England 2012 Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Bloody hell our bowling just doesn't look remotely threatening.

[hilts_coolerking]

Broad getting a cob on here.

[PaulWinch again]

Poor from Swann again, on a spinning pitch he has looked pretty tame.

[UK Redsox]

Poor from Swann again, on a spinning pitch he has looked pretty tame.

Cough.... Monty .... cough

[PaulWinch again]

Finn needs to be in this side, we definitely lack pace.

[taylorsworkrate]

Gotta say this has been a pathetic couple of days.

At least 150 short batting, and nothing remotely good enough from the bowlers. The lack of intensity is the most worrying thing. Most of the players just seem to be going through the motions. Whats wrong with changing things up a bit. A spell of nothing but bouncers or something like that?

On a side note, Finn just has to be in the team for the next match.

[PaulWinch again]

Gotta say this has been a pathetic couple of days.

At least 150 short batting, and nothing remotely good enough from the bowlers. The lack of intensity is the most worrying thing. Most of the players just seem to be going through the motions. Whats wrong with changing things up a bit. A spell of nothing but bouncers or something like that?

On a side note, Finn just has to be in the team for the next match.

He does we have been shockingly lack of pace and ideas today, really really poor. It's been two very bad days from England.

[peter w]

i think its more to do with the batting. the pitch is lifeless and we didn't make best use of it when batting. should have been a bare minimum of 450. In saying that they also had the best of what decent bowling conditions there were.

[spangley1812]

Surrey chief executive Richard Gould on if Kevin Pietersen would be offered a full-time contract at The Oval if he turns down his England central contract: "Potentially, yes. We haven't had that conversation yet, but he's one of the most outstanding batsmen in the world. We have to make money available [in case players aren't offered central contracts], and if they are then that money goes back into the budget."

[hilts_coolerking]

Being a bit harsh on England.  It's a flat, slow pitch; the overhead conditions aren't conducive to massive swing; and South Africa have a formidable batting line up.

It's true we've not had a brilliant day but these are the players and tactics that have got us to number one in the world and they're entitled to an off day.  We can't have it all our own way every time and especially not in circumstances like these.

Not sure Finn would have made much difference - the pitch would have negated his qualities.

[curiousorange]

I still rate England as number one in the world but in these conditions, with a bowling attack that's been feted for two or more years and plenty of backup awaiting to come in, this has been a very disappointing test match thus far. I won't criticise the effort as it's never in question but the effectiveness has been terrible and makes a mockery of the light in which England are spoken.

[PaulWinch again]

Well played South Africa, but England have been very ordinary in all aspects of the game for the last two days and have a hell of a fight to save this match.

[Villan For Life]

Being a bit harsh on England.  It's a flat, slow pitch; the overhead conditions aren't conducive to massive swing; and South Africa have a formidable batting line up.

It's true we've not had a brilliant day but these are the players and tactics that have got us to number one in the world and they're entitled to an off day.  We can't have it all our own way every time and especially not in circumstances like these.

Not sure Finn would have made much difference - the pitch would have negated his qualities.

Pretty much as I see it. It's not a time to panic. We're a damned good side, you don't get to number one in the world otherwise. Even the best Aussie/Indian teams struggled at times.

[OzVilla]

I don't think some of the criticism on here in warranted either.  SA are a very good side and Smith, Amla and Kallis are all players that i'd have in a world XI.

Sure the bowling attack hasn't fired but that's the first time in how long?  I'd still pick them for the next Test regardless of the result.  The pitch looks slow and flat and England now have to sit in and dry up the runs, take time out of the game and hope that we can get through 4 sessions with the bat at the end.

A draw would be a great result from here on in.

[peter w]

i think its nailed on for a draw. you'd guess South Africa will have to bat for 4 sessions if they don't get quick runs tomorrow to put us out of the game. Two sessions won't be enough to bowl us out. Neither would 3.