England tour to SA: 2015

[Neoprod]

Well done and especially to Rabada.
I hope he isn't a flash in the pan and that he doesn't get burnt out.

Why couldn't we have done this in all three matches??

Because England were below par as much as we played a bit better...their bowling wasn't as good apart from Anderson for one spell. Then the batting display today confirms it. They also got a walloping in the dead rubber of the Ashes last year.

 

[stepper]

8 dismissals and a century for de Kock aswell...well done young man

 

[Agent_Smith]

8 dismissals and a century for de Kock aswell...well done young man

Yeah. In all the (justified) hype about KG, it's easy to forget Quinny's contribution, Amla's almost twin 100's and Stephen Cook's effortless ton on debut. Excellent perfomances all

 

[AirWolf]

Well done.

2-1 is better than 2-0 or 3-0.

Great performances by Rabada, Amla, Cook, De Kock.

 

[MonkeysUncle]

Interesting article on ESPNCricinfo: South Africa: giants without laurels

 

[phoneJunky]

We only 1 ranking point behind India, I think we can crawl back to number 1 again.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

We only 1 ranking point behind India, I think we can crawl back to number 1 again.

Keep in mind that it will be re-adjusted in August again, with higher weighting for recent performances. We could very well find ourselves a few points behind the top spot...

 

[stefan9]

Well done and especially to Rabada.
I hope he isn't a flash in the pan and that he doesn't get burnt out.

Why couldn't we have done this in all three matches??

We didn't pick the right team and this one wasn't 100% right either with duminy getting picked but much better then the others picked so far this series.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Why didn't pick the right team and this one wasn't 100% right either with duminy getting picked but much better then the others picked so far this series.

With Duminy and Faf both being rubbish with the bat, we may as well go in with an all rounder at #7. He'd do no worse with the bat, and we get to play 4 seamers. Elgar can be the 2nd spinner...

 

[stefan9]

With Duminy and Faf both being rubbish with the bat, we may as well go in with an all rounder at #7. He'd do no worse with the bat, and we get to play 4 seamers. Elgar can be the 2nd spinner...

There is no all rounder good enough to bat in the top 6 currently. I rather give rr and van zyl a chance at nr. 6.

 

[Agent_Smith]

A fighting fit XI

1: Cook
2: Elgar
3: Amla
4: de Villiers
5: van Zyl (still think he has what it takes, just not at the top of the order)
6: Bavuma
7: QdK
8: Philander
9: Steyn
10: Rabada
11: Morkel/Piedt/Shamzi

 

[stefan9]

A fighting fit XI

1: Cook
2: Elgar
3: Amla
4: de Villiers
5: van Zyl (still think he has what it takes, just not at the top of the order)
6: Bavuma
7: QdK
8: Philander
9: Steyn
10: Rabada
11: Morkel

I would have a proper spinner instead of morkel. piedt or shamsi needs to play imho.

 

[Neoprod]

A fighting fit XI

1: Cook
2: Elgar
3: Amla
4: de Villiers
5: van Zyl (still think he has what it takes, just not at the top of the order)
6: Bavuma
7: QdK
8: Philander
9: Steyn
10: Rabada
11: Morkel

I think there are certain pitches you would pick Morkel over Philander (slow, not much bounce or seam) and certain pitches you would pick a spinner over either i.e. one of them drops out for a spinner.

Other than that, looks good.

 

[Agent_Smith]

I would have a proper spinner instead of morkel. piedt or shamsi needs to play imho.

Agreed Fixed

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

There is no all rounder good enough to bat in the top 6 currently. I rather give rr and van zyl a chance at nr. 6.

QdK at 6, all rounder at 7, Vern at 8. Problem is our bowlers are brittle right now, and playing a 4th seamer would lighten their workload...

 

[AfricanTech]

Good win.

Bavuma - Yes
Kagiso - Yes - brilliant - 13 - amazing
QdK - Yes
Cook - Yes - finally a specialist
Amla - Yes he's back
Morkel - teetering on the edge
AB - not sure if he should be captain, but let's see

Hope not to see Faf or JP playing player for the Proteas again.

 

[AfricanTech]

QdK at 6, all rounder at 7, Vern at 8. Problem is our bowlers are brittle right now, and playing a 4th seamer would lighten their workload...

No, QdK at 7 - SvZ or RR at 6

 

[Neoprod]

QdK at 6, all rounder at 7, Vern at 8. Problem is our bowlers are brittle right now, and playing a 4th seamer would lighten their workload...

that's what I've been saying. Might feel unfair to throw QdK in at 6 so early but it's better than letting him learn to play as a 7 and then moving him later.

 

[Agent_Smith]

I really like QdK at 7 and all the talk of him becoming an Adam Gilchrist style keeper/batsman were 100% on the mark. His 129* came at better than a run a ball. Him coming at 300/5 can easily become 450 or 500 in no time and take the game away from the opposition. Good times!

 

[stefan9]

QdK at 6, all rounder at 7, Vern at 8. Problem is our bowlers are brittle right now, and playing a 4th seamer would lighten their workload...

No at nr7 it allows him to play with total freedom. Same reason why aus never moved gilly to nr6.