*Official* England in South Africa

[GIMH]

That's four times this year we've been in tense as **** finishes. Antigua, Trinidad, Cardiff and here. The tail have survived each time.

 

[GIMH]

Swann MOTM

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Fair play to Colly. Also to de Wet, who bowled up a storm with the second new ball. Be counter intuitive to drop him for Ntini when Steyn's back, surely?

And bye-bye, Belly. Those scores since his recall in full: 58, 8, 3, 72, 4, 5, 2. Not good enough, IMHO especially when, IIRC, he had three lives in the first half-century.

AWTA, possibly the last time we'll see Bell or Ntini in a Test?

 

[Jarquis]

Swann MOTM

WAG

 

[Uppercut]

Word, way to bring on the worst bowler of the match.

Not just that. He's always been shocking at bowling to tail-enders. Seriously odd decision from Smith.

Harris was all over them in the one over he bowled and got Broad with one that took off. Why didn't he bowl again? It's strange.

 

[jboss]

Fair play to Colly. Also to de Wet, who bowled up a storm with the second new ball. Be counter intuitive to drop him for Ntini when Steyn's back, surely?

Well yes if u have decent selectors which SA lack. Also a matter of quotas with JP being only colour player in team then. Both Dteyn and De Wet and Morkell can be deadly after Mitch perofmance in Durbs earlier this year.

 

[zaremba]

I quite like the sound of a greentop and a 4-man pace attack.

So:

Cook
Strauss
Trott
KP
Collingwood
Bell
Prior
Broad
Sidebottom
Anderson
Onions

Ironically Mark Davies doesn't seem to stand much of a chance even though if it's a green-top then he would be as good a pick as anyone. Would be harsh on Swann to get dropped due to the conditions but that's the spinner's lot in life.

And the MOTM is, naturally, Graeme Swann

 

[GIMH]

Graeme Swann, WAG,

 

[Jono]

Gut feel from Smith that went wrong.

de Wet was bowling at the stumps every ball. Bad decision, but I guess when you're a captain you gotta go with your gut. Particularly if you're Fat Gray™ (Brumby)

 

[Manee]

Be counter intuitive to drop him for Ntini when Steyn's back, surely?

Yes, would agree with this. However, Ntini did not disgrace himself and I am willing to believe that he can remain the reserve seamer in the Test squad.

 

[zaremba]

Gower's eyes looking quite scary

 

[GIMH]

Colly's a legend. Every single person in the country should be made to bow down to him when they return from Saffa next year. WAG.

 

[zaremba]

Great work by Ahmedinajad at the end. Yet another Test match where the value of bowlers who can bat (or at least who work really hard on their batting) has been thoroughly proven. Unlikely though it may seem, this has become an outstanding feature of England's cricket. It won us the Ashes and it saved us today.

 

[jboss]

IMHO Ntini has gone from "could have ended his career as a legend" to a "****ing disgrace proving why SA have clowns for selectors who chose old farts that have lost pace and accuracy to use the new ball." Seams CSA were so desperate for crowd that they tried luring some with a free beer. Ntini is a has been and his current slection stinks of favouritism.

 

[Goughy]

Well yes if u have decent selectors which SA lack. Also a matter of quotas with JP being only colour player in team then. Both Dteyn and De Wet and Morkell can be deadly after Mitch perofmance in Durbs earlier this year.

What about Prince and Amla? Even with Ntini dropped that would leave 3. That isnt ideal for SACB but 3 can be acceptable in the short term (even though 4 is the stated min desired/wanted/preferable).

 

[jboss]

What about Prince and Amla? Even with Ntini dropped that would leave 3. That isnt ideal for SACB but 3 can be acceptable in the short term (even though 4 is the stated min desired/wanted/preferable).

Well the most logical replacement for Ntini is Philander who is hot and can score runs. He is also matture enough to make a debut I feel and is very tigh and economical like Ntinti but faster at Ntini's current age. I am not convinced the De Wet even with a performance like today, deserves his place if we sish to build at the same time as winning matches. Giving a likely replacement for Ntini a chance is the risght step forward to the future and gives them valuable experience.

sorry for the mix up with Amla and Prince.

 

[TT Boy]

Didn't see it, but presumably if de Wet had bowled that 4th delivery maybe Onions wouldn't have got his bat down in time?

de Wet was tiring coming the end and it was only Ntini who was getting the grubber going. de Wet wicket taking deliveries would have been far too good for Onions to hit and of course, de Wet was bowling outside off-stump and not targeting the stumps during his spell.

 

[TT Boy]

Well the most logical replacement for Ntini is Philander who is hot and can score runs. He is also matture enough to make a debut I feel and is very tigh and economical like Ntinti but faster at Ntini's current age. I am not convinced the De Wet even with a performance like today, deserves his place if we sish to build at the same time as winning matches. Giving a likely replacement for Ntini a chance is the risght step forward to the future and gives them valuable experience.

sorry for the mix up with Amla and Prince.

Pro isn’t quicker than Ntini. Ntini even without a yard still hits the bat harder than Philander and he isn’t going to be helpful on a quick, bouncy Kingsmead wicket. Will be Steyn, de Wet, Morne/Ntini and Harris for Durban. Ntini has been contemplating retirement since the Australian tour and this would be a nice note to go out on. He doesn’t need an Indian two match test series against Sehwag on a road to take the hint.

 

[jboss]

well Philander still deserves a spot and with 2 Steyn's we don't exactly need a third fast bowler. Also solves a bit of a long tail that SA has.

 

[TT Boy]

Not just that. He's always been shocking at bowling to tail-enders. Seriously odd decision from Smith.

Harris was all over them in the one over he bowled and got Broad with one that took off. Why didn't he bowl again? It's strange.

He was all over Broad, who he got out. Also Harris getting through a 45 second over alleviates pressure. An 8 ball, four minute Morne Morkel over was doing the trick. Swann didn’t have a clue what Morne was going to bowl; neither did Morne which made it even better - with Harris, unless you’re a leftie or Ian Bell, you shouldn’t be worried as he didn’t turn the ball all day.

Smith's captaincy for the final session was pitch perfect and I agree with Hussain, you can't blame the England batsman (KP aside), all of them got peaches. Great test match.