England tour to South Africa December 2015/February 2016

[stefan]

Nothing like watching England play test cricket.

Want to make a few points here-

1) A lot of partial people here are on about Gary Ballance. He is the worst batsman I have seen in my twenty years of watching cricket. I hope he gets an opportunity in SA and I'd love to see Steyn/Morkel school him. He had a flattering average early in his career because he played Sri Lanka and India at home. He is a mediocre county level batsman in English conditions and he will be a sitting duck in the sub continent and Australia.

2) Domestic averages of SA batsmen is a tricky stat to judge people on simply because SA is a very tough place to bat. I might add, I have no reservations about Cook being drafted in etc. etc.

3) If managed properly, this England team has the ability to be a team like the Aussies of the 90's and early 00's as well as the West Indies of old. I don't see the depth that England has in any other side in any format.

4) Ben Stokes is not a number 8. He's your number 5/6 and mark my words, he will make 5000 plus runs and take 300 test wickets. Most importantly, he will win England tests, alone.

My XI for the two teams

England

Cook (c)
Compton
Root
Taylor
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Finn

SA

Cook
Elgar
AB (c)
Amla
du Plessis
Duminy
de Kock
Steyn
Abbott
Morkel
de Lange

De lange above Radaba? Don't think so. KG is the better bowler imho. Also there is no way duminy should still be in the side...

If I were a selector and all were fit this would be my side in South Africa:

1.Cook
2.Elgar
3.Amla
4.AB
5.Faf
6.Rossouw
7.QDK
8.Philander
9.Steyn
10.Radaba(Its close between him and abbot but abbot hasn't been good in this game, in a year or two KG will be a real star)
11.Morkel

 

[War]

De lange above Radaba? Don't think so. KG is the better bowler imho. Also there is no way duminy should still be in the side...

If I were a selector and all were fit this would be my side in South Africa:

1.Cook
2.Elgar
3.Amla
4.AB
5.Faf
6.Rossouw
7.QDK
8.Philander
9.Steyn
10.Radaba(Its close between him and abbot but abbot hasn't been good in this game, in a year or two KG will be a real star)
11.Morkel

Perfect side, would say ENG have no chance if such a team plays. But for now ENG will be right in it if Van Zyl, Bavuma, Piedt in. Although one could argue Van Zyl could be better if bats in his preferred # 6 position.

 

[Markkkkk]

Okay some things I've noticed:

If Tahir played we would of bowled them out for under 250. No ways the tail would pick his deliveries.

How can they not judge Van Zyl on India but judge Vilas on it? Double standards.

Can Cook sue CSA?

Paterson got about 6+ edges off Cook in the warm up and I love him to pieces.

Faf must be made captain or dropped as he isn't worth half a sausage.

Bavuma Faf and Van Zyl can't be in the team.

Piedt can't bowl consistently enough to be the holding spinner.

Compton is good enough to play no3. If he can score at 45+ then he's fine.

If anyone rates Abbott lower then Rabada a small piece of me dies.

Paterson > De Lange.

Amla can't be captain.

I can't watch AB De Villiers bat. The commentators can't stop talking about him even when Elgar hits a good shot for 4...

Steyn isn't past it and I apologize for saying that.

Why didn't we bowl Duminy? He's the best bowling all rounder we have...

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I don't think Gary Ballance is pretty to watch but I think he'll come back and do some great work for England. He'll probably get better for being dropped. If he's used as a number 5 batsman, like he has been all his career, I reckon he'll have a test average of 45. I suppose the question at the moment for a lot of people is, who out of the following(in their preferred position) would score the most runs:
Hales at 2
Bell at 3
Vince at 4
Ballance at 5

I reckon the answer is Bell or Ballance out of those. I need to be convinced by James Vince with a huge first class season.

As for England's depth, I don't think we do have great depth. One area that isn't looking too bad is the seam bowling. After Anderson and Broad, there are quite a few guys that are all about the same standard give or take. Woakes, Plunkett, Finn, Wood, Jordan, Footitt and Brooks could all take wickets at test level.

