South Africa in England

[MasterBlaster76]

Well played, Bell! He had a tough time against New Zealand, but he's come through that now with a great 150 and against a much better team!

 

[Maxkarter]

He'll only get better the older he gets. The only thing he really lacks is a touch of control sometimes.

Finally a post of sense about Steyn!

Brett Lee was good when he was still young but he wasn't as good as he is now, with age comes ability. Steyn is in a similar mould has still got time to get even better and refine his game, but funnily enough its mainly the Aussies in this thread okay its only Aussie_Ben who is bagging him the most, but then he just goes around looking for arguements anyway. Lets face it this is a good seam line-up (not the best in the world or best ever , but they have been bowling stupidly and have been captained even more stupidly. It's called inexperience.

Morkel and Steyn have got some years in them and with the proper usage, a little more guidance and a bit better control and consistency they can be realyl good bowlers. I reckon if Nel was playing alongside them in place of Harris he'd be a good advisor to an extent and he'd also be effective because he works so hard and always seems to have that spark about him additionaly he has played in England and knows the conditions pretty well. Know you may say Ntini is experienced and can help, but all he really does, and I'm being brutally honest here is run in hard and hit the deck all day long..... and he still hasn't mustered up the confidence to try his slower ball in a match.

On the plus side Morkel has been bowling well and has got wickets at critical times, a touch lucky with Strauss but it's cricket, bad decisions go both ways. I reckon he could have been a little better if Smith used him better but Smith has generally been pretty bad with all the bowlers.

 

[Leicester Fox]

If Ambrose keeps well he plays for me. He can bat, he's just out of form. considering he's a number 7 that's ok and he's got Broad behind him who is developing into a very good batsman. He should never have been picked for the ODI's but we can't change keepers again in tests. It will never work.

 

[Deleted member 11215]

Since when could we bat

We make new zealand look good!

 

[India2011]

If they do play Ambrose from now, they should send him at number 8 and send Broad at 7,, because from what I've seen Broad is a much better batsman. That said, I would bring Matt Prior back anyway - unless I'm mistaken he's done exceedingly well in Domestic cricket.

But well played by Bell, what an innings under pressure. But to be truthful, KP's innings was better when it comes to the style of the innings.

All in all, South Africa are gettign utterly creamed, steamrolled, demolished, burned, and whatever other past tense verb you can name.

Best pace attack in the world? They're probably the fastest in the world, but best? No way, they're showing a lot of inexperience. Morkel is bowling well, though.

Greame Smith's captaincy so far has been dissapointing, in my opinion. I mean, he didn't bring in Morkel until deep into the first session. Though I like how he handled Harris, bringing him at the fall of the wicket - it'll help him develop into a more attacking bowler.

England again have batted exceedingly well - Broad, KP, Bell, and the openers have anyways.

I don't think South Africa can win. However, that being said, I don't think that England can win either.

 

[Ollie_H]

But well played by Bell, what an innings under pressure. But to be truthful, KP's innings was better when it comes to the style of the innings.

Will you still be saying that if Bell scores a double ton?

 

[Simbazz]

Does anyone disagree about the way SA are using Kallis? I do, he's what? The best all rounder in the world at the moment, and he's been destined to stick it a foot outside off forever? I don't think so, Kallis isn't a scape goat to try to get an edged wicket, he should be used as the "go to man," as he's got a heavy ball, which he varies are stupid paces. He's a class bowler being mistreated in my eyes!

 

[Ollie_H]

I dont understand this 'heavy ball'?' The commentators have been saying it all day, Could you explain?

 

[Simbazz]

He drops it down "heavier," than all the rest of the SA attack, in a way that he's trying to stick it 10 ft under when he lets go. The heavy ball is usually ineffective as it is considered a sign of fatigue or tiredness as bowlers are just trying to get it through without it bouncing twice, but with Kallis, he's got a frame which allows him to ge the ball to bounce even with this extra wieght behind it.

Overall, the heavy ball is slightly trickier for a batsmen to hit, as it usually is "heavier," look at Morkel and Steyn, and they get the ball to pop up nicely off the seam and go through to the keeper seemingly easy, whereas Kallis' balls seem to be an anchor moving its way down the pitch

There'll be other ways people will explain it, but thats what i've known as a "heavy," ball.

 

[manee]

He drops it down "heavier," than all the rest of the SA attack, in a way that he's trying to stick it 10 ft under when he lets go. The heavy ball is usually ineffective as it is considered a sign of fatigue or tiredness as bowlers are just trying to get it through without it bouncing twice, but with Kallis, he's got a frame which allows him to ge the ball to bounce even with this extra wieght behind it.

Overall, the heavy ball is slightly trickier for a batsmen to hit, as it usually is "heavier," look at Morkel and Steyn, and they get the ball to pop up nicely off the seam and go through to the keeper seemingly easy, whereas Kallis' balls seem to be an anchor moving its way down the pitch

There'll be other ways people will explain it, but thats what i've known as a "heavy," ball.

That is an interesting definition indeed. Interesting in the truest sense of the word. I have always understood it as merely a medium pacer who hits the bat hard due to hitting either the splice or the toe of the bat.

To be honest, I think that South Africa have used Kallis fine as a defensive option who could have had a few wickets if the 'plays and misses' had caught the edge. He unfortunately no longer has the pace from when he first came onto the scene and I don't think that he can bowl long enough spells of probing accuracy and pace to be used as an attacking option. I think the key problem with the attack has been Ntini, his line has been constantly unthreatening and he has simply not bowled well at all. He needs to pick up his game lest South Africa have to carry him throughout the series.

 

[m_vaughan]

What a brilliant knock by Ian Bell, considering that he was really fighting for his place after the poor series against NZ. There is no doubting his skill and talent, and I've always considered his technique to be as sound as Rahul Dravid's, and probably better.

But I still think the South Africans have the best fast bowling attack in the world. But they have been clearly rusty. I expect them to improve dramatically and there is no doubting the capabilities of Steyn and Ntini. Morkel has done enough to suggest he is going to cause everyone problems with his bounce and pace. A great prospect.

England have almost reached the safety zone from where they cant lose this game but man of the innings has been Bell, because his century was under pressure, and he came out with flying colours.

Now its up to the England's bowlers to show that bowling isnt as hard as it may seem.

 

[Simbazz]

I think Ntini always needs an innings to get himself going, and it must be a shock for the SA players, its cold and wet! Nothing like South Africa's summer, they have hot and then stormy not cold!

And i've heard the "medium pacer," one, but i've always understood it that way. Thats why i said other people will have differnt definitions!

Kallis isn't a medium pacer though, ok he has lost pace (And looks like he's added a few pounds?) but he's still effective! I dont like the way they're using him.

 

[m_vaughan]

I too get the feeling he has gained weight, Kallis.

 

[Simbazz]

Its very noticable it seems!

Now;

Not even a year ago;

 

[Leicester Fox]

MoM so far has got to be Broad. Good little knock there though, I think Strauss was right when he said our boys prefer a bit of pace. Broad is very consistent though and his scores are getting higher and higher, hopefully he can keep going. Not sure when we'll want to declare here, don't want to curse it so i'm not going to say anything yet