The Surfer

Proof of this are the career statistics of great wicketkeeper/batsmen in history like Alan Knott who averaged 32.75 in 95 Tests, Rod Marsh who averaged 25.51 in 96 Tests and Jeffrey Dujon who averaged 31.94 in 81 Tests.

Only the great Adam Gilchrist who averaged 47.60 in 96 Tests finished his career with an average of over 40 as a wicketkeeper/batsman in the modern era. However, Gilchrist did bat at seven in Tests as is the norm for wicketkeeper/batsman because of their work load.

This is not a witch-hunt for the sake of it. But the evidence has been unfavourable for a while now.

Late on the second day, Sussex were going well. White had earlier struggled for line and success; now he had to be persuaded by stand-in skipper Roy Marshall to bowl another over. His rediscovered form was like an optical illusion. The first three balls brought him a hat-trick, and it would have been four in a row if the normally reliable Jimmy Gray had not put down a catch in the slips. From the final ball of the over, a catch at gully gave White one more wicket. Sussex were all out for 180. It takes its place among the most spectacular overs in the county's [Hampshire] history.

I'm grateful to Allah that I got a century in each innings on my debut but I agree with you that it does end up creating an unrealistic expectation. To be truthful, I'm very disappointed in my performance in international cricket so far as I've missed out on 12 international centuries. I feel that if a player gets past 50 runs in an innings then it's a crime for him not to convert that score into a century. If you're in good enough form to score 50 runs, then you owe it to your team and to yourself to make your form count and get a really big score.

It is a conflict that the International Cricket Council plans to end. In return for a vast increase in investment in the second-tier Associate nations, the full members who control the sport want to see progress on the field. However, it is unfair to judge a sub-strength side. Coetzer missed last month's crushing eight-wicket loss to New Zealand, while a fortnight ago, Ireland saw in-form Middlesex batsman Eoin Morgan pull out of the World Twenty20 qualifiers at the last minute. He wanted to miss a day's play to turn out in a televised Pro40 tie. The Irish said no. A week later, he was called into the England Lions' squad. Was there any doubt he'd turn up for that? Not a chance.

The honeymoon may not be over, but the first moments of dizzying ecstasy have passed. Kevin Pietersen enjoyed a wonderful consummation of his appointment as England captain at the Oval. Everything clicked perfectly. It is unlikely to be quite so straightforward over the next fortnight when England take on South Africa in a solitary Twenty20 match (Just the one? There must be some commercial men out there grinding their teeth) and five 50-over games.

In terms of inspiration, Geraint Jones can take his pick when pondering the men who have gone before him as Kent wicketkeeper. There's Alan Knott, the England stalwart of the 1960s and 1970s, Godfrey Evans, whose dramatic exploits enlivened the Test scene in the 1950s, or even Les Ames, the brilliant pre-war wicketkeeper-batsman. Jones, however, has recently been inspired by someone slightly different: the television chef and food campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

If at all possible, the sporting show must go on. All things remaining equal, cricketers must put aside their fears and go to Pakistan to play in the Champion’s Trophy, due to take place between September 12 and 26. Withdrawal must be a last resort, not a first option. Anyone waiting for perfect calm to shave will grow a long beard. Always, there is some disturbance in the volatile group countries that dominate this game. It might be xenophobia, religious conflict, political turmoil, violent protests, crime waves, health worries or goodness knows what.

...the six-hitting (or 5.8-hitting) would have provided some unexpected interaction for the crowd, who presently get that kind of excitement only when a javelin throw goes seriously awry. Of course, in these heady days of million-dollar prize funds it takes a lot to lure English cricketers to any tournament. But a gold medal would appeal to Kevin Pietersen's love of bling, for one, and the Olympic Village would have benefited hugely from the England team's presence.