Caution key for star of the future

Aug 21 2007 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

He is often seen as the jester in Durham’s dressing room but it is time people started taking Phil Mustard seriously as the wicketkeeper begins to push for international recognition.

SHANE Warne was perhaps only being magnanimous in defeat when he described Phil Mustard as the best one-day wicketkeeper-batsman in the country, but there are those at Durham who wish the Australian had kept his mouth shut.

When Warne speaks, people listen and his glowing endorsement of Mustard’s ability, comparing the Sunderland glove man to the great Adam Gilchrist, will have been noted from Lord’s to Sydney.

When such flattering comments are delivered by one of the greatest players in the history of the game it is high praise indeed and Mustard should be proud of the impression he had made on the veteran leg spinner.

But for those who have watched Mustard’s development closely at Chester-le-Street there will also be cause for concern over what Warne’s verdict might mean for the future.

With England’s current wicketkeeper Matt Prior feeling the sharp edge of the critics’ tongues after some poor performances in the Test series defeat to India, the search is on for a rival and Warne’s praise may cause some to believe it is already over.

Significantly, however, that is not the view at the Riverside, despite the post glow of last weekend’s Friends Provident Trophy success in which Mustard played a crucial role with the bat.

“He’s had a very good season and shown a lot of good signs,” said captain Dale Benkenstein, whose own unbeaten 61 was another crucial contribution to the 125-run victory over Hampshire.

“He’s working hard at his game now and he’s probably moved forward quicker than the other young players.

“But at the same time, he’s still new to county cricket. If he’s consistently playing well and he can produce these performances over two or three seasons, then he’ll be ready to play international cricket.

“International cricket is damn hard and sometimes, if you keep picking guys just because they’ve had one good season, it can often work the other way round. You harm their development rather than help it. If you’re not careful, international cricket can crucify you.

“I think his time will come, but I would like to see him keep doing what he’s doing for a little while yet. He needs to get bigger scores and bat longer in four-day cricket. His keeping has got better, but even in one-day cricket he needs to learn how to finish innings.

“He keeps getting these great starts, but we’re lucky that we have other players who can continue that. He needs to go and get hundreds. When Gilchrist gets going, he bats right through and gets 120s or 130s. Phil’s good enough to do something like that, but I think he still has a few steps to go before he’s ready for international cricket.”

Benkenstein’s verdict may be perceived as little more than an attempt by a county captain to hold on to one of the team’s most important players for as long as possible, but the South African is not trying to hold back Mustard’s development.

If Durham are cautious, there is good reason. Liam Plunkett was another rising star at Durham when the England selectors came calling.

Two years later he has returned to Durham, shorn of confidence and looking a less threatening bowler than he was when he first linked up with England.

Plunkett has been tinkered with and tweaked by the England coaching staff, ravaged by critics who saw him lose his way in the harsh spotlight of international cricket and then discarded. Durham are only just starting to pick up the pieces and they are inevitably fearful of seeing the same happen to Mustard.

Nevertheless, Warne is not the only prominent Australian to have waxed lyrical about Mustard’s potential to fill England’s most problematic position. When Mike Hussey became captain in 2005, he immediately identified Mustard as one of the county’s most promising players before departing to further his own international career.

Thankfully for Durham, Mustard appears to have been unaffected by Warne’s words and even imitated – in stark contrast to his batting style – his captain’s cautious response. The youngster has not scored a Championship century all season and that is something which should keep Prior in a job in the short term.

“It’s always good when you hear a big name like Shane Warne saying that you’re one of the best keepers in the country and you should be playing for England,” said Mustard, who has more dismissals than any other wicketkeeper in the County Championship as well as scoring nearly 500 runs in the Friends Provident Trophy.

“But my job is to play for Durham and I’ll keep on focusing on that. If anything happens after that, I’ll look on it as a bonus. I think I’ve been pretty consistent in one-day cricket this season, but I know I have to improve my game in the four-day competition.

“I’ve had a lot of innings this season that have been in the 40s or 50s and I know I have to start converting some of those into centuries. I’m disappointed that I haven’t had a hundred yet in the Championship, but I’m sure that time will come.”

If Mustard continues to improve, Durham will not stand in his way, but, for the time being at least, they hope England leave him alone.

I think Phil still has a few steps to go before he’s ready for England