The Cricket Thread. - Page 103

**victor meldrew** · August 17th, 2012, 01:58 PM

After a promising start it all appears to have gone bosom up. Having reduced South Africa to 105-5, we then let them recover to 309 all out. To me it seemed a case of trying to bounce the lower order out, which seemed to play into thier hands.

Believing when we came to bat, we might make a fight of it, has proved completely unfounded as we have currently slumped to 59 - 4, looks like a case of not long untill South Africa take top spot.

Update

No sooner than i predict an SA win, than Bell and Bairstow come to the party adding 124, before Bell departs for 58. Prior has joined Bairstow and both have dug in. At the close still 101 adrift, first half an hour tomorrow will be vital for both sides.

Come on England.

**stardust2003** · August 17th, 2012, 02:01 PM

Bring back Kevo !

**Roger Allott** · August 20th, 2012, 05:13 PM

An entertaining chase by England, led by Bairstow, Prior, Broad & Swann, but ultimately too little too late and South Africa deservedly won the series and take the no 1 ranking.

I noticed as well that Saffies have taken our no 1 spot on the T20 ladder, which seems to have happened whilst neither team has played a T20 match!

**DrBone** · August 20th, 2012, 05:15 PM

South Africa win the last test, and the series 2:0 and take the no.1 test ranking spot from England.

Well played SA, they thoroughly deserved to be no.1, but this is really going to hurt England as they know they could and should have won.

Catches win matches as they say and England dropped 9 in the series, the 2 drops of Amla in the first match and this one cost us over 400 runs

.

If not for 2 stupid run outs today it could have been a nail biter of a finish, but at least England went down with some fight, and gave us a great entertaining last day to a really enjoyable series

Great To see Johnny Bairsstow doing so well in this match, I predict he'll be around for some time to come and make a lot of runs for England.....( Kevin who...? ).

**Greenman** · August 20th, 2012, 10:49 PM

Really felt for Jonny Bairstow not reaching his 100 but two 50s+ is a good start he will be a star of the future I think. South Africa when they first came here had Graeme Smith saying that he wants that title and coming for England. I thought you arrogant basket(or words to that effect), if you want it, you'll have to beat us first. Unfortunately that is exactly what they did do and convincingly. They deserve to be the Number One, but they are only the caretakers for now, Australia will be gunning for them soon.

I thought England put up a terrific fight Broad, Swann, Bairstow and of course Matt Prior's superior batting attempt to get us right back into it just failed. He rightly deserved his accolade today. Batting, bowling and fielding we have been totally outclassed and outplayed but I wonder if Pietersen might have made a difference, or maybe Bresnan? Both have been batting really well and we could have done a real saving job with Pietersen. I saw he was out first ball to a spinner for Surrey against his old club Hampshire and booed off the pitch.

It is vital that this matter be resolved and then bring Pietersen back into whatever match is next be it ODI or Twenty20-the ECB must sort this out fast. Fine him, dock him wages whatever but he must apologise to the team and then they can get on.

All in all I think the best player for England was Matt Prior and for South Africa Hashim Amla, although you can add Vernon Philander to that as a good new bowler and I thought Steven Finn was magnificent bowling too, twice taking 4 wickets. I hope we can do better in the ODIs from Friday. I still think Andrew Strauss is a good captain but he has got to start making some decent innings. Well done South Africa and well done Graeme Smith.

slaphead12 · August 21st, 2012, 12:33 AM

Something seems wrong with Broad, for one thing he looks a bit fatter in the face - maybe not quite fit?

Anderson was class but unlucky.

SA def the better team.

Philander was awesome, not just in this test. Line and Length was McGrath like whole series.

SA could be top dogs for a long time, the only weakness is age (Kallis is geting on) and the spinner.

**victor meldrew** · August 21st, 2012, 12:36 PM

I believe KP's England days are over, regardless if Strauss and Flower want to kiss and make up. He has be left out of the ODI series against SA and also omitted from the T20 World Cup squad. The most damning though was the booing he recieved from the crowd as he entered and left the field of play in the Hampshire, surrey game.

Surrey plays somerset at Taunton next Monday and should KP play, it will be interesting to see what crowd reaction he gets.

jaguar69er · August 21st, 2012, 05:39 PM

I knind of agree with what Shane Warne has said about the whole thing.
Back in the day if two blokes had an issue you would go for a beer, and get it out in the open, then maybe punch it out, but it would be sorted out before it got too far.
I think there has been a bit of snobbery on the part of the ECB, but Kevo hasn't helped himself out with handling it all in the way he has. He is history in regards to international cricket, rightly or wrongly, i just don't see how they can all come out and shake hands by this point and play on together.

