*Official* South Africa in England Thread

[Rik]

I believe his average innings lasts about 30 balls...

The annoying thing is he does have the talent, just doesn't seem to use it!

True

The annoying thing about Harmison is he has the build for it, but we don't know if he actually has the talent in order to use it...

 

[luckyeddie]

I see both Darryls are still doing pretty remarkable Helen Keller impersonations during this match.

This could well develop into a great test match now. England 80 odd ahead, 0-1 (the new type of dismissal - caught off pad and elbow) and a bowler short.

The wicket's certainly held together better than anyone thought - I'm giving up trying to predict anything any more.

 

[Mr. P]

South Africa did well in the end to get the total they did. well bowled anderson, but as for trescothick, well...there are many words to describe what he did, but i think we can just pin it on idiocy.

 

[Rik]

South Africa did well in the end to get the total they did. well bowled anderson, but as for trescothick, well...there are many words to describe what he did, but i think we can just pin it on idiocy.

Errrrm excuse me but what on earth are you on??? Tresco was give out caught off the glove when the ball quite obviously came off the thigh guard and went straight past the bat and gloves. He was sawn off, the only idiocy was from Umpire Hair, since there was a lot of doubt weather the ball had touched the glove and he just got caught up in the excitement of it all.

 

[Mr. P]

still a rash stroke though, should have left the ball or something

 

[marc71178]

Yep calf injury

Annoying to happen when he is beginning to make progress - hope it's nothing serious.

On the positive side, Anderson has picked up some wickets although Racing and the new Football season have combined to mean I don't know how well he actually bowled?

 

[marc71178]

True

The annoying thing about Harmison is he has the build for it, but we don't know if he actually has the talent in order to use it...

One thing we must say is that he is definitely improving as a bowler with experience.

I mean even you said how he'd actually bowled well

If the upward curve continues then it can only be a good thing.

 

[marc71178]

still a rash stroke though, should have left the ball or something

He did - well he certainly didn't hit it!

Mind you a few calls looked a bit wrong today (from what I saw)

 

[Rik]

One thing we must say is that he is definitely improving as a bowler with experience.

I mean even you said how he'd actually bowled well

If the upward curve continues then it can only be a good thing.

It could all just be fluke

 

[Rik]

still a rash stroke though, should have left the ball or something

The ball was straight, it was not a rash shot it was a defensive shot that he slightly misjudged as would most batsmen when facing Pollock. It was nowhere near the gloves and nowhere near LBW, therefor nowhere near out.

 

[anzac]

hooray for cricket - this match is still very interesting with both sides in with a chance for victory. Good to see after the recent processions.

2 dodgy decisions (Boucher & Trescothick), SA avoid the follow on but are still short of what they would have expected, McKenzie out for 90, England less than 100 runs in font & 1 wicket down & 1 bowler short.......

should keep the interest going for the next couple of days!!!!!!!

 

[Mr. P]

you may be right, anzac, but you are probably not. england will crumble to be 100 all out and smith will make an unbeaten century in the chase.

 

[Mr. P]

2/21. vaughan gone-england in trouble

 

[Tim]

Vaughan fails twice...is the captaincy a burden for him?

 

[Craig]

Over the past 2 or 3 years, since he's become a first choice, he has bowled countless really good spells that haven't got what they deserve.

It's not just one spell, think back to a fortnight ago he bowled superbly yet finished with just one wicket again.

His results are disappointing, but he's not been a failure.

Still what got up my nose was that he did go around around the wicket and bang the ball into fustrating batsmen in India. Yes he was unlucky at Lords.

He has failed with the bat time and time again, his two centuries have been against poor bowling line-ups (the first one was against New Zealand's non-first choice attack) and the second one was when there was no pressure on him.

Moving on.

I felt James Kirtley was the pick of the England bowlers even though Anderson picked up 5, I have seen Anderson bowl better (ie Adelaide in the VB Series and in the WC against Pakistan at Newlands).

Shaun Pollock batted well, and I think he is very under-rated batsman. Mind you, being the nephew of Greame Pollock must help! Mind you, he was able to get free batting help.

 

[marc71178]

Vaughan fails twice...is the captaincy a burden for him?

If you can call being got out by 2 unplayable balls from the World's number 1 bowler, then yes, I suppose you can say he's failed twice.

 

[marc71178]

I felt James Kirtley was the pick of the England bowlers even though Anderson picked up 5

I'll stick with the experts who thought Flintoff was the pick of the bowlers (again)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

What has gotten into the England bowling attack? What a turnaround!

SA 51/5 needing a further 151 to win.

Kirtley 2/13
Anderson 2/3

 

[Rik]

Typical, a completely nuts end which I miss and then Ch4 go and put the highlights on at 00:50 when ever other day has been 7:30! GRRRRRRRRRR :!( :!( :!(

 

[Rik]

I'll stick with the experts who thought Flintoff was the pick of the bowlers (again)

Despite not taking a wicket (again)