***Official*** England in South Africa 2015/16

[Cabinet96]

Not exactly the most encouraging innings from Hales it seems. Striking at under 20 when Cook is scoring at five an over. That got Compton dropped.

 

[Stefan9]

Man, some iffy techniques in the SA XI.

Well there is a reason why none of those batsman make their franchise sides at either first class/list a or t20 level. The batsman picked for that side is woefull, the odd bowler has some potential.

From an SA perspective encouraging to see both hales and cook fail twice. Especially interesting to see hales get bowled by junior dala twice.Dala isn't pedestrian but he is nowhere the speed of steyn,markel and radaba which he will face in the tests.

 

[Dan]

Dala in the media. WAFG.

Here's Alex Hales, about to make his Test debut, and some random fast bowler from Zambia who doesn't regularly play Franchise cricket comes along, knocks his poles out twice, and then proceeds to slam Hales' batting technique in the presser.

"It looks like he is trying to open up the off side every time he faces the ball. I just tried to keep it simple and tuck him up because he struggles on the leg side.
"In the first innings I was hoping I would bring one back, but I wasn't expecting him to leave it. Second innings was a bit back of a length, but the same plan, just tuck him up and he chopped it on.
"It's nice when a game plan comes together."

 

[Stefan9]

England have problems in their top 3 with either hales or ballance both will be exposed by steyn & co imho.

 

[SeamUp]

Dala in the media. WAFG.

Here's Alex Hales, about to make his Test debut, and some random fast bowler from Zambia who doesn't regularly play Franchise cricket comes along, knocks his poles out twice, and then proceeds to slam Hales' batting technique in the presser.

Junior has some wheels and an awkward action. But that is ****ing hilarious.

 

[SeamUp]

England have problems in their top 3 with either hales or ballance both will be exposed by steyn & co imho.

I back our batting but after India (first time I have never felt disappointed about a test series loss) & I am slightly concerned with our lack of confidence created after the failures. The last test pitch was fine but by then our batsmen were suffering a bit with the above. Hopefully they get some time in the middle in the first round of the Sunfoil Series starting today.

So many questions need answering for both sides I reckon.

 

[Stefan9]

I back our batting but after India (first time I have never felt disappointed about a test series loss) & I am slightly concerned with our lack of confidence created after the failures. The last test pitch was fine but by then our batsmen were suffering a bit with the above. Hopefully they get some time in the middle in the first round of the Sunfoil Series starting today.

So many questions need answering for both sides I reckon.

I back most of them to get it right for the england series except duminy there is no way he is deserving of another last chance. I think its a good call that most of the batsman are playing sunfoil cricket this week.

 

[cnerd123]

Footitt's action. The ****?

If Footitt and Finn bowl in tandem, it will be the first time that I've ever found the sight of two bowlers bowling 90MPH + to be aesthically repulsive.

 

[Howe_zat]

Neither bowl at 90+ in first class cricket.

 

[Stefan9]

no good prep for Dean Elgar as he falls second ball to Walters in the titans vs warriors sunfoil game.

 

[SeamUp]

no good prep for Dean Elgar as he falls second ball to Walters in the titans vs warriors sunfoil game.

Likewise Stiaan.

Both are good players but mentally it was a tough trip for them. When top class batsmen struggle then you realise how tough it was. Hopefully they can get time in the middle in the 2nd dig. Both need it.

EDIT : Abbott & Tahir were rather poor in the Ram Slam final when they got back too.

 

[Stefan9]

Apparently van zyl was trying to copy hales and left a ball that crashed into his of stump.

 

[Stefan9]

Amla also failing with only 10. this getting practice before the test doesn't seem to be working out to well.

 

[Marius]

Is the SA A game going to be a proper FC game, or also one of these silly 13-a-side games?

 

[Stefan9]

Is the SA A game going to be a proper FC game, or also one of these silly 13-a-side games?

England requested to use their full squad for both warmup games so will again not be a FC class game.

 

[SeamUp]

Only 11 players were picked for the SA 'A' game so not sure if we will add anyone else. Doubt it.

 

[91Jmay]

Neither bowl at 90+ in first class cricket.

Finn normally bowls a spell every 5 or 6 that is around 90s, then drops back to low 80s for the rest.

 

[SeamUp]

Only 11 players were picked for the SA 'A' game so not sure if we will add anyone else. Doubt it.

Dane Paterson replaced by Beuran Hendricks in the Cobras v Knights game. Clearly Paterson is joining up with the 'A' team.

 

[Stefan9]

Steyn passed fit for the test. Was never any doudt for me that after sitting out 3 tests vs India he would be ready but good to have it official.

 

[SeamUp]

Paterson is in for the injured Parnell

Dane Paterson, the Cobras quick, has been called up as an emergency replacement for Wayne Parnell in the South Africa A squad that will take on England in a three-day warm-up match in Pietermaritzburg starting on Sunday. Parnell has picked up a foot injury and will not be able to take part in the match.

The news will come as a blow to Parnell's long-form ambitions and hopes of an international recall after he was left out of South Africa's squad to tour India in October and November. Parnell, who also plays for the Cobras, has been opening the bowling in the recently completed 20-over competition and twice opened the batting as well. He was being primed for a comeback after last playing a Test in March 2014 and took part in the South Africa A side's tour of India.

Paterson was also part of that A series and opened the bowling with Parnell. The visit was tough on both of them - they only picked up a wicket apiece - but Paterson has been on the selectors' radar since he topped the first-class bowling charts last season. In nine matches for the Cobras, Paterson took 42 wickets at 22.54 to take his overall tally to 228 first-class wickets at an average of 21.81.

He will bowl alongside Marchant de Lange, who is challenging for a Test spot, and Chris Morris in a strong A side. South Africa have named the two wicketkeeper batsmen competing for a place in the senior side, Dane Vilas and Quinton de Kock, although neither of them is part of the squad for the first two Tests, and also included left-hander Rilee Rossouw, who has recovered from a stress fracture and is the reserve batsman in the Test squad.

South Africa have received some good news ahead of the Test series against England, with Dale Steyn passing a fitness test on the groin injury he suffered in India last month.