**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[benchmark00]

Feel bad for saying this, but I think Boucher's injury will benefit South Africa because AB is only going to keep for one game.

Allows SA to boost their batting which is important in England, and AB's batting shouldn't suffer too much because he'll only be keeping in this game (probs). If it was a long term thing then it would be a different story.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Presumably their batting'll be weakened again tho when Tsolekile comes in and Rudolph or Duminy gets the arse then?

 

[benchmark00]

Presumably their batting'll be weakened again tho when Tsolekile comes in and Rudolph or Duminy gets the arse then?

Yeah probably, just think it's a positive for the first game.

 

[Stumpcam]

I think the loads of cricket that England has had recently will win out over the very little cricket South Africa has had recently. This gives England an advantage particularly in the first match IMO.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Got a feeling that Philander's not gonna show up. I can really see the likes of KP, Bell and Prior getting on top of him at times.

 

[Woodster]

For anyone interested, a look at South Africa's powerful middle order -

http://www.cricketweb.net/blog/features/423.php

 

[Jarquis]

Philanderer hasn't matched his own exceptional standards when he's played in England generally speaking. Been good but not breath taking. Has gone for quick runs too at times IIRC. Think if Lord's is a flatty then he could be brought back down to earth. If there's a bit of life then we will need a bit of luck.

 

[Jacknife]

SA's fifth bowling option pisses on ours, notwithstanding Ravinder's improvement of late.

Kallis was their best bowler in 2008.

Agree although imo Kallis is a shadow of the bowler he was back then.

Wouldn't be surprised if golden arm Ravi picks up a few important wickets throughout this series, SA are sure to take him lightly.

 

[Stumpcam]

Philanderer hasn't matched his own exceptional standards when he's played in England generally speaking. Been good but not breath taking. Has gone for quick runs too at times IIRC. Think if Lord's is a flatty then he could be brought back down to earth. If there's a bit of life then we will need a bit of luck.

The pitches at Lord's are always flatties these days though. In fact I'm struggling to think of the last lively pitch that was produced there for a Test.

 

[Jacknife]

The pitches at Lord's are always flatties these days though. In fact I'm struggling to think of the last lively pitch that was produced there for a Test.

India last year was lively mainly due to the ball swinging round corners and Pakistan the year before was even worse. If it's stops swinging it becomes flat.

 

[Flem274*]

England need to smash Philander, because the other option (exceptional off stump awareness) is ridiculously hard to pull off. Yeah okay Kane Williamson managed it but he also got fortunate early on in his innings and the tailenders tactic of hit everything out of the park was especially successful with Philander.

England don't want to try and hit every ball for six of course but controlled aggression to either get him off of his length or render it irrelevant is the only tactic I've seen work so far, because you're not going to get hundreds like the one Williamson made every day

edit: bat like Clarke

/makesitsoundsimple

 

[MW1304]

SA's fifth bowling option pisses on ours, notwithstanding Ravinder's improvement of late.

Kallis was their best bowler in 2008.

Yeah, looking back it was quite a batsman-dominated series, unusually for England. Steyn and Anderson obviously twice the bowlers now.

So many ifs and buts, just want to get the action started now.

 

[Woodster]

England need to smash Philander, because the other option (exceptional off stump awareness) is ridiculously hard to pull off. Yeah okay Kane Williamson managed it but he also got fortunate early on in his innings and the tailenders tactic of hit everything out of the park was especially successful with Philander.

England don't want to try and hit every ball for six of course but controlled aggression to either get him off of his length or render it irrelevant is the only tactic I've seen work so far, because you're not going to get hundreds like the one Williamson made every day

edit: bat like Clarke

/makesitsoundsimple

Very brave tactic to go after Philander in a manner akin to Trent Boult (I think it was him anyway) who clearly went after Vern and he didn't have too many ideas what to do next. There is of course a huge difference in a tail-ender chancing his look and swinging from the hip than a top order batsman taking one or two high risks.

I'm sure you're not suggesting a slogging approach, and I agree that we need to be positive against Vern, but I'm not sure that too many of England's top order will be keen on risking their wicket for a drive on the up, especially if it is nipping about.

I do like to see the intent and this can also be shown in the aggressive running between the wickets.

 

[Psycho Macaque]

Tahir is likely to do well, IMO. He likes English conditions. As for the rest of them - it's difficult to judge. Both teams are prone to a collapse, so the top bowling attacks could be feeling the most positive. I'm just glad that play is likely to happen tomorrow.

 

[screamingfields]

So what would be England's game plan against the Saffers. Maybe they should play with a seam bowling attack because Swann is just the one spinner. England should, concentrate on the weaknesses. Rather than the batting which they are good at. Strauss and Cook are reliable. Pietersen, Trott there too.

Saffers should concentrate on England's batting. I can see that doing more damage than the actual bowling of England which does not have the mustard. Swann can't do it all alone? Could be batting vs batting.

 

[Psycho Macaque]

Doubtful, I'd say. I'd say there're weaknesses in each of England's batsmen to exploit, the top two could even be said to be shaky when the bowling is right. Trott's the most adept at facing probing fast bowling but has problems against spin. KP's imperious but can easily get himself out. The numbers 5 & 6? Well, it's safe to say that tough runs aren't really the business that they've delved into the most in their England career...

 

[Woodster]

Doubtful, I'd say. I'd say there're weaknesses in each of England's batsmen to exploit, the top two could even be said to be shaky when the bowling is right. Trott's the most adept at facing probing fast bowling but has problems against spin. KP's imperious but can easily get himself out. The numbers 5 & 6? Well, it's safe to say that tough runs aren't really the business that they've delved into the most in their England career...

Makes you wonder how we got to number one at all?

 

[Psycho Macaque]

We're an exceptionally well drilled unit. We're like flaming robots. Machines. We practice harder than match conditions and it shows. Our bowling attack always keep us in it. Any half-decent batting side would've ensured we'd creamed Pakistan. We've managed to get this far because of a hard team ethic mixed with flashes of brilliance. Most of the teams we've played have been found wanting in at least one discipline - so this series will be refreshing as it'll be the first side we've faced since, well, SA in 09/10, that have their sheet together.

 

[Prince EWS]

I don't really understand screamfields's post. It almost reads as if he's saying that England's bowling is their weakness, but he can't have possibly just said that...

 

[Jacknife]

I don't really understand screamfields's post. It almost reads as if he's saying that England's bowling is their weakness, but he can't have possibly just said that...

You're not on you're own, I thought I could make out something about Swann can't do it all on his own, which is just a strange thing to say seen as he's hardly been required in England at all in recent times.