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

[Ozee0026]

Ian Bell scored 78 odd runs, were highest scores by Englishman in last 4 year at cape town, so I am worried about Compton,Root ,cook and Bairstow vs Morris / Piedt / Viljoen and Morkal..I do not think Steyn,philander return but Rabada not good for test plus Abbott injured

so two debutant probably shares new ball.i think Viljoen fastest in SA; 295 wkts in FC with 20 wkts in last 2 games.Chris Morris also very good bowler but he is medium fast bowler.
Return of De kock will helps team
.

 

[Ozee0026]

who is charmander?

D.chameera

 

[GIMH]

Guys I had a dream that Salamuddin called South Africa 06-15 one of the 'great' teams up there with vintage Windies and Australia

Imagine if he'd actually written that

 

[flibbertyjibber]

England might get to number but I doubt they'll stay there for a long period of time. I'm not sure England's bowling is good enough to win tests consistently around the world.
They lack a genuinely quick bowler and I still think Mooen, while he may do an effective job in conditions where England's pacemen find swing and seam, I'll be very surprised if he's gonna be able to do the job in places where he will be expected to be the primary wicket taker.

The truly great teams - WIndies of the 80's, Aussies of the 2000's and South Africa in 06-15 havbe all had one thing in common - at least one truly outstanding bowler.
England don't have that - and no I don't consider Broad and Anderson in this category. Both of them are good bowlers who've had lengthy careers (kapil Dev types) but are not truly exceptional.

India may be number 1 after this series but does anyone think they are seriously a number 1 side? Same goes for Australia who are ranked closely with them. They are in the same boat as England though, they introduced a lot of new players in the last couple of years and those players are finding their levels and we are getting to realise they are part of useful sides, how good each team becomes is open to debate but it would be no shock IF England win this series that they end the summer as number 1 given the Sri Lankan side are in transition and Pakistan look like they could implode at any minute. We are in a fun time with the amount of promising young players making their mark on the game but they have a big job to replace some of the greats we have lost in the last few years. Just got to go with the ride and enjoy it I guess.

 

[Prince EWS]

Guys I had a dream that Salamuddin called South Africa 06-15 one of the 'great' teams up there with vintage Windies and Australia

Imagine if he'd actually written that

Pretty sure he still thinks I'm South African as well.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Guys I had a dream that Salamuddin called South Africa 06-15 one of the 'great' teams up there with vintage Windies and Australia

Imagine if he'd actually written that

I missed that bit in the post.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Pretty sure he still thinks I'm South African as well.

Well you change your team more often than your underwear so he may have a point.

 

[TheJediBrah]

India may be number 1 after this series but does anyone think they are seriously a number 1 side? Same goes for Australia who are ranked closely with them. They are in the same boat as England though, they introduced a lot of new players in the last couple of years and those players are finding their levels and we are getting to realise they are part of useful sides, how good each team becomes is open to debate but it would be no shock IF England win this series that they end the summer as number 1 given the Sri Lankan side are in transition and Pakistan look like they could implode at any minute. We are in a fun time with the amount of promising young players making their mark on the game but they have a big job to replace some of the greats we have lost in the last few years. Just got to go with the ride and enjoy it I guess.

I don't think any side is outright no. 1 right now, it's looking pretty even. But it's been pretty even for the last 7-8 years since Australia were brought down to the pack. South Africa were always up there but never outright dominant.

I can really see England being super-competitive going forward. My bets for the no. 1 spot would be England, Australia and possibly India. I can't see South Africa staying with the pack too long but I hope they prove me wrong.

Aus/Eng could be the dominant sides for the next decade, which is great for Ashes cricket.

 

[harsh.ag]

Feel the defining rivalry is going to be Aus v India this decade (defined as the next ten years, not 2010-20). Saffers and England just behind.

This is primarily based on the fact that they have the better collection of younger players. India's pace attack obvious biggest liability towards this. England's batting to be their bigger concern. Saffers will have a bit of a crunch in both depts.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Feel the defining rivalry is going to be Aus v India this decade (defined as the next ten years, not 2010-20). Saffers and England just behind.

This is primarily based on the fact that they have the better collection of younger players. India's pace attack obvious biggest liability towards this. England's batting to be their bigger concern. Saffers will have a bit of a crunch in both depts.

The problem with Australia/India rivalry IMO, is that it's always just going to be the home side winning. And other than a couple of series (or 1 series?) in the 00's it's been that way for decades. And I don't see much scope for that to change tbh.

 

[harsh.ag]

The problem with Australia/India rivalry IMO, is that it's always just going to be the home side winning. And other than a couple of series (or 1 series?) in the 00's it's been that way for decades. And I don't see much scope for that to change tbh.

Agree more or less (but the Indian batsmen need to up their game on spin friendly tracks). They should still be exchanging the number 1 spot a lot though.

 

[Howe_zat]

There are always going to be times when the no.1 side is unclear as was the case 5 years ago. It's not an indictment of the rankings because they usually show that the points are close, which is what you should really be looking at, but it does make all the pomp over the no.1 team ring quite hollow.

If we had a genuine test championship that people could aim for long term then people wouldn't get their knickers in a twist over the rankings shifting like they could do.

 

[Shady Slim]

so out of curiousity when can south africa pick KP

 

[Daemon]

There are always going to be times when the no.1 side is unclear as was the case 5 years ago. It's not an indictment of the rankings because they usually show that the points are close, which is what you should really be looking at, but it does make all the pomp over the no.1 team ring quite hollow.

If we had a genuine test championship that people could aim for long term then people wouldn't get their knickers in a twist over the rankings shifting like they could do.

They kinda still would, because it wouldn't really show which team was the best at that point in time, unless the relevant matches were all completed close to each other.

 

[Shady Slim]

if you are doing comms i'm so down if you need an extra btw south africa is just quietly my favourite test team

they are as good (or better than even) as australia at their best (which mind you is hard because australia at their best is at home whomping everything) without needing to be ****s

 

[Kippax]

so two debutant probably shares new ball.i think Viljoen fastest in SA; 295 wkts in FC with 20 wkts in last 2 games.
.

 

[Kippax]

 

[Daemon]

**** he's rapid isn't he

 

[Kippax]

Haha I love it how they sometimes walk for lbw shouts in the Sunfoil Series. It's so Calvinist.

 

[TheJediBrah]

if you are doing comms i'm so down if you need an extra btw south africa is just quietly my favourite test team

they are as good (or better than even) as australia at their best (which mind you is hard because australia at their best is at home whomping everything) without needing to be ****s

Then how come they've only beaten Australia once (2012-13 doesn't count) in the entire time I've been watching cricket. And never in South Africa.


just sayin