*Official* South African tour of England and Ireland 2022

[Woodster]

In fairness regardless of England’s strategy in this Test we wouldn’t have denied South Africa victory as they were just stronger than us in all areas. You can try and implement the greatest strategy possible but if the quality of those players adopting it are not good enough you’re going to struggle.

Poor Crawley looks shot and needs removing for his own sanity and Lees still hasn’t proved he’s a long term viable option. Bairstow’s purple patch may have finished for a while and Foakes looked startled by Nortje’s pace. Our batting has been fragile for a long time and in between some truly astonishing chases we are still capable of stringing together two innings like we have at Lords.

 

[Zinzan]

Staunch loyalty of selection has been one of McCullum's weaknesses as a coach/selector with KKR in the IPL. With Crawley looking shot & Lees just ungainly at test level, will they replace 1 or both of the openers, and what opener options have they got?

 

[Woodster]

Staunch loyalty of selection has been one of McCullum's weaknesses as a coach/selector with KKR in the IPL. With Crawley looking shot & Lees just ungainly at test level, will they replace 1 or both of the openers, and what opener options have they got?

I can’t see them replacing both of them, not at the same time anyway but surely one change has to be made and that’s Crawley. In terms of options, they can go down the route of throwing in an inexperienced player like Ben Compton who’s had an outstanding season at Kent or one of the tried and tested players like Hameed, Burns, Sibley, Jennings, etc, although Jason Roy may be a better fit for the style of cricket they want to play.

I don’t think there’s a problem going back to players that have previously been discarded providing they’ve improved on the deficiencies that saw them dropped in the first place and improved as cricketers and they currently bave confidence in their game.

 

[Zinzan]

I can’t see them replacing both of them, not at the same time anyway but surely one change has to be made and that’s Crawley. In terms of options, they can go down the route of throwing in an inexperienced player like Ben Compton who’s had an outstanding season at Kent or one of the tried and tested players like Hameed, Burns, Sibley, Jennings, etc, although Jason Roy may be a better fit for the style of cricket they want to play.

I don’t think there’s a problem going back to players that have previously been discarded providing they’ve improved on the deficiencies that saw them dropped in the first place and improved as cricketers and they currently bave confidence in their game.

Agree, and whoever of that bunch they took a punt on would have less pressure on them than Crawley would.

 

[Xuhaib]

Maharaj is a real gun apart from India he has no real holes in his record.

His record against India is really dreadful though worse than a part timer nonsure why since likes of Moin, O Keefe, Rashid and Lyon all have had decent success against current Indian batting.

 

[Woodster]

Agree, and whoever of that bunch they took a punt on would have less pressure on them than Crawley would.

Yes absolutely, they obviously see something in Crawley but he would surely be better suited going back to Kent and rebuilding his shattered confidence. I’m sure he’ll come again if he has the ability they seem to think he has and hopefully be better prepared for Test cricket.

If they want to continue in this super aggressive style then surely Jason Roy would be a front runner if his white ball game hadn’t been so poor recently. Whether you agree with the style England have adopted if they’re going this way Roy has to be considered when in form. It seems not playing County Championship doesn’t matter and if Roy could play Test cricket with absolute clarity on the tempo he should bat, ie one-day cricket style, then he may prove more successful than our current pair. A low bar to aspire to admittedly.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Ben Duckett is probably their best bet if they want an aggressive opener.

 

[Burgey]

I actually thought Hameed had a bit about him tbh.

 

[Shady Slim]

I actually thought Hameed had a bit about him tbh.

yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

 

[Shady Slim]

i'm a bit bemused that roy is getting floated - "bazball", memes aside, if it even exists, is something ever so marginally more considered than brainless hacking

 

[trundler]

Surely no one's seriously considering Roy when he can't buy a run in league cricket

 

[Prince EWS]

If you're going to pick someone in Tests based solely on their white ball record, you probably shouldn't do it when you're considering dropping them from the white ball teams due to their extended run of poor form.

 

[trundler]

If you're going to pick someone in Tests based solely on their white ball record, you probably shouldn't do it when you're considering dropping them from the white ball teams due to their extended run of poor form.

Thanks for repeating what I said.

Apologize for the redundant post.

 

[Gob]

I actually thought Hameed had a bit about him tbh.

Not according to mick vaughan. Gave his tick to Crawley over Hameed during the last ashes iirc. Makes you wonder ?

In other news, starting to like the look of this South African attack like a lot. Ngidi has a bit of a Walsh to Rabada's Ambrose and some one with genuine face like Nortje can never be understated. Throw in the left arm variety of Jansen (like the look of him too) and that's a complete attack. Big question though, is Jansen good enough to bat at six? Batting still looks really thin. What would @StephenZA and South African fans would give to have de Kock inserted back

 

[GRAB]

Not according to mick vaughan. Gave his tick to Crawley over Hameed during the last ashes iirc. Makes you wonder ?

In other news, starting to like the look of this South African attack like a lot. Ngidi has a bit of a Walsh to Rabada's Ambrose and some one with genuine face like Nortje can never be understated. Throw in the left arm variety of Mulder (like the look of him too) and that's a complete attack. Big question though, is mulder good enough to bat at six? Batting still looks really thin. What would @StephenZA and South African fans would give to have de Kock inserted back

Mulder is right arm, and playing county. De Kock is a mid 30s test player who was part of a lot of collapses. Verreyne and Rickelton both have potential to be far superior test bats than de Kock.

 

[Gob]

I meant jansen

 

[Xix2565]

some one with genuine face like Nortje can never be understated

Indeed, Nortje's face can never be understated.

 

[Chrish]

Pace is Pace... Eventually. Nortje would be awesome to watch in Australia.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1560624164687384579

He is just a machine, isn’t he? Just stems in and keeps bowling those 90+ miles one after another.. Relentless.

 

[kevinw]

I'd be opening with Duckett and Vince, seriously.

 

[WpGuy]

Its what gives SA such a hard selection problem... Jansen has high potential as a tall left arm swing bowler and as a batsmen, Olivier is an outright pace man that has been consistently good and Ngidi has become this new ball and/or change bowler that takes wickets through deception and well Rabada is one of the best fast bowlers in the world... And its difficult to drop Maharaj who has, in my opinion, been the most consistent slow bowler in the long format of the game.

Nortjie also. abbort still around, gerald coetzee, mignon pretorius and sipimadnla.