**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[TT Boy]

Feel free to name a weaker side that's topped the one-day rankings. Admittedly that will require you looking beyond simple stats and actually evaluating what's going on out there. Which doesn't make them abysmal, which is why I didn't use the word. Simply the least good to find themselves top of the rankings.

This South African side were number 1 a few games back.

 

[wpdavid]

This South African side were number 1 a few games back.

Now we're talking

 

[TT Boy]

Ravi on and a huge appeal first up. Wonder why Cook waited so long.

 

[TT Boy]

3 cracking shots from AB. Game over.

 

[wpdavid]

SA looking safe enough now - we probably needed them four or even five down with the new ball when defending 182. Class is telling with these two at the crease.

 

[TT Boy]

Dirtbag should keep the novelty tricks for the 20/20s and the death. **** knows what he was trying to do there.

 

[ganeshran]

Amla's batting average is 58 now

 

[kingkallis]

It will be 59 in few mins!

 

[ganeshran]

It will be 60 in few mins!

ftfy

 

[BeeGee]

This Amla bloke's a bit of alright.

 

[Manee]

Was listening to some of The 12th Man by Billy Birmingham and was wondering if members reckon that a UK version would work. Or do the commentators not have their traits well known enough for good comedy?

 

[theegyptian]

Latest England news is Broad has broken a finger nail!

and Finn came through full practice today but likely won't be risked tomorrow with his bad back.

and probably most worryingly is that Bresnan has had a scan on his elbow today again and almost certainly won't play tomorrow.

And Central Contracts are in

The players awarded contracts are James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Alastair Cook (Essex), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Matt Prior (Sussex), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire) and Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire).

In addition to these players awarded central contracts a further four players have been awarded incremental contracts.

These players are Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Craig Kieswetter (Somerset) and Graham Onions (Durham).

 

[uvelocity]

bye bye its tough being me

 

[kingkallis]

I think its a good move. Correct decision made by English selectors.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Was listening to some of The 12th Man by Billy Birmingham and was wondering if members reckon that a UK version would work. Or do the commentators not have their traits well known enough for good comedy?

Been done way back in the day. Obviously Benaud features heavily. Some of the other voices might not be familiar to the younger generation, but anyone of my age and older will recognise them.

Probably works better if one's familar with the Paul Hardcastle original version too.

 

[Quaggas]

bye bye it was tough being me

fixed

 

[BoyBrumby]

Ugh. Ravi still plays. How bad does his form have to get? Unless he registers a minus score it isn't possible.

No Amla for SA either. Presume it must be a rest.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Confident start against spin first up from Hales. Looks comfortable playing the slog sweep.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Less so from Kies against Steyn. Four dots followed by a scampered single to long on off the slower ball.

9 off the over of spin; 1 off proper pace. Sometimes captains get too funky with their thinking.

 

[benchmark00]

Key Sweater ****ing nails that cover drive doesn't he? Flogged a few during the ODI series.