posted Jul 15, 2008

So Michael Vaughan was pleased with England's efforts in the first Test, and thought his side "played a really good game". Is he serious? I was at Lords on Sunday and thought it was dire. To call the bowling toothless would be a massive understatement, they didn't even bother appealling on a caught behind, and Ambrose dropped another catch. And their fearless leader is satisfied after his team threw away a winning position?

Pretty much sums about the climate of acceptance, if not out and out celebration, of mediocrity in which the UK currently festers.

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posted Jul 15, 2008

i find this reaction a bit odd. The pitch was hopeless, Lords is known for it now, you'll find many people predicting a draw before this test started, with or with out rain.

England were given a chance due to some pretty shoddy batting from the saffas, for them to collapse twice on this pitch would have been a disgraceful preformance.

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posted Jul 15, 2008

Message to those who feel South Africa cheated them out of the entertainment that they paid their hard earned cash for in the past 2 days & want said loot back:

Football season starts again soon. Bye.

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posted Jul 15, 2008

hendero....

I agree totally. If Vaughan was pleased with that performance then it's no wonder England haven't built on their successes in 2004/05. Can anyone imagine Ponting being satisfied if Australia drew at home (or anywhere!) with South Africa after being in the same position as England were on day 4? I think the answer is no.

I don't care how lifeless the Lord's pitch was. England will never have a better chance of beating South Africa in this series. I know Vaughan has to try to put a positive spin on things but deep down he knows England threw it away with a toothless bowling display in SA's second innings. A massive confidence boost for SA though going into the second test - they were dreadful for 3 days and still got a draw.

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posted Jul 15, 2008

Come back Chris Tavare.

All is forgiven.

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posted Jul 15, 2008

Although I'm disappointed with the draw, you can't overlook the fact the SA team are quality through out. Well, Harris looks nothing more than an ordinary bowler but the last time i looked that wasn't enough to get him hung.

The England fast bowling attack is swing condition dependant and when it doesn't swing we will struggle.

I'd like to say well done to our bowlers for getting into the SA batsmen first time around and well done to the SA batsmen for showing some really impressive powers of concerntration. Ok, so it didn't look to pretty but i would have given a flying **** if it were England who has dug in and fought so hard for the draw.

All this talk about initative and lost chances, there is some truth in it but we all know cricket is a game that can turn on its head with a rash shot or a cracking delivery. Personally i think that it has set up the rest of the series nicely. SA know that if they are rash that England can get into there middle order and England know if we don't bowl well (or with a little more imagination/luck) that we will be toilling for an age in the field.

Matt..

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posted Jul 17, 2008

Wouldn't it be good if all the gobby saffas returned back to the country they came from instead of writing on BBC Cricket forums???

All I have read is gobby saffas and all commenting on the last day, where were you on the first secodn adn third days....???

Not a gracious remark from any of you. Typical South African arrogance...

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posted Jul 17, 2008

BJCape, how about you get on the next SAA flight back to SA where YOU can go look in the mirror and we don't have to read your drivel....

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posted Jul 17, 2008

Droyle..are you saying Pietersen and Strauss have to fly back to SA too. man u are a sour grape loser!!

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posted Jul 17, 2008

Excuse me? (walgert????)

Don't cvall me a sour grape loser, you don't even know me, who are you to call me a loser, you didn't hear me complain at the pitch or the result did you?

You may have forgotten Pietersen and Strauss made a choice to play cricket for England, halfwit!

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