Talk:David Gower/GA1

GA Review

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Reviewer: Sarastro1 (talk • contribs • count) 22:12, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

I'm afraid this article is a bit of a mess at the moment and quite a way off GA. I think it more than justifies a quick-fail, but as I think it deserves better, we can keep it going for at least a week. However, there is A LOT to sort out here. I've only read up to the end of the domestic section so far and it is very inconsistent. It needs to be decided how much detail is to be given; some seasons are very detailed but some are not mentioned at all. Two matches are described at length but there is 10 years of one day cricket missed out. I have not worried too much about sourcing yet, nor with the prose (which may stand tightening in places but nothing major). And I get the impression, from skimming the rest, that there is quite a lot that is unsaid. I think some wider sources are needed, and as there is no biography that I know of, maybe newspapers can fill some gaps, such as this; I know it is how they fill up North American sports articles. Anyway, here are some points to begin with but they are not exhaustive. --Sarastro1 (talk) 22:25, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

• Lead: nothing about his early life or career. Also, the remarks on his captaincy are misleading and suggest he had a good captaincy record, which was a long way from the case. May also be worth mentioning his laid-back attitude, batting style and that he was, for a time, England's leading run-scorer.
• "While at school, Gower would play representative cricket for Public Schools against English Schools at under-16 level." No reference?
• Why is the last paragraph of "Early life" in this section? It is not about his early life at all.
• Also, Early life seems over-detailed, given the lack of detail for other parts of his life. I would suggest 4 paragraphs is probably double what is needed and much of this could be cut (unless the rest of the article is bulked out considerably).
• "Gower enjoyed one of the most prolific first-class cricket careers in English history, in both domestic and international competitions" Not really supported by the ref, and I really don't think he can be said to have been among the leading county players of all time.
• The stats in the first paragraph of Playing career need dating per WP:DATED.
• Why is there so much detail on his debut? He did very little and most of the information is irrelevant. It could be cut to simply "…he scored 32 in his only innings."
• "Gower continued to make little impression…" Opinion, not supported by ref.
• "with 65 runs at 13.00…" We need to explain this for the uninitiated. At the very least, it should make clear we are talking about averages.
• "with a best of 135*": Needs expanding to 135 not out, and not out should be linked.
• Gower was a COY for 1979 which would have been for his performances in 1978. However, the article indicates he received the award for his 1979 performances.
• One day cricket in 1978, 1979, 1981 and all the following seasons?
• "which including the 1981 Ashes series." Typo
• Are his 1981 figures for f-c or OD cricket?
• "Against Essex at Grace Road he shared an unbroken county record second wicket stand of 289 with Chris Balderstone." No ref.
• "Gower scored one century in England and Australia in the next two seasons": This is hard to follow. One century in total in both countries, or one in each country. Are the seasons one in England and one in Australia, or both in England with a tour to Australia in addition?
• "…before topping 1,000 runs for three consecutive series'…" Why the apostrophe? And should it be seasons rather than series?
• "…in 1987, 1988 and 1989, with a total of seven centuries including his career best 228." After all the detail for his early seasons, it is odd that the article tails off badly and that the seasons between 1986 and 1989 barely get a mention.
• "and upon return from the 1989–90 tour of the West Indies, where he scored only four in one match…" Presumably, he played only one match, in which he scored four. But why such detail on one game when the last few seasons were swept aside in a sentence?
• Then, lots of detail again for his last match. Why? And why only mention his one-day record in 1993 after it has not been mentioned since 1980?

Other stuff:

• 4 DABlinks: Alistair Campbell, HM, Rodney Marsh and Test match.
• Several links need updating, notably the cricinfo ones (which are now espncrincinfo)
• Images fine.

I'll place this on hold, but I think we need to see some improvement and fast. If nothing has really happened within a week, I will fail this article. If longer is needed to make progress, it may be better to fail for now and renominate once the work has been done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 22:25, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

My apologies, but I have been away on holiday recently, and now suspect it better to fail while I address these points and then renominate. Thanks Sarastro1, your help is much appreciated. :) S.G.^(GH) _ping! 12:06, 8 September 2011 (UTC)

OK, I'll fail this for now. --Sarastro1 (talk) 18:14, 12 September 2011 (UTC)