South Africa v England, 4th Test, Jo’burg, Jan 14-18

Dello wrote:

beamer wrote:...does Strauss have another 30 or so Tests in him?

They play a shit-load of cricket these days. What's 30 Tests - two years?

If his form holds, I don't see why he wouldn't still be around.

Other than injuries I think his form holding is the main question. Remember he was one innings from the end of his Test career against the Snoozers a couple of years ago. There's a fair chance that situation will occur again at some point.

Another poor Ashes series down under might raise question marks over Strauss' temperament.


Personally, I reckon he'll have a middle of the road series, one super century, couple of 50's and a 78.

He's bought himself plenty of good faith, though, by A) having a very good 18 months or so, up to this series, and B) being captain, therefore undroppable - especially in the absence of alternatives.

I'd be surprised if Strauss doesn't make it - but nothing's for certain, I guess.

Yeah, I think he has a good chance. Although he's 33 in a few weeks which is the sort of age you don't get many more chances with England if you have a bad run of form!

It looks an inexperienced side in terms of the lack of 100 Test veterans but we've got a fair few players on 40 or 50 caps, Collingwood's too old to make 100 but any of the others could. My money's on Bell as he only needs one meaningful innings every couple of years to cement his place...

You would have thought Pietersen was a shoo-in for a hundred caps, but I always get the impression he's going to be one of those players that jacks it in fairly early and walks away.

Yes, the KP situation could blow up at any minute and end his England career. He's probably too old to sit out a re-qualification period for SA now but could easily become a freelance limited-overs player at some stage if he decides he's had enough or the selectors decide he's too much of a negative influence after a few series of indifferent form.

beamer wrote:

DJ_Smerk wrote:

beamer wrote:Strange fact of the day - Ryan Sidebottom made his Test debut around two years before any other member of the current England side. Although he had to wait six years for his second appearance, so only Swann and Trott have fewer caps.

You've been waiting to say that ever since Flintoff retired. hehehe.

No actually I only spotted it when I looked at the career stats on the Cricinfo match page.

Although you could say Swann is actually the England team's final link with the 20th century, having been selected for a Test squad in 1999 but not actually playing.

If England were to select a player who debuted in the 90s now would be most likely?

A comeback for Flintoff in the next Ashes series? Chris Read to make a return? Chris Silverwood to find his form and stay injury free? I guess Ramprakash was touted for selection last year...?

Gary 111 wrote:Without wishing to put a curse on KP, he looked very good this afternoon. I predict a futile century tomorrow as England are bowled out just after tea. South Africa to knock the handful of runs off that night if the storms stay away.

I would have been amazed if someone had told me England would remain undefeated for the T20, ODI & Test series here - but after all the hard work put in the crapitulation here makes it feel like a series loss.

The Smith & de Villiers decisions have really irked me but I think its unlikely they would have changed the game such has been the gulf between the two sides.

Spare a thought for Ryan Sidebottom in what is probably his last Test Match - after 3 months of barely playing a game in his only innings of the series he's got Smith out (twice) and Kallis. He seems to enjoy bowling to Kallis for some reason - probably the only England bowler I can remember who has!

In view of what we've seen in Hobart, is it certain he hit it? Punter had an almost identical one this morning, a 'nick' to a widish delivery. There was a hugely audible sound and the bat was away from the body so it looked like it could have been the only thing making it yet hotspot revealed nothing. Similar for Clarke yesterday as well. Similar also for the Roach dismissal in Perth. :|

beamer wrote:Strange fact of the day - Ryan Sidebottom made his Test debut around two years before any other member of the current England side. Although he had to wait six years for his second appearance, so only Swann and Trott have fewer caps.

Stranger is that after his re-emergence, he did well, and for a brief period was then carrying the England seam attack on his back. Got injured (perhaps partly for that reason?), stayed injured for much of the time (though sporadically continuining to play! - unwise), ... and to be slightly cruel, might have been better off staying injured for one Test match longer

Was it that he got worked out? I don't think it was that, thought the shock of the awkward lines of the new played some part, more it seemed a loss of some pace and accuracy, not helped by niggles. And seemed then to get jaded and ratty as opposed to incisive.

