**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[benchmark00]

Well that was easy.

 

[Manee]

Just come back from a day at Lords. Have to say that Bopara bowled very well and Dernbach's latter spells were pretty quick.

 

[Expressway76]

Hell of a stylish way to finish from Kieswetter.

 

[popepouri]

Batting Elgar at 6 reeks of arrogance or of someone who doesn't rate his skills.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Let's face it - SA don't care much about the ODI's outside of world cups. If they did they wouldn't exclude their best batsman (Kallis) or most promising in form bowler (Philander) for this series. People may argue that Philander's metronomic accuracy and good lengths would be torn about in ODI's, but he nibbles it around and would be a wicket taker up front. And most likely do better than McLaren/Parnell. And even his batting would strengthen the side. And Kallis, well he's Kallis. Without him the SA batting looks a lot thinner without their pressure-absorbing rock.

Kirsten is of course clever and he knows that Test results are the ones remembered. Until the world cup comes along, only then will the emphasis change.

 

[theegyptian]

Let's face it - SA don't care much about the ODI's outside of world cups. If they did they wouldn't exclude their best batsman (Kallis) or most promising in form bowler (Philander) for this series. People may argue that Philander's metronomic accuracy and good lengths would be torn about in ODI's, but he nibbles it around and would be a wicket taker up front. And most likely do better than McLaren/Parnell. And even his batting would strengthen the side. And Kallis, well he's Kallis. Without him the SA batting looks a lot thinner without their pressure-absorbing rock.

Kirsten is of course clever and he knows that Test results are the ones remembered. Until the world cup comes along, only then will the emphasis change.

yep those south africans love peaking for the world cup.

 

[uvelocity]

yep those south africans love peaking for the world cup.

interesting that Kirsten's contract expires just after the next

 

[Expressway76]

yep those south africans love peaking for the world cup.

It's a tactic that never fails. Not giving a tinkers cuss about a form of sport until just before a big tournament is a surefire way to prepare for winning it.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Better to ignore it for 4 years and choke when it comes along than spend 4 years working on it and choke anyway?

Edit: Maybe their secret weapon is Wayne Parnell... batting at number 7... the guy looks like a number 10/11. And 5th choice bowler if that. That'll confuse em. Maybe they think he is the new Lance Klusener after he hit a practise ball through the window of a press conference in New Zealand. Or maybe AB just goes to the same drug parties as him.

 

[ProteasFan]

Firstly, congrats to England. You lot played the better cricket in the last 2 ODI's and it's reflected on the scorecard.

This SA team looks weak and we were deservedly beaten. that said, I must point out that this doesn't even look like our strongest team possible.
Kallis, Miller, Levi, Albie, Johan Botha ( whom I know isn't going to be eligable much longer) and a good few more players aren't here.

Our balance looks completely ****ed. I don't get it TBH. we have the following specialist bowlers in the last ODI:
Steyn
Lonwabo
Peterson
Parnell
Then we have the following people whom are all rounders:
Mclaren
Duminy
Elgar
Faf

we seem to be selecting to many all rounders and not enough specalist batsman.

 

[Expressway76]

we seem to be selecting to many all rounders and not enough specalist batsman.

Yeah this was our tactic for a long time, unsurprisingly we were utter turd during that time.

 

[grecian]

Yeah this was our tactic for a long time, unsurprisingly we were utter turd during that time.

Yep, I said it earlier that the Saffie side seems like an England side from mid-to-late 90s. Not a good thing. Quite surprising really, I mean all through South Africa's history even when they were banned, they've had a surplus of genuine all-rounders, people who can produce with bat and ball, now they just seem to have Kallis. The days of Shaun Pollock batting at 8 and even lower have long gone.

 

[ProteasFan]

Yeah this was our tactic for a long time, unsurprisingly we were utter turd during that time.

yeah, my best 11 would be:
Amla
Smith
Kallis
De Villiers
Duminy
Faf Du Plessis
A Morkel
Botha / Peterson
Steyn
Morkel
Lonwabo / Philander

Bench: Parnell, Elgar, Levi, Mclaren, Behardien, Tahir, De Lange.

that's a very good core to work with.

now i know it's unlikely we will see this team as Kallis is used sparingly these days but you could replace him with a proper bat like Ingrim, Miller. the rest of the team should be available to play.

Yep, I said it earlier that the Saffie side seems like an England side from mid-to-late 90s. Not a good thing. Quite surprising really, I mean all through South Africa's history even when they were banned, they've had a surplus of genuine all-rounders, people who can produce with bat and ball, now they just seem to have Kallis. The days of Shaun Pollock batting at 8 and even lower have long gone.

Yeah, I've always said replacing Kallis will be impossible. IMO, I would rather us stick to specialists than half arsing about and getting crap all rounders for the sake of it.

 

[Manee]

Was just surfing Cricinfo and wondering why Andy Flower is not discussed more as the greatest keeper batsman of all time. Guy had a tremendous average in what was a pretty inconsistent Test side, from what I can remember.

 

[Prince EWS]

Was just surfing Cricinfo and wondering why Andy Flower is not discussed more as the greatest keeper batsman of all time. Guy had a tremendous average in what was a pretty inconsistent Test side, from what I can remember.

I firmly believe that he was the best batsman while wicket keeping of all time. However I probably wouldn't have him in my top five or so keeper/batsmen; his wicket keeping was genuinely poor.

 

[benchmark00]

I firmly believe that he was the best batsman while wicket keeping of all time. However I probably wouldn't have him in my top five or so keeper/batsmen; his wicket keeping was genuinely poor.

Is this supposed to be a cheap shot at the state of the Zimbabwean economy???

 

[Scaly piscine]

South Africa in England 2012 : England's Ravi Bopara conundrum | Cricket Features | England v South Africa | ESPN Cricinfo

Oh joy. We should now play an absolute liability of a T20 player in the T20 World Cup to get sadsack some form so he can rise to mediocrity in other formats - before mysteriously disappearing again.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Love to see Richard's reaction to Bopara's recent bowling success. Pretty sure he thought Ravi was only good enough to be bowling at the U11s down the park.

 

[Manee]

I firmly believe that he was the best batsman while wicket keeping of all time. However I probably wouldn't have him in my top five or so keeper/batsmen; his wicket keeping was genuinely poor.

Yeh. Was too young to recall his keeping standards. Fair enough, then.

 

[grecian]

Love to see Richard's reaction to Bopara's recent bowling success. Pretty sure he thought Ravi was only good enough to be bowling at the U11s down the park.

Bopara a better bowler than Mark Ealham, IMHO.