**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[Teja.]

Both of them (without checking the stats) rely a lot on getting players caught keeper/slips for their wickets too, and the pitches for the first two Tests (particularly the second) really worked against that by being so low and slow. They had quite a few edges fall short, which I regard as a lot more unlucky than repeated plays-and-misses against the new ball.

Philander's taken 9 wickets @ 28 in the series now anyway; far from "struggling". I don't think even his biggest fans seriously thought he'd average 15 forever.

Yeah, was just checking that. He has 115 runs and 9 wickets @ 28 each. Think he'll be very happy with that.

Obviously more wickets would be awesome.

 

[grecian]

Apart from the two wickets England not scoring too many runs here. They will probably have 320+ to get in 90 overs which is not trivial. It's going to take an epic innings from someone to get them through.

Prior about the only one that could do it, both Taylor and Bairstow can score quickly though. Yet the problem with the Lords pitch is it loses pace, and has a little uneven bounce so hard to play shots.

 

[ankitj]

Steyn getting some monstrous movement!

@LBWs - well the batsmen always contemplate reviews for LBWs. Not doing so means you accept that you were owned. That happening twice in 2 overs was pretty impressive stuff from Philander.

 

[Prince EWS]

Prior about the only one that could do it, both Taylor and Bairstow can score quickly though. Yet the problem with the Lords pitch is it loses pace, and has a little uneven bounce so hard to play shots.

Bell can definitely score quickly when he wants to, particularly against Test fields. Whether he wants to or not is a different issue though.

 

[Dissector]

I think Philander has been brilliant this innings, just world-class bowling, he definitely has been the final piece in the Saffies jigsaw, gives control over run rates whilst taking wickets, perfect foil for Morkel, Steyn, Kallis, and helps make up for the other bloke.

Not to mention the runs. I still think SA needs Tahir or someone else to emerge as at least a decent spinner especially given Morkel's inconsistency. But they are obviously the closest to becoming a truly dominant side. However they will soon have to deal with Kallis's decline/retirement which will leave a big hole.

 

[Teja.]

Bell can definitely score quickly when he wants to, particularly against Test fields. Whether he wants to or not is a different issue though.

Philander almost definitely the hardest bowler to score runs of in world cricket atm too.

But then SA have Tahir (Nah, he's not all bad)

 

[BeeGee]

He did not call him a flash in the pan or a bad bowler. Just analyzed something technical in his bowling.

Yes, and his analysis is wrong.

Both of them (without checking the stats) rely a lot on getting players caught keeper/slips for their wickets too, and the pitches for the first two Tests (particularly the second) really worked against that by being so low and slow. They had quite a few edges fall short, which I regard as a lot more unlucky than repeated plays-and-misses against the new ball.

Philander's taken 9 wickets @ 28 in the series now anyway; far from "struggling". I don't think even his biggest fans seriously thought he'd average 15 forever.

AWTA. Spot on.

 

[Prince EWS]

Philander almost definitely the hardest bowler to score runs of in world cricket atm too.

But then SA have Tahir (Nah, he's not all bad)

I actually think Philander's relatively easy to attack successfully; it's just hard to score at a decent rate against him without attacking him, if that makes sense. I'd definitely be thinking about somewhat of a calculated assault on Philander tomorrow if I was an England batsman - try to put him off his length and make him almost revert to one day bowling mode, which he's not very good at.

 

[Jacknife]

I actually think Philander's relatively easy to attack successfully; it's just hard to score at a decent rate against him without attacking him, if that makes sense. I'd definitely be thinking about somewhat of a calculated assault on Philander tomorrow if I was an England batsman - try to put him off his length and make him almost revert to one day bowling mode, which he's not very good at.

Agree Vern loves nothing more than if the batsmen play to just put away his bad deliveries because he just doesn't bowl that many but if you go after him you can definitely get him flustered.

 

[Garson007]

I actually think Philander's relatively easy to attack successfully; it's just hard to score at a decent rate against him without attacking him, if that makes sense. I'd definitely be thinking about somewhat of a calculated assault on Philander tomorrow if I was an England batsman - try to put him off his length and make him almost revert to one day bowling mode, which he's not very good at.

AWTA. Few bad balls, but with attackable speed and line/length.

 

[BeeGee]

@LBWs - well the batsmen always contemplate reviews for LBWs. Not doing so means you accept that you were owned. That happening twice in 2 overs was pretty impressive stuff from Philander.

OK, understood.

 

[Jacknife]

Trott really has shut up shop and gone home here, couldn't afford to lose anymore but still, one or two singles wouldn't have gone a miss.

Really needed to be around 35 at the close play, ideally without loss but we are where we are.

 

[Shri]

Not to mention the runs. I still think SA needs Tahir or someone else to emerge as at least a decent spinner especially given Morkel's inconsistency. But they are obviously the closest to becoming a truly dominant side. However they will soon have to deal with Kallis's decline/retirement which will leave a big hole.

Amla will just assume Kallis' role as a batsman when he goes imo and they always have plenty of quality batsmen waiting in the wings anyway(de Kock, Kuhn, Rossouw etc). The only thing they lack is a good spinner atm.

 

[Garson007]

ATG strike rates this.

 

[Shri]

Yes, and his analysis is wrong.



AWTA. Spot on.

The moist and soft English pitches may have offered him movement, but because they are also slow, England's batsmen have had the much-needed extra time to make the right adjustments.

The writer makes the same point at the end after a lot of bs before that. So no he isn't wrong he just blabbered on a bit before coming to the point.

 

[Teja.]

331 runs @ 3.7 with both openers gone against the best bowling attack in the world.

I'm not saying the match is done but by god if England pull this off, it'll be one of their best wins ever.

 

[Valer]

Attacking him sounds ok in theory but every time some has tried it, that is times he's gone for more than 3.5, he's taken more than a few wickets.

30w @14.0 21 sr

Innings list
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...se;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings

 

[BeeGee]

I actually think Philander's relatively easy to attack successfully; it's just hard to score at a decent rate against him without attacking him, if that makes sense. I'd definitely be thinking about somewhat of a calculated assault on Philander tomorrow if I was an England batsman - try to put him off his length and make him almost revert to one day bowling mode, which he's not very good at.

Yep. Trent Boult hit 22 off one of his overs, 3 sixes and a four.

 

[Garson007]

Amla will just assume Kallis' role as a batsman when he goes imo and they always have plenty of quality batsmen waiting in the wings anyway(de Kock, Kuhn, Rossouw etc). The only thing they lack is a good spinner atm.

Kuhn or De Kock should really see themselves in the next series or two. I don't want AB to take up the gloves on a permanent basis. This of course means dropping Rudolph, which I'm not sure can be a bad decision. Really need Duminy in there to take over Kallis' bowling when he can't. Plus, I think Duminy and Philander work well together at the crease.

 

[Shri]

331 runs @ 3.7 with both openers gone against the best bowling attack in the world.

I'm not saying the match is done but by god if England pull this off, it'll be one of their best wins ever.

Thats *****footing around the issue. Just say England are ****ed and be done with it ffs.

You know you want to.