posted Aug 9, 2008

walgert - That Goethe quote is my favourite of all time!!!

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posted Aug 9, 2008

I love my country and now I may be biased - but its very odd how critical you all are of the english team and perhaps none of you have considered the fact you do not have a world class openers like smith and mcenzie or a class allrounder like kallis or fast bowlers like Steyn and Ntini ... or a wicketkeeper batsmen like Boucher ....maybe just maybe South Africa is just simply the better side?

We did try and give you at least a decent batsman and captain( thanks to the folks at cricketsa) - maybe one day but not anytime soon england could be a better side than SA?

And to be honest its not just about talent - its about pride and determination to play well for your country ...
Something SMITH embodies - maybe why the English arent very partial to him - jealous?

Hope we have a great test ..

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posted Aug 9, 2008

What a load of cobblers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we do have world class players, what we suffer from is playing them when they are not in form. if our team was in form we'd stuff you!!!

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posted Aug 9, 2008

protea_fan

I'm as English as a strawberries and cream and I do agree with you to an extent, our wicket keepers in recent years have been terrible, read up some threads, us English are the most critical about this!
As for a class all rounder, Kallis is the greatest in the world at the minute, granted, but Flintoff is a class act aswell. His bowling, fielding and general presence is a vital part to any team. Yes, his batting isn't exactly up to scratch, but give him time at the crease and he'd be a good tail ender, most definately a world class all rounder.
Openers, I will agree, we've struggled badly since the loss of Trescothick (who was and still is world class) and Strauss has dropped in form. Our batsmen let us down, K.P. included at times with his flamboyant strokes.
As for bowlers, I'd say England have a truly great bowling attack. I like the fact you only make the point about fast bowlers, what about spinners? Harris couldn't roll a tire down a hill...
This all aside, the Proteas are a great team and have deserved their wins. But lets not forget that this series was a close call. The pendulum really could have swung either way.

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posted Aug 9, 2008

England need a new keeper and possibly someone other than Broad. I think Vaughan's only root back in is for Strauss. At the moment I'd say England have 9 top players and hopefully the batsmen can get into form for the ashes, I hope England don't chop and change the order again, leave this as it is with a change of keeper and a different bowler to Stuart Broad who to be honest looks very average.

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posted Aug 9, 2008

I would have put money on Panesar being run out to hinder Harmison's debut fifty. The chap is obviously very lucky to be retained in the side. He can't bat; he's a less than average fielder and his bowling has under-achieved by a long chalk. The only thing going for him at the moment is that my wife thinks he's got lovely eyes!

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posted Aug 9, 2008

Flintoff also looks very average with the bat, if truth be known. His bowling, however, is still quite potent, but he HAS turned thirty now and I don't subscribe to other theories suggesting the best years are ahead in terms of pace. He is in decline, sadly and his last hurrah will more than likely be his last home shot at the Ashes next season.

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posted Aug 9, 2008

I agree that Kallis is probably the world's best all-rounder, at present. He is however, extremely boring to watch in comparison to say Botham, Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee, to name but three. He doesn't exactly set my heart a pace when he's at the crease. He is though a supremely gifted cricketer.

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posted Aug 9, 2008

The same old story once again. England get into a winning position and then let it slip.
400-500 runs were there for the taking and once again an England collapse occurs.
Now the bowlers in the friendliest of overcast conditions cant even make the batsmen play. Harmison and Anderson were just bowling wide outside off stump and allowing the batsmen to leave most deliveries. It would not be surprising for the Sth Africans to win this match, and make it 3 times we lose after dominating the match.
ENgland have no killer instinct whatsoever, no backbone, and are a bunch of under achievers.

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posted Aug 9, 2008

Barry,

You are really going to have stop sitting on the fence

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