*Official* England in South Africa

[Scaly piscine]

Looks like they're trying to injure Mahmood in the train sessions (balancing on a 4 foot high pile of tyres), good stuff.

 

[Notorious1]

It's going to be a cloe series with Saffers as the clear favorites.

 

[Briony]

Saffers usually start their home series slowly. Can they afford to against the poms? Their bowling looks unsettled, as does their opening partnership. England might capitalize upon this.

 

[zaremba]

Saffers usually start their home series slowly. Can they afford to against the poms? Their bowling looks unsettled, as does their opening partnership. England might capitalize upon this.

If there's one team in the world that I'd back not to capitalise on an opponent's slow start, it's England.

I don't expect England to do much in this series. I'd be delighted to be proved wrong, obviously, but I just don't think we've got the bowling to trouble a strong SA batting line-up.

 

[superkingdave]

3-0 SA in the tests IMO. 27/28-1 to SA in the ODI's ( can't remember whether we are playing 28 or 29 this tour)

 

[Uppercut]

As ever with England, in the tests, it's all about whether the ball swings.

 

[Manee]

YouTube - Steve Harmison Vs Michael Clarke

He was tired and so couldn't be ****ed to swing his arm over.

 

[four_or_six]

Mark Nicholas

 

[zaremba]

Mark Nicholas

 

[Jarquis]

Mark Nicholas

 

[GIMH]

Will always love that, "with a slower ball, one of the great balls"

 

[FBU]

Match starts at 2.30 pm. Dillon du Preez will have to pass a late fitness test with Alan Kruger on standby.

Diamond Eagles: Boeta Dippenaar (capt), Reeza Hendricks, Morne van Wyk, Rilee Rossouw, Dean Elgar, Ryan Bailey, Con de Lange, Dillon du Preez (or Alan Kruger), CJ de Villiers, Thandi Tshabalala, Victor Mpitsang.

 

[popepouri]

Match starts at 2.30 pm. Dillon du Preez will have to pass a late fitness test with Alan Kruger on standby.

Diamond Eagles: Boeta Dippenaar (capt), Reeza Hendricks, Morne van Wyk, Rilee Rossouw, Dean Elgar, Ryan Bailey, Con de Lange, Dillon du Preez (or Alan Kruger), CJ de Villiers, Thandi Tshabalala, Victor Mpitsang.

Interesting to see what they do with CJ

 

[four_or_six]

Assuming this is the side (playing today) we're hoping to go with in the ODIs, I'd be pretty happy with it.

Strauss
Denly
Trott
Collingwood
Morgan
Prior
Wright
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Mahmood

(obviously the ongoing wk debate aside, I'm assuming they're going to start with Prior).

 

[superkingdave]

Fully expect Saj to get a hammering this series. Well he has put in some good performances against county standard batting line-ups, he still got smashed a few times against them...stepping up to facing the saffies, he'll probably have 1 good game and go for 6+ an over in the rest.

Certainly its asking for trouble playing him and Jimmeh in the same ODI side.

At least Trott will be getting a game...finally

 

[wpdavid]

England 294 for 7 off 50 overs, with all good contributions from Strauss, Trott & Morgan and cameos from Prior, Wright & Broad. Dunno how good the Eagles batting lineup is.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Prior's 'cameo' did more harm than good, but no surprise there. Should really be scoring a minimum of a run a ball coming in at the 38th over with 6 wickets in hand with 300 on the cards against that quality of bowling attack.

 

[four_or_six]

Where are the real England?!

 

[fredfertang]

Saj's figures looking healthy - whether he's bowling well is, I suppose, an entirely different question

 

[wpdavid]

. Dunno how good the Eagles batting lineup is.

Not very - 109ao.