England v South Africa 2017

(17-07-2017 23:06 )lancealot790 Wrote:  Rashid far too many bad balls and not enough wicket taking balls, i have watched all the series he's played and most of his wickets came from batsman playing aggressive shots as opposed to genuinely beating them. Its unfortunate but there are no stand out english spinners.

I want to know the thought process of the selectors, i'm sure they would say Ballance's county runs got him back in the team, but could they not see his technical issues remain? And who the hell decided to pick Dawson a man whose County Bowling average is higher than his batting average... the only compliment i've heard people give him is that he has 'good character'.

If it is bad now against South Africa a cheap win over an abysmal Windies team won't paper over the cracks before the Aussies dispatch us 5-0 again.

His championship runs were a factor but Ballance was mainly included at Roots insistence, which means he will probably keep his place for the rest of the series as will Jennings. If England really want to become the best they need to be ruthless and get rid of the dead wood.

I think Rashid would be a good addition, replacing Dawson, if you want two spinners which I would be a bit dubious on personally as I don't think we have the quality.

Let's remember though, SA are a good side, we beat them well in the first test, they hammered us in the second.....still two to play, let's see how the rest of the series goes and if Rooty can get a decent reaction from the team

(18-07-2017 08:39 )hops1 Wrote:  Let's remember though, SA are a good side

No there aren't. They are the worst SA side that I can remember. They don't have the star performers of old. They didn't have their best bowler in the last match.

So it shows how bad were England in the last match

^ In the last Test Rankings South Africa are 2nd behind India. England are 4th.

(18-07-2017 08:47 )Charlemagne Wrote:  

(18-07-2017 08:39 )hops1 Wrote:  Let's remember though, SA are a good side

No there aren't. They are the worst SA side that I can remember. They don't have the star performers of old. They didn't have their best bowler in the last match.

So it shows how bad were England in the last match

I take your point they are not the side they were a few years ago, but it's all relative, they're ranked 2nd so on that basis are a decent side and a good test

South Africa do have a decent bowling attack. Facing Morkel, Philander and a fast Chris Morris is pretty tough as the last test showed. With Rabada to come back the pressure on the England batsmen is unlikely to relent.
The South African batting is perhaps not of the quality of old but they showed considerably more discipline and concentration than England which enabled them to score the runs they did. England have frequently shown weakness generally in recent years especially when batting second. Weakness in technique, application, shot selection and imo stomach for the fight. Too many times in recent years England have found themselves 3 or 4 wickets down for not very many runs and relied on the lower order to bail them out.
Only so many times you can go to the well and all that.
The lower order didn't save England at Trent Bridge and we saw the result.
Bowled out cheaply twice.
It boils down to selecting the right batsmen yes but once they get to the crease they have to apply themselves to the task at hand and situation of the game. Play the right shot to the ball bowled while taking full account of where the fielders are situated.
And if playing the right shot means playing no shot then play no shot.
Just basic cricket discipline.

The South African attack of Philander, Morris, Rabada, Morkel and Maharaj offers everything, pace, bounce, accuracy, spin, swing. Balanced attack capable of taking wickets anywhere against anyone.

However lets not kid ourselves that this is a vintage SA batting line up.... Elgar, Kuhn, and Bavuma are nowhere near top quality.

Essex batsman Tom Westley has been called up by England to replace the injured Gary Ballance for the 3rd Test starting next Thursday. Also in the squad is Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan who could play if England decide to leave out one of the bowlers.

Fast bowler Toby Roland-Jones to replace the injured Mark Wood in The Oval Test starting tomorrow.