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*Official* South Africa in England Thread
- Thread starter Rik
- Start date
Mr Mxyzptlk
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Career best for Harmison... 4/33.
England on the verge of a truly remarkable victory.
England on the verge of a truly remarkable victory.
Tim
Cricketer Of The Year
Well its more than likely that England will pull off a victory.
South Africa blew it on a pitch that if they could have picked any to defend the series on, it would have been this one.
Great comeback by England and mentally it will give them a much bigger boost for their overseas matches.
South Africa blew it on a pitch that if they could have picked any to defend the series on, it would have been this one.
Great comeback by England and mentally it will give them a much bigger boost for their overseas matches.
Mr Mxyzptlk
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The key is that England went out there with the intention to take the attack to the South African bowlers, which is exactly what's required when you're fighting to save a series. They knew that they had to score alot of runs and they needed them quickly and they did it. 1000+ runs were scored in the first innings, 450+ by each team and yet we a result. That's quite incredible.
Tim
Cricketer Of The Year
I think South Africa went into this match really content with at worst a draw, when they really should have still been after the win.
They saw the pitch, it was a belter & everyone was saying "well it'll take a miracle to bowl South Africa out on this pitch" so they probably got too over confident.
So they are their own worst enemy & shows that despite several plusses in this series they've still got a number of minusses aswell.
They saw the pitch, it was a belter & everyone was saying "well it'll take a miracle to bowl South Africa out on this pitch" so they probably got too over confident.
So they are their own worst enemy & shows that despite several plusses in this series they've still got a number of minusses aswell.
Mr Mxyzptlk
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The best form of defence is generally attack.
luckyeddie
Cricket Web Staff Member
Counting my pennies now - can't lose.
£5 on England at 8-1
I've also risked £1 on the draw at 50-1 and £1 on South Africa at 33-1.
Free beer this week for LE.
£5 on England at 8-1
I've also risked £1 on the draw at 50-1 and £1 on South Africa at 33-1.
Free beer this week for LE.
Magrat Garlick
Global Moderator
England win by 9 wickets!! Amazing!
So, time to sum up this one:
Man of the series: Graeme Smith (SA) with 600+ runs in the first two games, that was truly astonishing.
Andrew Flintoff (Eng), batting average of 53 in the series, useful as a bowler, scored 142 when England desperately needed it, blasted 95 in the first innings when England looked on the verge of losing again. Can't really split the two.
Disappointment of the series: That Smith could never find his form after scoring those 600+. If someone mentions a record set by Bradman, the bloke who's about to break it is sure to collapse...
Surprise of the series: That England scraped the final win and LE won £40...
So, time to sum up this one:
Man of the series: Graeme Smith (SA) with 600+ runs in the first two games, that was truly astonishing.
Andrew Flintoff (Eng), batting average of 53 in the series, useful as a bowler, scored 142 when England desperately needed it, blasted 95 in the first innings when England looked on the verge of losing again. Can't really split the two.
Disappointment of the series: That Smith could never find his form after scoring those 600+. If someone mentions a record set by Bradman, the bloke who's about to break it is sure to collapse...
Surprise of the series: That England scraped the final win and LE won £40...
Mr Mxyzptlk
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That's only the fourth time in Test history that a first innings score that big has resulted in defeat - 484 and still a 9-wicket loss. Wow.
luckyeddie
Cricket Web Staff Member
Not to me, it wasn't.Samuel_Vimes said:
One of my first postings in this thread was when Smith was running riot in the first test. In it, I reminded you that a month before the series started, I suspected that the result might well be 2-2.
Winning the cash was easy - bookmakers tend to listen to stupid people like Shane and the late Hansie for pitch and weather reports and set their odds accordingly.
This has been a wildly fluctuating series between two extremely closely-matched sides - I still feel that South Africa were slightly the stronger in both batting and bowling but not by a lot in either. Consequently, there was always the chance of one side or the other snatching defeat from the jaws of victory - and both in fact managed to do so.
