South Africa in England July-Sept 2012

[puddleduck]

Yeah the catching has been worse than the bowling until this test. They've put down important chances for a while, which against top teams proves costly as they don't necessarily gift you another.

 

[sifter132]

Bowlers have been fairly erratic, but I'm getting so bored of Strauss getting out for 10-30 odd. Someone mentioned an opener, why not Trott and Cook since they basically do the job anyway

^Seems the way to go for my money. Whether KP comes back or not, there is more middle order talent around than opening, so just shuffle Trott up.

 

[Owzat]

Some people are so dramatic the second things start going slightly wrong. You've gotta have faith. I certainly do in this team.

I'd say the opposite, the most infuriating thing is how people pretend like there isn't a problem. The problem isn't a "the second things go wrong" but has been there for a while, when England fall apart it's played down as a one-off, but there are too many of them to be one-offs................. England aren't that great, just happens at the moment a number of sides are way off their best.



On the subject of Strauss, I think he and others do need to tighten their game up a bit, in his case maybe a lot. Maybe a spell away from the side would do Strauss some good. Anything thinking KP's absence is key is kidding themselves, he might have come to the rescue but more likely he'd have thrown his wicket away like others.

That's where our success has come, playing on pitches and against attacks where we've been getting away with some of the looseness that is now costing us. One good innings and one or two bowlers bowling well has kept us going, but most people are now coming to realise you knock over Cook and Trott and we're in trouble. It wasn't hard to predict, I saw it coming.

Well played by Bell and Bairstow, no good Bell being annoyed with himself after he's out. We took too long to knock over their lower order, now we need Bairstow, Prior, Broad and Swann to grind out at least another 70-90 runs and our bowlers need to really do the job second time around, no lapses, excesses of gift runs and PLEASE stop keep using Trott because he can wobble it a bit and sometimes LOOKS like he MIGHT take a wicket. It's ok if the pitch is very flat and they're 250/2 say, but not when we're looking to finish them off. He has Swann who won't take the new ball, and THREE quicks of whom only two CAN take the new ball.

If England don't get to about 270 then I think we're struggling to save this match, batting last and in deficit. The only good news really is that Tahir doesn't look a class spinner, but since each of their quicks causes us problems that's scant consolation. We got some of their big gun batsmen out cheap 1st innings, blew that by allowing the tail to wag. 146 runs added after the last recognised batting pair had been split, 74 runs added once Duminy was out and it was just Philander, Steyn, Morkel and Tahir.

That was Philander's highest score, more than double his previous HS of 29. In fairness he has scored three scores of 23-29 in just 10 innings so can bat, but even so. Steyn averages 14.80, but this was his first double figure score for five innings. Morkel has made double figures in his last six innings.

It's bad enough when one lower order batsman come tailender scores 20+, but to have three do it and score 112 runs between them, is disappointing to say the least. Takes some pressure off the last batsman as well, wickets collapsing at the other end can force an error, not if the man at the other end is not only surviving but also scoring quite freely.

Maybe part of the problem is England believe the hype, believe they are the best and are way too complacent. Still it is by far the most gripping Test of the series, would be better from a neutral's point of view if England had scored 309 and South Africa were 208/5 but since it seems you can only either love or hate* England, neutrals are in short supply

*hate outright, or hate/envy them for their number one ranking.

 

[Collingwood50]

There is absolutley no shame in loosing to who are, clearly, the best test team in the world.

What is so frustrating is the predictability, the inevitability of the 'England Collapse'.

Real shame for Bairstow, but he will of done his confidence the world of good

 

[barmyarmy]

It's frustrating because we've under-performed and because we might have sorted it over a 5 test series.

 

[zimrahil]

It's frustrating because we've under-performed and because we might have sorted it over a 5 test series.

This

This happened in 1998 (?) - 1 down with 2 to play in 5 test series and England won last 2 - i.e. got better as series went along

 

[Owzat]

Excellent knock by Bairstow, I'm glad he's made a crucial score in spite of some debatable treatment - only recalled because KP threw his toys out of his pram.

And good knock from Swann, I've been saying for a while I think he could bat higher and maybe even bat seven in ODIs with a few sneers aimed at me for it. Yet another handy knock, who knows how many he might have gotten had he been a place or two higher in the order. Kept the saffers in the field longer than they would have predicted at 264/8 and 283/9.

But the crux is now in what happens from here. England need to bowl well, take their chances and not go spells without taking wickets. Both sides have lost some careless wickets, but this is an enthralling Test. What does annoy me is the way the BBC and indeed C5 keep harping on about how we need to win it to stay "number one in the rankings". I couldn't care less about the rankings, we need to win this Test to draw the series................

 

[barmyarmy]

Another first innings lead for England...
Pitch looking a bit flat though; SA could score 350+ here.

 

[Haarithan]

Yeah don't let 20 wickets in just under two and a half days fool you. This wicket's ridiculously flatter than I thought. Tipping the Saffers to amass 400 at the very least.

 

[Sulaiman7]

Another first innings lead for England...
Pitch looking a bit flat though; SA could score 350+ here.

Yep and kallis is not looking in form , this might be the chance for England if they can bowl ot South Africa under 250 so they can easily chase the target but if they are not accomplished then they will lose , and I think that RSA will try for a draw as both Smith and Petersen can play good defensive technique , so England should all out attack and don't let them defend . Also AB De Villiers can play defenssive as he is spin expert .

 

[puddleduck]

England are going to need a real burst in the evening session. If they don't get a few wickets they're going to struggle to get back in the game. It is a real shame this isn't a 5 test series, as clearly these last two tests have been incredibly tight.

It's difficult to see where wickets will come from though, as the pitch is looking excellent for batting whilst the sun is out.

 

[shravi]

There is absolutley no shame in loosing to who are, clearly, the best test team in the world.

You don't play the best team in the world until November .

 

[puddleduck]

Err Strauss is losing the plot it would appear... desperate review attempt.

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You don't play the best team in the world until November .

Technically we can't because we're still top of nearly all rankings... but after this test it's looking like being South Africa. Still, can't do any worse in November than the reverse trip

 

[MUFC1987]

Broad is such an idiot.

We just need to find a way to chase about 250 on the last day really. That means bowling South Africa out for that essentially, which isn't impossible.

Especially as Broad finally gets his act together.

 

[cricket_icon]

This is the most interesting test so far. I have SA just edging it. If they can get 250-270 (300 is a bonus) I think England will be seriously troubled. They'll have to play hard and fast, taking the attack to the bowlers, giving the superior bowling attack of SA even more chances.