Their pace bowling attack is absolutely amazing. Steyn, Morkel and Philander would walk into any team comfortably.
Cricket
- Thread starter EdWeatherall
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Their pace bowling attack is absolutely amazing. Steyn, Morkel and Philander would walk into any team comfortably.
51 wickets at 13 odd a piece, with a strike-rate below 30 in 7 tests in the span of 139 days
.They also have Marchant De Lange an upcoming truly right arm fast bowler.
South Africa seem to be on the up. I would put their pace attack as perhaps best in the world.
South Africa seem to be on the up. I would put their pace attack as perhaps best in the world.
I still think ours (England is) at the current time, but you're right, they have more obvious talent coming through.
Should be a cracking series between the two in the summer - why the feck is it only 3 tests
I think England has more quality in depth than SA with their pace attack. Anderson & Broad are the starters and then you have Bresnan, Tremlett and Finn backing up with the likes of Onions not even getting a look-in.
SA's starting 4 of Philander, Steyn, Morkel & Kallis are the best in world-cricket imo and they compliment each other very well. Steyn has everything you want in a bowler, Philander is very accurate with the ability to seam/swing the ball and Morkel provides the bounce option with his height and pace. Add to that the best all-rounder in world cricket who is very economical and has a knack of picking up key wickets and you have the perfect pace attack.
The back-ups are where I think England's attack has an advantage: De Lange looks good and has a lot of pace and aggression but I don't think Parnell is good enough for test cricket and Tsotsobe has hardly played any test cricket despite being extremely successful in ODIs.
SA's starting 4 of Philander, Steyn, Morkel & Kallis are the best in world-cricket imo and they compliment each other very well. Steyn has everything you want in a bowler, Philander is very accurate with the ability to seam/swing the ball and Morkel provides the bounce option with his height and pace. Add to that the best all-rounder in world cricket who is very economical and has a knack of picking up key wickets and you have the perfect pace attack.
The back-ups are where I think England's attack has an advantage: De Lange looks good and has a lot of pace and aggression but I don't think Parnell is good enough for test cricket and Tsotsobe has hardly played any test cricket despite being extremely successful in ODIs.
Agree with your assessment though their is plenty of talent available to tap into for SA. De Lange was one of many young fast bowlers who could've been chosen but he seems to have something special about him and Allan Donald had a lot to do with him and Philander being called up. England have better options in that they've actually given their back ups a chance and they've fierce competition currently. But you can't argue that as a starting 4, SA's pace attack is the best in test cricket currently.
It's going to be a cracker in England. Looking forward to it. Hopefully the rains have subsided by then.
fixed!
Just been bought by Pune along with Micheal Clarke.
Star will pay Rs. 3851 crore for 96 matches to be played from July 2012 to March 2018. 38.5 crore for every Indian match that is. Also looks like ESPN and Star has decided to split.
The Rupert Murdoch-owned STAR India has won the BCCI's Media Rights (covering Television, Internet and Mobile) for global territories, for the period July 2012 - March 2018.
STAR India bid Rs 3851 crore for the six-year period for 96 matches. It comes down to an average of around 40 crore per match. Multi Screen Media (Sony) were a close second with a bid of Rs 3700 crore.
"STAR India would work collabaratively with ESPN-STARSports to exploit the rights", said Uday Shankar, CEO, STAR India. Right now, we have three sports channels Star Sports, ESPN and Star Cricket to broadcast the cricket on. However, if required, we could explore the launch of new channels.
The deal also includes internet rights and domestic cricket. That brings the trouble with Neo Sports to an end for now. IPL rights remain with SONY.
There had been speculation that the BCCI would not have got great value out of the deal following India's disastrous season but all that has been squashed in some style.
Star and Multi Screen Media (Sony) were the only two companies to make the bids but a total of five had filed the tenders.
The BCCI is very happy with the deal. Now the media rights have been fully evaluated and fully priced with Star coming out with a such a deal, BCCI President N Srinivasan said. Following a transparent process of verifying the eligibility of each bidder, the winner was chosen.
ESPN-Star already have the rights of all ICC events and also the rights of domestic cricket in England and Australia.
The BCCI's marketing committee had set the price for category A games at Rs 31.25 crore per match (approx USD 6.1 million) plus Rs 1 crore (approx USD 0.2 million), while category B games were set at Rs 34 crore (approx USD 6.67 million) plus Rs 1 crore.
The board failed in its attempt to sell the internet rights separately last year, as the initial base price of Rs 3 crore and the subsequently reduced price of Rs 2 crore found no takers.
