ENG v RSA 3rd Test...

We've picked a side reliant on us winning the toss and posting 400+.

We've bowled SA out properly once with 5 bowlers, so we've dropped it to 4, with one being Flintoff who could get crocked at any minute.
 
On the bright side, we can't make some obscure bowler, the scapegoat for a loss. Must say, I've heard some pathetic excuses, but blaming (I have forgotten his name, would you believe) the Aussie lad for unsettling the squad, has it be one of the worst. Cliquey bunch aren't we, eh. I would like to know why other nations don't have any issues when they pluck cricketers from the abyss.

Anyway, I hope the wicket turns. Monty has to be the key.
 
It is Edgbaston don't forget, the ball will swing there. And you've got 3 of the best swingers in Flinthoff, Anderson & Sidebottom. Big improvement on the selections at Headingly.
 
I hate the build up to tests these days, listening to the England players talk themselves up, and constantly telling us how they've learned from their mistakes, give 100%, understand what needs to be done etc blah blah blah

Vaughan needs an innings, in the last 22 bats, he's scored just one century, and only 4 further half centuries. Albeit interupted by major injuries, its now 3 centuries in 3 years. In 2002 alone he made 6 - his 40+ average is being sustained by his early career at the moment. 26.6 average from the year so far, from 8 tests

Of course it doesn't matter anyway. England reward failure
 
On the other hand he is a good captain which is keeping him in. Its too much of a big step to drop Vaughan at the moment I would think.

I think its all a big over-reaction anyway. . England aren't all that bad of a side, its not like they should be sweeping everyone else apart, especially SA who aren't a bad side on their day. It was a bad result but they come about sometimes, although England were in a similar position in the first test but didn't have the conviction to see it through.

Not feeling the bowlers at the mo' from England or any other test side. I do expect Flintoff to get stuck back in hopefully he stays injury-free.
 
Vaughan got a good one first up, that happens in Cricket.

Losing Pietersen makes that SA's session by a long shot.

Bells looked in good touch all through the series, fancy him for a big one. We need it.
 
why are england refusing to be good at cricket? i want answers.
 
Aren't you glad all those words uttered by the England camp coming into this test cam to fruition eh?

It'll be the same players for the final test. The same excuses, and the same Labour style spin
 
Bell and Cook have been ridiculously frustrating in the last year.
Too many 50-70 scores.
 
Utd heap said:
Bell and Cook have been ridiculously frustrating in the last year.
Too many 50-70 scores.
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At least they're making that many runs! Players like Strauss, Vaughan and Collingwood dream of reaching half that these days. They survive because they just about nurse their career averages around the 40 mark, and once in every blue moon they make a century and their place is supposedly cemented again through the forthcoming period of failures and thrown away wickets
 
Brad said:
At least they're making that many runs! Players like Strauss, Vaughan and Collingwood dream of reaching half that these days. They survive because they just about nurse their career averages around the 40 mark, and once in every blue moon they make a century and their place is supposedly cemented again through the forthcoming period of failures and thrown away wickets
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True, i'd stick by Strauss for a while yet, as he also has age on his side to a degree.

Vaughan and Collingwood really have no leg to stand on now.

Foster for Ambrose, Broad for Collingwood, Shah for Vaughan, is what i'd like to see.

Although the series will probably be over.
 
Frosty said:
Has anyone got the county batting averages and run totals to hand?

Who are the most on-form English batsmen at the moment?
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Collingwood. Great selection that one. He's averaging 13 for this season, and has only managed 39 runs in his last 10 tests(unless I'm mistaken). Why the hell Ravi Bopara didn't get picked is beyond me. Then again, he's probably not down with clique. And I would've picked Harmison. If England want to win, they have to bow SA out, which isn't exactly rocket science.
 
Spoonov said:
Collingwood. Great selection that one. He's averaging 13 for this season, and has only managed 39 runs in his last 10 tests(unless I'm mistaken). Why the hell Ravi Bopara didn't get picked is beyond me. Then again, he's probably down with clique. And I would've picked Harmison. If England want to win, they have to bow SA out, which isn't exactly rocket science.
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Good stuff from the selectors.

Yet if you could make a list of promising young English batsmen, who would be on it? Since people have singled out four batsmen as being out of form, are there four replacements that you can think of?
 
Frosty said:
Good stuff from the selectors.

Yet if you could make a list of promising young English batsmen, who would be on it? Since people have singled out four batsmen as being out of form, are there four replacements that you can think of?
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Tough one that. But overall, I'd definitely bring in Shah, Bopara, Harmison. . .and possibly Keys. I would've kept Broad, he's a decent batsman. . .and will develop into a cracking bowler. I don't understand why we lose faith in some cricketers so easily. Stick them in. . .and let them learn. He's definitely got it. That said, I thought Harmison would turn out to be England's best fast bowler since Bob Willis.
 
