*Official* South Africa in England Thread

[anzac]

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.

yes but I see his off season stint in ENG has come to an early end re a hand injury - split webbing on his spinning hand having become infected and not healing!!!!

yet another of the bowling attack injured during that fateful tour and struggling to return to full competitivenesss & form!!!!!

 

[anzac]

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: [/B]

if memory serves me then this is not the first time that Thorpe has made himself unavailable under slightly dodgey circumstances (Ashes???) - if so then IMO Thorpe should not be picked for ENG again!!!!

He was good for a while but that is several years ago now. Since then his personal problems have and continue to have an adverse effest on his form & consistency, and I would have to say his committment to the game at international level would have to appear more than a little suspect!

Furthermore he is also in his early - mid 30's (same as Nasser), and has failed to produce in the international arena for some time from memory - I don't recall anything of note in either of the home series v SL or IND, so bottom line why bother????

:P

 

[Mr. P]

Does Nz really need a spinner? I mean, c'mon, they have got so many back up medium pacers, why not use them even more.

 

[anzac]

I'm glad you see the funny side of it, although the ENG supporters could probably sympathise

the number of back up mediums could be one reason / symptom of why we do not have more spinners available!!!

 

[Rik]

don't recall anything of note in either of the home series v SL or IND, so bottom line why bother????

:P

In the Indian series maybe, he had other things on his mind, his marriage had just broken down!

In the series against SL he scored 247 runs in 3 games at 61.75 with 1 100 (123) and 1 50. I hardly call that "anything of note"

 

[marc71178]

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:

It's more than just statistics. Looking at the way in which they've actually bowled, Harmison has been far better than Anderson.

 

[marc71178]

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.

The way Thorpe turned down the standby slot, I personally don't want to see him in an England team ever again.

 

[marc71178]

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.

You could replace the name Vettori with that of Giles!

 

[Rik]

You could replace the name Vettori with that of Giles!

Giles hasn't been injured that often and he's never threatened in the 1st place...

 

[Rik]

The way Thorpe turned down the standby slot, I personally don't want to see him in an England team ever again.

I do, since he's the best batsman we have. And I think the press have built up this whole thing far too much. I reccon it was "Graham do you want to be put on standby?" "No I'd get more out of playing for Surrey in a competitive match" than "Graham do you want to be put on standby?" "NO, NEVER! HOW DARE YOU!" I'm in the situation now where I just don't believe anything they say.

 

[Rik]

It's more than just statistics. Looking at the way in which they've actually bowled, Harmison has been far better than Anderson.

No, sorry Marc, I cannot agree with you there. In fact you've got me in stitches now.

 

[luckyeddie]

Vested interests aside....

Harmison bowled one highly impressive spell amongst a pile of rubbish.

Anderson's bowling had no redeeming features whatsoever.

Flintoff bowled some beauties and was not flattered by his figures.

Gough's bowling brought about his own retirement from test cricket.

I can only come up with one reason why they have selected Chapple - the selectors must have made the same mistake they did with McGrath (Rod Marsh must have been talking about great Australian cricketers and they all got the wrong end of the stick)

 

[Rik]

Anderson's bowling had no redeeming features whatsoever

Except of course his 2 wickets in the 2nd Test in which he bowled Smith and Boucher...incidentally more than Harmison has taken in an innings this series.

In the next Test I know who I'd have my money on to be the better bowler...

 

[barmyarmy]

chapple deserves a place in the team, eng need a bowler who's been around a bit as harmison and anderson are short on experience (and talent in Harmisons case too)
Without Gough the army needs a new Messiah and none of the current lot fit the bill.
barmyarmy

 

[Rik]

chapple deserves a place in the team, eng need a bowler who's been around a bit as harmison and anderson are short on experience (and talent in Harmisons case too)
Without Gough the army needs a new Messiah and none of the current lot fit the bill.
barmyarmy

I'm sorry but the last thing we need is Chapple...he's an average seam bowler who can bat a bit and only has one real shot to his name. What we need is Caddick back, or Johnson or Jones or Hoggard, but at the moment Kirtley is the best option.

 

[luckyeddie]

Except of course his 2 wickets in the 2nd Test in which he bowled Smith and Boucher...incidentally more than Harmison has taken in an innings this series.

In the next Test I know who I'd have my money on to be the better bowler...

In common with all English supporters (well, in common with me)

Clutching at Straws.

 

[barmyarmy]

I'm sorry but the last thing we need is Chapple...he's an average seam bowler who can bat a bit and only has one real shot to his name. What we need is Caddick back, or Johnson or Jones or Hoggard, but at the moment Kirtley is the best option.

I agree with you about Caddick. Johnson's yet to prove himslef against anyone but Zimbabwe and hoggard's only good on bowler friendly pitches. I'm looking forward to seeing Jones bowl again though, he looked good when I saw him in Oz.

 

[Rik]

In common with all English supporters (well, in common with me)

Clutching at Straws.

Or maybe that he's got talent?

 

[Craig]

Does Nz really need a spinner? I mean, c'mon, they have got so many back up medium pacers, why not use them even more.

Not meaning to go off the topic here, but that is incorrect.

Bond - Fastest bowler in NZ and at times have bowled in the high 140s and 150s, so he isnt medium pace.

Tuffey - Fast medium

Butler - as above

Oram- medium fast

Styrsis - as above

Adams - according to his Cricinfo profile, he is fast medium.

Unless you count Astle and McMillan as bowlers, then there is no medium pacers in that bowling list.

 

[Mr. P]

i count astle, mcmillan, harris and styris as medium pacers.