 | You have to give players the best possible chance to bed in |
Former wicket-keeper Jack Russell has urged Peter Moores to adopt a settled approach to England team selection and not repeat the errors of the last year. New coach Moores's first squad for the series against West Indies will be named on Sunday, with the keeping position a hot topic for debate.
And Russell says Moores must "make his choice and give the player a run".
He told BBC Sport: "Our approach has been illogical at times. What worries me is whether we have a plan."
England alternated between Geraint Jones and Chris Read behind the stumps during lasdt summer's series against Pakistan and the winter Ashes tour to Australia.
Russell continued: "In the past, England have not made their minds up over who they think is best suited to the job and stuck with them, and changing the keeper round every five minutes only unsettles the team.
"Whoever Peter chooses for the role should be given a run. You have to give players the best possible chance to bed in and show what they can do."
Paul Nixon and Matt Prior appear to be the hot favourites for selection on Sunday after they were named in Moores' 25-man development squad last month.
| The frustrating thing is that we are blessed with the best wicket-keepers in the world, there's no question about that |
But those two have yet to set the county circuit alight with their form this season, while the likes of Tim Ambrose, James Foster and David Nash have all been scoring heavily.
And Russell said: "The frustrating thing is that we are blessed with the best wicket-keepers in the world, there's no question about that.
"But all the swings, roundabouts, chopping and changing is illogical. In fact it can be quite ludicrous.
"Whoever it is they go for, be it Nixon, Prior, Foster or whoever, they have to give them the best chance and that means giving them time.
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"Whoever gets the job should get it with an eye on the Ashes and World Cup in four years' time.
"The only way to build a successful side for then is to give them backing and stability."
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