However, we don't have a full time spinner worth picking at present. If there's an injury in the batting department, I worry about who there is to come in, and although Buttler may come back better than ever, with him out of the side there really isn't a decent keeper to pick.

I notice Jimmy Anderson wasn't in your team. Surely he is still England's best bowler?

Ben Stokes is already England's number 6. He's been batting there for the last 11 tests.

Ian Bell is either over, or he needs a break from cricket. The way he was going, he would have been toast come the next Ashes.

Adil Rashid is a good spinner. The problem with England is that when they go to Asia, they draft in two county well doing spinners and expect them to straight away cut it at the international level. Spin bowling in England and spin bowling in Asia is different. England need to show some guts and pick both Ali and Rashid and give them a run.

I didn't pick Anderson because he was injured. Jimmy would be in my World XI no matter where a game of test cricket was happening in the world.

One chap said Stokes should bat 8. I was responding to him.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

De lange above Radaba? Don't think so. KG is the better bowler imho. Also there is no way duminy should still be in the side...

If I were a selector and all were fit this would be my side in South Africa:

1.Cook
2.Elgar
3.Amla
4.AB
5.Faf
6.Rossouw
7.QDK
8.Philander
9.Steyn
10.Radaba(Its close between him and abbot but abbot hasn't been good in this game, in a year or two KG will be a real star)
11.Morkel

Rabada bowled well in India, but he's a bit inconsistent. I don't mind him but de Lange is a beast. I think for SA conditions, he's a premiere pick. But, I see your point.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Okay some things I've noticed:

If Tahir played we would of bowled them out for under 250. No ways the tail would pick his deliveries.

How can they not judge Van Zyl on India but judge Vilas on it? Double standards.

True.

Faf must be made captain or dropped as he isn't worth half a sausage.

Bavuma Faf and Van Zyl can't be in the team.

Faf is alright. He's going through a lean run. But, handing him the captaincy before AB is stupid and harsh. Bavuma gave a good account of himself in India and although I don't like him, it's a legitimate selection.

Piedt can't bowl consistently enough to be the holding spinner.

He's the best spinner in SA right now, wicket taking wise.

Compton is good enough to play no3. If he can score at 45+ then he's fine.

He should open. Root @ 3.

anyone rates Abbott lower then Rabada a small piece of me dies.

Same

Paterson > De Lange.

Debatable.

Amla can't be captain.

I can't watch AB De Villiers bat. The commentators can't stop talking about him even when Elgar hits a good shot for 4...

Steyn isn't past it and I apologize for saying that.

Why didn't we bowl Duminy? He's the best bowling all rounder we have...

Amla was never captaincy material and I said it the day he was appointed. There is a lot of AB hate from you, but you overlook the "Aura" he has built around himself. He deserves to be captain of SA. His self confidence is high and it will rub off on the team. I think SA are the most feared team in ODI cricket.

Steyn will be past it when he feels so.

 

[Markkkkk]

True.



Faf is alright. He's going through a lean run. But, handing him the captaincy before AB is stupid and harsh. Bavuma gave a good account of himself in India and although I don't like him, it's a legitimate selection.


He's the best spinner in SA right now, wicket taking wise.



He should open. Root @ 3.



Same



Debatable.



Amla was never captaincy material and I said it the day he was appointed. There is a lot of AB hate from you, but you overlook the "Aura" he has built around himself. He deserves to be captain of SA. His self confidence is high and it will rub off on the team. I think SA are the most feared team in ODI cricket.

Steyn will be past it when he feels so.

New Zealand and Australia are more feared. McCullum is IMO the best captain followed by Smith. AB isn't attacking enough and is too keen on bowling part timers and such. As much as you like him he isn't strong enough to lead the side. Also I don't hate AB. I dislike anyone who gets more praise then what they worth. Tendulkar is in the same boat. Mad respect but he isn't the god of cricket or any better then Kallis, Lara AB and Amla. Even Clarke isn't too far behind... I just hate it when Elgar is batting so well but they only talk about AB's reverse sweep which is completely unnecessary in the situation. Also Tahir is miles ahead of Piedt aslong as he is used correctly...

