*Official* England in South Africa Thread

[BoyBrumby]

No, sport is about doing the best you can.
If that's a "typical English" attitude, sorry, I don't care - I think it's the right one.
You should not expect anyone to achieve above what they're capable of.

It's a typical loser attitude.

I'd far rather have a team full of mediocre winners than good losers.

If sportsmen don't push against their own natural limitations how would any of them improve?

 

[Richard]

By reaching their limitations.
No-one can go beyond their limitations and no-one should be criticised for being unable to.
The bit about mediocre winners and good losers doesn't really make sense, given that it will happen the other way around - the good will win, the mediocre will lose.

 

[BoyBrumby]

By reaching their limitations.
No-one can go beyond their limitations and no-one should be criticised for being unable to.
The bit about mediocre winners and good losers doesn't really make sense, given that it will happen the other way around - the good will win, the mediocre will lose.

I said natural (ie inherent physical) limitations. With most physical activity, if one practices one gets better.

The "good losers" & "mediocre winners" was word-play on that on-so-terribly English idea of good (meaning sporting or gracious) losers. A few more blokes who hate the very idea of losing are what every team needs. A "mediocre winner" is my polar opposite of a "good loser".

Clear now?

 

[Langeveldt]

Yeah, youve got to push the barriers all the time.. Thats why Athetics World Records are always being broken..

Its no-coincidence in my eyes that England looked hungrier for improving beyond what was thought possible when Duncan Fletcher (A Zimbo) and Rod Marsh took over things..

 

[Richard]

I still say that being a good loser is better than throwing a wobbly (Hayden-SCG-style) when small things don't go your way.
I also still say that people shouldn't be asked to dig any deeper than they are capable of digging.
I maintain that Dean Jones was asked to go further than Border had a right to ask him to go in that famous innings.

 

[DocHead]

Ntini isn't overrated, nobody's ever compared him to the all time great, and he's never going to remembered as one. Yammer all you want about him being a 1D bowler, which he *is* No slow ball, or any variation to speak of is horrid after so many years.

But you can't debate that he's been very successful at home, I think his average is under 25 or something, which is a top class average. Pollock's in the low 20's as well. Certainly if Pollock restricts the English, Ntini will get wickets.

We're crap on powderpuff sub-continent wickets, but only Aussie have ever won on SA soil in the last 12 years, and if the English want to breach the fort, I certainly hope SA make them sweat blood doing it.

Anyway, all the talk and StatsGuru rubbish ends tomorrow. I'm going to be typically blind, blinkered and batty in predicting SA will give the English a right snotty, and there'll be a few dented reputations flying back to the old country come the end of the series, and good performances from the likes of Nel, Steyn, de Bruyn, Amla, et al will leave SA's future looking a little rosier.

 

[Langeveldt]

Anyway, all the talk and StatsGuru rubbish ends tomorrow. I'm going to be typically blind, blinkered and batty in predicting SA will give the English a right snotty, and there'll be a few dented reputations flying back to the old country come the end of the series, and good performances from the likes of Nel, Steyn, de Bruyn, Amla, et al will leave SA's future looking a little rosier.

I hope so.. I cant wait anyway, only a matter of hours to go..

 

[BoyBrumby]

I still say that being a good loser is better than throwing a wobbly (Hayden-SCG-style) when small things don't go your way.
I also still say that people shouldn't be asked to dig any deeper than they are capable of digging.
I maintain that Dean Jones was asked to go further than Border had a right to ask him to go in that famous innings.

Couldn't disagree more. Tremendous bloody effort. Eddie Paynter in 32/33 of similar ilk.

Wish I had a tenth of their balls...

 

[Langeveldt]

I bet Dean Jones looked back on that Innings with a typical dose of strong Aussie pride. I certainly bet there aren't too many regrets flying around. One of the best knocks ever seen on a cricket field..

 

[Neil Pickup]

WRT Attitudes - two words. Tim Henman.

 

[Langeveldt]

www.overcompetitive.com

Search for "Tiger Tim"...

 

[BoyBrumby]

WRT Attitudes - two words. Tim Henman.

Two more: Eddie Edwards

& another two: Frank Bruno

We love a loser, us Poms, don't we?!?

That's why Big Dunc has been so good for us, introduced a bit of neo-colonial steel.

 

[Pratters]

Regarding losing, Gavaskar once described it as obsessive. It is as if when the nation wins, the whole country is edgy and is at peace at with self when they lose as they can discuss what went wrong.

Gavaskar was in England during the Euro 2000 and England won a few matches and there was enxiety. And when they lost, it was normalcy re achieved as people could (thankfully) discuss what went wrong.

 

[superkingdave]

Right, day booked of work, play in 30 mins, lets go.

Good news for Langeveldt AAD in the studio

 

[superkingdave]

SA win the toss (surprise), bat first

 

[superkingdave]

Steyn starts so does A B De Villiers

crowd a bit sparse

 

[shaka]

Graeme Smith decided to bat, they needed to win the toss.

 

[superkingdave]

It was a bit up in the air for England, i'm not too disappointed to lose the toss, we could have had a bit off a collapse on the first morning and there is no spinner in the SA side.

 

[superkingdave]

Smith gone bye bye, what a start!

 

[Nate]

my tip - watch for Jones. Hes gonna have a mad game...

I dont see how this South African attack can really threaten what looks to be a solid English batting line-up. South Africa will need to post a huge 1st innings score. Go Harmison!!