*Official* England in South Africa

[Prince EWS]

Newlands and Paarl are dog wickets, suits Philander down to a tea as he moves the ball both ways and bowls stump-to-stump. I would be interested to see what he averages outside of the Cape. Though, he didn't disgrace himself at Middlesex with the ball.

Said it before but if he lost weight, learnt to catch, worked on the batting and cut the attitude (apparently he wasn't very popular in the national side), he would be a better option than McLaren.

So in other words.. if he became much, much better at cricket, he'd be a world class cricketer.

 

[zaremba]

Prince EWS and TT Boy, thanks for filling me in. Never realised that was the system. Makes almost as much of a mockery of FC status as English university games.

 

[popepouri]

He looks lazy hence the dropped catches and weight problem.

I think I want Kemp back in the fold. At least you know he's going to average 30 with the bat and ball. I'd take that right now. The current crop of allrounders except Parnell look hopeless.

 

[TT Boy]

So in other words.. if he became much, much better at cricket, he'd be a world class cricketer.

 

[TT Boy]

He looks lazy hence the dropped catches and weight problem.

Western Province/Cape Cobras could be held responsible for that. Their got a terrible record of producing and nurturing talent.

Case point is the guy who got KP's wicket today, Yaseen Vallie. Vallie was one of the best cricketers in Wayne Parnell's U19 side (alongside Rossouw, Vandiar) yet he has hardly played amateur cricket for WP let alone got near the franchise set-up.

 

[TT Boy]

I think I want Kemp back in the fold. At least you know he's going to average 30 with the bat and ball. I'd take that right now. The current crop of allrounders except Parnell look hopeless.

I don't. Kempie isn't a better batsman than Albie and Albie is miles better as a bowler. Rather bring back Andrew Hall, South Africa need a bowling all-rounder.

 

[popepouri]

I don't. Kempie isn't a better batsman than Albie and Albie is miles better as a bowler. Rather bring back Andrew Hall, South Africa need a bowling all-rounder.

Albie is potentially better but he's poor on the day. At least with Kemp, he's not going to go at 6 an over every single damn time.

 

[TT Boy]

Albie is potentially better but he's poor on the day. At least with Kemp, he's not going to go at 6 an over every single damn time.

With Kempie he wasn't even bowling come the end, so at least Albie offers you some overs (albeit shockingly bowled).

Though, I see Kempie has started to turn his arm over again, must have got a second wind after being rejected a visa to play in England next year.

 

[Goughy]

Prince EWS and TT Boy, thanks for filling me in. Never realised that was the system.

*snubbed*

 

[Jarquis]

Widebottom going alright in the warm up. Would love it if he could get back to somewhere near the heights of 2007-08.

 

[GIMH]

Expensive bowling aside from Sidey.

Also, just checked the scorecard, if we are going to pick Wright then surely we should have let him out there for a bit longer? Makes me think he won't be getting a go.

 

[GIMH]

5 for Sidey

 

[Jarquis]

Sidey gets 5!! Wright the next best with 2/31. Swanneh went at nearly 6 an over though

 

[King Pietersen]

Wonder how much impact this game'll have on the team selection for the 1st Test. I think there's now every chance of Sidebottom playing, either in place of Onions (which would be harsh) or in place of a batsman. I'm pleased to see him taking wickets, but I'd rather see Onions and Bell in that starting XI. However, I can definitely see the selectors going for:

Strauss
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Collingwood
Prior +
Broad
Swann
Sidebottom
Anderson
Onions

I just hope they don't. I don't think the batting is anywhere near strong enough with Broad at 7, and although the bowling would be undoubtedly stronger with Sidey ahead of Bell, I'd much rather see us go in with the 6 proper batsmen. I don't particularly want to see another Headingley.

 

[TT Boy]

Too much bowling in that side. You don't need four genuine seamers when you have Collingwood and a spinner.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Can see Onions getting ****ed over by the selectors again.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Sid & Jimmeh in the same team would be holding ourselves too much as hostages of fortune, IMHO. Both nursing or returning from injuries and both severally neutered if the ball refuses to swing.

Never say never with England's selectors, but I suspect Sid will only play if Jimmy A is broken.

My guess:

Strauss*
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Colly
Prior+
Wright
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Onions

 

[King Pietersen]

Too much bowling in that side. You don't need four genuine seamers when you have Collingwood and a spinner.

Totally agree, but the selectors didn't see it like that for the Headingley Test, our last one without Flintoff, so I'm just hoping they've learnt their lesson. I'm hoping that the 'all-rounder'; a term that should be used loosely when describing Luke Wright, is ignored as well. I just don't see how he's remotely good enough to play Test cricket, it's not like he's performed excellently in ODi cricket. A FC batting average of 32 and a bowling average of 42, if that's the level of cricketer we're picking for our Test side then I'm worried.

 

[BoyBrumby]

TBF to Wright it'd be Ian Bell he'd keep out, not Walter Hammond.

 

[aussie]

If Anderson & Sidebottom have slight injury worries. It will be understandable if 5 bowlers are picked & Broad bats @ 7, although it still be make the balance crap. BUT LUKE WRIGHT MUST NOT PLAY!!!!!!