*Official* South Africa in England Thread

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

what are his weaknesses?

Bar the Kent supporter or someone who has been watching him for a while now, it would be tough for someone to answer that based on part of an innings.

 

[Rik]

Bar the Kent supporter or someone who has been watching him for a while now, it would be tough for someone to answer that based on part of an innings.

From what I've seen his only weaknesses are:

Nerves

The fact that he plays a lot of shots, even against the swinging ball, so will give a chance sometimes

The fact that against Pollock he played 2 similer balls off front foot then the next off back, but then Polly bowls a length that is designed to do just that: Trap you between 2 minds.

 

[luckyeddie]

I saw his (Ed Smith's) innings at Blackpool the other week - a similar track to this one, dry, cracked, low, devoid of any real pace.

It was a splendid double-hundred.

OK, Lancashire have hardly an international-standard attack (neither Anderson nor Freddie played IIRC) but the main thing he demonstrated was a fine temperament. He played and missed - then cracked the next one to the boundary on a few occasions.

 

[Rich2001]

OK, Lancashire have hardly an international-standard attack (neither Anderson nor Freddie played IIRC)

Wooo wait there Eddie, don't you recall there was a England bowler in that game going by the name of Chapple :P

 

[marc71178]

Watching the bits I could manage to see, he struck me as being quite a "tall" player in that he always seemed to be chopping down onto the ball.

Is he particularly tall?

 

[luckyeddie]

Watching the bits I could manage to see, he struck me as being quite a "tall" player in that he always seemed to be chopping down onto the ball.

Is he particularly tall?

His teeth are.

He is tall, but the wicket was devoid of bounce anyway.

 

[Langeveldt]

Crikey Watching ED Smith reminds me of me!

Mind you so do Daren Ganga and Grant Flower

 

[Rik]

Crikey Watching ED Smith reminds me of me!

Mind you so do Daren Ganga and Grant Flower

When Ed Smith 1st took guard I thought I was watching Grant Flower, same stance and tapping of bat and he smiles as well, although Ed seems to smile even when there is nothing to smile about whilst Grant tends to put on this mad gritting teeth grin. It must be quite interisting to run in to those 2, I mean running in at someone who looks as mad as Grant or to someone like Ed Smith who looks almost apologetic when he hits you for 4!

 

[Craig]

Well I dont think the non selection of Chapple will hurt England, as in the match between Lancashire and Sussex, he sprayed the ball around so much he bowled 7 overs 0 maidens and none for 48.

Just as well he isnt bowling to Greame Smith and Gibbs otherwise they will think it is breakfast, lunch and dinner and christmans and easter all rolled into one.

Incidently, why is Kirsten not playing in this Test, unless he is injuried or something....

 

[luckyeddie]

Incidently, why is Kirsten not playing in this Test, unless he is injuried or something....

Injured shoulder

 

[Tim]

Todays play should set the tone for the rest of this test match. If England go on & make 500+ then they'll at least get a draw, but if they are bundled out for less than 380 then South Africa will be in the hunt.

 

[Mr. P]

IMO, any less than 400 is not enough for England. With Smith on fire, the target will be miniture. Really want to see Hussain do well though...

 

[Tim]

I wouldn't be surprised if England work Smith out in this test..lets face it, they just didn't bowl where they should have in the first 2 tests.

However if England constantly bowl just outside off stump and Smith survives, well thats one more psychological advantage to him.

 

[luckyeddie]

I think that this was a great toss to win. Talk of 500 to get a draw is (IMO) nonsense.

I thought that it was a 350 pitch (If the sides bowl reasonably) but South Africa (Pollock apart) on day 1 bowled almost as badly as England did in the first 2 tests (all right, not THAT bad).

The pitch is certainly not going to get any better - by day 4 it might be rolling along the floor.

Then again, I've been wrong before (but not about Ed Smith )

 

[Tim]

Well you'd better hope that England pick up their act in the field then or it'll be the same story as England's first innings.

 

[Tim]

Hussain out & England now 322/4..interesting to see how England build from here.

 

[Mr. P]

what is smith on? how much did hussain add to his overnight score?

 

[Tim]

Hussain out for 116 and Smith is on 63.

Smith seems to be going great guns.

 

[Mr. P]

and this on debut as well. if he scores a century how many will he have scored in a row? (first class and international)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

One.