**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[Jono]

I didn't have too much criticism about how the ECB had handled all this other than the possibility of leaks (which I thought was a bit of a side-show in itself) up until now, but here they've had the perfect opportunity to put it all behind them and decided to flex their muscles instead. When it was about Pietersen's availability for different matches they had the moral high ground and something to actually achieve by digging their claws in, but this is just dire and accomplishes absolutely nothing.

Can only imagine you wrote this before you knew about the text messages?

 

[Dan]

I think with Woakes his bowling just doesn't offer enough. As part of a 4 man attack he's not a good enough bowler. As part of a 5 man attack he offers no variety, nothing extra. If the other seamers are struggling he will do nowt. If the other seamers are looking dangerous well then they'll keep bowling and he'll only bowl if he's part of 3 seamers - if there are 4 seamers moving it around he'll hardly get a bowl.

I'd pick him, to be honest. Bairstow's batting was pretty poor in the WI series, and despite his Lions performance I don't think he'll add that much. Woakes is in good batting touch, averages 36 anyway and would be alright at 7, especially with Broad/Bres/Swann behind him. Plus he provides a good fifth bowling option.

I think he'd add more to the side overall than Bairstow.

 

[Burgey]

If England hit their straps with the ball they might not have to get many runs to force a positive result, therefore the absense of KP may be negated somewhat. Not sure I get your point really - KP not being there doesn't affect England's ability to bowl SA out cheaply twice.

He's their best spinner tbf.

 

[Jono]

Can just imagine the grin Burgey had on his face when making that post

 

[Hurricane]

He's their best spinner tbf.

Indeed - I think Swann's meteoritic rise up the world rankings may have been an over achievement for him on retrospect. I am not in the camp that you need a doosra to dominate consistently in this day and age but you do need an x factor beyond good line and length.

 

[Spark]

He used to have a killer arm ball. Seems to have lost that a bit as his action has deteriorated slightly.

 

[Dan]

Indeed - I think Swann's meteoritic rise up the world rankings may have been an over achievement for him on retrospect. I am not in the camp that you need a doosra to dominate consistently in this day and age but you do need an x factor beyond good line and length.

I wouldn't say that puts KP above him as a pure offspinner though
Pietersen has neither the line and length nor the x factor as a bowler.

EDIT: Spark, do you think that's down to the elbow injury or just poor form?

 

[Spark]

Probably both, but he definitely seems to have much less energy through the crease than he did at his 2010 peak when he would consistently get serious drift/dip and then alarming bounce/spin on pitches which were hardly spin-friendly. The pitches he's played on at home for the last two years have been even less helpful, granted, but he's definitely regressed a bit or lost some form.

 

[Top_Cat]

Wouldn't pin it completely on Swann, myself. If he smells blood, he's all over you, the slightest bit of push-back, tends to back right off but for the former to occur, needs the support of his captain. Don't think Strauss has been allowed to set him the fields he needs this series.

 

[Burgey]

He's read too much of his own press. He and Pietersen have far more in common as characters than either would care to admit.

 

[ProteasFan]

The final test starts Thursday and I, as a South African, am quite looking forward to it. I expect us to name an unchanged line up. However, long term, Tahir needs to learn to tie up an end. He can't give a 4 ball every over. There have been mumours of discontent about his ability to tie down an end from SA supporters. But the mangement team seem to have given him their full backing which should be enough encouragement for him.


England seem in a bit of a mess going into the last test. With Pieterson ommited due to his self destructive nature, it really weakens England's middle order. The batting responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Cook, Trott, Strauss and Bell. If you lot are to have any chance of victory it is imperative that 1 of these 4 goes big and gets atleast 150+.

KP's ommision also affects your balance in that England will be more reluctant to play 5 batsman and 5 bowlers. I expect your team to look like: Strauss, Cook, Trott, Bell, Bairstow, Taylor, Prior, Broad, Swann, Finn and Anderson.

I would drop Bresnan. He doesn't seem effective at present and his inclusion will only make your task of bowling us out twice more difficult.

I have also heard rumours that England have asked the groundsman for a spinner friendly pitch. Can someone confim this?

All in all, I expect SA to win partly because our middle order is stronger. Taylor and Bairstow will be targetted.

