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

[FBU]

When will we find out about Anderson?

Backed them to win the series and he gets injured.

He was going to have a bowl tomorrow to test his fitness but I doubt he will. 10 more days with rehab and he should be ready for the 2nd Test.
He injured his right ankle in a football game in the UAE before the 1st Test but played though the series with pills.

 

[Stace]

Who does everyone think will score more runs, James Taylor or Faf du Plessis? I have read many English posters on here who think Taylor will struggle (especially against the short ball) but i'm more confident he will do well. Faf had a nightmare series in India but he'll be a lot better in SA, where will he bat? No.5?

I love these little battles and i'm so excited for this series, its so close but so far away!

 

[ajdude]

so anderson's out. broad/woakes/finn? or are there enough doubts over finn for footitt to get a go?

 

[SeamUp]

Probably true :

Proteas coach is right on Elgar, Van Zyl - Proteas Cricket

EDIT : And if you scroll down to the bottom of the page, the stats do prove it - http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/cricket-chat/68712-south-african-domestic-season-2015-16-a-9.html

 

[Stefan9]

Who does everyone think will score more runs, James Taylor or Faf du Plessis? I have read many English posters on here who think Taylor will struggle (especially against the short ball) but i'm more confident he will do well. Faf had a nightmare series in India but he'll be a lot better in SA, where will he bat? No.5?

I love these little battles and i'm so excited for this series, its so close but so far away!

Faf will bat 5 and Taylor has a lot to prove in test cricket and against SA. So I will back Faf to outscore him.

Reading Amla press conference and looking at the weather reports for the test expect SA will play the spinner. So expect this team:

1.Elgar
2.Van Zyl
3.Amla
4.AB
5.Faf
6.JP
7.Bavuma
8.Steyn
9.Abbot/Radaba
10.Piedt
11.Morkel

 

[wpdavid]

so anderson's out. broad/woakes/finn? or are there enough doubts over finn for footitt to get a go?

I'm not sure how Footitt doesn't play as Anderson's replacement. Surely we need 3 quicks whose prime job is to take wickets instead of two and an ersatz all all-rounder.

Cue Woakes taking 5 for 40, maybe.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I'm not sure how Footitt doesn't play as Anderson's replacement. Surely we need 3 quicks whose prime job is to take wickets instead of two and an ersatz all all-rounder.

Cue Woakes taking 5 for 40, maybe.

Yea I've been baffled by the talk in the media going on about Woakes coming in for Anderson. Footitt is the one who played in the last warm-up with basically a first choice XI. He's a far better fit as well, so everything suggests it will be Footitt who plays.

 

[SeamUp]

Scenes if this is sung at the cricket for Dale !

https://soundcloud.com/guerrilla-cricket/steyns-alive?platform=hootsuite

 

[Niall]

Faf will bat 5 and Taylor has a lot to prove in test cricket and against SA. So I will back Faf to outscore him.

Reading Amla press conference and looking at the weather reports for the test expect SA will play the spinner. So expect this team:

1.Elgar
2.Van Zyl
3.Amla
4.AB
5.Faf
6.JP
7.Bavuma
8.Steyn
9.Abbot/Radaba
10.Piedt
11.Morkel

Ah ffs.

I was hoping Saffers go with an all seam attack and JP as the spinner with Elgar helping also.

Piedt isn't awful,but England will be happy that only one of Rabada and Abbot will play to get him in the side.

 

[SeamUp]

They reckon it is going to turn day 4 and 5. Pitch is quite dry.

 

[Watson33]

Did fancy England to do some damage in the first test, but seeing as they're leaning towards picking Woakes as Anderson's replacement they've got no chance. The guy shouldn't be near the test squad let alone in the XI!

 

[theegyptian]

Playing Footitt would be a big gamble imo. One that they aren't likely to take for a first test of a series. He also seems to be benefiting from the fact that fans haven't seen him play before. People like new **** but the grass isn't always greener. Footitt imo could easily Boyd Rankin it up on debut - which would be disastrous in what could be a tight series.

And regarding Footitt playing both warmup games as opposed to Woakes that could easily come down to the fact that they know what Woakes does and what standard he is, they were probably in a position where they needed to know more about Footitt. Presumably they weren't overly impressed with Footitt from the warmup games.

 

[Watson33]

I just think you need to go with an out-and-out seamer rather than a bits-and-pieces player. Especially given one of the other seamers (Finn) isn't 100% and hasn't played a great deal recently. Only going into a series were seam is expected to do the damage with only one fully fit seamer would be a bold move.

 

[theegyptian]

I just think you need to go with an out-and-out seamer rather than a bits-and-pieces player. Especially given one of the other seamers (Finn) isn't 100% and hasn't played a great deal recently. Only going into a series were seam is expected to do the damage with only one fully fit seamer would be a bold move.

I wouldn't disagree about the out and out bowler thing but I'm not really convinced that Footitt would bowl better than Woakes. Also Footitt went down with cramp in the second warmup game and Jordan hasn't played any cricket on this tour so I don't think either of these are really any better off physically than Woakes or Finn.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Go with the team that won the 2nd warm up game. Doubt it is good enough but all played recently at least.

 

[FBU]

Playing Footitt would be a big gamble imo. One that they aren't likely to take for a first test of a series. He also seems to be benefiting from the fact that fans haven't seen him play before. People like new **** but the grass isn't always greener. Footitt imo could easily Boyd Rankin it up on debut - which would be disastrous in what could be a tight series.

And regarding Footitt playing both warmup games as opposed to Woakes that could easily come down to the fact that they know what Woakes does and what standard he is, they were probably in a position where they needed to know more about Footitt. Presumably they weren't overly impressed with Footitt from the warmup games.

Overs bowled since Pakistan and for some, ODIs and Lions

Woakes 52.3
Footitt 31.0
Stokes 25.0
Broad 22.1
Finn 22.0
Jordan 12.0
Anderson 5.0

Woakes the most warmed up.

 

[testcricketer]

Bavuma's also a decent player of spin, so i reckon that's also why they gave him a go

 

[Compton]

Overs bowled since Pakistan and for some, ODIs and Lions

Woakes 52.3
Footitt 31.0
Stokes 25.0
Broad 22.1
Finn 22.0
Jordan 12.0
Anderson 5.0

Woakes the most warmed up.

If you factor in the extra balls bowled for wides, Jordan probably isn't far off.

 

[Prince EWS]

I wouldn't disagree about the out and out bowler thing but I'm not really convinced that Footitt would bowl better than Woakes. Also Footitt went down with cramp in the second warmup game and Jordan hasn't played any cricket on this tour so I don't think either of these are really any better off physically than Woakes or Finn.

Yeah the fact that Woakes can bat shouldn't come into selection much at all given Mooen will be at 8, but I'd argue he's a better bowler regardless, particularly when you're looking to replace Anderson (as in this case) or Broad due to injury rather than compliment them as a third seamer.

 

[Howe_zat]

I'd rather Plunkett than any option tbh