Fuctifano Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Ntini to bowl the last over in his 100th test, written in the stars? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoss Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Draw. Always under control. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuctifano Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Jeepers. Collingwood's always there or thereabouts, isn't he? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shengus Khan Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I think a big round of applause should go in Ian Bell's direction. The 15 minutes that he stood at the crease in this Test were vital in securing the draw 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoss Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I don't dislike Bell, and I only don't think he should have been playing in this match because of the balance of the side, not because I dislike him or don't rate him personally. But I'm not sorry he's failed twice here, I'm hoping that will tip the balance of team selection for the next Test. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuctifano Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I don't dislike Bell, and I only don't think he should have been playing in this match because of the balance of the side, not because I dislike him or don't rate him personally. But I'm not sorry he's failed twice here, I'm hoping that will tip the balance of team selection for the next Test. England do have a lot of bowling options, very little in terms of scope for change in the batting which means Cook will probably be safe for the whole series- not that I'd drop him after this game. I think Bell will go, whether they'll hedge their bets with Look Right as the all-rounder or go for another out and out bowler like Sidebottom or Plunkett (or even Rashid) will depend on the pitch. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btb Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Curses - missed a great day's cricket due to the intervention of ReaLife! Test cricket at it's best - two batsmen making it look easy then suddenly a wicket falls and it all changes............. Don't reckon there's much between the two sides - should be a cracking series! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Phoenix Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 (edited) Pietersen started the rot with the most ridiculous and unneccessary run out, I've seen in years. For all his genius, he doesn't half know how to be thick. Still made for great viewing instead of the match petering out to a tame draw. Edited December 20, 2009 by The Phoenix 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 England do have a lot of bowling options, very little in terms of scope for change in the batting which means Cook will probably be safe for the whole series- not that I'd drop him after this game.I think Bell will go, whether they'll hedge their bets with Look Right as the all-rounder or go for another out and out bowler like Sidebottom or Plunkett (or even Rashid) will depend on the pitch. Durban is maybe more conducive to swing,im sure i heard it was far more humid. Another bowler is a must. Bell will lose his place.You need to take 20 wickets to win. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoss Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I can see it's a tricky decision. Bell wasn't the only failure, Cook is under pressure and Prior didn't bat like a top six batsman in the first Test either, and shortening the batting line-up will increase the pressure on both. But I think it's got to be done. If there's going to be swing in the air there's a strong argument for bringing in Sidebottom as your fifth bowler, but that'd be a bigger risk than I think they'll be willing to take. I'd play Wright, though it does run the risk of falling between two stools and getting another Gavin Hamilton. Got to bear in mind as well that South Africa's bowling line-up is going to be stronger than last time as well, Steyn will probably return and Kallis will be back to bowling duties. Their difficulty is who to drop to make way for Steyn - by rights it ought to be Ntini, who has looked past his best for a year or so now, and de Wet had a good debut. But that's not an easy decision for them to make either, not least for political reasons. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuctifano Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Dermot Reeve in the news again. I'd be suspicious if RavBop was running through my team too. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Dermot Reeve in the news again.I'd be suspicious if RavBop was running through my team too. Reeve is a bit of a fud mind. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuctifano Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Reeve is a bit of a fud mind. Maybe he's just coked-up again. Re: England, I'm not sure about Look Right's bowling at all, is he going to be much more effective than Collingwood or Trott? A FC average of over 40 suggests not. The more I think about it, the more I reckon they'll stick with the same team. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Maybe he's just coked-up again.Re: England, I'm not sure about Look Right's bowling at all, is he going to be much more effective than Collingwood or Trott? A FC average of over 40 suggests not. The more I think about it, the more I reckon they'll stick with the same team. I think they should go down the extra bowler route myself. Sidebottom can skelp a ball. They must start relying on the Batsman to do there job. I guess in the end they will hold of till they get a look at the pitch. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted December 24, 2009 Share Posted December 24, 2009 I wish Smith would concentrate on his own team instead of his daily snipes at England,he is becoming tiresome.And he is not very good at it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btb Posted December 24, 2009 Share Posted December 24, 2009 Short article from cricinfo about Headingley specialist Derek Pringle and his passion for vinyl records. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB Posted December 24, 2009 Share Posted December 24, 2009 With humid conditions likely in Durban, England simply must pick Sidebottom and leave out Bell. I’ve long regarded Bell as spineless and would have called time on his international career long before this series. In the longer term, however, England will have to start showing some faith in Luke Wright because the side could do with a genuine all-rounder to provide some balance. Whilst Broad and Swann are useful lower order batsmen, I’d prefer to see them at 8 and 9, not 7 and 8. The lack of batting options on this tour is unfortunate to say the least. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Phoenix Posted December 24, 2009 Share Posted December 24, 2009 With humid conditions likely in Durban, England simply must pick Sidebottom and leave out Bell. I’ve long regarded Bell as spineless and would have called time on his international career long before this series. In the longer term, however, England will have to start showing some faith in Luke Wright because the side could do with a genuine all-rounder to provide some balance. Whilst Broad and Swann are useful lower order batsmen, I’d prefer to see them at 8 and 9, not 7 and 8. The lack of batting options on this tour is unfortunate to say the least. Excellent post. Totally agree. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedWeb Posted December 24, 2009 Share Posted December 24, 2009 If England are short of batsman then they could do what they normally do and pick some South Africans. Jaques Rudloph must be qualified after his years with Yorkshire, why not give him a go 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Phoenix Posted December 24, 2009 Share Posted December 24, 2009 If England are short of batsman then they could do what they normally do and pick some South Africans. Jaques Rudloph must be qualified after his years with Yorkshire, why not give him a go He'd be disqualifed for passport irregularities. His name is Jacobus Andries Rudolph, commonly known as Jacques. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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