England tour to South Africa December 2015/February 2016

[bigred]

First blood to England. A very good all-round performance. Have been very critical of Ali as our front-line spinner in the past but he bowled well apart from his first spell. Anderson in for Woakes for the next Test will put a lot of pressure on the South African batsmen. Thought Hales batted fairly well in the second innings and was far more disappointed with his first dismissal than his second. I'm not convinced by him just yet, but think he should be given a decent run and it definitely helps having Compton coming in at 3 who did exactly what he does. Taylor impressed me once again also.

The signs are very good for England, South Africa have got a lot to think about and only a couple of days to regroup. Looking forward to Cape Town.

Ali MOTD, for me it was Compton for his first innings.

To be fair, I thought that Ali, Broad, Finn, Compton and Bairstow had equally good test matches.

Dean Elgar had the best test match though. I suppose when you lose by 241, it's hard to give a loser the MOTM award.

 

[cooks1st100]

To be fair, I thought that Ali, Broad, Finn, Compton and Bairstow had equally good test matches.

Dean Elgar had the best test match though. I suppose when you lose by 241, it's hard to give a loser the MOTM award.

I agree to a point but Compton and Taylor's partnership was huge in the context of the match, especially considering our recent reliance on Cook and Root. As I said though it was a very good all-round performance, glad to see Bairstow get a stumping today after yesterday's shocker. I'm sure they said on the commentary yesterday that we hadn't had a stumping in test cricket for 3 years!!!

 

[cooks1st100]

Three issues arise from this test for England; firstly, what to do about Hales. I am sorry, but he is not and will not be a test opener. He is a core member of the ODI side who lacks the technique and temperament to open in tests. Open with Compton and bat Hales at 4 (Root at 3) or drop him. Secondly, wicketkeeping. There is no choice for the rest of this tour as Bairstow is way ahead of Buttler, but if this test proved one thing it is that having an average keeper can be expensive. Alternatives must be considered in 2016. Thirdly, who drops out in the second test? The automatic cry is Woakes but for me his performance in this test was better than Stokes (by some way) and his new pace (up to 92mph) would be more suited to the expected faster track. I would drop Stokes who, once again, has shown ODI style with the bat and reinforced the perception that he turns up for one in five tests.

Like I previously said I'm not convinced either but I'm quite happy to see Hales have a run and I much prefer having a left/right combo opening. His first dismissal was very poor, after just coming back on after the rain break but I have no problem with his second dismissal, it was there to be hit. As for Woakes/ Stokes, Stokes seemed to be in some discomfort yesterday so he may not even play. How you can say Woakes out-performed Stokes in this Test though is beyond me. There wasn't much between them in my opinion and Stokes's dismissal of van Zyl came at an important time, as he and Elgar were looking worryingly comfortable at the crease.

 

[bigred]

Woakes definitely didn't outperform Stokes. They both had decent matches without doing anything amazing. Stokes is a key catcher for England, and there aren't too many slippers in that side now, so that will always go in his favour.

 

[stefan]

So will SA's team be something like

1. Elgar
2. Roussow
3. Amla
4. de Villiers
5. du Plessis
6. de Kock
7. Morris
8. Abbott
9. Piedt
10. Rabada
11. Morkel

van Zyl, Duminy and Bavuma missing out. I think they might think that without Steyn, they need 5 bowlers. 4 man attacks with an average spinner never really work unless the 3 seamers are all world class.

That side won't get passed the CEO...You need 4 players of colour as per the current selection criteria. Your side only has 3.

So having to take into account that system that is in place I guess this will be the likely side:

1.Elgar
2.Rossouw
3.Amla
4.AB
5.QDK
6.JP
7.Morris
8.Abbot
9.Piedt
10.Radaba
11.Morkel

If they go with 4 bowlers:

1.Elgar
2.Rossouw
3.Amla
4.AB
5.Faf
6.QDK
7.JP
8.Morris
9.Piedt
10.Radaba
11.Morkel

On Morris yes he is been added because of the batting he adds. Viljoen and Patterson are better bowlers but don't bat.

 

[stefan]

All this talk of South Africa bringing better batsmen into the team....Are those not the players that England knocked over twice in 3 days last week, to win by an Innings?

Do we judge players on one game? Especially in one where Cook won a good toss. They played badly in that game but did score runs for their franchise teams. When the proteas players played for their franchises in the first round none of them could buy a run.

 

[MUFC1987]

I was merely commenting on the fact that people seem to be suggesting that if South Africa picked their best 11 players, then they would have won this Test. Which seems to be strange considering the fact that England beat them easily and beat the A team (with these apparently first choice players in it) even more heavily the week before.

 

[stefan]

I was merely commenting on the fact that people seem to be suggesting that if South Africa picked their best 11 players, then they would have won this Test. Which seems to be strange considering the fact that England beat them easily and beat the A team (with these apparently first choice players in it) even more heavily the week before.

SA would not have beaten England easily, it would have given SA a much better chance. It will still be a close game. SA is clearly being hampered currently by poor form to key players and poor selection.

 

[Markkkkk]

If Roussouw makes it ahead of Bavuma ill eat a hat...