Just half-way through the game, the bookies were quoting 1-8 on a draw so I had a punt on England. As soon as they made any type of comeback, it was just a case of waiting for the odds to change in my favour before I could 'cover' the bet and be sure of making some 'free' money.
Marc knows.
Oh, and a nine-wicket victory with almost 75 overs to go is hardly 'scraping' a win.
Mr Mxyzptlk
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England Batting and Fielding
Name Mat I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
GP Thorpe 1 1 0 124 124 124.00 1 0 1 0
ME Trescothick 5 10 2 487 219 60.87 1 3 3 0
A Flintoff 5 8 0 423 142 52.87 1 3 0 0
MA Butcher 5 9 1 406 106 50.75 1 3 4 0
N Hussain 4 8 1 293 116 41.85 1 1 0 0
MP Vaughan 5 10 0 318 156 31.80 1 0 2 0
JM Anderson 5 8 7 27 21* 27.00 0 0 1 0
AJ Stewart 5 8 0 182 72 22.75 0 1 14 1
AF Giles 4 6 0 116 41 19.33 0 0 1 0
ET Smith 3 5 0 87 64 17.40 0 1 5 0
A McGrath 2 3 0 51 34 17.00 0 0 1 0
D Gough 2 3 0 49 34 16.33 0 0 1 0
SJ Harmison 4 6 2 29 14 7.25 0 0 0 0
MP Bicknell 2 3 0 19 15 6.33 0 0 2 0
Kabir Ali 1 2 0 10 9 5.00 0 0 0 0
RJ Kirtley 2 4 0 16 11 4.00 0 0 2 0
England Bowling
Name Mat O M R W Best Ave Econ SR 5 10
RJ Kirtley 2 98.5 32 259 13 6-34 19.92 2.62 45.6 1 0
Kabir Ali 1 36 5 136 5 3-80 27.20 3.77 43.2 0 0
MP Bicknell 2 93 22 280 10 4-84 28.00 3.01 55.8 0 0
JM Anderson 5 161.5 35 598 15 5-102 39.86 3.69 64.7 1 0
A McGrath 2 11 0 40 1 1-40 40.00 3.63 66.0 0 0
SJ Harmison 4 129.2 26 413 9 4-33 45.88 3.19 86.2 0 0
A Flintoff 5 182 44 592 10 2-55 59.20 3.25 109.2 0 0
MP Vaughan 5 19 2 63 1 1-26 63.00 3.31 114.0 0 0
AF Giles 4 142 15 502 7 2-45 71.71 3.53 121.7 0 0
D Gough 2 53 9 215 1 1-88 215.00 4.05 318.0 0 0
MA Butcher 5 11 1 52 0 - - 4.72 - 0 0
South Africa Batting and Fielding
Name Mat I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
GC Smith 5 9 0 714 277 79.33 2 1 3 0
SM Pollock 4 6 3 205 66* 68.33 0 2 6 0
G Kirsten 4 7 0 462 130 66.00 2 2 4 0
HH Gibbs 5 9 0 478 183 53.11 2 0 5 0
MV Boucher 5 8 1 271 68 38.71 0 2 17 1
HH Dippenaar 3 5 1 143 92 35.75 0 1 0 0
M Zondeki 1 2 0 66 59 33.00 0 1 0 0
ND McKenzie 3 6 0 190 90 31.66 0 1 0 0
JH Kallis 3 6 0 188 66 31.33 0 1 1 0
AJ Hall 4 7 2 121 99* 24.20 0 1 7 0
M Ntini 5 6 3 59 32* 19.66 0 0 0 0
JA Rudolph 5 9 0 132 55 14.66 0 1 4 0
PR Adams 3 4 1 42 15 14.00 0 0 6 0
D Pretorius 3 2 0 17 9 8.50 0 0 0 0
RJ Peterson 1 0 - - - - - - 0 0
CM Willoughby 1 0 - - - - - - 0 0
South Africa Bowling
Name Mat O M R W Best Ave Econ SR 5 10
SM Pollock 4 177 57 420 17 6-39 24.70 2.37 62.4 1 0
JH Kallis 3 113.3 25 362 14 6-54 25.85 3.18 48.6 1 0
AJ Hall 4 144.4 29 430 16 3-18 26.87 2.97 54.2 0 0
JA Rudolph 5 8 2 29 1 1-1 29.00 3.62 48.0 0 0
M Ntini 5 196.2 34 814 23 5-75 35.39 4.14 51.2 2 1
PR Adams 3 69.4 10 238 4 2-46 59.50 3.41 104.5 0 0
D Pretorius 3 70 12 298 5 4-115 59.60 4.25 84.0 0 0
RJ Peterson 1 35 12 90 1 1-33 90.00 2.57 210.0 0 0
M Zondeki 1 4.5 0 25 0 - - 5.17 - 0 0