The matter has subsequently been referred for arbitration, with the Bombay High Court ruling that Nimbus must deposit Rs 305 crore (approx USD 60 million) with the court as security for the amount the BCCI claims it is owed by the company.
Nimbus has also made a counter-claim of Rs 600 crore (approx USD 118 million) from the board.
STAR India bid Rs 3851 crore for the six-year period for 96 matches. It comes down to an average of around 40 crore per match. Multi Screen Media (Sony) were a close second with a bid of Rs 3700 crore.
"STAR India would work collabaratively with ESPN-STARSports to exploit the rights", said Uday Shankar, CEO, STAR India. Right now, we have three sports channels Star Sports, ESPN and Star Cricket to broadcast the cricket on. However, if required, we could explore the launch of new channels.
The deal also includes internet rights and domestic cricket. That brings the trouble with Neo Sports to an end for now. IPL rights remain with SONY.
There had been speculation that the BCCI would not have got great value out of the deal following India's disastrous season but all that has been squashed in some style.
Star and Multi Screen Media (Sony) were the only two companies to make the bids but a total of five had filed the tenders.
The BCCI is very happy with the deal. Now the media rights have been fully evaluated and fully priced with Star coming out with a such a deal, BCCI President N Srinivasan said. Following a transparent process of verifying the eligibility of each bidder, the winner was chosen.
ESPN-Star already have the rights of all ICC events and also the rights of domestic cricket in England and Australia.
The BCCI's marketing committee had set the price for category A games at Rs 31.25 crore per match (approx USD 6.1 million) plus Rs 1 crore (approx USD 0.2 million), while category B games were set at Rs 34 crore (approx USD 6.67 million) plus Rs 1 crore.
The board failed in its attempt to sell the internet rights separately last year, as the initial base price of Rs 3 crore and the subsequently reduced price of Rs 2 crore found no takers.
The matter has subsequently been referred for arbitration, with the Bombay High Court ruling that Nimbus must deposit Rs 305 crore (approx USD 60 million) with the court as security for the amount the BCCI claims it is owed by the company.
Nimbus has also made a counter-claim of Rs 600 crore (approx USD 118 million) from the board.
I'd say this is one of the best things that could happen to Indian cricket
Why?
Because Neo cricket's terrible coverage with a million ads -- during the match, cutting away as soon as the 6th ball is bowled, terrible commentators(Sivaramakrishnan, Arun Lal at the same time...), terrible studio hosts was extremely taxing to watch. Even the most ardent test fan's desire to watch gets tested(I certainly know mine was).
With the way cricket's viewership is progressing, with so many people simply not having the time to spend an entire day at the ground, proper TV coverage's vital to arrest the slide in test viewership decline. And I think this will help that big time.
You can just see by the comments on Cricinfo on other websites about this deal, everyone's happy.
With the way cricket's viewership is progressing, with so many people simply not having the time to spend an entire day at the ground, proper TV coverage's vital to arrest the slide in test viewership decline. And I think this will help that big time.
You can just see by the comments on Cricinfo on other websites about this deal, everyone's happy.
Good days batting for England.
Oh sure. I just didn't think a better presented broadcast could be the best thing to happen to Indian cricket.
I'm a pretty cynical cricket fan these days though. I'd hardly call myself a fan now. I seem to have lost my connect with the sport in the last few years.
Classy innings by Rahane.
Rohit Sharma has just played a sensational knock for Mumbai in the IPL. Why hasn't he kicked on in Internationals, such a great player.
He plays sensational knocks every 4 days in the IPL.
This was one of his best, great clarity of thought, always pushing for a bye or an extra run.
Yeah good innings. Yet to make his test debut, would be interesting how he does when he finally gets it
He'll be a better test player than limited overs player, I think.
In limited overs, he almost always gets out playing rash shots. Test cricket, there's no need to go for shots. The best innings he's played for India in ODIs have all been built on him picking up a lot of singles and in tests, he can do that to his heart's content. Fitness is an issue, though.
In limited overs, he almost always gets out playing rash shots. Test cricket, there's no need to go for shots. The best innings he's played for India in ODIs have all been built on him picking up a lot of singles and in tests, he can do that to his heart's content. Fitness is an issue, though.
His main issue will be desire IMO. He has already earned more money than likes of Dravid, Ganguly earned in their first 5-6 years in international cricket. IPL is also giving him some fame and the kick you get from winning such close matches. So the question will be does he have the desire to go through the trials of international cricket, attempt to please the thankless Indian public and face the media which is baying for blood 24/7.
