Friday, February 16, 2007

Newell blasts Fletcher over Read


Chris Read
I just don't think Fletcher rates him as a cricketer and doesn't want him in the team
Mick Newell on Read
Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell has criticised the "poor" treatment of wicket-keeper Chris Read by England coach Duncan Fletcher.

Read has been left out of the World Cup squad after being overlooked at the start of the Ashes series in Australia.

And Newell believes there is little hope of Read being given a run in the team while Fletcher is in charge.

He told BBC Sport: "Chris wasn't given any chance to compete this winter. The man-management of him has been poor."

Read was recalled last summer after a two-year absence for the last two Tests against Pakistan but the man he replaced, Geraint Jones, was preferred for the first three Ashes Tests.

"The whole thing has been made very difficult by the way it has been handled and that has been down to Duncan Fletcher," Newell continued.

"I felt Chris had done enough in the Tests with Pakistan at the end of the summer to earn his place but it didn't prove to be the case.

"He was told two weeks before the first Test in Australia that he wasn't going to be in the side. But if that's the case, how has he got any opportunity to compete for a place?

"Everyone would agree he's not only the best wicket-keeper in England but right up there in the top two or three in the world.

"But I just don't think Fletcher rates him as a cricketer and doesn't want him in the team.

Mick Newell
I'd imagine they'd look for a younger wicket-keeper to take them forward after the World Cup
Mick Newell

"It's a real shame someone like that is ruled out of international cricket and I hope he gets the opportunity to come back at some stage."

Read has been dropped several times since gaining his first Test cap in 1999, with critics claiming his batting ability is not adequate to make consistent runs at the highest level.

Veteran Paul Nixon was the latest player to be chosen ahead of the Notts man, having been brought in from the cold for the recent CB Series with Australia and New Zealand.

The 36-year-old has kept his place for the World Cup next month but Newell believes a fresh face will be brought in for the home Test series against the West Indies in May.

He added: "When the World Cup is over I would expect there to be a clean sheet of paper and all the wicket-keepers to be looked at evenly.

"With all due respect to Paul, he's very much a short-term option to get them through the World Cup and I'd imagine they'd look for a younger wicket-keeper to take them forward after that.

"But I would have thought either James Foster or Matt Prior will start the first Test of the summer, probably Foster at the moment."

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