England vs RSA 4th Test...

B Cantona

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Fourth npower Test, The Brit Oval: England v South Africa
Play starts Thursday 1100 BST

England: Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen (captain), Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Tim Ambrose (wkt), Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steve Harmison, Monty Panesar.

South Africa (probable): Graeme Smith (captain), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher (wkt), Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini.

Interesting selection, because finally the bowling attack has been reinforced. Had Vaughan remained captain, he wouldn't have been dropped. Collingwood wouldn't after his last innings. Barring a shock dropping (shock because of the lengths of failure an England batsman has to fall too before its even suggested he should be canned), we'd have gone into this test with 4 bowlers, not 5. Clearly its been recognised we need more bowling power, but the cosy batting club at the top order prevented it. It's taken the resignation of Vaughan to free up a place, because the selectors haven't had the bollocks to drop anyone previously
 
I suppose most of the selection is logical, I just don't understand why they're opting for Ambrose when they're playing with 5 bowlers. Why not pick Prior instead? He's England's best wicket keeper batsman. Instead we sacrifice a batsman.
I hope Broad will bat at 7.
I think Harmison for Sidebottom is the correct decision. He's been the best english bowler in county cricket and is a better option than Sidebottom at the Oval.
I hope some of Pieterson's enthusiasm rubs off on the rest of the team. He certainly talks a good talk.
 
i think cook will be checking his hands for holes at tea.
 
good old harmy, he has looked good today, that amla wicket was a peach. when will the selectors realise he just needs lots of overs under his belt to be on top form.
 
Fall of wicket

56 McKenzie
103 Smith
103 Amla
105 Kallis

Meltdownnnn!
 
we need the aussie killer instinct and polish them off quickly now whilst we have them reeling.
 
Wahaaaaaaaay, those wickets came quicker than you can say "KP for Prime Minister".
 
anderson and harmison have both been immense. anderson is swinging it round corners. lets just hope it quietens down a little when we bat.
 
That was a classic example of why people dont like hawkeye. It looked plumb, but hawkeye showed it as just going over
 
feck me 158-7 at tea... no recognised batsmen left for SA. In fact the last 2batsman, Nel & Ntini, are really pathetic with the bat.
 
what a session, great for harmy so please for the lad, lets hope broady can pick up a 2fer
 
KingBest said:
That was a classic example of why people dont like hawkeye. It looked plumb, but hawkeye showed it as just going over
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Looked plumb on a 2D picture. But to be given out, the umpire has the consider the ball in 3D. Hawkeye is great because we get given that image. And its certainly more reliable than the eye of the umpire

Great comeback by England. Have to bear in mind Safricans have already won the series though, no saying they'd collapse like this if that prize was still at stake. England from memory have been quite adept at winning these dead rubbers, I remember a few against Australia. Can end up conning yourself about how good we are that way
 
Brad said:
Looked plumb on a 2D picture. But to be given out, the umpire has the consider the ball in 3D. Hawkeye is great because we get given that image. And its certainly more reliable than the eye of the umpire

Great comeback by England. Have to bear in mind Safricans have already won the series though, no saying they'd collapse like this if that prize was still at stake. England from memory have been quite adept at winning these dead rubbers, I remember a few against Australia. Can end up conning yourself about how good we are that way
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Maybe it has something to do with a lack of pressure or expectation on our behalf as well? We could actually be good, just not performing that well.
 
With the whole new captain issue there was always going to be a big push in the performance levels.

Have they got the last one out yet?
 
Magnificent, we've just seen that rarest of things, 5 runs accredited to the batsman! Takes Bell off the mark

Frosty, the thing with Hawkeye is that its accurate within mm's. It doesn't have to contend with the problems of human error like an umpire. That's why its being brought more and more into the game, initially as an aid for the viewer, now potentially to save a batsman from dismissal. Personally I'm for it, this idea of challenges is the happy medium for me. The umpire retains authority, but if the batsman gets a stinker he has the potential for reprieve. The key is to set the number of challenges at the right level
 
ZIDANE said:
With the whole new captain issue there was always going to be a big push in the performance levels.

Have they got the last one out yet?
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they've already lost their first wicket..

England 20-1 v South Africa 194

I think England are a good side. We certainly have more than enough good bowlers.
Pieterson is the best batsman is the world and Flinthoff is the best fast bowler if you ask me. Bell is potentially a great player and I think he will establish himself eventually.
 
Rams said:
they've already lost their first wicket..

England 20-1 v South Africa 194

I think England are a good side. We certainly have more than enough good bowlers.
Pieterson is the best batsman is the world and Flinthoff is the best fast bowler if you ask me. Bell is potentially a great player and I think he will establish himself eventually.
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Agree with you on Pieterson and Flintoff, but the strength in depth just isn't there for me. Can see the Aussies humiliating us once again
 
Rams said:
they've already lost their first wicket..

England 20-1 v South Africa 194

I think England are a good side. We certainly have more than enough good bowlers.
Pieterson is the best batsman is the world and Flinthoff is the best fast bowler if you ask me. Bell is potentially a great player and I think he will establish himself eventually.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say in the world. They are a bit tempremental.
 
Another breath taking innings currently going on by Pietersen. I think you'd struggle to find a player who's a better batsman than him at the moment. Certainly the best 'English' batsman Ive ever seen and even one of the best ive ever seen full stop.

204-3
KP 93 not out
 
Rams said:
Another breath taking innings currently going on by Pietersen. I think you'd struggle to find a player who's a better batsman than him at the moment. Certainly the best 'English' batsman Ive ever seen and even one of the best ive ever seen full stop.

204-3
KP 93 not out
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A good innings Rams, but he's still been fortunate, two massive top edges dropped by Ntini
 
Fortune favours the brave. Makes up for some of the ridiculous decisions he's got in 2008 so far.
 
We're a decent side when it means feck all.

Lancs completing a shite Cricketing summer.
 
Good bye Ambrose, never good enough. Typically he's the one who we stuck by for a period of time.
 
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