England vs South Africa, 2012
- Thread starter Santino
- Start date
Jimmy!!! 
^Yeah, too right. T20 still to go! Yay! 
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Nicky Compton gets a well deserved call up for India. Squad:
Alastair Cook (captain) Essex, James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Nick Compton (Somerset), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Graham Onions (Durham), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Monty Panesar (Sussex), Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire), Matt Prior (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)
Alastair Cook (captain) Essex, James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Nick Compton (Somerset), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Graham Onions (Durham), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Monty Panesar (Sussex), Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire), Matt Prior (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
I was on the train listening to this as it was happening, lost signal for the whole of the Buttler over.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Bit worrying that Morgan gets a recall to add experience! His 1st class record this summer: 5 matches, 109 runs @ 18.16. Add that to his performance in UAE, and his 1st class record this year is less than 200 runs in 8 matches at an average of just a little over 10. I really don't think he should be in the squad.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I'm stumped on that. Morgan was dropped for poor form and has since shown awful form in the first class game. Not only that, but he only played five first class matches this season as he put the ipl ahead of getting himself back into the England test team. He's not shown commitment to the cause, and he's not shown form. I don't see any basis for a recall. Who else? Dunno really - give Carberry a go. But then he hasn't had a great season either. Chopra? Again, inexperienced, but then Morgan isn't exactly brimming with experience either.
It's a bit of a shame what's happened to Ravi B. He appears to have blown it.
It's a bit of a shame what's happened to Ravi B. He appears to have blown it.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Hildreth
I also prefer him, just on attitude. Their stats are very similar though. Not exactly world-beating.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
That's why I prefer Bopara! On attitude - turning down ipl to try to get into the test team for staters, in marked contrast to Morgan. The selectors appear to have given up on him now, and I can understand why, but there does seem to be a dearth of back up. Hildreth might be worth a punt - has he had a good season? Dunno. The other problem is England's lack of fielders. Trott - Cook - Bell - Morgan : the specialist batsmen are usually the best catchers, but not that lot.
I recall those leaked notes ahead of the Ashes a couple of years ago - the Aussies identified Bopara's ego as his weakness. Worth another read actually
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cr...Langers-Ashes-dossier-on-England-players.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cr...Langers-Ashes-dossier-on-England-players.html
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
His form and confidence have gone. Not even in the back-up 'development squad'. I suspect Ravi's England career may be over.
Idaho
blah blah blah
Morgan is an ok fielder. I don't understand why Bairstow isn't in the slips when he is in the team. You would think a wickie would be able to catch the odd ball.
My, totally random and uninformed, opinion on Bopara is that he plays well when he is relaxed. He knows this, and consequently "acts" relaxed when he plays. Alas he is actually not relaxed at all, and it doesn't work.
My, totally random and uninformed, opinion on Bopara is that he plays well when he is relaxed. He knows this, and consequently "acts" relaxed when he plays. Alas he is actually not relaxed at all, and it doesn't work.
"[Swann's] bowling is on a par with N. Hauritz"
It possibly was back then. Cant quite remember when Swann had his Robert Johnson-eqsue conversion to being world class.
Idaho
blah blah blah
That Langer file was interesting, but essentially out-of-date. Aussie brashness, confidence and big talk only worked when they had a side to back it up. It's all very well slating the opposition, and trying to belittle their players. But when your own side are equally as fragile, it backfires.
Yes, English team after English team did crumple under pressure. But when they had given everything, and it came up short time after time, it's little wonder.
The flip side is the Australian knack for self belief makes you look impregnable when you are winning. But when McGrath predicted a 5-0 whitewash in the last ashes, he just seemed deluded.
Yes, English team after English team did crumple under pressure. But when they had given everything, and it came up short time after time, it's little wonder.
The flip side is the Australian knack for self belief makes you look impregnable when you are winning. But when McGrath predicted a 5-0 whitewash in the last ashes, he just seemed deluded.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
TBF to McGrath, as I remember he obviously didn't believe it and it was a bit tongue in cheek - didn't he say something like 'I pretty much have to go with the 5-0 prediction these days'?
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Hildreth had another very good season - 3 centuries, 40+ average. Got us out of precarious situations a number of times and showed compton like concentration when needed, but ability to rattle along when required.
It's cyclical. The Aussies will come back. The cricket world is poorer for their shit form. I hope it happens sooner rather than later.
On the langer notes - there's some interesting points in there regarding the English psyche, some stuff that I've observed in daily life as an outsider living in england too.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
What's interesting is how the aussies decade of dominance blinded them to reality - and how that's made their now fall even worse, they're unprepared to deal with the fall out of ashes and other defeats. We'll see that later today after Dockrell puts a spoke in their t20 wheels.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
In that case, I'd certainly take him over Morgan. Can he catch?
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
The 'cyclical' thing isn't really true is it. Australia might well come back if they sort themselves out. Does anyone think the West Indies will though? It's not looking likely.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
This is true, sadly. WI cricket is unbelievably badly run, and always has been, even when they were the best.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
He's a very good fielder - good in slips or in and around wicket.
