Top order have continually let England down this series. It's been a trait for the last year or so and has pretty much highlighted the weaknesses of the England attack as well.
England vs South Africa 09/07/12 - 12/09/12
- Thread starter Sassy Colin
- Start date
Fantastic match, new ball does it and philander has shown he is a world class bowler. What an attack they have!
Superb game and a fantastic series. SA deservedly ranked number one in the world now.
Superb game and a fantastic series. SA deservedly ranked number one in the world now.
The last 2 balls you saw him bowl? He;s bowled the same ball pretty much for 6 months now.
And he's played on a couple of green tops. Skittled Australia out for 41..
Number 1 for SA. Congrats.. best #1 we've had in awhile
That's nuts. Good to see some quality bowlers coming about. Would be nicer if one of them cropped up in the Indian team though.
Also, I'm happy for South Africa. I've had a soft spot for them since that 99 WC era team with Donald and Klusner.
No
Gilchrist rescued Oz plenty of times when that top order failed. I remember two innings off the bat.. one coming against India in the first of three match series in 2001 and other in an effort to seal 350 run chase against Pakistan at home.
We're number 5 now. That's what you get for going T20 crazy.It'd be so annoying to face SA as a batsman. You somehow manage to evade Steyn/Morkel. You've Philander who's a ridiculously good bowler.
Also wasn't there a bit of debate about Anderson/Steyn?
Guess that has been answered conclusively.
Also wasn't there a bit of debate about Anderson/Steyn?
Guess that has been answered conclusively.
Finally, we didn't choke!!
England in India next, that should be a good test for them especially if they've decided to leave KP behind for good now.
So that's that.
Philander's really looking the real deal. Pity he's come in so late. Needs to bowl somewhere unfriendly though to be sure. When is SA touring India or Sri Lanka next?
Philander's really looking the real deal. Pity he's come in so late. Needs to bowl somewhere unfriendly though to be sure. When is SA touring India or Sri Lanka next?
There are no up and coming bowlers in Indian cricket. All the way down to u-19.
We're going to be shite for 6 years or so at least
edit: we're going to be winning the T20 wc at least once in the near future though.. next 3 WCs in the sub-continent.. worst thing that could happen to test cricket fans.. if India wins even one of it, T20's going to become even more deep rooted
Well done SA
He's only played 9 tests and 8 ODI's at 27.. where has he been in SA cricket till now?
Gilchrist is a legend of the game. It's not just his statistics in test cricket. He was a brutal batsman that changed games. In ODI's despite not averaging all that high, he was as good a matchwinner as any. Getting a start like that from him set Australia well on their way to winning games time after time. Plus mentally, he was a fighter.
Exactly, but I guess its the big money you get from T20?
Surely, over a 5 day Test there must be more money, what with programs, beers, burgers and the weekend etc.
He's only played 9 tests and 8 ODI's at 27.. where has he been in SA cricket till now?
Probably, like Hayden, a late bloomer.
I know. Indian cricket is why I rarely watch stuff these days. I tend to watch when we tour abroad or play a top team at home but its restricted to tests really (I'll always watch World Cups). But our whole attitude towards the game has killed it for me. Our love for the shorter formats of the games, IPL and obvious lack of planning and prioritization when it comes to test cricket is just rubbish.
Good interview from Amla, very humble.
Fantastic match, wish I wasn't at work but text commentary had to do. Philander ... what a beast.
There are positives from England for sure, though. Bairstow has come of age. Prior is a consistently great batsman, and wicketkeeper - even if he did drop that catch, it was his first one in two years. That stumping was excellent. And we had a reminder how useful our lower order is.
Finn looks genuinely as dangerous as Anderson, if not more so. If Broad can eek out more consistency then our bowling attack won't be too far behind Saffers.
There are positives from England for sure, though. Bairstow has come of age. Prior is a consistently great batsman, and wicketkeeper - even if he did drop that catch, it was his first one in two years. That stumping was excellent. And we had a reminder how useful our lower order is.
Finn looks genuinely as dangerous as Anderson, if not more so. If Broad can eek out more consistency then our bowling attack won't be too far behind Saffers.
He's only played 9 tests and 8 ODI's at 27.. where has he been in SA cricket till now?
Very late bloomer. He benefited from working hard on being consistent, which he was not before. Had a storming few season in local 1st class cricket and benefited from our search for a 3rd quick to back up Steyn and Morkel. Donald and in particular Kirsten liked him a lot for his line and length bowling.
It's amazing how I've gone from being obsessed with cricket than so indifferent to it. Watching the last hour of today's test was nice, though. Enjoyed cricket after awhile.
Another century for Amla, the guy is an incredible player.
Strange innings, he was sublime but also should have been caught earlier on and he's almost Inzy like in his running sometimes. Just goes to show that if you give top class batsman a reprieve, they'll punish you and then some.
Yep. When judging Amla, people need to have a cutoff(around 3 years back) and look at his stats. Averages something like 70 in tests apparently. Been phenomenal for a few years. Does it on fast pitches, under clouds and on sub-continental tracks. And then turns up in ODIs and averages 55 with a strike rate of 90+.
Bearded genius.
What a catch!
feck sake Trott, it takes you 37 balls to get to 23 and then you give your wicket away like that.
Looks like SA will take the #1 ranking in all 3 formats, only need 2 more wickets...
Some fireworks at the end from the last 2 but it does not stop the SA victory - now officially the best cricket team in the world. I bet they'll still choke in the T20 WC.
Most important competition in the least important format in the game. Well, for me at least. I hate T20 cricket.
Give the WC T20 a shot. It's an excellent competition.
IPL is lengthy and shite.
Amla's certainly making a case for greatness. Not a small sample size - 25 or so tests in which he's been absolutely imperious. Another year or two of this and you'll have to talk of him in the same breath as Lara, Tendulkar etc.
Never, zing. Never.
His biggest asset is discipline, and sheer will to succeed, and works his wrists to great effect (typically Asian - his grandparents are from Surat,Gujarat) other than that I personally can't see anything special in his shots which can be singled out by which we can talk about him in the Sachin, Lara, Richards category - yet he keeps scoring runs at a phenomenal average. He his even on record saying he is not even the best player on the South African team.
Why did we elect to bat first? We have done better in this series chasing down totals so why suddenly do we choose to bat?
It's not something about not wanting to play in the evening when there might be dew on the ground is it?
It's not something about not wanting to play in the evening when there might be dew on the ground is it?
Back foot punch through the covers with the bat away from the body. Awesome shot and he plays it so consistently well middling the ball all the time, even in seaming conditions.
SA struggling at 19-3. Only need 183 to win, Dernbach's been impressive this series.
Two of SA's best players at the crease.
This DV lad just oozes class.
Yeah.. him and Amla.. both top class.
Another 50 for Amla, AB not far behind. They have recovered very well, those drives down the ground are superb.
Need to break this partnership quickly, after these 2 and Duminy there's not much left.
Need to break this partnership quickly, after these 2 and Duminy there's not much left.