which soon dominated.

An early starter with Yorkshire's Under-15s :
he was named Young Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year in 2007,
having already played for Yorkshire's Second XI and their Academy side
and represented England Under-17.

In 2008, he followed in his father's footsteps by signing a full-time contract with Yorkshire.

By now Yorkshire's first-choice keeper, he registered his maiden first-class hundred against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in May of 2011

Just to emphasise his breakthrough, he made it a double.

During his brilliant attacking innings, he was joined by England's recently retired opening bowler Ryan Sidebottom, in a record ninth wicket partnership for Yorkshire against Nottinghamshire (which had stood since 1899) of 151.

Bairstow and Sidebottom were sons of two of Yorkshire's best-loved former players ;

David Bairstow and Arnie Sidebottom.

The passing of talent between the generations could not have been more satisfactorily captured.

I would pick Johnny Bairstow ........ with Jos Butler running in second place ...

I would be surprised if Jos wasn't Prior's replacement but if they opted for someone else, Foster or even Reid are very good options. Bairstow is not of that league.

Given 1 down in a series : going with your LEAST experience and a Debutant , to boot ??

England Selectors should be shot with Goat droppings IF Jos walks out as a Glove man !

ON a series Leveller  :-[

The debutants and younger players have in fact been the stand out of late and it is the seniors who have failed so there would be a psyche to take a punt.

However you may have a point and in that case Foster might have a slot for him but that might be catabolic.

Jos it is..... and only time will tell now.

For me it is sad to see Prior exit in this manner as I fear this is it for him now.