*Official* England in South Africa

[popepouri]

Yeah, second XI and club cricket. de Wet never played first class cricket in England.

Think de Wet came to the attention of the selectors in a Champions Trophy warm-up the Proteas played against the Lions in September. Despite taking only one wicket, de Wet was apparently very impressive and it was the same game where Virus scored some runs. Very surprising selection though considering his age and first class form but it does show you that the selectors think pace is what is going to beat England.

But Rusty took 5 against New Zealand in his warm-up game. I don't know why that didn't propel him closer to a callup.

To be fair, he is a good first class bowler but I don't think he has the potential as someone like Lopsy or Rusty who are tall and can bowl 145's when they're in full stride.

 

[TT Boy]

But Rusty took 5 against New Zealand in his warm-up game. I don't know why that didn't propel him closer to a callup.

To be fair, he is a good first class bowler but I don't think he has the potential as someone like Lopsy or Rusty who are tall and can bowl 145's when they're in full stride.

Dodgy action?

Tsotsobe needs the stars to be aligned to be touching over 135kph. Unlucky not be apart of the squad, should be there infront of McLaren.

Think the bowling attack is sorted, Steyn, Ntini, Morne and Harris. Parnell and de Wet just there for experience. Real shame Morne never worked on his batting, could then accommodate Parnell for Kallis. If Kallis is ruled out, selectors should call-up up Rudolph (if he is available) and stick Prince at four. McLaren or Parnell shouldn't even be considered when you have Boucher in the side.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Indeed, I can certainly see us somehow contriving to pick Wright and leave out Onions. Bell instead of Trott also possible

Surely to God not. Even our chumps couldn't be that stupid.

 

[aussie]

Surely to God not. Even our chumps couldn't be that stupid.

Haa word out. I think Morgan should leapfrog Bell in test setup also soon.

 

[Jarquis]

Haa word out. I think Morgan should leapfrog Bell in test setup also soon.

ODI success does not equate to Test success.

 

[aussie]

ODI success does not equate to Test success.

Indeed it doesn't. But ENG should start doing like IND & start picking a few players on ODI form & raw telent, since our FC system isn't producing consistent quality.

Bell is the 2000s version of Hick, he should be banished from the test set-up.

 

[jboss]

That's good because you talk a lot of nonsense. Smuts is a batsman who bowls some left-arm spin, he isn't a "bowler" and neither is he the logical replacement for Kallis, one franchise hundred illustrates that.

Well I don't know which stats you are looking at? He has 2 FC hundreds and one can say that he is in his third FC season so can presume that by now his stats are starting to improve. He has an average of 35.00 and a SR of 59 which are worse and better than Kallis respectively. And usually this far in to a career, stats start to improve.

 

[jboss]

Dodgy action?

Tsotsobe needs the stars to be aligned to be touching over 135kph. Unlucky not be apart of the squad, should be there infront of McLaren.

Think the bowling attack is sorted, Steyn, Ntini, Morne and Harris. Parnell and de Wet just there for experience. Real shame Morne never worked on his batting, could then accommodate Parnell for Kallis. If Kallis is ruled out, selectors should call-up up Rudolph (if he is available) and stick Prince at four. McLaren or Parnell shouldn't even be considered when you have Boucher in the side.

Care to explain how Rudolph gets in the team before Elgar?

 

[jboss]

I am sure that Peterson was chosen as opener anyway as Prince's position was a temp one. We probably will see a 1st test lineup of

1)Smith
2)Peterson
3)Amla
4)AB
5)Prince
6)Mclaren
7)Boucher
8)Harris
9)Morkell
10)Ntini
11)Steyn

Any bet on Ntini in the team is a safe one as CSA have done huge marketing on this being his 100th game.

 

[zaremba]

I am sure that Peterson was chosen as opener anyway as Prince's position was a temp one. We probably will see a 1st test lineup of

1)Smith
2)Peterson
3)Amla
4)AB
5)Prince
6)Mclaren
7)Boucher
8)Harris
9)Morkell
10)Ntini
11)Steyn

Any bet on Ntini in the team is a safe one as CSA have done huge marketing on this being his 100th game.

If they pick that team, that'd be the longest tail I can remember from a South African team since readmission. They always used to have awesome depth in their batting. Ryan McLaren at 6? England might just have a chance.

 

[Furball]

I am sure that Peterson was chosen as opener anyway as Prince's position was a temp one. We probably will see a 1st test lineup of

1)Smith
2)Peterson
3)Amla
4)AB
5)Prince
6)Mclaren
7)Boucher
8)Harris
9)Morkell
10)Ntini
11)Steyn

Any bet on Ntini in the team is a safe one as CSA have done huge marketing on this being his 100th game.

Can you stop posting please?

 

[jboss]

If they pick that team, that'd be the longest tail I can remember from a South African team since readmission. They always used to have awesome depth in their batting. Ryan McLaren at 6? England might just have a chance.

Well dispit what Furball may think and this post of yours are concerned, we need to look at the fact that kallis will probably not play. They have not brought in any extra batsmen and I would not pick JP in my team due to his technical issue. The fact is that Mclaren is picked as an allrounder and willmostlikely fill in for Kallis. It is a long tail, but we will need to take 20 wickets. Nitini will play as they have stated for months already and ae organising a huge event surrounding his 100th game. Because Kallis wont make it, I suspect that they will shuffle Prince down the order to bring a lot of middle order stability and because Perterson is noy unfimilair as an opener. Our tail may be long but it is not the worst that they have had. We can also only hope that Boucher repays a lot of aith in the first test at least. Harris and Steyn willplay as well due to thier sucess and rankings.

So we take the givens:
1)Smith
2)?
3)Amla(because I do not think they will make AB bat here as Amla has batted here before.
4)AB
5)Prince
6)Mclaren
7)Boucher
8)Harris
9)Morkell
10)Ntini
11)Steyn

only number 2 is a doubt and I bet Peterson plays there.

 

[Prince EWS]

Duminy will be in the team.

 

[jboss]

I forgot to mention that if they do not play Mclaren who will they play as our 5th bowler?

 

[jboss]

Duminy will be in the team.

I would not be so sure. His test average is a bit inflated due to that huge knock at the MCG and he has continued in the ODI (3 times) to show that he has a huge technical issue. It would be suicide playing him on our green wickets that bounce. He can enjoy the ODI where there are more restrictions on bowling until he fixes it or adds more worth like Hansie did with the ball. Hansie also had a huge weakness but had huge value with the ball and far more than Dumminy has.

 

[four_or_six]

I forgot to mention that if they do not play Mclaren who will they play as our 5th bowler?

Duminy?

 

[Prince EWS]

If Duminy doesn't play the first Test, barring sudden injury, I'll stop posting here for a year. There's no way in hell they'll leave him out.

 

[jboss]

He is no where near a Hansie yet as I mentioned above and our wickets are not made for spinners so why would we pick a part time spinner who may get no turn at all as our 5th bowler?

 

[Furball]

He is no where near a Hansie yet as I mentioned above and our wickets are not made for spinners so why would we pick a part time spinner who may get no turn at all as our 5th bowler?

More to the point, why would they drop Duminy?

 

[Furball]

If Duminy doesn't play the first Test, barring sudden injury, I'll stop posting here for a year. There's no way in hell they'll leave him out.

Yup, barring injury I'd say there's more chance of KP waltzing out to the crease at the fall of the first South African wicket than there is of Duminy being dropped.