No point having a pop at England IMO.
SA on top of their game, just as we were out in Oz the other year...
SA on top of their game, just as we were out in Oz the other year...
England vs South Africa 09/07/12 - 12/09/12
- Thread starter Sassy Colin
- Start date
You're telling me Strauss couldn't have handled that just a little bit better?
It's going to take some serious rain to keep South Africa from winning this now.
Philander is some fecking player, he can bat brilliantly too. I wonder where his bowling average will end up, if he can decimate the "No.1 test side" then who knows!
Yea, it was pretty stupid of him to leave it, but what I meant was, he was gonna be out eventually for sure, the way Philander was bowling. That ball that cut him in half, absolute beauty.
But you're right, why on earth did he leave the 4th inswinger after facing 3 in swingers?
Except for the bit where Australia were third rate and England are #1.
Worst ever #1?
Played 9, lost 5 about to be played 10 lost 6.
Expected england to lose this series but 2-0 would be surprising.
Yeah no excuse for Eng's recent record. Their bowling is massively overrated. Swann's only a contender for best spinner in the world because there are no good ones about, Anderson is average in conditions that don't suit him. Finn looks like a real talent and they really need to be playing him every match instead of going with Bresnan/Broad.
We got to number 1 through everyone else being average, so judging us by 'number 1 test side' standards i'd argue is quite harsh as we never consolidated the position.
Like you say, 5 losses in 9 since...
Disagree.
Swann's a pretty good bowler and Anderson is much improved. He was fantastic in the UAE and against Australia 2 years ago in not-that-helpful conditions, genuinely world class.
Broad's been bad now, but he was fantastic for the last 12 months or so before this.
England's big mistake this series was their bowling selection. Dropping swann for the second test was a very bad choice.
Let's be honest before this test series South Africa were the best side around on paper and it's amazing they're only just securing the number 1 spot. I presume it's down to Philander and Morkel stepping and joining Steyn as the best all round attack going. England's batting just hasn't been able to stand up to them.
Swann's been very ineffective in this series.
South Africa's bowling attack is incredible. Morkel and Philander are world class, whilst Steyn is something else.
Slow death this morning.
Feel England missed at trick this morning. They'd have been better off just trying to see of the initial barrage and rather go for the runs next session. Either way, if SA get Trott out then the writings almost on the wall.
Good reaction from Trott and Bairstow here.
47 overs and 4 wickets to get. Only rain can save the Poms now.
Edit: Looking at the forecast there doesn't seem to be any expected.
Edit: Looking at the forecast there doesn't seem to be any expected.
England going to win this.
Broad's been aggressive in his innings, SA need to break this partnership soon.
Kallis takes the wicket of Broad, good catch Amla. He has the habit of breaking partnerships and this is a big wicket just before tea.
Rain could never have saved us, a draw is no better than a defeat.
SA will have 22 overs of the new ball. No way Eng are surviving that
He means the no.1 ranking
Kallis' spell was terrific, Tahir's being poor again IMO.
It's not that bad... quite. It'll be played 12 lost 6.
Didn't know that. I thought a draw would let them keep it.
Fair enough. South Africa are clearly the best team on paper and should really be set for a couple of years of dominance. Whether they're actually able to do so is the question.
Would be funny if SA blew this now ...
No chance. It's annoying that the top 5, Trott aside, made just 12 runs between them.
Smith needs to wise up. Choke the runs till the new ball
6 overs to the new ball, England still need 106 runs
Big big over. SA will start to get the shits now
Annoying? It's pathetic.
we're going to lose no.1 status thanks to some stupid decision making from our top order and some shit fielding. The fact that we've got within 100 runs shows that despite SA's superiority we actually had the weapons to win this one with a bit more nouse.
One downside from this series from a South African point of view is that they haven't solved their spinner issue with Tahir.
Regardless of the result, once again we have to ask why is this not a 5 match series? SA's series with Australia is also going to be 3 games which is a shame as they usually have close/exciting matches between them.
The ICC needs to reduce ODI/T20 games and get extra Test matches played - nothing beats the excitement of a Test match imo.
The ICC needs to reduce ODI/T20 games and get extra Test matches played - nothing beats the excitement of a Test match imo.
If Strauss wasn't the captain he'd be under pressure. Hasn't done much with the bat recently except against a poor Windes team.
Who will be number 1 if England win this?