England tour to South Africa December 2015/February 2016

[blockerdave]

really interesting interview with Ben Stokes, and in particular a comment regarding his thoughts as he went out to bat:

grabbdit: This is the best form I have ever been in in my career but I was really nervous here because I’d had such a great week in Cape Town. I was thinking I wouldn’t have such a good week this week. It is a stupid thing to go through your head but as I was going out to bat I was thinking I probably won’t do well this week, that surely it can’t happen again, I can’t get another good score,

interesting partly in that you wouldn't think self-belief was ever a problem for Stokes; but also that he went out thinking slightly negatively, with england 91/4, and played like he did. Phenomenal.

 

[cricket_icon]

They strong leadership and strong management. Doesn't matter who they pitch without that they will continue to falter.

Just talking personnel I would go with this team, assuming fitnes:

1.Cook
2.Elgar
3.Amla
4.AB
5.Rossouw
6.Faf
7.QDK
8.Philander
9.Steyn
10.Radaba
11.Piedt

I'm interested in seeing some of these guys I haven't seen before but what's up with Philander? Was he seriously injured?

Plus, with Tahir, I don't care how old he is, he should already be playing in this series.

 

[bigred]

Any of you SA fans know what your likely ODI side will be?

England will probably be

1. Roy
2. Hales
3. Root
4. Morgan
5. Stokes
6. Buttler
7. Ali
8. Woakes
9. Willey
10. Jordan
11. Topley

Can't help but think Stuart Broad should be in there. Especially as Finn is injured.

 

[stefan]

I'm interested in seeing some of these guys I haven't seen before but what's up with Philander? Was he seriously injured?

Plus, with Tahir, I don't care how old he is, he should already be playing in this series.

Idiot managed to hurt his ankle ligaments while playing football before the second test vs India and its taking longer then expected to recover...

SA captains don't seem to have any idea how to handle tahir in test cricket hence why he isn't playing. The moment one boundary gets hit to start to panic...a Leggie is always likely to concede the odd boundary...

As for the odi team based on the squad they picked:

1.QDK
2.Amla
3.Faf
4.AB
5.RR
6.Miller
7.Duminy
8.Morris
9.Radaba
10.Tahir
11.Morkel/Steyn

 

[dp458]

Any of you SA fans know what your likely ODI side will be?

England will probably be

1. Roy
2. Hales
3. Root
4. Morgan
5. Stokes
6. Buttler
7. Ali
8. Woakes
9. Willey
10. Jordan
11. Topley

Can't help but think Stuart Broad should be in there. Especially as Finn is injured.

I wouldnt be surprised if they dont play Jordan and picked Plunkett as he is more like Finn.

Personally Taylor has to play, but im struggling to fit him in, its do we trust Ali Stokes and Root to bowl 20 Overs

 

[dp458]

Idiot managed to hurt his ankle ligaments while playing football before the second test vs India and its taking longer then expected to recover...

SA captains don't seem to have any idea how to handle tahir in test cricket hence why he isn't playing. The moment one boundary gets hit to start to panic...a Leggie is always likely to concede the odd boundary...

As for the odi team based on the squad they picked:

1.QDK
2.Amla
3.Faf
4.AB
5.RR
6.Miller
7.Duminy
8.Morris
9.Radaba
10.Tahir
11.Morkel/Steyn

On a similar note, surely JP cont be expected to bowl 10, would it not be better to play Morris at 7 and play Morkel and Steyn

 

[stefan]

If they need an extra bowler they will drop one of faf/rr/miller and play farhaan and let him and jp share 10 overs.

 

[bigred]

Idiot managed to hurt his ankle ligaments while playing football before the second test vs India and its taking longer then expected to recover...

SA captains don't seem to have any idea how to handle tahir in test cricket hence why he isn't playing. The moment one boundary gets hit to start to panic...a Leggie is always likely to concede the odd boundary...

As for the odi team based on the squad they picked:

1.QDK
2.Amla
3.Faf
4.AB
5.RR
6.Miller
7.Duminy
8.Morris
9.Radaba
10.Tahir
11.Morkel/Steyn

If that is going to be the team, then I'm pretty confident really. Duminy has to bowl ten if you go that way. Surely either Morris will have to bat 7 or Behardien plays instead of Roussow or du Plessis?

 

[bigred]

I wouldnt be surprised if they dont play Jordan and picked Plunkett as he is more like Finn.

