*Official* South Africa in England Thread

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Economy rates of current bowlers:

Bichel - 3.36
Lee - 3.50
Anderson - 3.56
Caddick - 3.09
Gough - 3.30
Bond - 3.46
Tuffey - 3.18
Nehra - 3.14
Khan - 3.20
Sami - 3.20
Shoaib - 3.27
Dillon - 3.05
Lawson - 3.41
Collins - 3.12

Now, the retired Gough apart, how many of those would not play their country's next Test if unfit - all but Bichel I reckon.

In an attempt to difuse the situation... I pretty certain that Collins will not play the next Test for the West Indies.

 

[Rik]

In an attempt to difuse the situation... I pretty certain that Collins will not play the next Test for the West Indies.

Nor Tuffey for that matter. He's not a certain pick.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I would suggest that this thread be closed, but it's an OFFICIAL thread so could you guys take your temper tantrums to somewhere else and let people discuss the SA v Eng series in a civilized manner.

 

[Rik]

I would suggest that this thread be closed, but it's an OFFICIAL thread so could you guys take your temper tantrums to somewhere else and let people discuss the SA v Eng series in a civilized manner.

You obviously missed the fact that I conceeded the whole arguement to Marc. Therefor there is no reason to close anything, there is no arguement. Just to be annoying it was basically England vs SA in a sense

 

[Craig]

Well great news for South Africa is ex-captain Gary Kirsten has decided to postprone his retirement and to play on.

Before you ask, Gary Kirsten has captained South Africa in one Test against India in 97/98 (I think that was when India toured) at Durban when Hansie Cronje didnt play, so technically it counts for me as being a ex-captain.

 

[marc71178]

No Marc, let me explain, I said Ntini suffered from Innacuracy, you said he didn't, that's how an arguement works.

Except, that is NOT what I said, and I keep having to stress that I never said it.

I said that he was no worse than most other International bowlers in that respect, at no point did I deny he suffered from it.

You then said what I said was wrong, and stated the same thing yourself!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

You obviously missed the fact that I conceeded the whole arguement to Marc. Therefor there is no reason to close anything, there is no arguement.

 

[Craig]

Eerrr Liam you forgot to add a message.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Err no. That was my message. Obviously Marc didn't catch when Rik conceded the argument.

 

[Bazza]

OK well the arguments about Thorpe will continue no doubt throughout the week and possibly all winter but for the next five days at least, he is back in an England shirt.

Anderson just had a decent shout against Smith but it was going over the top - pitch looks bouncy.

 

[chris.hinton]

Giles in for Kabir Ali

That is Disgraceful and to omitt Batty is another bad Decision

Still we can watch Giles not tak any Wickets

I bet that seeing Giles in the team brought a big Smile to you face Marc

 

[Neil Pickup]

It's 53/0 in the 13th over, Anderson has got a talking to from Harmison about spraying down the leg side, Gibbs is treating Bicknell like the County medium-pacer he is and Giles is already on, bowling around the wicket and getting turn.

600+ on the way, I think.

No way would Kabir have given any extra dimension, if Batty had played he should have been in for Bicknell and another medium pacer on here would have been more fun for Gibbs, who's just thrashed a shocker from Harmison for four more. 57/0.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Gibbs runs out Smith with what can only be described as a kamikaze single, though Smith wouldn't have been out had he backed up properly.

Harmison is providing the only things that are even close to threatening and I'm still not happy..

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

600+ on the way, I think.

Glad to see you English supporters are positive from the get-go.

 

[Tim]

the run-rate to me suggests that this pitch is very good for batting on & that both sides are going to have to rely on batsmen creating their own demise.

 

[marc71178]

Giles in for Kabir Ali

So you'd play all seamers again then would you?

That is Disgraceful and to omitt Batty is another bad Decision

The only way Batty would play is as a second spinner, and they decided against playing 2, so he doesn't play - seems fair enough to me.

Still we can watch Giles not tak any Wickets

If Giles were the Worcestershire spinner, would you be saying all this? I doubt it.

I bet that seeing Giles in the team brought a big Smile to you face Marc

He is, like it or not, our number 1 spin bowler, and since I don't agree with an all-seam attack it follows that we should play a spinner. So yes, I am happy he's been selected.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

SA at 219/1 - England are desperate, Michael Vaughan just came on to bowl...he did OK, only allowed five runs. Anderson followed up with a 14-run over - what the hell are they on about! Why can't Flintoff, Harmison, Giles, even Bicknell bowl - Anderson is completely out of form and Vaughan is a batsman!

(shudders and longs for exciting cricket - this Test will be over when SA posts 600-and-odd declared for one wicket...)

 

[Rik]

Well Samuel, it's because the selectors continue to pick the same players, weather they are good enough or not. Personally I would have preferred England to have played Kabir Ali in this Test as I felt he was one of the better bowlers at Headingly. Bicknell is bowling with a minor injury, if a player isn't fully fit then don't play him! Harmison has come back and shown exactly why he's not been a success at International level, he's not consistant enough to put the batsmen under pressure. He's been the best bowler today, but since no bowler has really threatened, other than Bicknell when he bowled a superb over to Kirsten, that is hardly an alocade to treasure. Marc feels Giles is bowling as well as he ever has in his International Career, well, I'd beg to differ. Giles has been rather wayward and Gibbs and Kirsten have just leathered him everywhere, his series figures of 117-11-411-6 do not flatter him. As for Anderson, Duncan Fletcher said he would be carefully treated this summer so he rests him from nearly every Lancashire CC game, one of the ODIs, and then plays him in every Test even when he's looking desperately in need of a break. After bowling quite well with no reward in the last few Tests, it appears to have got to Flintoff and he's hardly threatened.

This series as just shown how weak our bowling is and the selectors seem to have the baffling idea that if they continue to pick the same players they will eventually get it right. Unfortunately it means South Africa are laughing all the way to a series win. If blame is to be handed out, it should be directed to the selectors, who really have not done a very good job in my opinion, but probably it will all be passed on to Vaughan, who's captaincy has hardly opened eyes. Since he is part of the selection panel, some of it might be justly deserved. Just don't go on about county cricket Michael...

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Giles just struck!

Gary Kirsten is leg before for a lowly 90 :P - which means South Africa are at 299/2 with some 20 overs left to play today. Kallis comes on, and will probably score another 50, then Gibbs will end up at a double ton (he's at 163 not out)...what a day for England...

 

[Neil Pickup]

Tim - the pitch is a batting paradise.

Harmison has been a class apart from the rest of the England bowlers, actually threatening them more often than not. Yes there have been loose balls but the other bowlers have been even more wayward and more often. Flintoff has just bowled one Harmison would have been ashamed of.

I am now going off at a tangent about Vaughan's "captaincy-by-numbers". Flintoff gets one to pop up off Gibbs into the vacant short leg area, and Vaughan responds with a short leg in. Proaction, not reaction please, Michael?

And why does Trescothick never bowl any more?

Giles has twice beaten Kallis in the flight and both time been hit hard through the offside for four and six (high into the second tier) in the past five minutes. Slow Kallis, eh? 25* off 15.