England vs South Africa 09/07/12 - 12/09/12

Sassy Colin

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http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-south-africa-2012/content/series/534185.html?template=fixtures

Right, this is serious now, finally a proper test for England to decide who is the best in the World.

Pity they filled up the schedule with that Australia 1 day series because this would have better with 5 Test matches rather than just the 3.
 
Two best teams in the world right now.
 
Should be a terrific series, although the weather will probably lead to a few lost days of play. They really should be playing a 5 match series.
 
I'm going on Friday, weather forecast is a bit shit, but there shouldn't be too much play lost in this first test.
 
England are clear favourites for this. I hope AB keeping won't do too much damage to his batting.
 
I think England will batter our boys, tbh. We've not had much playing time off late and it will tell against quality opposition.
 
South Africa probably have the better side on paper and some of the great players like Steyn and Kallis still have something to prove in England which means they will be really up for it.

I think England may shade it but as it is just a 3 Test series it doesn't really mean much.
 
Traub said:
I hope AB keeping won't do too much damage to his batting.
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Doesn't seem to bother him really, in ODIs where he's played as keeper more he's 80+ when a keeper and 38 when not. Although that 80+ does include 4 centuries vs Zimbabwe and Netherlands(two of which are not outs), so uh yeah. We'll see. Boucher is the second best wicket keeper of his generation though(they wouldn't have stuck by him up til now if he wasn't a supremely special one), big shoes to fill.
 
Yeah, it's fine in limited overs cricket but I've heard that being a keeper takes a lot of concentrations and having to concentrate for almost five days straight will be tough. Sangakkara doesn't keep in tests does he?
 
FlawlessThaw said:
South Africa probably have the better side on paper and some of the great players like Steyn and Kallis still have something to prove in England which means they will be really up for it.

I think England may shade it but as it is just a 3 Test series it doesn't really mean much.
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Well it does if it's a whitewash. Can't wait for this, although I'm busy for most of the first two tests at the most inopportune of times ...
 
I'll be interested in seeing how Tahir performs. He's a very good player in the county game, but I he hasn't shown his full potential in the test arena yet and has been quite disappointing.

All the focus will be on Steyn & Anderson but I think Philander will have a big series.
 
I hope the rain fecks off. Excited to see how this goes on. Dale Steyn vs Kevin Pietersen :drool:
 
Strauss gone in the first over.
 
Just as I suspected, SA very rusty. Bowling has been substandard so far. Not getting the batsmen to play enough.
 
Cook at 27 has already got 20 test hundreds and is only 2 behind England's all time record. He's also already played 80 tests.

The man will easily break most English batting records. Injuries permitting. What a player.
 
Ole's_toe_poke said:
Cook at 27 has already got 20 test hundreds and is only 2 behind England's all time record. He's also already played 80 tests.

The man will easily break most English batting records. Injuries permitting. What a player.
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Easily he will retire the greatest batsman we have ever had and one of the games all time greats IMO
 
I'm not sure about Kallis. On pure numbers - its not easy to make an argument against him (still possible) but for anybody who has a bit of cricketing romance in their soul, Kallis as the greatest of all time doesn't feel right.
 
So Philander got one at the least. Now he's got to get a five for in the second innings to keep up his strike rate and average. As Andy Zalzmann said in his last blog, its like he's a 19th century bowler who's found himself in the 21st.
 
crappycraperson said:
SA well ahead now. Have Kallis and De Villers to come as wel
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A long way to go yet.

I think scores will end up relatively level.

Great knock by Smith, accelerated out of nowhere.
Broad looks extremely ordinary on flat decks.
 
Great innings from Smith. Amla always oozes class. Unless there is an unexpected collapse I think this will end in a draw.
 
Although it's a flat deck, current bowlers are shit compared to current batsman.
 
Saffers are giving England a bit of a runaround.

I think this might be a draw though.
 
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