*Official* England in South Africa

[Woodster]

Bell played a decent pressure knock at The Oval I thought as well. Think he's topping the averages for the series now, without checking, he's there or thereabouts anyhow. Fair play to him, obviously it would have been nice to see him stay there until the end today but that aside we couldn't have asked too much more from him.

Thinking about the averages, it was when he was not out that his was the highest, but anyway, it's nice to see the way he and Cook have responded to their places being under threat. Indicative of our team spirit as a whole really, we generally bounce back from disappointment with a belter of a performance.

Moving forwards I can't see anything other than an unchanged team next time out. Five bowlers is highly unlikely given that we only need to draw, I believe that we will win the Test and with it the series. It's stressful but really, it's quite a bit of fun being an England fan of late.

The two players you mention Cook and Bell have both shown excellent character resurrecting their fortunes with a few gutsy knocks. I agree that Bell played a decent knock at the Oval too, and it seems currently England have got the balance of the team spot on with the 4-man attack.

Fun being an England fan ? So far yes as the games going down to the wire are favouring us at the moment, the heartache had Onions been dismissed at Centurion or Cape Town would have been awful.

I've been thinking ahead to the Bangladesh tour and mulling over any changes I'd make, and I certainly would change the squad around. Should we win this series, I'm aware that it's vital we keep the momentum going, and would probably field half of the side that have featured in this series so far. It really is an ideal time for a few to enjoy a rest, a handful to continue building on recent success and an opportunity for a number of fringe players to taste international cricket. Sorry for going off topic a little, just thought I'd mention it.

 

[GIMH]

By fun, I mean we are watching a good team, that don't lose a lot of matches and are generally involved in interesting matches

 

[Woodster]

By fun, I mean we are watching a good team, that don't lose a lot of matches and are generally involved in interesting matches

Yes in those respects, it is fun. We do have a decent team here, that don't know when they're beat. They certainly do play in a number of interesting encounters, although will take a dull draw at Jo'burg, or a convincing victory with no last over heroics would go down even nicer.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Oh man..another draw for South Africa despite domintating almost all of the match. This must be so disheartening. They have failed to win 2 home series in a row now and have failed to beat England twice at home..

Hats off to Bell and Collingwood..what would England have done without Paul Collingwood. Everytime they make a great escape..Collingwood is involved.

 

[Pothas]

I've been thinking ahead to the Bangladesh tour and mulling over any changes I'd make, and I certainly would change the squad around. Should we win this series, I'm aware that it's vital we keep the momentum going, and would probably field half of the side that have featured in this series so far. It really is an ideal time for a few to enjoy a rest, a handful to continue building on recent success and an opportunity for a number of fringe players to taste international cricket. Sorry for going off topic a little, just thought I'd mention it.

I am really enjoying this series and if we win it will be two great victories in a row but we do have to remember that just last year we were losing in the West Indies and that our strength in depth is probably not all that great. We need to make sure that we beat Bangladesh and to do so with certainty I think we need a fairly strong side. I don't think I would give any of the batsmen a rest (would give Strauss and maybe Collingwood a rest for ODI's though) as I can see good reasons for them all to play. We will need Swann so he has to go so the only two I would consider not taking would be Anderson and maybe Broad.

 

[Briony]

Oh man..another draw for South Africa despite domintating almost all of the match. This must be so disheartening. They have failed to win 2 home series in a row now and have failed to beat England twice at home..

Hats off to Bell and Collingwood..what would England have done without Paul Collingwood. Everytime they make a great escape..Collingwood is involved.

Time for SA to rethink its strategy. It kept the same team for a while because it was a winning formula but one win in the last six matches - all on home soil, suggests that something's not quite right. Their glaring weakness is that they don't have an authentic spinner but they also lack support for Steyn with Morkel showing signs of improvement but still being too inconsistent.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Clearly doing it on purpose just to taunt Smith.

Works for me!

 

[aussie]

Time for SA to rethink its strategy. It kept the same team for a while because it was a winning formula but one win in the last six matches - all on home soil, suggests that something's not quite right. Their glaring weakness is that they don't have an authentic spinner but they also lack support for Steyn with Morkel showing signs of improvement but still being too inconsistent.

