**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[Spark]

Philander hasn't scored a FC 50 in a few years IIRC

 

[Jacknife]

Young Bell-Drummond is standing up well to one of the best attacks around, really will be great experience for the lad.

 

[nsniks]

De Lange also out of the test series, Albie Morkel will replace him

South Africa in England 2012: Injured Marchant de Lange out of England tour | Cricket News | England v South Africa | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[LegendaryProtea]

Well, that's not great news. I honestly don't see the point in replacing a rapid speedster with a batting all-rounder who isn't good enough to even bowl in ODIs.

 

[Cabinet96]

Somewhat increases the pressure on Tahir. Can't see them going with an all pace attack now, something they might have done at Leeds.

 

[Manee]

Well, that's not great news. I honestly don't see the point in replacing a rapid speedster with a batting all-rounder who isn't good enough to even bowl in ODIs.

Its not too bad, Kallis bowls and he could really boost the batting. Got a good FC batting record.

 

[LegendaryProtea]

Let's say Morne gets injured. Can you really see South Africa playing Steyn, Philander with Kallis and Albie as 3rd and 4th seamers? I just cannot see them doing it. It's more likely Albie will replace someone like Rudolph if he gets injured.

 

[LegendaryProtea]

Somewhat increases the pressure on Tahir. Can't see them going with an all pace attack now, something they might have done at Leeds.

Yeah, fair point. I rather fear for Tahir tbh. Let's hope he doesn't end up like Narine, with the ball going both ways being rendered totally ineffective and rather expensive. It doesn't help that he isn't known for keeping it tight and building pressure. Either he will run through the lower middle order with figures of something like 3/40 or he will return something like 0/90.

 

[NasserFan207]

Tahir will be fine, and he is a must against England. None are great players of spin.

 

[LegendaryProtea]

None are great players of spin in the sub-continent, all are good players of it in England. Look at the way the likes of Mishra, Narine, Shillingford, Doherty have been treated in the last year or so. Taken apart by people like KP and Bell.

 

[NasserFan207]

None are great players of spin in the sub-continent, all are good players of it in England. Look at the way the likes of Mishra, Narine, Shillingford, Doherty have been treated in the last year or so. Taken apart by people like KP and Bell.

Tahir bowls fast spin, which the England boys are troubled by. We'll see, but I think he will do well. It will depend on the surfaces obviously

Also being underdogs favours SA, they always perform better with their backs against the wall. The class will come to the fore here

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Tahir will be fine, and he is a must against England. None are great players of spin.

Seen enough of him in county cricket and his record in county cricket is pretty ordinary considering English players are so poor against wrist spin.

 

[MW1304]

Philander hasn't scored a FC 50 in a few years IIRC

Yeah that's what I mean. The ability is obviously there even though he hasn't performed for a while, averaging over 25 in every form. Him rediscovering his batting mojo would be pretty useful for SA.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Tahir bowls fast spin, which the England boys are troubled by. We'll see, but I think he will do well. It will depend on the surfaces obviously

Also being underdogs favours SA, they always perform better with their backs against the wall. The class will come to the fore here

Really?

South Africa are a momentum side, a bullying side if you want to be more cynical. The batting doesn't have the ability to fight back, simply because there is no-one good enough to perform outside of the top 5-6. The bowling can fight back if they're still in the game, but they're not going to save South Africa if they're shot out for next to nothing. Same as England in Pakistan.

de Lange is a huge blow for South Africa. England will have batted badly if they don't make Morkel and Tahir look ordinary most of the series. In that case they should be scoring 300+ most of the time, 400+ on the better pitches.

 

[NasserFan207]

Scaly I simply mean SA perform better without pressure, and they have more talented individual players than England IMO. Matchwinners basically. Add that to their excellent record in England and I think SA will cause a few shocks here.

 

[Garson007]

McLaren or Du Plessis would have been a much better option than Albie.

 

[social]

Scaly I simply mean SA perform better without pressure, and they have more talented individual players than England IMO. Matchwinners basically. Add that to their excellent record in England and I think SA will cause a few shocks here.

Will be a "shock" if SA dont win

Kallis is the best batsman on either side by the length of the straight and then some plus he has quality back up

You can rate Steyn in the same way as a bowler plus he has Philander and Morkel

 

[Stumpcam]

Will be a "shock" if SA dont win

Kallis is the best batsman on either side by the length of the straight and then some plus he has quality back up

You can rate Steyn in the same way as a bowler plus he has Philander and Morkel

Prepare to be 'shocked', then.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Scaly I simply mean SA perform better without pressure, and they have more talented individual players than England IMO. Matchwinners basically. Add that to their excellent record in England and I think SA will cause a few shocks here.

For every more talented individual they have an infinitely less able individual. The pressure on the big batsmen will be immense. If Kallis has another ****e tour of England then that leaves what de Villiers, Amla and a lardy looking Smith who has possibly lost some of his edge for the game. Saddle de Villiers with the gloves and he you lose his outfielding and he could become a 35-40 average batsman who's not that great behind the stumps either.

They are like the Australian side of 2005, but the greats are not as great and the weaknesses are weaker and more abundant. Obviously England are far better as well. England *should* have no problem with Tahir. Morkel at times will be a weak link. The pressure will be on the few top notch performers in South Africa to carry the rest of the side and I don't think they'll be able to do that. England are too good at home and will be relentless.

 

[Jacknife]

Will be a "shock" if SA dont win

Kallis is the best batsman on either side by the length of the straight and then some plus he has quality back up

You can rate Steyn in the same way as a bowler plus he has Philander and Morkel

A shock