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

[StephenZA]

Morris in for Berhardien is surely a move that has to be made?

I would like Morris in for Berhardien.... and I would actually like Duminy to be replaced by Elgar. But it is unlikely to happen due to the golden rule of 4.... This might lead to a call up for Parnell again (considering he apparently has been doing well) and the hope that Philander can get fit sooner rather than later (not for this series obviously).

I really like this Eng team very strong both in batting and bowling. If I was you guys I would not be worried about Stokes he is a player that will win you games with both bat and ball all by himself. Its not like you don`t have enough batting cover if he fails.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

That was almost as easy as Leicester found it at City earlier. Never really any doubt.

 

[91Jmay]

I wouldn't have Elgar in for Duminy. Duminy is actually a good ODI player.

 

[StephenZA]

I wouldn't have Elgar in for Duminy. Duminy is actually a good ODI player.

When he did not bowl dross... which he has been doing for a little while now and his batting has also let him down (I know he scored a good 40 today but not frequently enough...) Elgar though is a pretty good top order batsmen, his bowling is good and accurate. And right now he is improving all the time whereas Duminy is going down. Elgar coming in at 3 for SA stabilizes our top order, but Duminy at 5 is hit and miss right now.

 

[91Jmay]

Elgar isn't dynamic enough to play modern ODI cricket and his bowling would be plundered as well.

 

[Howe_zat]

Duminy is one of few experienced middle order players in ODIs now who can actually do a batsman's job at 5 or 6. Even if he doesn't bowl, it's hard to find a replacement for Duminy in that role. I rate Elgar but he wouldn't open ahead of de Kock or Amla in this format so it seems to me like a change that wouldn't really solve anything.

If SA play a proper fifth bowler then it has to be for Behardien or Rossouw.

 

[Daemon]

Can't believe Behardien is still playing international cricket

 

[91Jmay]

Amla
De Kock
Du Plessis
AB
Duminy
Rossouw
Morris
Rabada
Abbott
Morkel
Tahir

Morris has a huge role in that scenario, but only way I can see SA getting enough quality overs on the field.

 

[Howe_zat]

Farhaan Behardien averages 10 more than Stokes, has a better strike rate, the same high score and has more fifties.

I will keep posting about Ben Stokes' ODI record because I continue to be amazed by how **** it is

 

[Niall]

When he did not bowl dross... which he has been doing for a little while now and his batting has also let him down (I know he scored a good 40 today but not frequently enough...) Elgar though is a pretty good top order batsmen, his bowling is good and accurate. And right now he is improving all the time whereas Duminy is going down. Elgar coming in at 3 for SA stabilizes our top order, but Duminy at 5 is hit and miss right now.

I think your top order is ok, its your lower order which is the issue so I'd persist with JP for the reasons the lads outlined above. The other thing is if I was a Saffer, I want Duminy playing these games so he get his groove back for the world cup because in t20 he is crucial, its bad enough Tahir is a mess these days, you need JP to get his touch back for the WC.

 

[Furball]

Jos is Boss

 

[weldone]

Buttler is an excellent ODI player. This was a clinical finish to what was looking like a close match for a long time.

 

[Jono]

Happy to say it, England are my favourite limited overs team to watch by a distance right now. Just entertainment all over the place.

Stokes even manages to do the "talented but does hilarious dumb things" innings like Maxwell, and Jos is becoming as fun as AB - so I'd have them over Aus and Saffers now.

 

[Adders]

Happy to say it, England are my favourite limited overs team to watch by a distance right now. Just entertainment all over the place.

Stokes even manages to do the "talented but does hilarious dumb things" innings like Maxwell, and Jos is becoming as fun as AB - so I'd have them over Aus and Saffers now.

Just wondering where you would have ranked them just 12 months ago?? Quite incredible the turn around this team has made since the world cup, and I'm not even talking about results.........just watchability.

 

[Jono]

Well England were super fun to watch 12 months ago as well but that's because they were hilariously bad. This is a different kind of fun

But getting to your point, yeah this is a huge turnaround. It started with Cook going but now they've got awesome hitting not just at the top but everywhere.

Also, Rashid is huge for me, he is genuinely great to watch. That wicket of Faf didn't get the attention of the AB wicket, but it was arguably just as important, because it made AB hold back for the middle period, which allowed Moeen to bowl super tight. Plus it was a great delivery.

England having a bucket load of aggressive but also international quality ODI batsmen, and a genuinely attacking leg spinner - well who would have ever thought we'd see that? That's just awesome for watchability.

 

[grecian]

I do think the reasons English fans are genuinely excited is the fact that we really can't get any worse after our last few world cup escapades. I mean I still have massive doubts that our out-and-out attack will come undone in an important match, but who cares as long as we get through a group it'll be an improvement.

I also tend to think one of our weaknesses in Tests is good in limited overs, we have a few world-class players, and the rest cameo in batting, fielding, bowling. Not great for the longer form, but just about perfect for shorter forms.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Fantastic run chase by England, dominated.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Behardien took a lot of heat early in his career, but over the last year he has been a great finisher for us averaging 50 (not sure the strike rate), but he played a couple of good innings vs NZ.

Still Dave Miller should come in for him, however this wont solve much.

Amla and AB has been our rocks for a long time and they look disinterested, hopefully AB got some confidence going now, but amla just looks like an easy wicket, without them the rest of the guys average less than 40.

Other than that we dont have a bowler for the middle overs, Tahir is our strike bowler so he is either used early or late, since Duminy fell off the wagon (who did a decent job) we have had a tough time. So there is no reason not to give Dean Elgar a go.

 

[Stefan9]

Poor batting display. One of ab,jp,faf or qdk should have gotten a 100 after getting in. 260 is never going to be enough in modern one day cricket.

Our spinners were totally outbowled by their england counterparts or did our batsman allow their spinners to bowl to them?

The 5th bowler remains a problem and there is no real solution as none of the options are good enough to bat at number 7.

Would like to see a spot found for david miller. Has an x factor that this team needs.

 

[wpdavid]

I do think the reasons English fans are genuinely excited is the fact that we really can't get any worse after our last few world cup escapades. I mean I still have massive doubts that our out-and-out attack will come undone in an important match, but who cares as long as we get through a group it'll be an improvement.

For a brief moment I thought you were exaggerating about getting through a group, but you really aren't are you?
Or at least, not when we've had to beat a test playing side to get through in the last six WCs.