CM Willoughby 1 20 7 46 0 - - 2.30 - 0 0
Name Mat I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
GP Thorpe 1 1 0 124 124 124.00 1 0 1 0
ME Trescothick 5 10 2 487 219 60.87 1 3 3 0
A Flintoff 5 8 0 423 142 52.87 1 3 0 0
MA Butcher 5 9 1 406 106 50.75 1 3 4 0
N Hussain 4 8 1 293 116 41.85 1 1 0 0
MP Vaughan 5 10 0 318 156 31.80 1 0 2 0
JM Anderson 5 8 7 27 21* 27.00 0 0 1 0
AJ Stewart 5 8 0 182 72 22.75 0 1 14 1
AF Giles 4 6 0 116 41 19.33 0 0 1 0
ET Smith 3 5 0 87 64 17.40 0 1 5 0
A McGrath 2 3 0 51 34 17.00 0 0 1 0
D Gough 2 3 0 49 34 16.33 0 0 1 0
SJ Harmison 4 6 2 29 14 7.25 0 0 0 0
MP Bicknell 2 3 0 19 15 6.33 0 0 2 0
Kabir Ali 1 2 0 10 9 5.00 0 0 0 0
RJ Kirtley 2 4 0 16 11 4.00 0 0 2 0
England Bowling
Name Mat O M R W Best Ave Econ SR 5 10
RJ Kirtley 2 98.5 32 259 13 6-34 19.92 2.62 45.6 1 0
Kabir Ali 1 36 5 136 5 3-80 27.20 3.77 43.2 0 0
MP Bicknell 2 93 22 280 10 4-84 28.00 3.01 55.8 0 0
JM Anderson 5 161.5 35 598 15 5-102 39.86 3.69 64.7 1 0
A McGrath 2 11 0 40 1 1-40 40.00 3.63 66.0 0 0
SJ Harmison 4 129.2 26 413 9 4-33 45.88 3.19 86.2 0 0
A Flintoff 5 182 44 592 10 2-55 59.20 3.25 109.2 0 0
MP Vaughan 5 19 2 63 1 1-26 63.00 3.31 114.0 0 0
AF Giles 4 142 15 502 7 2-45 71.71 3.53 121.7 0 0
D Gough 2 53 9 215 1 1-88 215.00 4.05 318.0 0 0
MA Butcher 5 11 1 52 0 - - 4.72 - 0 0
South Africa Batting and Fielding
Name Mat I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
GC Smith 5 9 0 714 277 79.33 2 1 3 0
SM Pollock 4 6 3 205 66* 68.33 0 2 6 0
G Kirsten 4 7 0 462 130 66.00 2 2 4 0
HH Gibbs 5 9 0 478 183 53.11 2 0 5 0
MV Boucher 5 8 1 271 68 38.71 0 2 17 1
HH Dippenaar 3 5 1 143 92 35.75 0 1 0 0
M Zondeki 1 2 0 66 59 33.00 0 1 0 0
ND McKenzie 3 6 0 190 90 31.66 0 1 0 0
JH Kallis 3 6 0 188 66 31.33 0 1 1 0
AJ Hall 4 7 2 121 99* 24.20 0 1 7 0
M Ntini 5 6 3 59 32* 19.66 0 0 0 0
JA Rudolph 5 9 0 132 55 14.66 0 1 4 0
PR Adams 3 4 1 42 15 14.00 0 0 6 0
D Pretorius 3 2 0 17 9 8.50 0 0 0 0
RJ Peterson 1 0 - - - - - - 0 0
CM Willoughby 1 0 - - - - - - 0 0
South Africa Bowling
Name Mat O M R W Best Ave Econ SR 5 10
SM Pollock 4 177 57 420 17 6-39 24.70 2.37 62.4 1 0
JH Kallis 3 113.3 25 362 14 6-54 25.85 3.18 48.6 1 0
AJ Hall 4 144.4 29 430 16 3-18 26.87 2.97 54.2 0 0
JA Rudolph 5 8 2 29 1 1-1 29.00 3.62 48.0 0 0
M Ntini 5 196.2 34 814 23 5-75 35.39 4.14 51.2 2 1
PR Adams 3 69.4 10 238 4 2-46 59.50 3.41 104.5 0 0
D Pretorius 3 70 12 298 5 4-115 59.60 4.25 84.0 0 0
RJ Peterson 1 35 12 90 1 1-33 90.00 2.57 210.0 0 0
M Zondeki 1 4.5 0 25 0 - - 5.17 - 0 0
CM Willoughby 1 20 7 46 0 - - 2.30 - 0 0
Magrat Garlick
Global Moderator
Well, it was quite surprising after that first day when SA were roaring on 250/1 with hardly any English bowling attack. But I agree with you that scraping was a bad word, especially thanks to that good 2nd innings bowling by England.
It should have been 3-2 though - SA should have smashed England in the first Test, if it wasn't for the trustworthy English rain :rolleyes:
