*** Official*** South Africa in England 2017

[SeamUp]

Great career Anderson has had & clearly would be Wood to lose his place first.

But looking at his stats by country it has been a let down for him.

In England he averages 25.
India 33
New Zealand 36
Australia 38
South Africa 39

He certainly isn't peak anymore. Lost a little bit of zip. I reckon he will be rested after SA series with Ashes in mind. Swansong ?

 

[Adders]

Great career Anderson has had & clearly would be Wood to lose his place first.

But looking at his stats by country it has been a let down for him.

In England he averages 25.
India 33
New Zealand 36
Australia 38
South Africa 39

He certainly isn't peak anymore. Lost a little bit of zip. I reckon he will be rested after SA series with Ashes in mind. Swansong ?

There is a lot to look at underneath those stats mate. Jimmy Anderson was instrumental in series wins in both Australia and India.........not many quicks of the last decade or more can lay claim to that.

 

[Bijed]

OK I'm starting to doubt my own opinion now, as too many posters who I respect in their knowledge are posting like this about Anderson.

He's played 2 tests this year, was decent at Lords and had a bad day yesterday.........last calendar year he took 41 poles @ 23. Why is he finished? No way is he sitting out of the Ashes this year, if he's fit he's on the plane.

Re the Ashes (since I think we're basically in agreement on everything else) it's basically that he didn't go well there last time and I don't think there's any reason to think he'll improve on (or match, tbh) that performance if he played this winter. Fair enough if you're more optimistic than me though.

For clarity, when I said he's on the way out I mean basically that he's picking up more injuries, and he's lost a bit of zip, rather than his results have been poor (as you say, he was a total gun last year), but it could be sooner rather than later that he's just a bit too far gone to be a threat anymore. I hope not, I really do, but remember, for example, how quickly Jason Gillespie fell away once he started to go?

 

[SeamUp]

There is a lot to look at underneath those stats mate. Jimmy Anderson was instrumental in series wins in both Australia and India.........not many quicks of the last decade or more can lay claim to that.

Fair enough. We all look for the special spells and innings bowling performances but the very best are at their best day in and day out (consistency).

But that is besides the point with our current debate because it is the here and now. I just saw those stats yesterday.

The only concern for bringing Woakes in for Wood would be the x-factor sort of appeal with his action and surprising speed. But outcomes are also important. If the tests weren't in England then I would have had to think Broad, Woakes, Wood possibly.

 

[kingkallis]

I still feel that this is the best order,

.
.
Amla
Faf
Bavuma
QdK
.
.

QdK will never be a Sangakkara but he has every chance of becoming next Gilchrist.

 

[harsh.ag]

Wood is not even a thing right now. Replacing Anderson - Big No.

 

[SeamUp]

I still feel that this is the best order,

.
.
Amla
Faf
Bavuma
QdK
.
.

Someone mentioned the other day we mustn't keep our 4-6 fixed. I think depending on situation , oppositions and pitch conditions I would definitely keep it flexible.

 

[SeamUp]

Wood is not even a thing right now. Replacing Anderson - Big No.

I wonder if it is a stamina issue due to injury ? Has he bowled enough overs for Durham. So far the outcomes aren't there.

One thing is for sure, when they get to Australia they going to need two of similar ilk.

I can just see England calling up a bolter like Jamie Overton for that reason.

Roland-Jones who is the reserve here very similar to their strongest bowlers and is a bit behind in the queue from that perspective.

 

[Adders]

Fair enough. We all look for the special spells and innings bowling performances but the very best are at their best day in and day out (consistency).

But that is besides the point with our current debate because it is the here and now. I just saw those stats yesterday.

The only concern for bringing Woakes in for Wood would be the x-factor sort of appeal with his action and surprising speed. But outcomes are also important. If the tests weren't in England then I would have had to think Broad, Woakes, Wood possibly.

Agreed, but really outside of Steyn is there any other quick in this era that does have a complete record?

It's actually funny I reckon, because for my money Steyn and Anderson have been the best 2 quicks in the world for the last 6 or 7 years (Steyn way ahead, no argument at all there) but they are both in the twilight of their careers and picking up injuries more regularly. People keep writing them both off but when they play they both keep on doing the ****ing business.

 

[Black_Warrior]

England have done well to pull things back here. At one point, after Amla and QDK had come out of that tough session, they looked like getting hundreds and had that happened, South Africa were looking at 450+. On this pitch, against Philander and England's top order, that could have been dangerous...now they have a chance to bundle them out before 350

 

[SeamUp]

Agreed, but really outside of Steyn is there any other quick in this era that does have a complete record?

It's actually funny I reckon, because for my money Steyn and Anderson have been the best 2 quicks in the world for the last 6 or 7 years (Steyn way ahead, no argument at all there) but they are both in the twilight of their careers and picking up injuries more regularly. People keep writing them both off but when they play they both keep on doing the ****ing business.

Very true.

Personally I wouldn't leave him out. I suppose it is interesting debate and like you say, if you doubt him you will soon be eating your words.

Physically they've both been such pillars of strength over the years. I think they will both know when they can't deal with the workload anymore or just not enjoying it. Although they both such competitive characters they will find it difficult to give up that competitive edge.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Wood actually needs to produce the goods from time to time. I'm afraid that being likeable and genuinely quick, by English standards, isn't enough.

He was producing the goods in 2015 tbh and didnt' look that far from the finished product. Bowled well in the Ashes 2015, then against Pak in UAE, he was the best bowler in the first two tests, troubling Pakistan with extra pace and reverse swing, then got injured, missed the 2016 season and just not the same bowler.

As someone who was a fan when he first came on, I am hopeful that it's a matter of getting those overs under his belt, but it's quite likely that he won't be the same bowler again

 

[Groundking]

We'd be fools to leave Anderson out of the Australia tour considering the pink ball test and our other options are kinda naff. Also you lot are being silly regarding Anderson, yeah yesterday wasn't so great, but he still showed great threat and probably deserved at least another wicket to what he got.

 

[Pothas]

If Anderson is fit then he stays in the team, regardless of where it is being played, ridiculous to suggest anything else at this stage. I actually like the set up of the team at the moment, may as well embrace the fact we have two all rounders and a really good keeper batsman and this lineup does that, obviously still got to get the personnel right.

Am going to day 3 of this match so yesterday was pretty much perfect from my point of view.

 

[Scaly piscine]

He was producing the goods in 2015 tbh and didnt' look that far from the finished product. Bowled well in the Ashes 2015, then against Pak in UAE, he was the best bowler in the first two tests, troubling Pakistan with extra pace and reverse swing, then got injured, missed the 2016 season and just not the same bowler.

As someone who was a fan when he first came on, I am hopeful that it's a matter of getting those overs under his belt, but it's quite likely that he won't be the same bowler again

Wood definitely missing some pace from before. He averaged 84.1mph yesterday, quickest ball 88.2mph. He needs to pushing the odd ball past 90mph even if it's the just the odd effort ball.

 

[Adders]

How ****ing stupid is this?? Walk on the park and then spend 5 minutes changing the ball, gtfo.........why is cricket so ridiculous??

 

[MW1304]

Why on earth was there a discussion as to whether Jimmy should be dropped? No god damn way.

 

[Adders]

Woooooaahhhh Jimmy Jimmy.!!!

 

[MW1304]

I wrote that before he took the wicket, swear.

Anyhow I see it was more about taking him to Australia. Even then: no. Remember when we took tall, quick guys to Australia who weren't good enough?

 

[Adders]

Yeah drop him.......he's well past it lol