13 Jan 05
Looks like England may be recalling James Anderson, and Freddie is back bowling this morning in the nets at full speed.
SA are changing the wicket keeper again, recalling Boucher.
I think it will be close, but England should just nick it. Especially as the pitch has a reputation for a bit o' bounce
13 Jan 05
1 edit
Originally posted by CrowleyWell England are 243-2.....
No ways, this pitch has been described as a batsmens paradise before. SA bats all the way down to 10/11 who can slog pretty well. If SA doesn't get quick wickets and England make a big score, it's gonna be a draw.
The weather may play a factor though, it hot and wet for the weekend except tomorrow.
14 Jan 05
Originally posted by VargCome now. You have a tail of 5. Giles and Jones can maybe smack a few boundaries but they're not recognised batsmen. Jones looks like he might be able to turn into a real keeper / batsmen, but he's not there just yet.
If Harmi gets his form back SA have no chance. Anderson can be good to so lets hope.
Giles and Jones are in form with the bat - they get the usual 20-40 which is expected of them.
I pick England or the draw due to weather.
The England top 5 batsmen are pretty impressive, I'd say on par with the Aussie top order. Strauss is turning into one of the best openers I've seen in a long time. Trescothick, Thorpe and Vaughan are all good.
But the moment your top order has a little hickup, your middle and tail order looks on the verge of collapse.
14 Jan 05
Originally posted by CrowleyNo way is the tail 5. Okay, Giles and Jones may never get centuries, but they are pretty reliable for the 30s and 40s they do provide. In fact seem to fail less that the front line batsmen. At the moment our openers are doing well. Tresco occasionally goes early but that's the danger of being an opener. It is our middle order who are not firing at the moment. Hopefully Key will fill the Butcher shaped hole more than adequately (not a big Butch fan), and Freddie, Vaughan and Thorpe will play as good as we know they can.
Come now. You have a tail of 5. Giles and Jones can maybe smack a few boundaries but they're not recognised batsmen. Jones looks like he might be able to turn into a real keeper / batsmen, but he's not there just yet.
The England top 5 batsmen are pretty impressive, I'd say on par with the Aussie top order. Strauss is turning into one of the best open ...[text shortened]... t your top order has a little hickup, your middle and tail order looks on the verge of collapse.
If England played as good as they did in the summer, SA would have no chance. I know NZ and WI are not as good as SA, but England are underperforming here.
I'm impressed by SA bowlers though. We were lead to believe that after Pollack and perhaps Ntini, you had no bowling strength, but Langeveldt and Steyn look pretty good.
14 Jan 05
Originally posted by VargOK, maybe your tail is not that long (man that sounds weird), but just compare the last 5 SA players with the last 5 of England. You can see where I'm coming from. Ntini and Steyn can both slog a bit, Boje batted up at 4 for his province and Pollock is one of the best all-rounders in the game. That's our tail. The other 7 are are all recocnized batsmen.
No way is the tail 5. Okay, Giles and Jones may never get centuries, but they are pretty reliable for the 30s and 40s they do provide. In fact seem to fail less that the front line batsmen. At the moment our openers are doing well. Tresco occasionally goes early but that's the danger of being an opener. It is our middle order who are not firing at the moment. ...[text shortened]... llack and perhaps Ntini, you had no bowling strength, but Langeveldt and Steyn look pretty good.
Personally I think SA is one bowler or all-rounder short, but our boys are doing allright at the moment.
Well, back to the game. Vaughan is still there, but one more wicket and England will be in real trouble.