It should have been 3-2 though - SA should have smashed England in the first Test, if it wasn't for the trustworthy English rain :rolleyes:
gibbsnsmith
State Vice-Captain
well, i can do nothing but smile 
marc71178
Eyes not spreadsheets
Why? I am giving SA the 1st Test, when even without the rain the may not have pulled it off.Tim said:
However the 4th Test we should NEVER have lost from the positions we had them in on more than one occasion.
That would make it 3-2, but overall 2-2 is a satisfactory result IMO.
marc71178
Eyes not spreadsheets
But if we're going for should haves - we should have destroyed them at Headingley (21-4, 140-7, going off for bad light etc.)Samuel_Vimes said:
At the end of the day, there's no guarantee they'd have won without rain at Edgbaston (They only took 11 wickets in the match, and once the follow on was avoided it was always going to be very difficult to force a win.
2-2 is about fair I'd say.
in hindsight I'd say 2-2 is a fair result, as IMO neither team deserved to win the series.....
On paper this is one of the strongest SA batting lineups in years, although the Home series V Bangladesh has probably flattered SA, much as Sinclairs 200+ on debut at home V The WIndies did!
The warning signs were there for SA in the Tri-Series re their inconsistency with the bat, and sure enough during the series they lacked a complimentary batting contribution. Their victories came on the back of massive contributions from their top order, but they struggled once they 'failed'.
The SA bowling attack is no longer the weapon in once was, and can no longer be rated as befitting the 2nd best team in the comp. They have a lack of genuine pace and much of a sameness about them.
This team thrives on attacking cricket but IMO they did a number on themselves following Headingly & their 1st innings in this test. IMO they took their foot off the accelerator and settled for a draw after Day 2, and were deservedly out played & out fought from then on.
On paper this is one of the strongest SA batting lineups in years, although the Home series V Bangladesh has probably flattered SA, much as Sinclairs 200+ on debut at home V The WIndies did!
The warning signs were there for SA in the Tri-Series re their inconsistency with the bat, and sure enough during the series they lacked a complimentary batting contribution. Their victories came on the back of massive contributions from their top order, but they struggled once they 'failed'.
The SA bowling attack is no longer the weapon in once was, and can no longer be rated as befitting the 2nd best team in the comp. They have a lack of genuine pace and much of a sameness about them.
This team thrives on attacking cricket but IMO they did a number on themselves following Headingly & their 1st innings in this test. IMO they took their foot off the accelerator and settled for a draw after Day 2, and were deservedly out played & out fought from then on.