Well TBF historically outside Hugh Tayfield & Faulkner, Berti Vogts, Reggie Swartz (spell check) SA never had an authentic spinner. (Although you can argue during the aparthied era Denys Hobson & Allan Kourie would have been authentic test quality spinners).

Its always been about pace, i reckon they can go back to that if they want to drop Harris. But i guess Imran Tahir deserves a shot..

 

[Pothas]

Well TBF historically outside Hugh Tayfield & Faulkner, Berti Vogts, Reggie Swartz (spell check) SA never had an authentic spinner. (Although you can argue during the aparthied era Denys Hobson & Allan Kourie would have been authentic test quality spinners).

Its always been about pace, i reckon they can go back to that if they want to drop Harris. But i guess Imran Tahir deserves a shot..

Good record with Germany it must be said but his performances in Scotland and Nigeria leave a lot to be desired, only good at home one might say?

 

[aussie]

Haaa, ye my bad. It should Bert Vogler, got mixed up with the names.

 

[Burgey]

Onions again? Haha - kudos.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Time for SA to rethink its strategy. It kept the same team for a while because it was a winning formula but one win in the last six matches - all on home soil, suggests that something's not quite right. Their glaring weakness is that they don't have an authentic spinner but they also lack support for Steyn with Morkel showing signs of improvement but still being too inconsistent.

I agree but as someone has already said..South Africa never had a great spinner.even when they were the best team in the 90s..I think the second test could have turned out differently had they picked De Wet instead of Ntini and had Steyn bowled better.
They definitely need another consistent fast bowler..Morkel is improving every day..but I think its time to try out Parnell and Zondeki. De Wet is pretty good too..needs faith and confidence.

 

[Stapel]

Oh man..another draw for South Africa despite domintating almost all of the match.

TBH, only the 2nd innings Smith-Amla partnership was dominating. But indeed, so dominating, it did set up the match for SA wonderfully.


I do have the feeling that SA's attack is improving. Steyn is close to his #1 ranking top-bowling self, only a bit a of luck missing. Kallis' bowling is rising again, as is Morkel's. To me, SA are favourites for the last match.

 

[Stapel]

I agree but as someone has already said..South Africa never had a great spinner.even when they were the best team in the 90s..I think the second test could have turned out differently had they picked De Wet instead of Ntini and had Steyn bowled better.
They definitely need another consistent fast bowler..Morkel is improving every day..but I think its time to try out Parnell and Zondeki. De Wet is pretty good too..needs faith and confidence.

TBH, De Wet got only one wicket in the 3rd test. He was underused imho.

 

[Craig]

Slightly OT, but wasn't Paul Harris played more ODI cricket for South Africa, his List A record is quite good.

 

[Prince EWS]

Slightly OT, but wasn't Paul Harris played more ODI cricket for South Africa, his List A record is quite good.

Van De Merwe and Botha have both been very good with the ball of late and offer far more with the bat and in the field. I really do think he could be an excellent ODI bowler though.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Strauss: officially not HP

From the BBC.

Strong words from the skipper regarding the alleged ball-tampering,

"I do think that the South Africans announcing it to the media, without being totally clear in their minds whether they were going to put in a formal complaint, is a little bit malicious."

Inclined to agree, tbh. Put up or shut up.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I'm certainly envious of England's ability to tough it out for over a day and bat out a draw. I wish the Australian team could take a leaf out of their book when it comes to showing a bit of determination when things aren't going that well at times.

Bloody good effort to draw this test!

 

[popepouri]

I agree but as someone has already said..South Africa never had a great spinner.even when they were the best team in the 90s..I think the second test could have turned out differently had they picked De Wet instead of Ntini and had Steyn bowled better.
They definitely need another consistent fast bowler..Morkel is improving every day..but I think its time to try out Parnell and Zondeki. De Wet is pretty good too..needs faith and confidence.

Parnell and Tahir have been added to the squad. De Wet has a back problem which is why he was only bowling 125kph on the final day and largely ineffective.

Harris is great and I'm happy for the guy but Tahir has much more ability and variation. I think he's worth a try.

 

[Pothas]

Really pleased for Tahir, deserves a chance at the highest level.