Is he cutting the mustard?

I know this is my 3rd post of the day but I ask for people to please be patient. I had a thought whilst nattering with my brother just now.

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Phil Mustard, described by Shane Warne as England's Adam Gilchrist , is going to be playing for his country during the upcoming limited overs clashes with New Zealand. It is great to see that the selectors are looking for aggressive hitting up the order but they must surely be worried about his current showing.

So far Mustard has played a total of 5 ODIs, all against Sri Lanka; with has a highest score of just 28. He is young, so time is on his side and has produced some remarkable displays of power hitting in county cricket; which were enough to get him selected in the first place.

Unfortunately, this is no longer county cricket. There are vast differences and so many have triumphed domestically, only to be brought crashing down to earth on the biggest stage of all. Mark Ramprakash, Greame Hick and Robin Smith, to name but a few.

What is most concerning about Mustard is that in England's two warm up matches he has looked very nervous and tentative; scratching around and only making 33 runs off 63 deliveries in two innings. His opening partner, Cook, known not to be an natural striker of the ball, acting as the aggressor. This being very much what Mustard is in the side to do.

After two failures against what has to be considered a moderately weak opposition, Mustard is very much in the spotlight. It is right that he should be given every opportunity to prove his worth; but one wonders whether he has the fundamental technique to perform at the highest level consitantly. Having seen what he has achieved so far on this tour, it seems a certainty that he won't be the first choice test wicketkeeper; and the warning signs are there for a troubled ODI series for the lad from the North East.