South Africa in England

[RoboRocks]

Good first game for us. Freddie hopefully has returned to his best form and can show some consistency. Good start to the ODI series. Lets hope we don't fall away since it does seem to happen to us lately.

 

[The_gas]

Really looking forward to today's game. I hope England can get some consistency and play well in this game too.

Any news on the weather at Trent Bridge?

 

[evertonfan]

If England win today then i'll be majorly convinced that Pietersen is a good captain. Everythings gone hsi way so far but it could just be the luck of the new captain. Let's hope we can win today against what will surely be a more determined SA side.

 

[King Pietersen]

If the Morkel's are still out we have a chance. Having Albie Morkel to deal with is a far tougher prospect than say Vernon Philander. Just hope South Africa keep Steyn in the team, he's not a great ODi bowler, and the extra pace means we can hit him about, as in ODis the bowlers we tend to struggle against are the medium pacers/fast-mediums who bowl at about 80mph and stick it on a spot back of a length, such as Jacob Oram.

Win today and we at least guarentee the series going down to the wire, and we all know that Pietersen's a big match player, so maybe a Lord's final will suit England.

 

[Sureshot]

Really looking forward to today's game. I hope England can get some consistency and play well in this game too.

Any news on the weather at Trent Bridge?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?id=2803

Metoffice website seems to contradict that, though.

 

[Themer]

Ravi left out wasn't expecting that surely it should have been Luke Wright. Looking forward to this match.

 

[King Pietersen]

That was my first thought, but if you look closely at the team, Bopara would have just been plain wasted at 7, so having Wright at 8 provides extra bowling, and proper power-hitting. We bat all the way down to 9 with Harmison also capable at 10. This team then illeviates the typical England problem of the collapse. Having 2 players as good as Wright and Patel at the lower order just boosts the team immensely. I just think the balance of the side looks best with Wright in the team. Bopara's been unlucky, but i'm sure he'll get another chance, he's a very talented young player, but he doesn't quite fit in at the moment. This looks an incredibly strong team for England, I think we might actually win this series.

 

[evertonfan]

Oh darn, we've lost the toss.

 

[King Pietersen]

The last time we batted last under lights at Trent Bridge we won the game, against Pakistan, so it's not too big a problem.

I think the selection of Albie Morkel shows how desperate South Africa are to have him in the side, I'm not sure selecting an unfit player is a good way to go though. He won't have played much cricket since his spell with Durham, and with the injury, so won't be in great batting form. His fielding won't be 100% as he's not fit, and he won't be able to bowl 10 overs. I'd have kept with Philander personally, he can't catch, but I thought he bowled better than Steyn in the last game.

 

[evertonfan]

Well you can't blame 'em. I'd rather have Napier in the side than Vernon Philander. He was less than impressive to say the least.

 

[.Mob]

That was my first thought, but if you look closely at the team, Bopara would have just been plain wasted at 7, so having Wright at 8 provides extra bowling, and proper power-hitting.

It's just me, but I think Bopara is more explosive than Wright, it's just that hammering the ball is all that Wright seems to be capable of with the bat. But I guess, Wright is a quality death bowler, so either way, I'm happy.

 

[King Pietersen]

Wright's a better batsman than he's shown on the international scene so far, he's not just a mindless slogger.

That's the wicket we wanted, Herschelle Gibbs gone. Stuart Broad showing his ODi bowling talent again. He's turning into a brilliant ODi bowler.

 

[DPRA]

Good start from Broad, Gibbs had no chance, and It was a good catch from Prior aswell

 

[Themer]

Who ever said that Prior couldn't keep in internationals. I always said he was good enough

 

[King Pietersen]

Prior's keeping not improved ? It bloody has you know. Stunner. 2 of the big 3 wickets are down now, get Kallis and we're looking good. Broad strikes again, why can't he do this in Test Matches ?