England 2012 Cricket Thread

[taylorsworkrate]

Good leave that Strauss.

This is incredibly poor. I think the time has come for him to hang up his International boots.

He may be a good captain, but he isn't up to test standard as a batsmen any more.

And replace him with who?

Blood someone like Hales, who has a lot of talent.

Strauss Is still a very Good captain, but his form over the last couple of years with the bay isn't up to scratch.

[taylorsworkrate]

Or perhaps we're just running into better attacks.  Pakistan's strength in their bowling with Ajmal whose a top class spin bowler who causes most players problems while this SA attack is the best they've put out post apartheid.  I think we just dined out on ordinary attacks for a while like Australia and india.

South Africa have been the better team in this series and fully deserve it but we are still a good team with a very good bowling attack - I honestly don't think there's much to choose between these two attacks, maybe we have the upper hand in the spin department and I think if it's swinging we have the edge but if it's flat Philander is their trump card as he's a terrific wicket to wicket bowler who gets good players out.  "

The difference with these two attacks to others in world Cricket is that these two come at you all the time.  England's only one real shocker for the last few years being that 1st Test at the Oval where SA batted superbly.

We've created opportunities to win this Test but needed to survive until stumps entact to give ourselves a chance.  Those last two wickets have done for us.  It would be an amazing win if we can chase these down now against an attack of this quality.

The quality of the SA attack is what makes the way a lot of the batsman get out more annoying. There just seems to be a lack of will to apply themselves.

[tomd2103]

Good leave that Strauss.

This is incredibly poor. I think the time has come for him to hang up his International boots.

He may be a good captain, but he isn't up to test standard as a batsmen any more.

And replace him with who?

Blood someone like Hales, who has a lot of talent.

Strauss Is still a very Good captain, but his form over the last couple of years with the bay isn't up to scratch.

My only concern with blooding a new player is that the next series is in India, which is about as demanding as it gets at test level.  One option could be to move Trott up to opener, but then he would have to be replaced at number 3.  I don't think Strauss should be dropped just yet, but it might be time to relieve him of the burden of the captaincy and allow him to concentrate on his game.

[PaulWinch again]

The big difference is that our players get between 50-70 quite a lot and then get out, but the South Africans go on to make hundreds and big hundreds.

[PaulWinch again]

Also if we'd caught our catches this game would have been very winnable.

[PaulWinch again]

This is so frustrating, if more of the top order had got runs in this match we could have won this.

[Dr Butler]

catches win matches, they take theirs.... we spill ours...

[bertlambshank]

9 catches down this series.Take half of that you are in with a chance.

[bertlambshank]

We couldn't could we?

[Rick_avfc]

91 runs required when i last checked with Prior and Swann at the crease and we know they can both bat.  Interesting finish.

[Bernie]

We couldn't could we?

If we don't, it's your fault for even thinking about it

[Dr Butler]

new ball in 3 or so overs..........get the runs down to 50 and no more wickets down.....and then just maybe..

[bertlambshank]

new ball in 3 or so overs..........get the runs down to 50 and no more wickets down.....and then just maybe..

Forgot about the new ball.

[Rick_avfc]

They are going to win! 

[Dr Butler]

tough ask for Anderson and Finn to make 60 or so between them....