*Official* England in South Africa

[zaremba]

Botha pretending he was unsure as to whether he held that or not!...
He practically chucked it onto the ground

 

[popepouri]

Good to see Parny back.

Morne's bowling well. He must have worked really hard over the summer.

Steyn is a definite concern. Looked all over the place.

 

[zaremba]

Well played the S Africans. A proper slapping, that.

Questionable decision to get rid of Jimmy Anderson, I can't see Strauss or Smith being given out to that. And it turned the match without doubt.

 

[TT Boy]

Parnell has a good habit of not bowling that well yet still getting wickets. And though two five wicket hauls in your first year in international cricket for a 20 year old is a fair effort, I think its Pakistan who have the more talented young left-armer going.

 

[aussie]

McLaren = Epic fail. Two years in waiting for medium pacer with no control or variation.

Yea i am a bit surprised TBH. Seeing him in country cricket i definately saw him swing the ball, maybe its the conditions in SA?

 

[Kyle]

Parnell has a good habit of not bowling that well yet still getting wickets. And though two five wicket hauls in your first year in international cricket for a 20 year old is a fair effort, I think its Pakistan who have the more talented young left-armer going.

Parnell? Broad.

 

[Jono]

Didn't really pay attention to this match, only just realised Botha didn't play.

When was he not making SA's bext XI?

amazing how you can go from captaining the team to out.

 

[aussie]

Parnell has a good habit of not bowling that well yet still getting wickets. And though two five wicket hauls in your first year in international cricket for a 20 year old is a fair effort, I think its Pakistan who have the more talented young left-armer going.

Haa yea, i've yet to see him swing the white ball - but the pontential is there for sure. Will be interesting to see how he goes with the red ball if SA play him in the test series, which looks very likely.

 

[King Pietersen]

Didn't really pay attention to this match, only just realised Botha didn't play.

When was he not making SA's bext XI?

amazing how you can go from captaining the team to out.

Not played any part in the series so far. They've been picking Van Der Merwe ahead of him

 

[Jono]

Ah okay, interesting.

I'm a Botha fan, for no reason really. Just like him.

 

[Pratters]

Not played any part in the series so far. They've been picking Van Der Merwe ahead of him

Van Der Merwe is one of the best spinners in the ODI game with a great future IMO. Hasn't done a thing wrong since he made his debut too. He is a lock in for the side.

 

[kingkallis]

Ah okay, interesting.

I'm a Botha fan, for no reason really. Just like him.

He is not playing cause he is nomore allowed to bowl Doosra and thats a massive concern cause without Doosra, Botha is of no real use...

 

[Jono]

Van Der Merwe is one of the best spinners in the ODI game with a great future IMO. Hasn't done a thing wrong since he made his debut too. He is a lock in for the side.

Bangalore

 

[King Pietersen]

Van Der Merwe is one of the best spinners in the ODI game with a great future IMO. Hasn't done a thing wrong since he made his debut too. He is a lock in for the side.

Been nothing short of abysmal in the last 3/4 games I've seen him play, bowled some real trash at times. A good spinner yes, but 'one of the best spinners in the ODI game' is a huge over-rating of him. He just doesn't seem to be performing as well with the pressure of being the lone-spinner, think he and Botha worked very well as a team in those middle overs, and without him Roelof's looked abit lost to me.

 

[Pratters]

Whatever I have seen of the bowler, I have been very impressed. I agree saying he is one of the best bowlers in the ODI game would seem very early but I rate him highly.

 

[TT Boy]

He is not playing cause he is nomore allowed to bowl Doosra and thats a massive concern cause without Doosra, Botha is of no real use...

Correct, been nullified. Right hander batsman can play him without fear and he doesn't offer anything against the lefties. Just remember how confused the Aussie batsman were when facing him and he only used the ball sparingly during that series but it is such an important weapon to him.

 

[TT Boy]

Yea i am a bit surprised TBH. Seeing him in country cricket i definately saw him swing the ball, maybe its the conditions in SA?

Looked useless for the Eagles in the Champions League. Could just be a one season wonder? Took a truck load of wickets when the Eagles won SuperSport by preparing green tops and he is known in England for taking a hat-trick in a 20/20 game.

South Africa will give him time as they waited such a long time for him but if he was not a returning Kolpak cricketer, then he would have already been ditched like the other 'failed' all-rounders, Louw, Philander and Kleinveldt. Apparently he has been struggling with injury, so maybe it is too harsh to judge him after a handful of games but not good enough so far.

 

[FBU]

Is Steyn injured?

 

[TT Boy]

Is Steyn injured?

Just bowling ****, I think. He talked himself before the first 20/20 that he was touching 150kph, so he must be in decent shape.

 

[Uppercut]

Parnell has a good habit of not bowling that well yet still getting wickets. And though two five wicket hauls in your first year in international cricket for a 20 year old is a fair effort, I think its Pakistan who have the more talented young left-armer going.

I thought he bowled quite well. It's not like he was taking wickets with filth anyway.