South Africa v England Test Series

Superb chase from England on a tricky pitch. Shame Alex Hales couldnt get his century but a well controlled knock by him.

What a difference less than 12 months makes. England now look dynamite in ODI cricket whereas this time last year they were a laughing stock. Shame it took the world cup debacle for the selectors to start picking certain players.
 
Strauss should take huge credit for the turn around in the shorter forms of the game.
Trott and Balance a distant memory.....:lol:

Encouraging players to go and play in the Big Bash and IPL can only bring players on.
 
IM01 said:
Strauss should take huge credit for the turn around in the shorter forms of the game.
Trott and Balance a distant memory.....:lol:

Encouraging players to go and play in the Big Bash and IPL can only bring players on.
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Cook and Bell as well in the ODI format.
 
Top inns from Morris (once Rashid had dropped the sitter) but got to be plenty of questions asked of Morgans captaincy in the chase, especially why Rashid was held back so long when seam up was being dispatched
 
Tongo said:
Indeed. England are heading in the right direction though. I listened to much of the SA innings today and they made SA work for it even though it was such a low total.
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Batting been a bit brainless at times last 2 games, refusing to bat the overs as we only have one gear needs to be addressed, I expect long term by finding a spot for James Taylor somewhere in the order.

Morgans reluctance to turn to Rashid been worrying too
 
fundy said:
Batting been a bit brainless at times last 2 games, refusing to bat the overs as we only have one gear needs to be addressed, I expect long term by finding a spot for James Taylor somewhere in the order.

Morgans reluctance to turn to Rashid been worrying too
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Captain Morgan's dismissal today was less than brainless, if thats possible. A series we should have won fairly easily but if you cant finish off quality opponents by ignoring sensible cricket, then you reap what you sew. Well done to SA.
 
fundy said:
Batting been a bit brainless at times last 2 games, refusing to bat the overs as we only have one gear needs to be addressed, I expect long term by finding a spot for James Taylor somewhere in the order.

Morgans reluctance to turn to Rashid been worrying too
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He bowled 10 overs in yesterday's game.

I think Bairstow is more likely to get in than Taylor.

To be fair to this England team it's gonna either be feast or famine. They beat NZ and ran Australia close last summer and were one dropped catch away from winning this series. Lest we forget that its less than a year after the World Cup debacle. Some of these players will need time to adapt and adjust. England are heading in the right direction though and playing exciting, entertaining and reasonably successful cricket after the stats dominated shambles of the Moores era.

England have also found a decent left-arm, wicket taking bowler in Topley and Hales is starting to look the real deal as an opener. But for one more run he would have had 2 centuries in the series and he was England's leading run scorer.
 
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Piece said:
Captain Morgan's dismissal today was less than brainless, if thats possible. A series we should have won fairly easily but if you cant finish off quality opponents by ignoring sensible cricket, then you reap what you sew. Well done to SA.
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Neither of England's captains have held their hand up during this winter. Lets hope Morgan discovers some form before the World T20.
 
Tongo said:
He bowled 10 overs in yesterday's game.

I think Bairstow is more likely to get in than Taylor.

To be fair to this England team it's gonna either be feast or famine. They beat NZ and ran Australia close last summer and were one dropped catch away from winning this series. Lest we forget that its less than a year after the World Cup debacle. Some of these players will need time to adapt and adjust. England are heading in the right direction though and playing exciting, entertaining and reasonably successful cricket after the stats dominated shambles of the Moores era.

England have also found a decent left-arm, wicket taking bowler in Topley and Hales is starting to look the real deal as an opener. But for one more run he would have had 2 centuries in the series and he was England's leading run scorer.
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He bowled 10 overs but the timing in this game and especially the previous game as to when he has bowled has been wrong imo. Can see shwere youre coming from with Bairstow, just think Taylor would bring some much needed balance to the feast or famine approach and will be exactly whats needed in situations like the last 2 games
 
fundy said:
He bowled 10 overs but the timing in this game and especially the previous game as to when he has bowled has been wrong imo. Can see shwere youre coming from with Bairstow, just think Taylor would bring some much needed balance to the feast or famine approach and will be exactly whats needed in situations like the last 2 games
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The only problem for Taylor is where he bats in the line-up. He should be at 3 but Root is quite rightly at 3 given his current form. Then you've got Morgan, Buttler and Stokes filling the top 6, Woakes at 7, Ali at 8 etc. The only way I can see him getting back in is if Morgan is dropped and Taylor takes over as skipper!

The use of Rashid is an interesting one. I think Morgan got it wrong in the 4th ODI as Morris wasn't reading Rashid's spin. Yesterday was simply a case of not having enough runs to play with. Aside from Amla losing his head SA were able to cruise at less than 5 an over. ABdV controlled the situation brilliantly, realising he didn't have to play any hero shots to win the game. In such cases Morgan's onto a loser really.
 
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