**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[grecian]

Want us to play five bowlers won't happen though. I believe the reason Finn looks a better bowler in ODIs is he can bowl in short spurts, think if we played 5 in Tests he could do the same, and the other bowlers would be more rested too. Particularly now Swann's elbow seems that it could be a major problem. Not like whomever we pick at 6 is guaranteed runs anyway.

 

[Heboric]

Cop out.

Cop Out - See how easy that was

 

[Spark]

England infrastructure light years ahead of the Saffers

How is this a valid excuse for not winning series at all...?

 

[Stumpcam]

Cop Out - See how easy that was

 

[BoyBrumby]

England infrastructure light years ahead of the Saffers

Is that true? Serious question. I know there are other factors at play, but South Africa produces a lot of serious cricketers, several of whom end up taking the Queen's Shilling. Doubt any Englishmen have made the reverse journey since WW1.

SA must be doing something right if it produces players of the calibre of Trott, Pietersen & Kieswetter.

 

[akilana]

Blaming their lack of success on the FTP is such a massive cop-out though. They don't win enough series for their on-paper strength. End of.

it is not a cop-out and very understandable.

 

[akilana]

The joys of actually winning home series

as opposed to losing home series and away series?

 

[Heboric]

 

[wpdavid]

England infrastructure light years ahead of the Saffers

Really? I'd still argue that England's recent success has happened despite the infrastructure rather than because of it. We still have too much dead wood in the FC game and the better players are still spread over two divisions, so that the best don't routinely play the best. Throw in a pig's ear of a season in terms of the mix of 2020 and four-day games and it's a wonder we produce as many decent players as we do.

If the Saffer fans honestly think that the drawn home series against India and Australia were anything other than disappointments given the players at their disposal and the results of those opponents before/after those series, then I'm astonished.

 

[Briony]

Really? I'd still argue that England's recent success has happened despite the infrastructure rather than because of it. We still have too much dead wood in the FC game and the better players are still spread over two divisions, so that the best don't routinely play the best. Throw in a pig's ear of a season in terms of the mix of 2020 and four-day games and it's a wonder we produce as many decent players as we do.

If the Saffer fans honestly think that the drawn home series against India and Australia were anything other than disappointments given the players at their disposal and the results of those opponents before/after those series, then I'm astonished.

One thing the English do a lot better than the Saffers is prepare for test series properly. They arguably lost to us last year because of lack of preparation. Again they will go into their series against the poms underprepared. Look how well England prepared for the last Ashes series in oz. Of course England is helped by bolstering their team with ex-saffers.

 

[MW1304]

Lol

 

[wpdavid]

One thing the English do a lot better than the Saffers is prepare for test series properly. They arguably lost to us last year because of lack of preparation. Again they will go into their series against the poms underprepared. Look how well England prepared for the last Ashes series in oz. Of course England is helped by bolstering their team with ex-saffers.

Yeah, maybe I had a different understanding of the term 'infrastructure', which I read to be the domestic system.

And your final point rather reinforces what I said about our infrastructure, doesn't it?

 

[grecian]

Of course England is helped by bolstering their team with ex-saffers.

Hey we can't all have great home-grown players like Imran Tahir

 

[Scaly piscine]

Today's headline on Cricinfo:

Bopara's wait is almost over

**** off Cricinfo he's played over 100 ****ing games for England. If he'd contributed in a more than tiny fraction of them he'd have had 200+ by now. Bopara gets yet another chance would be a better headline.

 

[Heboric]

Really? I'd still argue that England's recent success has happened despite the infrastructure rather than because of it. We still have too much dead wood in the FC game and the better players are still spread over two divisions, so that the best don't routinely play the best. Throw in a pig's ear of a season in terms of the mix of 2020 and four-day games and it's a wonder we produce as many decent players as we do.

If the Saffer fans honestly think that the drawn home series against India and Australia were anything other than disappointments given the players at their disposal and the results of those opponents before/after those series, then I'm astonished.

Well im astonished you think a first world country has worse infrastructure than a third world country. Especially where the sport of cricket is so popular in comparison in England.

What irritates me is that people on here are quick to say the Proteas are the most underachieving team there is. I counter that by saying England should be performing better.

Then there is the yo yo of how good the England players are, it seems to fluctuate depending on the situation on hand like after the aftermath of the Pakistan series - all of a sudden England couldnt play spin

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Well im astonished you think a first world country has worse infrastructure than a third world country. Especially where the sport of cricket is so popular in comparison in England.

What irritates me is that people on here are quick to say the Proteas are the most underachieving team there is. I counter that by saying England should be performing better.

Then there is the yo yo of how good the England players are, it seems to fluctuate depending on the situation on hand like after the aftermath of the Pakistan series - all of a sudden England couldnt play spin

How can England be performing better when we are number 1 in tests and T20's and 3rd in the ODI rankings?

Strange conclusions you have there.

 

[wpdavid]

Well im astonished you think a first world country has worse infrastructure than a third world country. Especially where the sport of cricket is so popular in comparison in England.

Any chance of explaining why you think the cricket structure in SA is so poor compared to weaknesses in the English structure that I mentioned?

And, as has already been said, cricket is not hugely popular in England. Anyone familiar with the country knows that it's very much a minority sport.

 

[Stumpcam]

Any chance of explaining why you think the cricket structure in SA is so poor compared to weaknesses in the English structure that I mentioned?

And, as has already been said, cricket is not hugely popular in England. Anyone familiar with the country knows that it's very much a minority sport.

Yes, as I posted earlier, less than 1% of adults in the country play cricket.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Any chance of explaining why you think the cricket structure in SA is so poor compared to weaknesses in the English structure that I mentioned?

And, as has already been said, cricket is not hugely popular in England. Anyone familiar with the country knows that it's very much a minority sport.

I'd say, certainly for team sports, it's second or third in terms of people following it.

Trouble is there's a real big ****ing drop off after #1, of course...

 

[Heboric]

How can England be performing better when we are number 1 in tests and T20's and 3rd in the ODI rankings?

Strange conclusions you have there.

Only just under a year have England been number one.