I'm using the last test against the West Indies as a guide, I don't usually concern myself with the Pommies comings and goings except when they're playing SA and their ritual 4 yearly massacre at the hands of the Aussies over that small pile of debris, so I may not be completely clued up on who's in or out.
I'm not going to do an individual head to head, I'll leave that to people in the know.
Captains:
Smith vs. Vaughn
It's gotta be Vaughn sadly, Smith did very well in India without a spinner though, and that'll stand him in good stead. He still hasn't broken the age old SA habit of playing to a plan despite the conditions. It's all good when the going's good, but it's disheartening to see SA sometimes when a batsman is laying into them and they don't know what to do.
Opening batsmen:
England probably shade it, as they have a slightly more settled partnership. Smith & Hall looks a bit dodgy, Smith & Gibbs, just as dodgy due to Gibbs poor form if, however, Gibbs hits that heavenly high note, it'll be a long day in the field for England.
Keepers:
Boucher vs. Jones
Boucher beats Jones, cos I don't know much about Mr. Jones. It's wierd seeing someone other that Stewart keeping for England.
Spin:
Giles vs. Boje
Boje is a more than decent batsman, much, much better than Giles. I also happen to think he's a better bowler than the King of Spain as well. God help us if he get's injured. Giles is Warne compared to the other miserable sods we have. Though Boje is at #29 on the PWC ratings & Giles is at #13, hmm. I don't see them playing a massive part anyway. Maybe at St. George's Park, they'll both get the ball to deviate a centimetre or 2. This is SA, we don't have spinners for a reason.
Allrounders (The battle royale):
Kallis vs. Flintoff
We shall have to see, shan't we? I'd still rate Jakes as being better, but that's 'cos I'm South African. Flintoff's the better bowler right now, Kallis is the better batsman.
Zander de Bruyn & Andrew Hall vs. ........
Zander & Andrew beat Nobody hands down
Seamers:
Pollock vs. Hoggard
I think Pollock is still world class, Hoggard is good, but he's not that good. An honest journeyman vs. one of the best allrounders around
Zander de Bruyn & Andrew Hall vs. Simon Jones or James Anderson
Jones has a 1st class bowling average in the 30's and he can't bat for peanuts, he's got a bit of pace about him, but nothing deadly. I don't even think Anderson is on this tour. He can go from the ****e to ****e in 0s flat. Too inconsistent to even rate. SA wins
Ntini vs. Harmison
Harmison by a street.
Overall:
England probably have the in form top order, but SA have batting up the wazoo, irrespective of what team gets picked, we'll have competent batsmen right down to #9. If Bouch plays, then we'll have Nicky coming in at #10. He's got 2 ODI Hundreds, he has.
England bat down to #5 I think.....
Seriously, SA have the upper hand in the batting dept.
SA's better manned bowlingwise as well. If Kallis is fit, then it's Kallis, Hall, de Bruyn, Boje, Pollock & Ntini with some fun from Rudolf & Smith vs. Jones/Anderson/Whoever, Flintoff, Giles, Hoggard, Harmison & an occasional Vaughn.
I think SA is certainly good enough to win, I also think England have enough to win as well. On paper, I reckon SA are shading it.
I'm not going to do an individual head to head, I'll leave that to people in the know.
Captains:
Smith vs. Vaughn
It's gotta be Vaughn sadly, Smith did very well in India without a spinner though, and that'll stand him in good stead. He still hasn't broken the age old SA habit of playing to a plan despite the conditions. It's all good when the going's good, but it's disheartening to see SA sometimes when a batsman is laying into them and they don't know what to do.
Opening batsmen:
England probably shade it, as they have a slightly more settled partnership. Smith & Hall looks a bit dodgy, Smith & Gibbs, just as dodgy due to Gibbs poor form if, however, Gibbs hits that heavenly high note, it'll be a long day in the field for England.
Keepers:
Boucher vs. Jones
Boucher beats Jones, cos I don't know much about Mr. Jones. It's wierd seeing someone other that Stewart keeping for England.
Spin:
Giles vs. Boje
Boje is a more than decent batsman, much, much better than Giles. I also happen to think he's a better bowler than the King of Spain as well. God help us if he get's injured. Giles is Warne compared to the other miserable sods we have. Though Boje is at #29 on the PWC ratings & Giles is at #13, hmm. I don't see them playing a massive part anyway. Maybe at St. George's Park, they'll both get the ball to deviate a centimetre or 2. This is SA, we don't have spinners for a reason.
Allrounders (The battle royale):
Kallis vs. Flintoff
We shall have to see, shan't we? I'd still rate Jakes as being better, but that's 'cos I'm South African. Flintoff's the better bowler right now, Kallis is the better batsman.
Zander de Bruyn & Andrew Hall vs. ........
Zander & Andrew beat Nobody hands down
Seamers:
Pollock vs. Hoggard
I think Pollock is still world class, Hoggard is good, but he's not that good. An honest journeyman vs. one of the best allrounders around
Zander de Bruyn & Andrew Hall vs. Simon Jones or James Anderson
Jones has a 1st class bowling average in the 30's and he can't bat for peanuts, he's got a bit of pace about him, but nothing deadly. I don't even think Anderson is on this tour. He can go from the ****e to ****e in 0s flat. Too inconsistent to even rate. SA wins
Ntini vs. Harmison
Harmison by a street.
Overall:
England probably have the in form top order, but SA have batting up the wazoo, irrespective of what team gets picked, we'll have competent batsmen right down to #9. If Bouch plays, then we'll have Nicky coming in at #10. He's got 2 ODI Hundreds, he has.
England bat down to #5 I think.....
Seriously, SA have the upper hand in the batting dept. SA's better manned bowlingwise as well. If Kallis is fit, then it's Kallis, Hall, de Bruyn, Boje, Pollock & Ntini with some fun from Rudolf & Smith vs. Jones/Anderson/Whoever, Flintoff, Giles, Hoggard, Harmison & an occasional Vaughn.
I think SA is certainly good enough to win, I also think England have enough to win as well. On paper, I reckon SA are shading it.
