South Africa in England July-Sept 2012

[shravi]

You got to see a couple of excellent days of test cricket though? The two Pietersen/Peterson's hundreds completely contrasting each other. Two bowling attacks bowling pretty well. Could have been worse. Could have been India in England

Haha, that's true. That was far more excruciating. Pietersen's hundred will definitely live in the memory.

What happened to Tremlett btw? How did he just disappear from the picture?

And what do you make of James Harris and David Payne? Future internationals?

 

[War]

Tremlett hasn't really disappeared, he just is constantly injured. Neither Bresnan or Finn may have been picked this season if he had been 100% fit.

Both Harris and Payne should be future international if they keep improving. Especially Payne, because i don't see too many left-arm quicks in England who look promising.

 

[puddleduck]

With Zaheer's control over Smith, maybe we should just play Payne in the final test?

 

[War]

With Zaheer's control over Smith, maybe we should just play Payne in the final test?

Ha ye, but of course young Payne probably is not that good as yet.

But it's funny to think England never have really produced a proper left-arm seamer in history if my memory is correct. I remember Mullally doing ok in ODI's for a while in the late 90s and that joker Ed Giddins in 2000 playing tests, Sidebottom was ok for a while also up to a few years ago.

Many great left-arm orthodox spinners, but the left-arm quick is something never readily available for England historically.

 

[Owzat]

I trust England won't bow to the TMS theory that five bowlers in the final Test would increase their prospects of winning if the pitch is traditionally flat. I really don't see how, if you pick your four best bowlers then why would the fifth best make a difference? You end up underbowling one and being lightweight in the batting department.

And the TMS theory is even more bizarre when they claim you don't need as much batting, as if the runs will score themselves or anyone can make runs so just pencil in all the top six for 75+ runs apiece

The basics of cricket apply regardless of pitch, your batsmen and bowlers need to do the basics and it should just mean the batting totals are higher if the pitch is flatter. You can't assume because the pitch is flatter that you can shed a batsman and the extra bowler buys you more wickets. If anything you'll end up with five bowlers struggling instead of four.

Bit more variety might come into it, if the five bowler theory were to include two very different spinners I could buy into the premise, but not if they want to just replace say Taylor with Swann. To me the theory is as half-baked as playing say KP as a second spinner on a turning wicket, just because it is turning doesn't mean a part-timer will pose the same threat

 

[Owzat]

Can't see South Africa declaring for a go at England, maybe if they get close to tea with a 200+ lead. I suspect they'll bat until the cut off point for agreeing an early draw

saffers 106/0, despite TMS having them down (temporarily I assume) at 106/5, having had that brief spell of no control in the match when KP was upsetting them. Lasted one partnership really, that and the 1st day of the 1st Test about the extent of England's competitiveness

1st Test

Even stevens at 267/3 on the first day
South Africa take last seven wickets for 114 runs
South Africa score a mammoth 637/2d
England bowled out for 240

2nd Test

South Africa even stevens at 254/3
England reduced to 173/4
England lose last four wickets for 29 runs
South Africa 106/0

Who would have thought at 267/3 that England would be 0-1 down in the series and barely troubling the saffers

 

[Haarithan]

Fair to say our pace quartet can go hang their heads in shame...

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Love it when I successfully jinx someone....

De villiers more or less seems to be Broad's bunny.. Remember when broad had him twice at durban in 2009.

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Woo it's durban all over again for broad!

 

[shravi]

Hmm, very exciting, but it's a draw now, surely?

 

[Haarithan]

253 from 39. Totally doable boys!

 

[MUFC1987]

Doable if Pietersen bats for at least 30 of the overs. If he gets out cheaply, I can't see it happening. Should be entertaining either way though.

 

[Epic]

Game on! KP and Cook to open it seems.

 

[macintosh]

KP to open with Cook England are going for the win, this is going to be an exciting day 5 if KP survives the first 15 overs.

 

[Auwais]

KP.

 

[Epic]

Noooooo, that's it I reckon.

 

[Haarithan]

Ah damn definitely a draw now. :/