*Official* South Africa in England Thread

[Craig]

But Harmison should be able to cause problems with the bounce he gets. If he put it on a good length he would do well I think.

But that is down to his bowling action he has.

 

[marc71178]

That's hardly impressive in it's self. Every bowler, Harmison included, have been inconsistant and/or lacked penetration.

I agree, but I was questioning the selection policy of dropping the better performer!

 

[Rik]

I agree, but I was questioning the selection policy of dropping the better performer!

Hmmmm, better? In the 2 Tests Anderson has taken 3 wickets at 70.00, Harmison has taken 3 at 80.33, and get this, Anderson's econ is 4.13 whilst Harmison's is 4.38

Both have appauling records but to suggest that Harmison has performed better...:rolleyes:

Harmison has an obvious fault with his action which will mean he will never be consistant until he fixes it. Anderson has his problems but I'd still play him over Harmison any day. Neither record deserves selection, and even though you feel Harmison has bowled better, he's not bowled very well in the 1st place and does not deserve selection. We need to get rid of this "be nice to players" policy, a kick up the backside might do wonders.

 

[Craig]

I agree with you there.

 

[Mr. P]

me too. anderson is a great prospect.

 

[V Reddy]

me too. anderson is a great prospect.

You never know what may happen. AA had a great start too, even better than Anderson but .......................

 

[luckyeddie]

England squad announced

The squad in full:

Michael Vaughan (c)
James Anderson
Gareth Batty
Mark Butcher
Glen Chapple
Andrew Flintoff
Ashley Giles
Stephen Harmison
Nasser Hussain
James Kirtley
Ed Smith
Alec Stewart (wk)
Marcus Trescothick

Posted by Eddie
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Well, is this (perm 11 from 13) the team to beat South Africa?
I applaud the selection of Ed Smith, utter a thoughtful 'hmmm' regarding Gareth Batty (can see where they're going if this weather continues - 2 spinners at Trent Bridge) and am frankly baffled by the inclusion of Glen Chapple.

Surely if you've got to go for a tedious plodder, one who's taken a few wickets at an average of less than astronomical would be a better option?

Assuming 4 seamers for Trent Bridge, if Kirtley doesn't finally get to play then there is something wrong somewhere.

 

[Rik]

The squad announced just shows why I do not trust these selectors:

Keep in both the fast bowlers who cannot take wickets, one of them would have been bearable but I'm sure Graeme Smith cannot wait to show the England selectors exactly why he's been scoring these runs, and why Harmison's pace means nothing, he can't even win a bouncer war with Smith. If he's not fast enough to do that, and he's picked purely on his pace, why is he there?

Another baffling selection in Chapple...what has he done to deserve selection? Why do they keep picking these players? I was hopeing and praying that McGrath would be the last...

Although Nass scored that 60 odd in the 2nd innings I think we would be better off with someone else there, I certainly wouldn't want to be captain when the previous one was still there.

Nice to see them include Batty and Smith. I'm not totally convinced that Thorpe is so badly injured he couldn't play, I think the selectors have decided that they will stick with this squad till the end of the series and however Nass or Ed Smith get on he won't get a sniff. I think they have taken pettyness to new heights.

 

[Rich2001]

Another baffling selection in Chapple...what has he done to deserve selection? Why do they keep picking these players? I was hopeing and praying that McGrath would be the last...

I have no idea why they picked Chapple however I will take a stab at the reason.

- Next two Tests, Trent Bridge and Headingly both bowlers grounds and normally quite a bit of movement.... and Chapple being a swing bowler will get alot more movement than Harmison for example. Also his a good batsman (2 100's this season) so will boost a flagging lower order.

Although Nass scored that 60 odd in the 2nd innings I think we would be better off with someone else there, I certainly wouldn't want to be captain when the previous one was still there.