I feel dissapointed that a great player is not playing cricket for England full stop. But if he did, and it is a IF, if he gave intimate knowledge of England tactics or plans on how to get Strauss out, then he has been a cock!! Andthere is no defending it really. He should have come out with what was said and when as soon as it all broke out.
I'll always enjoy watching him play, and if that means I get to do that fairly rarely in the county champs, or only in IPL, its sad. It is also sad day for cricket for all this shit bringing it down.

**Roger Allott** · August 21st, 2012, 08:50 PM

If it's true that KP suggested tactics to get Strauss out, I wouldn't trust him playing in any team sport at any level.

He's had history with virtually every team he's ever represented, and he seems to be the common factor in numerous escalating stand-offs that he deals with like a 5-year-old in the playground pretending to be a bull in a china shop.

He's a superbly talented batsmen who is not only incredibly stupid but mixes it with a typically South African lack of sense of humour and a hyper-sensitivity about being stupid / humourless.

jawbone · August 22nd, 2012, 07:20 AM

I have often wondered why it is easier for a white South African to become an England cricketer than it is for a British Asian or black player. The KP affair just reinforces my puzzlement.

Ravi Bopara is a really talented batsman but one failure and he is out of the team as used to happen to Mark Ramprakash. Monty Panesar or the Yorkshire spinners are always overlooked.

It now seems that being Irish qualifies you to play for England and being Rhodesian means you can be coach.

Perhaps after Pietersen we can learn the lesson of importing South Africans does not improve dressing room harmony or develop our home players.

August 17th, 2012, 01:58 PM	#1021
victor meldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: At the bottom of an empty glass Posts: 15,778 Thanks: 531,920 Thanked 180,041 Times in 15,766 Posts	After a promising start it all appears to have gone bosom up. Having reduced South Africa to 105-5, we then let them recover to 309 all out. To me it seemed a case of trying to bounce the lower order out, which seemed to play into thier hands. Believing when we came to bat, we might make a fight of it, has proved completely unfounded as we have currently slumped to 59 - 4, looks like a case of not long untill South Africa take top spot. Update No sooner than i predict an SA win, than Bell and Bairstow come to the party adding 124, before Bell departs for 58. Prior has joined Bairstow and both have dug in. At the close still 101 adrift, first half an hour tomorrow will be vital for both sides. Come on England. Last edited by victor meldrew; August 17th, 2012 at 06:55 PM.. Reason: Cannot spell.

August 20th, 2012, 05:13 PM	#1023
Roger Allott Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7,937 Thanks: 10,958 Thanked 155,895 Times in 8,000 Posts	An entertaining chase by England, led by Bairstow, Prior, Broad & Swann, but ultimately too little too late and South Africa deservedly won the series and take the no 1 ranking. I noticed as well that Saffies have taken our no 1 spot on the T20 ladder, which seems to have happened whilst neither team has played a T20 match! __________________ *If you don't want your beliefs ridiculed, don't have ridiculous beliefs.*

August 20th, 2012, 10:49 PM	#1025
Greenman Live Legend of VEF Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Underground lair somewhere in the world Posts: 20,353 Thanks: 30,936 Thanked 383,528 Times in 19,356 Posts	Really felt for Jonny Bairstow not reaching his 100 but two 50s+ is a good start he will be a star of the future I think. South Africa when they first came here had Graeme Smith saying that he wants that title and coming for England. I thought you arrogant basket(or words to that effect), if you want it, you'll have to beat us first. Unfortunately that is exactly what they did do and convincingly. They deserve to be the Number One, but they are only the caretakers for now, Australia will be gunning for them soon. I thought England put up a terrific fight Broad, Swann, Bairstow and of course Matt Prior's superior batting attempt to get us right back into it just failed. He rightly deserved his accolade today. Batting, bowling and fielding we have been totally outclassed and outplayed but I wonder if Pietersen might have made a difference, or maybe Bresnan? Both have been batting really well and we could have done a real saving job with Pietersen. I saw he was out first ball to a spinner for Surrey against his old club Hampshire and booed off the pitch. It is vital that this matter be resolved and then bring Pietersen back into whatever match is next be it ODI or Twenty20-the ECB must sort this out fast. Fine him, dock him wages whatever but he must apologise to the team and then they can get on. All in all I think the best player for England was Matt Prior and for South Africa Hashim Amla, although you can add Vernon Philander to that as a good new bowler and I thought Steven Finn was magnificent bowling too, twice taking 4 wickets. I hope we can do better in the ODIs from Friday. I still think Andrew Strauss is a good captain but he has got to start making some decent innings. Well done South Africa and well done Graeme Smith. __________________ There was only ONE Greenman, and you accepted no substitutes! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Rest in peace MaxJoker-you will be sorely missed. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 20,000: Milestone reached!

