South Africa in England July-Sept 2012

[Owzat]

I feel a bit sorry for the Tremulator. The guy has delivered pretty consistently.

Also Broad's numbers in the last 2 years are far superior to most bowlers in world cricket, so it somewhat misleading to judge him based on his first couple of years... Much like Finn went for far more runs before he was dropped than since he came back.

Although it's not like you to use statistics that are outdated

So because he was sh1te early on means we should DISTORT his figures to suit your ends..............?!?!? I never say you can't allow contributory factors, but what you're advocating is fiddling figures because you don't like the real ones........................................

I've heard that LAME argument many a time for Flintoff and others, funny how I don't hear it for others. Maybe we should only cite Hick's best years and promote him to legend status, disregarding all stats from when he was dropped every 2-3 Tests :

Although it's not like you to talk out of your Rs

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What, why is Taylor in the squad and Bopara out? I know Ravi didn't do well but surely he deserves a run. How can any player be given confidence if he gets dropped consistently like Bopara does?

Bopara wasn't dropped, he opted out which is a mistake on his part given his limited chances. If Taylor grabs his chance then bopper may come to regret it.

Of course we should never pick him because if you exclude "outdated" stats Bopara has done nothing to deserve being picked, those hundreds he scored shouldn't count BEWARE the stats police, they apply non existent laws

My post is by no means a slight on Taylor, he is a capable player but Bopara deserved at least one more game.

Frankly Bopara would have been lucky to get another chance after his wasting of the two knocks he had last Test, but he's put something else first which I'm sure the selectors will "add to his account" and he may not get his next knock or two for a while

 

[puddleduck]

Try watching some cricket instead of just calculating numbers.

At which point do you judge a player based on their debut years ahead of their recent form? If Broad or Anderson's numbers drop again in the next year or two, then it would certainly show that their recent (2-3 year) form was in fact misleading, but the reality is players evolve and improve, and to try and select a team based on their bowling figures from 7 years ago is about as intelligent as sticking your head in a blender.

Hick's numbers are scattered over an entire career. You're a complete muppet haha

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Oh and to talk about fiddling figures, it's pretty much all you do

 

[Themer]

Owzat has talked a load of rubbish with stats thrown in for the majority of the time he's been here PD. Then tries to belittle those who dare question his stat attacks. Reasonable cricket discussion is pretty dead round these parts so I just don't bother anymore.

Cue him attempting to sit on a high horse as per.

 

[puddleduck]

Yeah I know. Fun winding him up though.

Apparently he has a reasonable post percentage of 13% Initially he delivered closer to 33% but that has continued to drop. His strike rate of statistical posts that make sense has hovered at 20% since 2005/06. When posting in New Zealand, West Indies or Bangladesh he has an accuracy rating of 39% but in the tougher tours like India or Sri Lanka he drops to 13%

All in all, I'd like to see him replaced by How's That One, who despite a shaky start to his career demonstrates a far superior method of appealing. 47% of his posts from a non Earth based atmosphere demonstrate clear improvement and suggest a positive correlation between lack of Oxygen to the brain and cogency.

 

[War]

South Africa in England 2012: Albie Morkel picks up ankle injury | Cricket News | England v South Africa | ESPN Cricinfo

Sort of a weird selection by the proteas. Surely it should have been another bowling coming in i.e Ryan McClaren.

 

[puddleduck]

They've picked based on convenience. He can come over to the UK now and have a bat before captaining the A team for the Ireland game. The bowling stocks are fine for the next test and if Albie is fit for the 3rd test as expected then they barely actually need any cover at all.

 

[War]

They've picked based on convenience. He can come over to the UK now and have a bat before captaining the A team for the Ireland game. The bowling stocks are fine for the next test and if Albie is fit for the 3rd test as expected then they barely actually need any cover at all.

Ye Ye, i just realized its only a 10 day injury they say.

 

[puddleduck]

Yeah any longer and I'm sure they'd have called up some bowling cover

 

[jacobfelix]

So, its not Bresnan but Swann who makes way for Finn.....but why did they elect to field after winning toss.....

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

is it quite green? makes sense if it is.

I suggested this might happen before the series started. I know you all think I talk rot but sometimes I am on.

 

[Sedition]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

So former world number 1 spinner is left out of the team, just shows how much confidence they now have in him. Last 2 years and he has just picked up 31 wickets at an average of 41. He is yet to pick up a South African wicket (obviously only 2 fell in the last match )

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Alviro has played a gem of an innings here . If this partnership continues as a century stand I see England getting deflated on first day morning itself. Bad decision of not playing Swann.

 

[Gaurav_7]

That's the first time I'm seeing dead balls being called when the stumps are disturbed by the bowler at the other end. Weird. Smith won't mind that though.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

twice a day might be pushing it. I'd settle for being a disgarded calendar.