(And if not match fit, odd he was selected for this partly-decisive Test?).

So ............ wIll the real Sid stand up?

Of course, Jimmy has not really been on song either. To make matters worse.


As regards this Test, S Africa have had the rub of every green going. But it does even out the two near-misses to some extent, and 1-1 will be an overall fair result, I guess. Each side will then duly "take some positives" for the media - but would be deluded not to do some thinking.

PeterCS wrote:

beamer wrote:Strange fact of the day - Ryan Sidebottom made his Test debut around two years before any other member of the current England side. Although he had to wait six years for his second appearance, so only Swann and Trott have fewer caps.

Stranger is that after his re-emergence, he did well, and for a brief period was then carrying the England seam attack on his back. Got injured (perhaps partly for that reason?), stayed injured for much of the time (though sporadically continuining to play! - unwise), ... and to be slightly cruel, might have been better off staying injured for one Test match longer

Was it that he got worked out? I don't think it was that, thought the shock of the awkward lines of the new played some part, more it seemed a loss of some pace and accuracy, not helped by niggles. And seemed then to get jaded and ratty as opposed to incisive.

(And if not match fit, odd he was selected for this partly-decisive Test?).

So ............ wIll the real Sid stand up?

Of course, Jimmy has not really been on song either. To make matters worse.


As regards this Test, S Africa have had the rub of every green going. But it does even out the two near-misses to some extent, and 1-1 will be an overall fair result, I guess. Each side will then duly "take some positives" for the media - but would be deluded not to do some thinking.

True, except the weather. One suspects that has affected the way they batted to some extent. Without the time lost they might have been in similar position but with more runs in the bank.

And they did win what was supposed to be a crucial toss.

Red wrote:

Gary 111 wrote:The Smith & de Villiers decisions have really irked me but I think its unlikely they would have changed the game such has been the gulf between the two sides.

Spare a thought for Ryan Sidebottom in what is probably his last Test Match - after 3 months of barely playing a game in his only innings of the series he's got Smith out (twice) and Kallis. He seems to enjoy bowling to Kallis for some reason - probably the only England bowler I can remember who has!

In view of what we've seen in Hobart, is it certain he hit it? Punter had an almost identical one this morning, a 'nick' to a widish delivery. There was a hugely audible sound and the bat was away from the body so it looked like it could have been the only thing making it yet hotspot revealed nothing. Similar for Clarke yesterday as well. Similar also for the Roach dismissal in Perth. :|

Almost identical, except that there's no hotspot available in the SAf Test... Meaning considerably different.

Nice tits, Red.

Amusing thread...awesome sooking from the English, almost subiesque...

Zat wrote:

Red wrote:

Gary 111 wrote:The Smith & de Villiers decisions have really irked me but I think its unlikely they would have changed the game such has been the gulf between the two sides.

Spare a thought for Ryan Sidebottom in what is probably his last Test Match - after 3 months of barely playing a game in his only innings of the series he's got Smith out (twice) and Kallis. He seems to enjoy bowling to Kallis for some reason - probably the only England bowler I can remember who has!

In view of what we've seen in Hobart, is it certain he hit it? Punter had an almost identical one this morning, a 'nick' to a widish delivery. There was a hugely audible sound and the bat was away from the body so it looked like it could have been the only thing making it yet hotspot revealed nothing. Similar for Clarke yesterday as well. Similar also for the Roach dismissal in Perth. :|

Almost identical, except that there's no hotspot available in the SAf Test... Meaning considerably different.

Nice tits, Red.

True, but in the almost identical case hotspot proved no edge so perhaps people are jumpint to conclusions. The Symonds one in Sydney for example was different in that there was a clear noise and a clear deflection.

So a KP miracle today then?

Errr, no.