August 21st, 2012, 08:50 PM	#1029
Roger Allott Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7,937 Thanks: 10,958 Thanked 155,895 Times in 8,000 Posts	If it's true that KP suggested tactics to get Strauss out, I wouldn't trust him playing in any team sport at any level. He's had history with virtually every team he's ever represented, and he seems to be the common factor in numerous escalating stand-offs that he deals with like a 5-year-old in the playground pretending to be a bull in a china shop. He's a superbly talented batsmen who is not only incredibly stupid but mixes it with a typically South African lack of sense of humour and a hyper-sensitivity about being stupid / humourless. __________________ *If you don't want your beliefs ridiculed, don't have ridiculous beliefs.*

August 17th, 2012, 02:01 PM	#1022
stardust2003 Vintage Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 1,447 Thanks: 19,907 Thanked 13,923 Times in 1,352 Posts	Bring back Kevo !

August 20th, 2012, 05:15 PM	#1024
DrBone Vintage Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,053 Thanks: 20,906 Thanked 25,348 Times in 1,150 Posts	South Africa win the last test, and the series 2:0 and take the no.1 test ranking spot from England. Well played SA, they thoroughly deserved to be no.1, but this is really going to hurt England as they know they could and should have won. Catches win matches as they say and England dropped 9 in the series, the 2 drops of Amla in the first match and this one cost us over 400 runs . If not for 2 stupid run outs today it could have been a nail biter of a finish, but at least England went down with some fight, and gave us a great entertaining last day to a really enjoyable series Great To see Johnny Bairsstow doing so well in this match, I predict he'll be around for some time to come and make a lot of runs for England.....( Kevin who...? ).

August 21st, 2012, 12:33 AM	#1026
slaphead12 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 380 Thanks: 965 Thanked 3,198 Times in 358 Posts	Something seems wrong with Broad, for one thing he looks a bit fatter in the face - maybe not quite fit? Anderson was class but unlucky. SA def the better team. Philander was awesome, not just in this test. Line and Length was McGrath like whole series. SA could be top dogs for a long time, the only weakness is age (Kallis is geting on) and the spinner.

August 21st, 2012, 12:36 PM	#1027
victor meldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: At the bottom of an empty glass Posts: 15,778 Thanks: 531,920 Thanked 180,041 Times in 15,766 Posts	I believe KP's England days are over, regardless if Strauss and Flower want to kiss and make up. He has be left out of the ODI series against SA and also omitted from the T20 World Cup squad. The most damning though was the booing he recieved from the crowd as he entered and left the field of play in the Hampshire, surrey game. Surrey plays somerset at Taunton next Monday and should KP play, it will be interesting to see what crowd reaction he gets.

August 21st, 2012, 05:39 PM	#1028
jaguar69er Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 161 Thanks: 2,305 Thanked 2,956 Times in 144 Posts	I knind of agree with what Shane Warne has said about the whole thing. Back in the day if two blokes had an issue you would go for a beer, and get it out in the open, then maybe punch it out, but it would be sorted out before it got too far. I think there has been a bit of snobbery on the part of the ECB, but Kevo hasn't helped himself out with handling it all in the way he has. He is history in regards to international cricket, rightly or wrongly, i just don't see how they can all come out and shake hands by this point and play on together. I feel dissapointed that a great player is not playing cricket for England full stop. But if he did, and it is a IF, if he gave intimate knowledge of England tactics or plans on how to get Strauss out, then he has been a cock!! Andthere is no defending it really. He should have come out with what was said and when as soon as it all broke out. I'll always enjoy watching him play, and if that means I get to do that fairly rarely in the county champs, or only in IPL, its sad. It is also sad day for cricket for all this shit bringing it down.

August 22nd, 2012, 07:20 AM	#1030
jawbone Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: UK Posts: 251 Thanks: 18,515 Thanked 2,943 Times in 246 Posts	I have often wondered why it is easier for a white South African to become an England cricketer than it is for a British Asian or black player. The KP affair just reinforces my puzzlement. Ravi Bopara is a really talented batsman but one failure and he is out of the team as used to happen to Mark Ramprakash. Monty Panesar or the Yorkshire spinners are always overlooked. It now seems that being Irish qualifies you to play for England and being Rhodesian means you can be coach. Perhaps after Pietersen we can learn the lesson of importing South Africans does not improve dressing room harmony or develop our home players.