Will Graeme Smith claim another victim?

[GIMH]

Everyone remembers Nasser and Vaughan falling on their swords to Graeme Smith in 03 and 08. With Strauss now hugely under the microscope, will Mr Smith be feasting his eyes on a third successive victim?

I personally agree with Bob Willis - Strauss will endeavour to keep going until the Ashes and a third win in a row. Then again I remember myself saying this time four years ago that I thought Vaughan would aim to do the same thing with regards to winning the 09 Ashes.

I can personally see us returning to form at home this summer but bad omens do strange things to sportsmen. You have to think the sight of smith will give Strauss a bad feeling. Thoughts?

 

[Viscount Tom]

There's no Test at Edgbaston so I think Strauss might pull through.

Although it will require a crushing of the Winidies and at least a draw in the next test against SL.

 

[WindieWeathers]

There's no Test at Edgbaston so I think Strauss might pull through.

Although it will require a crushing of the Winidies and at least a draw in the next test against SL.

These days we don't get "crushed" by anybody!!..whether they are number one or not .

 

[Furball]

Smith will be the victim this year.

 

[amanuensis]

Strauss might not even make it to that series this summer.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Steyn and Philander will definitely be licking their lips.

 

[Eds]

Steyn and Philander will definitely be licking their lips.

Steyn at the luscious seam-bowling conditions.. Philander at the exquisite Lord's buffet.

 

[LegendaryProtea]

Strauss had better make some big runs in Colombo or a couple of hundreds against the West Indies. Unless he does so, I don't think he will last till the South Africa series. One 100 in his last 50 odd innings, that's just unacceptable. Had it been Pietersen with that record, he wouldn't even be allowed in the country.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Lot of time for Strauss as a bloke, but he's not Mike Brearley (he's not even Michael Clarke, tbh) so he really needs to be contributing with the bat to justify his place.

His dismissal in the 2nd innings was the shot of a chap whose head isn't quite right just now.

 

[Arachnodouche]

SA are traditional chokers, but I think people like De Villiers and Philander just might usher in a new era of supreme confidence. I think they're taking this series. This is a nightmare year for English Test cricket.

I like Strauss a great deal, though, and hope he pulls through with some good individual performances.

There's an interesting article on cricinfo about Philander doing his Somerset stint as contractual obligation. He's being relieved just about a month before the tour begins; the ECB better ask Somerset to run him into the ground.

 

[fredfertang]

Strauss certainly needs some runs, but not as many as he'd need if he had an obvious successor - I can't think of anyone else I' d want to see leading us in 2013, 'cept Chappy of course, but he'll be too old by then.

 

[Spark]

I thought Cook was the anointed successor?

 

[weeman27bob]

Who's lined up as the next opener?

Or will it be a case of moving Trott up?

 

[DDP]

Yeah, i'm pretty sure cook isn't far off from being the next one, but who else would open?

 

[four_or_six]

Think Smith may well claim Strauss as well.

Just shows what an incredible captaincy career Smith has had, who'd have though it when he arrived in 2003 and we had nfi who he was. The first test against England will be his 100th, and it'll be his 92nd as captain!

 

[sledger]

Assumed this was a thread about Smith taking some wickets tbh, given England's inability to play slow bowlers etc...

 

[weldone]

Assumed this was a thread about Smith taking some wickets tbh, given England's inability to play slow bowlers etc...

 

[Furball]

Who's lined up as the next opener?

Or will it be a case of moving Trott up?

Has to be Carberry surely?

 

[stumpski]

Strauss is due to play his 100th Test this year as well, that's come around quickly.

Carberry won't be picked because he's not already in the side. Morgan was the last man to break into the closed shop.

 

[weeman27bob]

Strauss is due to play his 100th Test this year as well, that's come around quickly.

Carberry won't be picked because he's not already in the side. Morgan was the last man to break into the closed shop.

In terms of the time between debut and 100th cap, will that make him the quickest player to reach 100 matches?