***Official*** South Africa in England

[zaremba]

Not much swing today.

I wonder if the fact that they played in pouring rain yesterday evening affected the condition of the ball.

 

[zaremba]

at your response. Seriously though Pothas is better.

We'll agree to disagree then. What swings it really is that Pothas has a horrible nose.

 

[Goughy]

UIMM, Broad now averages 40+ with both bat and ball.

Wonder how often this has hapeded for a guy picked as a specialist bowler.

 

[Richard]

As a Sussex supporter I've had the chance to watch both Ambrose and Prior over a long period.

Tim Ambrose is a good player. In 2003 he batted at 5 for Sussex (and kept) while Prior batted 7. At that stage I felt that Tim could be the better batsman.

However since then I've been proved wrong: Prior has outperformed Ambrose with the bat in their first class careers and also in their short Test careers. Ambrose is a more limited, less dominant and less classy batsman than Prior.

I don't think you'd find many Sussex supporters who would disagree with me about that, even though they still hold Tim in high regard.

Prior outperformed Ambrose comfortably between 2002 and 2005, sure. By miles. But that, for mine, was because Ambrose had failed to kick-on as he should have. Since Ambrose has finally got his act together, he's IIRR scored more runs than Prior.

I think Ambrose has a better technique against the seaming and swinging ball than Prior and always have. Though neither are close to ideal in that department.

 

[Richard]

UIMM, Broad now averages 40+ with both bat and ball.

Wonder how often this has hapeded for a guy picked as a specialist bowler.

Greg Matthews is the only case which immediately comes to mind.

 

[zaremba]

35.87 with the bat - he was over 40 before he was dismissed.

 

[zaremba]

Greg Matthews is the only case which immediately comes to mind.

Great call

 

[_Ed_]

28-2!

Amla doesn't seem to score many runs when he's playing against anyone other than NZ.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Amla gone.

 

[chalky]

Top bowling from Broad Amla gone caught behind.

 

[pasag]

Amla gone, what's the weather like?

 

[Jono]

Really intelligent cricket there. Classic test wicket.

 

[zaremba]

Prior outperformed Ambrose comfortably between 2002 and 2005, sure. By miles. But that, for mine, was because Ambrose had failed to kick-on as he should have. Since Ambrose has finally got his act together, he's IIRR scored more runs than Prior.

I think Ambrose has a better technique against the seaming and swinging ball than Prior and always have. Though neither are close to ideal in that department.

Are you not suspicious about Ambrose because he's moved counties?

 

[chalky]

Amla gone, what's the weather like?

Cloudy & overcast

 

[PhoenixFire]

Amla gone, what's the weather like?

Looks OK, doesn't seem to any chance of rain/bad light for the near future.

 

[Richard]

28-2!

Amla doesn't seem to score many runs when he's playing against anyone other than NZ.

Think he scored some in India too. Might have been, like McKenzie, on the ARG-esque Chennai pitch though.

Anyway unusually good ball from Broad there. Haven't seen him bowl many of those before.

 

[Richard]

Are you not suspicious about Ambrose because he's moved counties?

Haha nah. Very rare to get two wicketkeeper-batsmen as good as Prior on the books of the same county.

One of those cases where a player simply finds his way blocked and has little choice.

If you said county-born players only neither would even be eligable to play for England.

 

[Woodster]

Yes excellent bowling from Broad, good line, which hasn't really been the case this morning. Not much movement at all yet.

 

[Jono]

LOL @ Kallis' face on replay.

 

[Woodster]

Nah, if Broad or Anderson don't do well it'll be attributed to the pitch in all probability or they'll think that if four bowlers can't do the job against SA they'd need five plus the selectors are probably worried about Flintoff's bowling load so the man in the worst form - Collingwood will get the flick. However if either of the two bowl horrendously, you never know.

It will be important not to overload Freddie with 20 odd overs a day, but with the likes of Collingwood in the side, bit of spin from KP they can monitor that comfortably.

Wouldn't like a batting line-up with Freddie at 6 and an out of nick Ambrose at 7. I realise Colly hasn't scored many currently, but would back him to do so at 6 in this series. Anderson and Broad have started bright enough with a wicket apiece.