**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[S Chanderpaul]

Hope Ravi genuinely does have "personal reasons" (albeit of the not too serious variety, as I'm not a complete ****) and the selectors haven't just fudged things with a convenient excuse that's unlikely to get too many probing Qs from the fourth estate.

Have horrible suspicion Taylor's been picked on the back of his televised List A ton, as he's not been in that great nick in the longer game. 554 @ 42.61 is ok, but he's behind Lumb, Read & Wessels in the Notts averages and there'd have to be several serious accidents for any of them to get a call.

Compton for me, but hey.

Compton has had one good season, whereas Taylor has had 3. Sure, you can argue Taylor's good season's where in division 2, but Compton was constantly failing in that division.

Taylor is currently 135* and looking good for a big one!

 

[Prince EWS]

Compton has had one good season, whereas Taylor has had 3. Sure, you can argue Taylor's good season's where in division 2, but Compton was constantly failing in that division.

Taylor is currently 135* and looking good for a big one!

2011 County Championship
Compton - 1010 runs @ 56
Taylor - 889 runs @ 39

2012 County Championship
Compton - 987 runs @ 90
Taylor - 481 runs @ 40

Frankly I fail to see how Compton's effort last season doesn't quality as a "good season" if Taylor's efforts in the last two do.

 

[S Chanderpaul]

2011 County Championship
Compton - 1010 runs @ 56
Taylor - 889 runs @ 39

2012 County Championship
Compton - 987 runs @ 90
Taylor - 481 runs @ 40

Frankly I fail to see how Compton's effort last season doesn't quality as a "good season" if Taylor's efforts in the last two do.

Compton also plays at Taunton...

Taylor's form for the Lions shouldn't be discounted either, always scores big when playing in the 4 day games!

 

[amanuensis]

From what little I've seen of Taylor, he works a lot of balls to leg. I accept that's not necessarily a problem, but is he good enough to get away with it against this attack?

 

[Viscount Tom]

I hear he's less of a stroke player than some of the other prospects around might be useful player to have given all Colly's replacement's thus far have been the opposite of him.

 

[Prince EWS]

From what little I've seen of Taylor, he works a lot of balls to leg. I accept that's not necessarily a problem, but is he good enough to get away with it against this attack?

Leaving well outside off and working anything straight to the leg side is fast proving to be the most widely effective technique of the modern age. I'd be far more concerned if he blocked the straight ones and then tried to cover drive Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander on the up, personally.

 

[uvelocity]

wonder what they will call this age in 50 years time

 

[Prince EWS]

wonder what they will call this age in 50 years time

The Kallis Era.

 

[uvelocity]

I was more thinking along the lines of "the exception to the rule"

in reference to aussies not being #1

 

[uvelocity]

how come compton hasn't played more fc games

 

[Prince EWS]

how come compton hasn't played more fc games

Late bloomer.

 

[amanuensis]

I see Woakes now has 3-26 off 16 overs.....

 

[MrPrez]

The Kallis Era.

Amen, brother. Amen.

 

[Stumpcam]

I see Woakes now has 3-26 off 16 overs.....

That after a century when he batted too. Impressive performance thus far.

 

[Garson007]

wonder what they will call this age in 50 years time

Start of real cricket, the IPL.

 

[grecian]

I see Woakes now has 3-26 off 16 overs.....

Out-bowled by Rikki Clarke, I rest my case....

 

[Pup Clarke]

Nothing wrong with that. Players are allowed to improve y'know.

 

[Pothas]

Purely speculative but just think Taylor will make the grade at test level, very happy he has been given a go.

 

[FBU]

England have a maximum quota of 4 SA born players in the team so Compton has to wait.

 

[CWB304]

Purely speculative but just think Taylor will make the grade at test level, very happy he has been given a go.

Taylor will score runs; his technique is tight enough and he is sound mentally. He will be looking to score at a SR of around 40 against this SA attack but this should improve with time. There are a couple of other youngsters in the county game who can follow him into the team and strengthen the top order batting but he is definitely the best option at this stage. His debut and the (presumed) closing of the book on Bopara and Morgan who were never good enough is the worst possible outcome for Bell who will probably be dropped after this series.