 

[Spark]

^^Good post that

Wonder how the archery will have affected the pitch, if at all.

 

[ProteasFan]

^^Good post that

Wonder how the archery will have affected the pitch, if at all.

I think it will hamper the groundsman's prep in some way or another. I am assuming that the pitch would have been covered throughout the archery. This would mean that he didn't get a chance to work on the pitch at all. So it may be underdone. By underdone I mean from the perspective of where the groundsman is happy.

 

[kingkallis]

Aussie are loving this

 

[Spark]

I think it will hamper the groundsman's prep in some way or another. I am assuming that the pitch would have been covered throughout the archery. This would mean that he didn't get a chance to work on the pitch at all. So it may be underdone. By underdone I mean from the perspective of where the groundsman is happy.

Well, given how flat Lord's tends to be, that may not necessarily be a bad thing. Might be a bad toss to lose, mind.

 

[Burgey]

^^Good post that

Wonder how the archery will have affected the pitch, if at all.

Did they fire arrows into it?

 

[ProteasFan]

While the South African camp sought to step back from the controversy surrounding Kevin Pietersen and text messages he sent to players in their camp, England’s selectors made a decisive move that may yet have far reaching ramifications for Pietersen’s career by dropping him from the squad for the final Test.

In a dramatic week since the end of the Headingley Test, where Pietersen starred with bat and ball, the text messages he sent to a few of the South Africans have caused such strife that despite announcing on Saturday night, in an interview posted on YouTube, that he was now available for all three formats for England once more, Geoff Miller and his selection panel have dropped him for the Lord’s Test.

The South African team’s manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee, said he was “amused” at how everything was unfolding since news first emerged last week about Pietersen’s telephone skills.

“It was banter, yes there were text messages, but these players have relationships from the IPL, but some of what’s being reported is totally incorrect. We don’t want to be drawn into it, it’s not our issue at all,” said Moosajee.

He said reports that texts contained derogatory statements about England’s coach Andy Flower and skipper Andrew Strauss were way off the mark and also denied that AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn were the recipients of the messages.

Nevertheless the ECB yesterday delayed naming the squad for the final Test by six hours to allow Pietersen the opportunity to explain the text messages and apologise to Flower and Strauss – and he did not do so, according to the ECB’s managing director Hugh Morris.

“The success of the England team has been built on a unity of purpose and trust. Whilst we have made every attempt to find a solution to enable Kevin to be selected we have sadly had to conclude that, in the best interest of the team, he will miss the Lord’s Test,” said Morris.

Miller said the squad needed to be fully focused on winning to draw the series so that England could remain at No1 in the Test rankings.

“The second Test was a marked improvement on our performance at the start of the series but we are aware we will need to play some very good cricket this week if we are to level this series,” said Miller.

England’s improvement at Headingley was mostly down to Pietersen, whose breathtaking 149 in their first innings has been widely described as one of the best knocks by an English player. Throw in the fact that he also picked up four wickets – after Graeme Swann was dropped – and the depth of fissure he’s caused becomes clearer still.

It is believed that the England bowlers were very unhappy with his reference about the South African attack being “fighters”.

Pietersen attempted on Saturday night to provide clarity about his future in a staged interview which he linked to on his Twitter feed.

He acknowledged he made mistakes and that the mood in the England dressing-room after the Headingley Test wasn’t good. “I had a really, really, really long chat to a teammate of mine, we went through loads of different things, I actually came away from that conversation a very happy bloke and someone who can’t wait to meet up with the team,” said Pietersen. His place in the team will be taken by Jonny Bairstow.

interesting. seems the media are way off the mark. No wonder Pieterson refused to apologise.

 

[grecian]

interesting. seems the media are way off the mark. No wonder Pieterson refused to apologise.

I think he was asked to explain them, he didn't, was given 6 hours to do so too.

Really think the Saffies part in this stinks to high heaven, if it wasn't a big deal, why tell people about it. KPs so-called IPL friends too. All rather unpleasant from all parties really.

 

[Spark]

My understanding was that he was asked to sign a letter that confirmed he didn't send nasty texts etc.

 

[grecian]

My understanding was that he was asked to sign a letter that confirmed he didn't send nasty texts etc.

Where's that from?