Windies looking better than I've seen them for a long time. Really like the look of Sammy and Gibson as a management team and they seem to have everyone pulling in the right direction, not bothering with those (Gayle, Dyawne Dravo, Sunil Narine etc.) that want to play in the IPL.
Don't blame any of those guys for playing in the IPL. It's a lot of money. Any of us would've done the same if it came to our jobs.
They're building a good team, though.
Darren Bravo's a little bit hit and miss, but Kirk Edwards looks a talent. The bowling's very good -- Roach, Rampaul, Edwards. Sammy looks the most ordinary of the lot, but he does OK every time.
They're building a good team, though.
Darren Bravo's a little bit hit and miss, but Kirk Edwards looks a talent. The bowling's very good -- Roach, Rampaul, Edwards. Sammy looks the most ordinary of the lot, but he does OK every time.
Isn't Gayle coming back to WI Test Team, thought I had read somewhere that he is.
Narine had no central contract with the West Indies board when he was picked up by the IPL. In the end this is about his livelihood - WI cricket is in big financial trouble, and with no base contract, he was RIGHT to go along with the IPL contract.
Of course if he continues to impress - that will change, and maybe so will his availability when it comes to the WI.
We've seen players like KP, Sanga finish their international obligations before joining their clubs.
Of course if he continues to impress - that will change, and maybe so will his availability when it comes to the WI.
We've seen players like KP, Sanga finish their international obligations before joining their clubs.
Gayle was watching one of the ODIs against Australia, the commentators were saying he'll be back in the side once he has returned from his injury although I think he may be playing in the IPL?
Absolutely true. It's a bit rich for anyone to criticize Narine(I'm not having a go at Fiskey) but everyone would've done the same if they were in his position. Whether people like or not, the IPL is a very lucrative option for many players and they've a right to earn and do what's good for themselves.
Yea, but KP and Sangakarra have earned plenty already. KP in particular gets paid well by the ECB, probably.
He's agreed to play for WI, but I think from now on there's going to be some kind of unspoken agreement that the IPL players won't be selected.
Bravo and Narine are at the IPL, but that has been handled with pretty minimal fuss. Michael Holding did point it out on commentary, though.. said he's not sure why Bravo's not playing this test.
Pietersen seems to be very humble and likable in his interviews.
I've always thought that about him. The English media like misrepresenting him as being arrogant, attention-seeking and some nonsense about 'wanting to be loved'.
I've never seen him act arrogantly towards an opponent. And tries his best to be a nice guy.
I've never seen him act arrogantly towards an opponent. And tries his best to be a nice guy.
Ashwin seemed to celebrate Sehwag's wicket a little too intensely. Made me wonder if it's got anything to do with the divisions within the Indian team -- Ashwin would naturally back Dhoni.
He's a great guy, the English media to my mind don't love him as much partly because he's South African and secondly because he bats nothing like an Englishman. He's one of my favourite players. He has more hundreds than any other English batsmen in International Cricket but you always feel he's an ill advised shot away from question marks about his future in the team, it's crazy.
Heh, I also thought the same thing whilst watching his celebration. I think there's definitely something going on between them.
Yep, I recall he missed out on a century against the Windies and the Sky team were up in arms about how stupid he was to try a big shot and miss out on his century. He is a class player when on form, has all the shots and provides entertainment in his innings. He is in great form now, but if he struggles against the South Africans you can bet people will be calling for his head again.
I love his & Swann's interviews - both come across as nice guys who give honest assessments to questions.
It's stupid though, his aggression is a welcome change to some of the middle order plodders England have had, he takes the pressure off of other players and he can win you a game in a session. Let him play his natural game, I'd much rather have him over the likes of John Crawley FFS.
Rain doing a favour for the West Indies, could be an interesting chase now if the Aussies have to really push on. Of course if Warner stays in they'll get it easily but his wicket early then it could be interesting.
Just back on now, but prospect of further rain.
Just back on now, but prospect of further rain.
Bravo is a bit of a fan of the show and the money, I've played with most the Trini players (at least the one's who came through the Queens park ranks, Bravos, Pollard etc.) and even though I haven't talked to him about it I would imagine him being the type to chose money.
Pollard on the other hand would chose Test cricket everyday of the week, his whole focus in life is to be a West Indies great and I'm sure he'll achieve it.
Don't think he's good enough to play test cricket. His technique's not good. His fielding and bowling are outstanding, though.. superbly committed cricketer.
WI could do with drawing this test.. after that battling first innings.