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If England had one keeper in the side (not including Pope who never keeps) this winter, who would you have.

Between Bairsow and Buttler I'd go for the latter (great news for Yorkshire). But I'd give Foakes another go and feel he was prematurely dropped and discarded.

Buttler is the better keeper according to an ex keeper who's name escapes me. Bairstow is the better bat, so straight swap.

Burns
Denly
Pope/Root/Bairstow
Root/Pope/ Bairstow
Bairstow/Pope/Root
Stokes
Buttler

So change Pope for Roy?

Root would have to stay at three. Bairstow at four I guess.

Yep. The rest just about warrant another couple of tests, especially with the gloves changing.

Where do we tour this winter?

NZ and SA.

Two different conditions. Archer in SA will be a good watch (for those who have Sky)

I would go:

Burns
Sibley
Denly
Root
Stokes
Pope
Foakes

Have Buttler in the squad as reserve wk. Have put Denly in at 3 which is his preferred position and it allows Root to bat at 4 and to give Sibley a go as opener.

No Billings?

I actually don't care who keeps as long as there is only one keeper in the side and he bats at 7. I tend towards the view that, unless your keeper is Alec Stewart or Kumar Sangakkara, if he's batting higher than 7 then you probably haven't got enough batsmen in your side

I know nothing about Foakes, but I've heard he's a very good keeper. His Surrey batting stats probably make his case for usurping JB1 or JB2 unconvincing, at least to a risk averse England with half an eye on the T20 WC when picking test players

Both JB's are batsmen who can keep rather than keepers who can bat. JB1 seems to be the better red ball batsman, but he also seems to be the one player who hasn't learnt the lessons of patience and thoughtful batting in this ashes series. JB2 to his credit does seem to have, and if he continues it might make him the better batsman going forward, so on balance I'd be tempted to go Buttler atm

Durhamfootman wrote:I know nothing about Foakes, but I've heard he's a very good keeper.

He has a Test hundred and averaged over 40 in his few opportunities.

In 2019 Jonny averages 20, Buttler 26..... I dont really see a long term case for either of them continuing, seeing as though Foakes held his own in his time in the team, and is a better keeper than both. Neither of them look very technically gifted at the moment. Bairstow cant defend his stumps, and Buttler gives you chances.

Save for 6 months in nearly 70 tests, Bairstow has been very very disappointing. Surely there must come a time when England acknowledge his form has been problematic for 3 odd years. Hes weak under the short ball, weak outside off, weak to balls coming in. Time to ditch him

Arthur Crabtree wrote:

Durhamfootman wrote:I know nothing about Foakes, but I've heard he's a very good keeper.

He has a Test hundred and averaged over 40 in his few opportunities.

and fair play to him, but Jennings scored a hundred on his first knock too. It's probably the very best time to do it, before the opposition work you out. I've just noticed that Jennings scored a hundred in the same match as Foakes.

As I said, I'm perfectly happy for England to pick him, as long as they don't also pick the other two. I just don't think England will, until either Foakes starts scoring more than 600 runs a season or they lose patience with the JB's.

Although... in the spirit of resting key players for non test championship tours, England might decide to leave the JB's at home and hand Foakes another opportunity in NZ. If they do he'll get his chance and it will be very interesting to see what England do afterwards if he's a success.

Why did JB1 miss the SL tour?

Ned Eckersley