 

[grkrama]

ABD isnt captain material too, he is too overenthusiatic, Amla is a bit on the pragmatic side to put it best, i would may be wait till the series is over to take a final decision on Amla but if what we have seen so far is considered he wouldn't cut it!
ABD is the best batsman in SA doesnt necessarily mean he has to get captaincy! SRT was there when dhoni was captain!

SA need someone in between and Faf is a good option![DOUBLEPOST=1451282879][/DOUBLEPOST]

any better then Kallis, Lara AB and Amla

lara and SRT , ABD are a cut above the others in that list purely because of style, its not necessarily runs but there is an art in their bating which is why they get praised, numbers hardly do justice to the talent which is why they get more praise than others!

But i can certainly understand it being distracting !

 

[grkrama]

if smith returns as he has hinted most probs of SA would be solved ! The guy if he is back to his fit levels can easily give another 3-4 years

 

[stefan]

Rabada bowled well in India, but he's a bit inconsistent. I don't mind him but de Lange is a beast. I think for SA conditions, he's a premiere pick. But, I see your point.

In first class cricket Radaba 62 wickets at 23.40 while de lange 136 @ 29.16. If you think KG is inconsistent then you haven't watched marchant enough, he is way more inconsistent then KG. Ofc KG is a bit inconsistent at the moment he is 20 enough pollock & mcgrath where a bit consistent when they were 20.

 

[zwarrior]

England will be happy with the lead they have got. Steyn will be eager to bowl and get quick wickets.

Amazing innings by Elgar.

 

[PokerAce]

Missed the opening session, just tuned in. SA bowled out for 214. Is it me or has someone put a curse on SA scoring more than 217 in an innings. This is the 9th straight innings when SA have failed to cross that score.

Elgar stands out with his 100, naturally. These are the 100s that count, to score when nobody else does. Thats why I rate Tendulkar so highly. For a whole decade he carried Indian batting on his shoulders. It used to be Tendulkar scoring a 100 and then everyone else, struggling to get even a 30. No point in scoring a 100 with the team 500/3.

Elgar even on the India tour had shown pluck and a desire to fight, although he had limited success in regard to runs, so its no surprise to see him score in more familiar conditions. Even in the last test in Delhi when SA really chose to dig in and not get out, I remember thinking (and posting) its great to have Elgar gone early. If he had been allowed to settle and dig in too, we would have definitely been looking at a draw.

Moeen Ali picked up 4 wickets, (yay I have him in the fantasy side, Broad too ), but I wonder how many of them were wickets of batsmen who were defending, and not trying to hit the ball as hard as they could? I suspect the answer will be none. There in lies the key to Moenn success with the ball. He is better than the average pie chucker who can be hit anywhere you want, but nowhere near good enough to get batsmen out when they are defending. The best approach I feel to take to Moenn is to swallow your pride as a batsman, and just block him, and refuse to lose your wicket to him.

Eng well on top and SA will have to deliver a special performance from here to win.

 

[IceAgeComing]

i've just tuned in and saw that south africa have apparently collapsed, which is nice

probably the best possible second test innings for hales; plenty of time and a decent lead from the start; plus relatively tame conditions to bat in. Lets hope that he has a good innings then!

 

[cooks1st100]

Moeen Ali picked up 4 wickets, (yay I have him in the fantasy side, Broad too ), but I wonder how many of them were wickets of batsmen who were defending, and not trying to hit the ball as hard as they could? I suspect the answer will be none. There in lies the key to Moenn success with the ball. He is better than the average pie chucker who can be hit anywhere you want, but nowhere near good enough to get batsmen out when they are defending. The best approach I feel to take to Moenn is to swallow your pride as a batsman, and just block him, and refuse to lose your wicket to him.

Both Duminy and Abbot got out defending. Ali has bowled well so far, apart from when AB was taking a fancy to his bowling.

 

[PokerAce]

Both Duminy and Abbot got out defending. Ali has bowled well so far, apart from when AB was taking a fancy to his bowling.

Duminy is proper batsman so thats good for Moenn. Anyway the point is still that Moeen mostly gets batsmen looking to whack him out of the ground, faf being the perfect example, and based on what I read, Steyn.