**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[Pothas]

This whole thing is so needless and pathetic, I hoped the ECB would not do this but not entirely surprised.

However unlikely is sounds I still have a hope that KP can be a grown up and accept this as a punishment and come back for the ODIs.

 

[Spikey]

GIMH you're banned for the next test match.

 

[Prince EWS]

This whole thing is so needless and pathetic, I hoped the ECB would not do this but not entirely surprised.

However unlikely is sounds I still have a hope that KP can be a grown up and accept this as a punishment and come back for the ODIs.

It would be pretty amusing if England kept picking Pietersen for ODIs and nothing else until he got the ****s with it, I must say.

 

[Spark]

Assuming this stands, then probably the best case scenario for KP is that England get slaughtered, with particular focus on the batting, and then KP is picked for the ODIs and smashes it around the park. Will make the ECB look like immense, stuck-up fools.

 

[GIMH]

GIMH you're banned for the next test match.

I've never been banned for a Test before, so that hurt

 

[akilana]

Meh, I think we should judge South Africa's performance relative to how England actually play rather than how the circumstances make you think they should. The teams are still very even IMO so if England rally and put in a really good performance, and South Africa lose narrowly, then I don't think it should be termed an underachievement just because of what happened pre-game. If England are put off and South Africa just don't take advantage then it's a different thing altogether but I don't think we should judge it the performance purely based on the result.

Lot of people have said and expected England to beat SA based on SA's inconsistency and England's stellar record at home. England were going to beat SA according to almost everyone but SA are 1 up in the series and can't lose it now. England were in a good position after their 1st innings in the 1st test and they threw it. Imagine what would have been said about SA had they lost the test as badly as England did. England were the favorites to win the series but obviously they can't now. It's not SA who chocked.

 

[Valer]

I'm normally the first one to not worry about the performance with the gloves... But AbD really is poor behind the stumps*. Its not just the byes/ lost wickets but the bowlers not being able to trust (the) keeper. To be fair given jp's bowling its possibly fairly flat re: the rest.

*Tbf he seems to be getting a touch better.

 

[Spikey]

So

cook
soon-to-axed-captain
trott
bell
taylor
bairstow
prior
broad
bres ?
swann
anderson

 

[GIMH]

We can't afford to drop Brezza with that batting line-up

 

[Prince EWS]

So

cook
soon-to-axed-captain
trott
bell
taylor
bairstow
prior
broad
bres ?
swann
anderson

I reckon so, yeah. I wonder how seriously they'll consider the option of not playing Bairstow and going in with all the bowlers.

 

[Spark]

I reckon so, yeah. I wonder how seriously they'll consider the option of not playing Bairstow and going in with all the bowlers.

Just in case they wanted to hand SA any more advantages...

 

[Pothas]

Massive amount of pressure on Bell now, really would like to think he is going to step up and hit a 100 at Lords,

 

[GIMH]

Batsmen who are good chances of a century in this match for England:
Cook

 

[Spark]

Batsmen who are good chances of a century in this match for England:
Cook

Just as likely to make about four as well, tbh. Philander'll love the slope.

 

[Thriel]

So you considered England to be better than South Africa when Pietersen was playing?

Good to know.

haha , that made me laugh so bloody hard ... HAHAHAHAHA

no, i meant even as in both sides has now lost a good player, not even as in same strength.

SA was always stronger and better than england, need i remind you that even with one of our top players being removed we are still 1-0 up in the series, and i have no doubt had weather not interfered with last match it would now be 2-0.

Every game people post about chokers etc etc, but both matches now, no choking, and it was England who had to sit and block every ball to save the game and try push for a draw, not SA.

 

[Prince EWS]

Batsmen who are good chances of a century in this match for England:
Cook

Haha yeah, can't disagree. All the batsmen (bar the two new blokes obviously) do have excellent Test records at Lords though.

Strauss averages 55 with 5 tons
Cook averages 51 with 3 tons
Trott averages 83 with 2 tons
Bell averages 66 with 3 tons
Prior averages 55 with 3 tons
Broad averages 52 with 1 ton and 3 fifties

 

[grecian]

Well clearly the texts were inflammatory, and may well get the ICC involved, KP was given every chance to defend them, he couldn't. No other choice really, if the ECB asked him not to do that vid, then he's clearly just doing it for victim status, because he knew the texts made it untenable for him to be in the side. Regrettably time to move on. Saffies have not exactly painted themselves in a good light by announcing it to the media, but pandoras box, and all that. Makes all the I'll do everything I can for England seem empty, as he wasn't ever going to try to counter the reason he'll be dropped.

depressing on all sides

 

[Prince EWS]

SA was always stronger and better than england, need i remind you that even with one of our top players being removed we are still 1-0 up in the series, and i have no doubt had weather not interfered with last match it would now be 2-0.

So if they lost it'd be a massive underachievement then, given how hugely superior they are now?

This conversation just goes in circles forever.

 

[Spark]

haha , that made me laugh so bloody hard ... HAHAHAHAHA

no, i meant even as in both sides has now lost a good player, not even as in same strength.

SA was always stronger and better than england, need i remind you that even with one of our top players being removed we are still 1-0 up in the series, and i have no doubt had weather not interfered with last match it would now be 2-0.

Every game people post about chokers etc etc, but both matches now, no choking, and it was England who had to sit and block every ball to save the game and try push for a draw, not SA.

So if anyone was after a demonstration of doublethink in action, this is it. Extraordinarily illogical set of posts.

 

[Viscount Tom]

haha , that made me laugh so bloody hard ... HAHAHAHAHA

no, i meant even as in both sides has now lost a good player, not even as in same strength.

SA was always stronger and better than england, need i remind you that even with one of our top players being removed we are still 1-0 up in the series, and i have no doubt had weather not interfered with last match it would now be 2-0.

Every game people post about chokers etc etc, but both matches now, no choking, and it was England who had to sit and block every ball to save the game and try push for a draw, not SA.

England played to try and chase the target down initially if it hadn't of rained they'd have just played normally.