*Official* England in South Africa Thread

[wpdavid]

"Sharp chance to short-leg" is usually a pretty safe bet for being something no-one has a realistic chance of taking.
But a top-edge is almost always a chance.
So, basically no batsman has displayed any real form and we've got to hope for something to change in The First Test.

Just a bit! Even allowing for the lack of match practice, this has been a depressing effort. It's a question of character as much as anything else now. Which of them will stand up & be counted in what will be a seriously challenging situation? Maybe the only glimmer of hope is that the SA 1st XI will be just as under-cooked in SA conditions.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Butch hasn't exactly stuck his hand up to demand selection, has he? 3 innings (if you include the quarter-ar$ed one day thrash) & 3 failures.

I don't think a certain ruddy-faced son of Kent quite did enough to absolutely nail his place in the summer (two excellent knocks notwithstanding), but reckon he can rightly feel aggrieved if he's overlooked for the first test now. He was the man in possession after all.

 

[Tom Halsey]

I'm fairly certain Key will be selected - Butch hasn't looked great yet this tour.

 

[marc71178]

Some might argue that Butcher is the man in possession seeing as Key came in for him - I know who I'd prefer to have at 3, that's for sure.

 

[superkingdave]

Some might argue that Butcher is the man in possession seeing as Key came in for him - I know who I'd prefer to have at 3, that's for sure.

Rikki?

 

[tooextracool]

Hopefully the second-innings might be a better indication - haven't read of any dropped catches... yet.

hopefully it is. of course we all know what hes capable off when he gets his act together. yet too often he ends up playing a rash drive outside the off stump at a ball that he should be leaving alone.

 

[tooextracool]

It might seem so.
To make guesses, though, is always a dangerous thing.
We can but wait and see... if he were to average 50 in the series, you know who'd have told you so...

and yet if he didnt and ended up with an average in the mid 20s you'd end up saying that you never made such a claim. you seem to have the knack of making inane coments that hint at something, when that goes against you say that you never made such a claim. of course if it backed it up and he ended up with an average of 50+ you'd be telling us about how brilliant your predictions were.

 

[Richard]

If Harmison averages in the mid-20s I'll say one of two things - that he bowled better than I expected or that the batting was as poor as it's been for most of the last 11 Tests.

 

[Langeveldt]

Cannot wait to see Dale Steyn let loose, I've heard big things about this bloke..

He heard the news of his callup while in a cinema watching a film.. The question on everyone's lips is.
What was he doing with his cellphone on during a movie??!

 

[Jono]

Maybe it was on silent?

 

[Richard]

Cannot wait to see Dale Steyn let loose, I've heard big things about this bloke..

Call me a cynic, but from a South African POV I'd prefer the "security" of Pollock, Ntini, (Kallis), Hall, Boje.
If Boje is fit, of course.
I can't really see Boje causing too many problems, though... sooner Nel is back to himself the better.
That said, I can't really see Ntini posing many problems, either.

 

[Pratters]

Call me a cynic, but from a South African POV I'd prefer the "security" of Pollock, Ntini, (Kallis), Hall, Boje.
If Boje is fit, of course.
I can't really see Boje causing too many problems, though... sooner Nel is back to himself the better.
That said, I can't really see Ntini posing many problems, either.

The security counts for nothing if the bowlers arent capable of taking 20. I havent seen Steyn but I do hope for South Africa's case that he is of a good standard. South African attack has lacked the extra adge since Donald lost the extra yard of pace. Security doesnt win test matches. Quality match winners do and South Africa does need to find one atleast who can take wickets consistently.

 

[Richard]

Insecurity loses Test-matches.
Especially in the first game of a five-match series, avoiding defeat is pivotal.

 

[Langeveldt]

Call me a cynic, but from a South African POV I'd prefer the "security" of Pollock, Ntini, (Kallis), Hall, Boje.
If Boje is fit, of course.
I can't really see Boje causing too many problems, though... sooner Nel is back to himself the better.
That said, I can't really see Ntini posing many problems, either.

If everyone thought like that, Steve Harmison would never have got a bowl for England

 

[Pratters]

Insecurity loses Test-matches.
Especially in the first game of a five-match series, avoiding defeat is pivotal.

If you go with the intention of avoiding defeat, you are sure to lose the match. I dont doubt that whatever attack plays vs England, South Africa will win.

But in more general terms, south africa could do with a potent strike bowler. If the selectors are convinced about him, its not illogical to blood him.

 

[Richard]

If everyone thought like that, Steve Harmison would never have got a bowl for England

The first time Harmison played a First Test against a decent side he'd taken a four-for in his last game.
He was undroppable.

 

[Richard]

If you go with the intention of avoiding defeat, you are sure to lose the match. I dont doubt that whatever attack plays vs England, South Africa will win.

That's an opinion fondly held by plenty of people - one of the most romanticised parts of cricket.
And it's infuriating, too.
There are times when avoiding defeat is imperative.

But in more general terms, south africa could do with a potent strike bowler. If the selectors are convinced about him, its not illogical to blood him.

My argument would be that it'd be quite insane to be convinced about Steyn from the little I've read about him.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

surely Ntini is a strike bowler?

 

[Richard]

Depends on the way he's bowling.
When he's bowling well he can be a good stock-bowler, capable of tying-up an end for long spells.
When he's bowling crap he tends to go for a few and is best used in short spells.
If the batting is poor, he usually picks-up wickets however well or poorly he's bowling.

 

[tooextracool]

Depends on the way he's bowling.
When he's bowling well he can be a good stock-bowler, capable of tying-up an end for long spells.
When he's bowling crap he tends to go for a few and is best used in short spells.
If the batting is poor, he usually picks-up wickets however well or poorly he's bowling.

which pretty much comes down to when hes bowling home/away.