Spoonov said:
Tough one that. But overall, I'd definitely bring in Shah, Bopara, Harmison. . .and possibly Keys. I would've kept Broad, he's a decent batsman. . .and will develop into a cracking bowler. I don't understand why we lose faith in some cricketers so easily. Stick them in. . .and let them learn. He's definitely got it. That said, I thought Harmison would turn out to be England's best fast bowler since Bob Willis.
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I'm not convinced Shah is the answer to all out problems, but there are a number of capable batsmen who deserve a chance to see if they have what it takes

I like Collingwood, he's gritty and determined. Other England batsmen could learn a lot from him. But he's in utterly rancid form. There is no justifiable reason why he should have been picked for this test - having been dropped from the last, and Bopara not selected in his place

I've just had a look at the tour averages. Stuart Broad is still our best averaging batsman, and only Cook has made more 50's. Broad dropped for this test, from what I heard due to burn out, but he's playing for his county today and has taken 2 wickets. Jimmy Anderson is 5th in the standings, his average is 45 compared to Vaughans 5.75!!! It's an absolute joke
 
Brad said:
I'm not convinced Shah is the answer to all out problems, but there are a number of capable batsmen who deserve a chance to see if they have what it takes

I like Collingwood, he's gritty and determined. Other England batsmen could learn a lot from him. But he's in utterly rancid form. There is no justifiable reason why he should have been picked for this test - having been dropped from the last, and Bopara not selected in his place

I've just had a look at the tour averages. Stuart Broad is still our best averaging batsman, and only Cook has made more 50's. Broad dropped for this test, from what I heard due to burn out, but he's playing for his county today and has taken 2 wickets. Jimmy Anderson is 5th in the standings, his average is 45 compared to Vaughans 5.75!!! It's an absolute joke
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We'll if he's going to improve and learn, I can't see anything better than playing him in the Brum Test. The best way to avoid burn out would be to reduce the number on international one dayers he plays in. As for Collingwood, yeah he's gritty, but if that's his best attribute then he clearly shouldn't be anywhere near the first 11. Fair enough if he scoring runs, but he clearly hasn't been this season. Pathetic decision to play him(watch him score a double century). Bopara should've started ahead of him, and if it were up to me I'd give him a good run in the team.
 
Vaughan, Strauss, Foster and Collingwood in his present form should be no where near the test team.

There a number of brilliant young kids on the County circuit, but the selectors are gutless.
 
Utd heap said:
Bell and Cook have been ridiculously frustrating in the last year.
Too many 50-70 scores.
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Which is 50-70 more than Vaughan can manage?

I don't care if he is the captain, his form does not warrant a place in this side.

We should do it the Aussie way, pick your best eleven, and then pick a skipper from that eleven.
 
217-8, after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Somehow Kallis and Nel have three wickets apiece, despite not being the Saffers best bowlers.

Roll on the Aussies eh?
 
hopefully this rubbish continues, after pattinson's call up i think i must be due a cap soon.
 
231 a/o.

The saviour Collingwood hits a magnificent 4. I don't get the selection, no logic used at all. The set up is very cliquey.
 
rimaldo said:
hopefully this rubbish continues, after pattinson's call up i think i must be due a cap soon.
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Surprised he's not blamed for the first innings total.

feck it, he clearly screwed up the dressing room atmosphere in the last test. . .and it has been carried into this test as well.

(oh and I thought the game was on Thursday. Had a heartache when I saw the total)
 
Spoonov said:
Surprised he's not blamed for the first innings total.

feck it, he clearly screwed up the dressing room atmosphere in the last test. . .and it has been carried into this test as well.

(oh and I thought the game was on Thursday. Had a heartache when I saw the total)
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it is either pattinson's or jesus' fault for that innings, since i have actual proof pattinson exists i am going to blame him. i heard he refused to share his toys in the england dressing room and sidebottom refused to play in the last test because of it. he loved that tickle me elmo and was so heart broken when he couldn't play with it that he couldn't step out for england. the other players were so outraged by this and they went on strike and are deliberately losing to get their point across to the selectors. pattinson is a right bastard.
 
Sultan said:
Pattison is an Aussie!
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another good reason to blame him. so far we have the following reasons to blame him for that poor first innings-

1) he is real and jesus might not be.
2) he is an aussie.
3) he refuses to share his tickle me elmo with the other players, especially sidebottom.

any more for any more?
 
Frosty said:
Has anyone got the county batting averages and run totals to hand?

Who are the most on-form English batsmen at the moment?
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County Division 1 stats:
http://stats.cricinfo.com/countycri...most_runs_career.html?id=3632;type=tournament

County Division 2 stats:
http://stats.cricinfo.com/countycri...most_runs_career.html?id=3633;type=tournament

Overall first class matches stats:
http://stats.cricinfo.com/countycri...er.html?class=4;host=brit;id=2008;type=season

Bopara, Horton and Prior leading the chase for inclusion with those stats
 
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