文章基本信息

标题：England caught behind
作者：David Townsend
期刊名称：London Evening Standard
印刷版ISSN：2041-4404
出版年度：1999
卷号：Jun 14, 1999
出版社：Associated Newspaper Ltd.

England caught behind

David Townsend

ALEC STEWART was criticised for keeping wicket as well as opening the batting and captaining England, but that begs the question: Who should take over behind the stumps?

According to former Middlesex and England wicketkeeper Paul Downton, it may be another two years before England find a long-term replacement because the development of young keepers is being stifled.

Downton said: "If you look at the guys behind the stumps on the county circuit more than a half are into their thirties and have been around for 10 years or more. "Warren Hegg played in Australia during the winter and Paul Nixon has been put forward to take over this summer but there is no one really outstanding at the moment. "One of the problems has been that, for some time, England haven't taken a second keeper on overseas Test tours and the young players are missing out on that very valuable experience." Of the new crop, Downton suggests that England A keepers Chris Read of Nottinghamshire, and Mid-dlesex's David Nash are still a couple of years shy of being ready to step up. But he added: "There is something to be said for identifying a young keeper and pushing him into the team early if he has the temperament to cope with it. Australia were very successful that way with Ian Healy, and South Africa have tried the same thing by picking Mark Boucher when he had very little first-class experience." Downton, who was pressed into opening against the West Indies in one of his 30 Tests, has nothing but admiration for the job Stewart has done but thinks it is time for him to give up at least one of his England roles. He said: "The mental strength needed to keep wicket for four or five sessions and then bat high up the order is immense, and it must start to wear down anyone over time. "If Alec is going to carry on behind the stumps then he must think seriously about dropping down the order to number six." Downton, who was forced to retire in 1991 by an eye injury, now works as a stockbroker and is a Middlesex committee member. RONNIE IRANI has become one of the first county players to set up his own Internet site. He said: "The number of visits to the site has amazed me. People are logging on from the most unusual places - I've had loads of hits and emails from America."