**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[BoyBrumby]

Oooo. AB, AB.

Beauty from Tahir, drifted in, spun away.

Boucher would've held it. Not a proper keeper, the true test is standing up, etc.

 

[Stumpcam]

Compton
Taylor
Hildreth
Patel
Moeen Ali

That's just for starters, of people that should be ahead of Bop in Tests, I'm afraid.

Compton's average this season is 89.73 with 3 hundreds and 7 fifties from 15 innings. OK, he plays on a batting paradise at Taunton but those are impressive figures.

I seriously doubt the selectors will give him a chance though.

 

[ProteasFan]

Don't confuse ODI performances with Test class.

I didn't see many england tests, mainly because I don't have full access to digital television.

Technique literally distintegrated in the winter.

Not a test player. Has the mental side, just not the game. Too loose.

Thanks, maybe county cricket can sort him out. I think he will return in the long run, hopefully he will grab his chance.

 

[grecian]

Is there a particular reason why you lot can't find a decent number 6? What happened to Morgan? surely, in the long term, he is the best option?

Personally, I'm not a massive stat man, and I admire the England selections that have come off when the first-class records haven't been brilliant, but we do seem to be ignoring county form and picking on decent performances in limited overs. Morgan, Patel, Bopara, doesn't seem to be working.

 

[Dan]

Pick Compton.

 

[stumpski]

Compton's average this season is 89.73 with 3 hundreds and 7 fifties from 15 innings. OK, he plays on a batting paradise at Taunton but those are impressive figures.

I seriously doubt the selectors will give him a chance though.

He's already 30 isn't he? That's not to say he couldn't have a Test career of 5 or 6 years (as per Hussey), but if he doesn't get a go this season he probably never will.

 

[Valer]

Are you all seriously suggesting dropping him after 1 test? Dire. Sure disagree with his selection prior but don't start the 1 game per player stuff.

 

[Stumpcam]

Tahir STILL bowling no-balls. There is simply no excuse. DOH!

 

[Stumpcam]

Are you all seriously suggesting dropping him after 1 test? Dire. Sure disagree with his selection prior but don't start the 1 game per player stuff.

It's not just one Test. Bopara has had opportunity after opportunity, and failed almost every time.

 

[grecian]

Are you all seriously suggesting dropping him after 1 test? Dire. Sure disagree with his selection prior but don't start the 1 game per player stuff.

We've seen him plenty, and both dismissals were ridiculously poor, his bowling also showed it was negligible at test level.

 

[Spark]

Has he really? Isn't this his first Test for ages?

Definitely don't believe in one-Test players, terrible selection policy IMO. Back your picks, give them a proper run.

 

[Uppercut]

Personally, I'm not a massive stat man, and I admire the England selections that have come off when the first-class records haven't been brilliant, but we do seem to be ignoring county form and picking on decent performances in limited overs. Morgan, Patel, Bopara, doesn't seem to be working.

Like who?

 

[stumpski]

Oh well - we can afford one wicket an hour I suppose. Drinks break - cue to open the fridge.

 

[marc71178]

You don't find two balls missing the stumps by less than a centimetre in this innings good luck?

No, but that only counters the 2 balls that grazed the bails on Friday.

 

[stumpski]

Like who?

Presumably talking about the likes of Vaughan and Trescothick, who came in with f-c averages in the mid-30s.

 

[grecian]

He's already 30 isn't he? That's not to say he couldn't have a Test career of 5 or 6 years (as per Hussey), but if he doesn't get a go this season he probably never will.

As Brumbers said, Trott wasn't young when he debuted, and Alec Stewart and Hussey have shown you can have a decent career when debuting late.

Still want Hildreth myself, scored a ton against this lot, so has form, but I've always been a fanboy.

 

[Valer]

It's not just one Test. Bopara has had opportunity afteropportunity, and failed almost every time.

It is one test. (In theory) hes come back due to his performances in non test cricket hence you need to give players a proper chance on the back of this not one test. You can't count stuff before this run.

12 months or so spark, but even that was a terrible chance 44* and 7 were his only innings. Prior to that its ashes 09.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Are you all seriously suggesting dropping him after 1 test? Dire. Sure disagree with his selection prior but don't start the 1 game per player stuff.

It's not one test tho, he's had 13 (from memory). The only time he's made runs is against the Windies on an absolute road on our 08/09 tour and then against the same oppo who really didn't look interested on the return tour a few months later.

If the poor wee lamb can't perform under the pump it's not his game, is it?

 

[grecian]

Like who?

Presumably talking about the likes of Vaughan and Trescothick, who came in with f-c averages in the mid-30s.

indeed

 

[ProteasFan]

It's not just one Test. Bopara has had opportunity after opportunity, and failed almost every time.

He has only played 12 tests and this is first call up in a while. It would not be in the interests of England to go down the 1 test route.

I remember the time when SA selectors backed AB to the hilt when he was in a bad patch in 2007 and look at him now. Also, they perserved with Kallis in the early part of his career.

Sometimes you need to stick with a player and tell them that their spot is secure. Pressure due to uncertanity of your selection is not needed; especially at test level.