Personally Taylor has to play, but im struggling to fit him in, its do we trust Ali Stokes and Root to bowl 20 Overs

I think both Finn and Jordan would've played in these matches, so I don't see it as Jordan replacing Finn. For me, Finn and Topley were competing for one position. There's a chance they might go for Plunkett instead of Topley, but Topley has done well so far. He's left arm and has good variations. Plunkett is probably more like Finn in the sense that he is used in the middle overs rather than the death. The pair of them have the pace and bounce to trouble batsmen when they're in their comfort zone and just picking off singles. I don't think either are particularly good in the final ten.

I think the management really see Jordan as their death bowler now. Especially after what he did in the super over against Pakistan. That was no fluke. They had clearly established in training that Jordan was the man to get his Yorkers in and he delivered when the pressure was on.

 

[stefan]

Rather stark contrast to ab's comments, now if only he could get fit and stay fit.

I'm not going anywhere - Steyn
by Neil Manthorp 20 January 2016, 09:28

Dale Steyn is angry. Not just because injuries have ruled him out of any meaningful participation in the test series against India and England, but because he is being repeatedly written off as either “past it” or on the verge of retirement.

“It’s absolute rubbish,” Steyn said in Cape Town. “I played 48 tests in a row, didn’t miss a single one, and now suddenly I’m an injury liability at the age of 32? It’s ridiculous. Injuries can happen to anybody but I’m still one of the fittest players in the squad and I have many, many overs left in me.”

Talk of retirement may have started with the speculation that AB de Villiers was considering his future and looking for ways to “manage his workload” but it has baffled the great fast bowler.

“The test team is going through some huge changes and I want to help lead the way as one of the senior players. This is no time to turn your back and walk away, that’s the last thing on my mind. I have many ambitions left in the game and I’m as excited about playing international cricket now as I was when I started over a decade ago.

“I would love to play 100 tests, hopefully more, and take many more wickets. But mostly I want to start winning test matches with the Proteas once again and get back to where we were for so long,” Steyn said.

And it is not just the test arena in which Steyn wishes to remain: “I would like to play all three formats. I’d love to be involved in the ODI series against England but I’m not going to rush back from injury, like I did in India, and make it worse. I’m desperately keen to be fit and play in the T20 World Cup in India in March. It might be my last World Cup so I’d like to help win the bloody thing!”

Ironically, Steyn believes that the groin and shoulder injuries which have ruined his season were caused by not playing enough cricket rather than too much. “Managing my workload doesn’t always mean resting,” he said ruefully. “I need to make sure I have enough overs in my legs and body before I start a test match at 100 miles an hour.”

Match-fixing, a series loss and a spectacular crash down the world rankings. These are tough times for SA cricket. Thankfully, Steyn is the perfect antidote to all the bad news.

I'm not going anywhere - Steyn - SuperSport - Cricket

 

[dp458]

Liam Plunkett is injury doubt for South Africa ODIs | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[cricket_icon]

Idiot managed to hurt his ankle ligaments while playing football before the second test vs India and its taking longer then expected to recover...

SA captains don't seem to have any idea how to handle tahir in test cricket hence why he isn't playing. The moment one boundary gets hit to start to panic...a Leggie is always likely to concede the odd boundary...

As for the odi team based on the squad they picked:

1.QDK
2.Amla
3.Faf
4.AB
5.RR
6.Miller
7.Duminy
8.Morris
9.Radaba
10.Tahir
11.Morkel/Steyn

That's a decent enough side, some guys that aren't so tested or consistent and England look stronger but not bad. I feel SA is going through a time of change what with the recent exits and injuries.

 

[zwarrior]

Rather stark contrast to ab's comments, now if only he could get fit and stay fit.




I'm not going anywhere - Steyn - SuperSport - Cricket

That's good to see

 

[MUFC1987]

On the final Test, I hope we pick Woakes as Finn's replacement. I just think he bowled pretty well without any luck in the first Test and deserves another chance. I think Footit is an unknown, which can go either way, whereas there is a genuine belief there that Woakes can become a good Test bowler. Another game of experience would be good for him in my opinion.

 

[bigred]

On the final Test, I hope we pick Woakes as Finn's replacement. I just think he bowled pretty well without any luck in the first Test and deserves another chance. I think Footit is an unknown, which can go either way, whereas there is a genuine belief there that Woakes can become a good Test bowler. Another game of experience would be good for him in my opinion.

Ummmmm. I can't really decide. I like Woakes a lot as a cricketer, but his bowling in test matches has been a bit up and down if I'm honest. He doesn't move it around like Warickshire fans say he does in the championship. I'd quite like to see what Footitt can do, but wouldn't be too upset either way.