I was one calling for Nasser to go as well but I had a feeling that 60 would save him and you seem to have failed to mention his 161* the following night

I'm not totally convinced that Thorpe is so badly injured he couldn't play, I think the selectors have decided that they will stick with this squad till the end of the series and however Nass or Ed Smith get on he won't get a sniff. I think they have taken pettyness to new heights.

That's a tad harsh on the selectors, afterall it was Thorpe who said his back hurt so much he couldn't be placed on standby yet suddenly the next day was happy to be batting and fielding for Surrey :rolleyes:

 

[Rik]

That's a tad harsh on the selectors, afterall it was Thorpe who said his back hurt so much he couldn't be placed on standby yet suddenly the next day was happy to be batting and fielding for Surrey :rolleyes:

Read your 1st point and it's quite obvious why I'm not going to be nice to them

 

[Rik]

I have no idea why they picked Chapple however I will take a stab at the reason.

- Next two Tests, Trent Bridge and Headingly both bowlers grounds and normally quite a bit of movement.... and Chapple being a swing bowler will get alot more movement than Harmison for example. Also his a good batsman (2 100's this season) so will boost a flagging lower order.

He's a useful batsman yes but if he plays he will be down at number 9 and his technique from the 3 times I've seen him (including today on TV) looks pretty dodgy and some quick stuff around his chest would get him pretty easily, also at least 2 100s out of his domestic career record have been scored against Declaration bowling. His bowling has never been effective when I've seen him either.

 

[Rich2001]

Read your 1st point and it's quite obvious why I'm not going to be nice to them

:P I was talking about the Thorpe issue there :P

 

[Rik]

:P I was talking about the Thorpe issue there :P

Yes and I was explaining exactly what makes me not care the slightest about being harsh to them :P

 

[luckyeddie]

Chapple produced a right mixture today and if he makes his debut at Trent Bridge at the expense of Kirtley (or anyone else, for that matter) it will be a travesty.

A few really good balls, a whole load of tripe too. His batting came off - but really the fields set to him were rather silly for a player who has only one shot - the 'yahoo over extra cover'.

 

[Tim]

"And finally we have picked Gareth Batty and Glen Chapple as extra spin and quick bowling options, both of whom have performed well this season for their respective counties."

I would think Kirtley is in line for a test spot. That quote suggests that the two will only play if Giles or the other quicks are injured.

 

[Mr. P]

kirtley deserves the place more than chapple

 

[Craig]

I wouldnt bother playing a spinner at Trent Bridge and Headingly if what David Lloyd says is true - in that the pitch will be a more sporting wicket and will assist the quicks, and certainly at Headingly I wouldnt bother unless it is Kumble, Vettori, Warne, Murali.

It is definate that Adams will now play in the next Test unless he gets injuried after taking 9 for 79, he must of been angry at Peterson for blocking his chance of an all-ten (could be the first South African to have done that).

 

[Mr. P]

Kumble, Vettori, Warne or Murali.
How about no.
One is past his prime, one hardly deserves his place in the NZ team, one has been taking drugs, and the other chucks. I think you should look over the list.

 

[Tim]

Despite Vettori having poor averages in both ODIs and Tests he's really the only decent spin bowler we've got and he's never really been able to consistently play because of a bad run of injuries.

He looked to be getting back to the best of his ability in Sri Lanka recently.

 

[Craig]

Kumble, Vettori, Warne or Murali.
How about no.
One is past his prime, one hardly deserves his place in the NZ team, one has been taking drugs, and the other chucks. I think you should look over the list.

Well they are twice the spinner, that Boje, Adams, Price, Giles, Dawson, MacGill and Harbhajan Singh will ever be.

Singh took his wickets in spinning conditions against Australia and some of it was too poor batting rather then good balls and some of his wickets were to poor decisions.

Saqlain Mushtaq has gfone off the boil lately.

And who should New Zealand play as a spinner, Wiseman or Brooke Walker? :rolleyes:

If so, then you are an idiot.