posted Jul 14, 2008

Proud SouthAfricanFan,
I never tire of all this colonial strutting and posturing;something about taking on the Imperial masters seems to bring it out in you-how touching!

you say that England have lost their best chance of taking something from his series,but their bowling attack has already shown hat they have more guile than the South African bowlers who seem to have had no idea other than to sling it down in the hope of hitting the batsman!

Furhermore,Jons and Flintoff are in the wings and Jones has the pace of the South African attack AND a cricket brain! England can only get stronger.

Come on you colonials;temper your enhusiasm with some critical self analysis!

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posted Jul 14, 2008

I have to say I'm surprised at the way this test match has gone. Prior to it starting, I thought the proteas would win 4-0. It's hard to say whether our huge first innings total was any one in particular of:
1) The SAFs are undercooked
2) This is one flat wicket
3) We batted very well.

Having seen the SAFs, I now think if (as I expect) they do hold out for a draw, then they are in the ascendancy because our bowlers will be very tired and if we bowl first at Leeds - it's almost certain they'll be either rubbish or we'll have an injury.

It seems Ryan Sidebottom's injured now - which I have to say I'm quite pleased about because I think he's rubbish. He's made his CV with good performances against rubbish sides like NZ and WI. He's done at best ok but nothing special against India and SL - though that Matt Prior couldn't catch for toffee in Sri Lanka.

Yesterday was very tough to watch though wasn't it. Though having said that I guess no harder to watch than when Mike Atherton blocked for ages back in 1995.

I do agree with GirlFan though - pitches at Lord's in particular have become just too flat. It's fair enough if Murali or Warne or Waqar Younis are playing and they can get results on any pitch - but neither side has that sort of bowler so all we end up with is a pitch comparable to the M1 and neither side can force a result.

All England fans can really hope for is James Anderson turning himself into Bob Massie and hoping it swings around corners this morning.

Fair play to the SAFs though - it wasn't pretty - but they did the job. Pretty much sums up the South African cricket team - little flair (with Gibbs gone) but plenty of grit.

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posted Jul 14, 2008

If this is a bad shout, just tell me, but what about Paul Nixon to come in with the gloves. Steady, vastly experienced, won't let the batsmen settle, not bad with the bat himself and most importantly, he can do his job behind the stumps!

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posted Jul 14, 2008

bring back G.J, a classy batter and not worse than ambrose who quite frankly is a poor paul nixon who is bad enough.

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posted Jul 14, 2008

RobM1974 that has to be some of the most amazing rubbish I've ever read on these pages - you really are the king of all doomlords!

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posted Jul 14, 2008

Archleftback!

South african geezer! your dead right about the england bowling attack, it is full of talent! The only thing the england attack misses is shear pace! bring in jones for the expensive anderson, chuck flintoff in for colly and a well balanced england team will emerge! However we need a wicket keeper! evry1 is mentioning name after name, and for me none fit the bill. However i believe geraint jones to be the best option as he scored runs against the best bowling attack in the world! or alec stewart haha!

The future is good for english cricket, lets not turn it into the slanging matches that happens in football! Get behind the lads, South africa are a great team, and the lads need the barmy army behind them!!!!!

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posted Jul 14, 2008

i think geraint jones, although not world-class, is our most trusted wicket-keeper. He looked good in the position.

Flintoff and Jones in for Collingwood and Ambrose.. and suddenly we have the Ashes winning middle order.

Anyone agree?

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posted Jul 14, 2008

Re: Spreck1212 on Nixon.

"won't let the batsmen settle,"

Good enough reason not to pick him. We should look to people who can outplay opponents. Keep cricket a sport, or there will be no summer refuge from football.

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posted Jul 14, 2008

I disagree, bradley....

Flintoff's batting has deteriorated in recent years. He's not a number six batsman. He should be batting at seven or eight, IMHO. If he's to come into the side, it should be for someone like Broad. The question to ask is, is Flintoff playing better than Broad?

If Colly is to go, he should be replaced by a batsman, someone like Shah....

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posted Jul 19, 2008

Hi
Back to cheating..
Maybe TV`s are clearer here in SA, but when I see a ball slipping through a fielders fingers and being scooped up from the turf, then being unashamedly being hailed as a catch by that fielder, I wonder where sports is going. We have international sportsmen cheating on their country (Hansie Cronje), footballers diving in all directions in the box, and now this. Sad enough.

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