 

[War]

I'm not sure they could go into the Cape Town test with 4 seamers and no Duminy. Cape Town generally takes quite a bit of turn on days 4 and 5. I'm not saying that Duminy is a quality spinner, but I don't think he's too far behind Piedt. If SA had gone down the 4 seamer route in this test they'd be in even more trouble than they are.

I don't see how SA playing 4 quicks would have caused them more trouble/prevented loss in this test - you could argue if they had a 4th seamer instead of Piedt - they might have had a more potent wicket-taking threat bowling to second innings when ENG were batting & Dumminy/Elgar could have shared spin duties.

 

[War]

Tahir is miles better then Piedt and @War I recommend you take a look at Paterson's figures but other then that you are 100%. South African cricket is becoming a joke...

Yes based on recent admission by Haroon Lorgat that - Haroon Lorgat on developing more black players in South Africa | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

"The only guideline is, if there's a genuinely fifty-fifty call and it's either A or B and A happens to be a black player, you select A."

There is a hint that Piedt being the coloured black player got the preference in the 50/50 call over Tahir

 

[War]

That side won't get passed the CEO...You need 4 players of colour as per the current selection criteria. Your side only has 3.

So having to take into account that system that is in place I guess this will be the likely side:

1.Elgar
2.Rossouw
3.Amla
4.AB
5.QDK
6.JP
7.Morris
8.Abbot
9.Piedt
10.Radaba
11.Morkel

If they go with 4 bowlers:

1.Elgar
2.Rossouw
3.Amla
4.AB
5.Faf
6.QDK
7.JP
8.Morris
9.Piedt
10.Radaba
11.Morkel

On Morris yes he is been added because of the batting he adds. Viljoen and Patterson are better bowlers but don't bat.

Yea I would have loved if Vijeon based on the pace he is bowling with in domestic cricket - Alviro Peterson was hyping him on twitter recently Alviro Petersen sur Twitter : "If anyone watched this fella bowl yesterday @Hardus_Vilj you realise he is in the top bracket of SA speedsters atm... [HASHTAG]#pace[/HASHTAG]"

Plus in either scenario while its obvious Morris was picked over Viljeon or Paterson because of extra batting strength - I don't he would play especially as a all-rounder. SA will either 3 quicks + 1 spinner or 4 quicks

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Because the AB retirement talk is on, I can't post elaborately-

SA should pick this team
Cook, Elgar, AB, Amla, Faf, Roussow, QdK, Piedt, Abbott, Rabada, Morkel.

 

[War]

And Viljeon arguably the fastest bowler in the world right now yet to play international cricket is officially on stand-by now - CSA thinking at last. Just to to pick Cook now

South Africa call up Quinton de Kock and Chris Morris | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

"A third change sees Lions' quick Hardus Vijoen placed on standby after two successive ten-wicket hauls. Unlike Morris, Viljoen has not officially been called up but has been told to stay ready in case he is needed - further suggesting Steyn will not be passed it. Viljoen's franchise team-mate, opening batsman, Stephen Cook has missed out."

 

[stefan]

Interesting article

December 31, 2015

Well, what could he say? “Yes, Graeme is quite correct. Several of the senior players are increasingly doubting my methods and beliefs and there might be a confidence and trust issue developing.”

Instead, in response to Graeme Smith’s public assertion that there was “some unhappiness in the camp”, head coach Russell Domingo replied: “Smithy is entitled to his opinion, of course, but I don’t know where he gets that from. As far as I’m concerned, we are a very happy camp which is backing and supporting each other and the captain.”

As I said, what else could he say?

It was a touch naive, though. Where does the coach think the former captain heard the news from? The bar? The commentary box? Or maybe he thinks he imagined it? Made it up…?

No, he heard it from the players. And the more the coach pretends everything is “happy in the camp”, the more he is kidding himself and the more likely he is to alienate himself from the players even further.

Perhaps the coach doesn’t believe it because nobody has walked up to him, jabbed him in the chest, and said: “Coach, there are a few things the boys are seriously unhappy about.” But then, they wouldn’t, would they? They’re professional cricketers, they’re not stupid.

Specifically, then:

The team has three bowling coaches and no batting coach. Not even a part-timer, or a consultant. Duncan Fletcher, one of the very best, is free at the moment. Actually, there are quite a few options to choose from. Most of the senior batsmen have been suggesting it for over a year. They could really, really have done with someone to help during the India tour.

The team is short of runs, not wickets. You don’t need a degree to spot the connection.

The team has nobody to help them exercise the most important muscle in their bodies – the one between their ears. Call him what you like – psychologist, mental coach, shrink… it doesn’t matter. Just someone to bounce ideas off, to speak to about tension, expectation and ‘pressure’. This role CANNOT be performed by the coach. It has to be someone ELSE. Most of the senior players have been suggesting it since Paddy Upton’s services were no longer required by the head coach.

It is a new year and, perhaps, it will bring fresh fortunes. Domingo has invited Smith to spend some time with the batsmen at Newlands on New Year’s day. It will take more than a couple of hours to turn things around but it was an important and a good gesture.

Happy New Year to all.

Week 1 - SuperSport - Cricket