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Rascasse · 07-08-2012, 01:26

Interesting test even though I must admit it hasn't had my fullest attention due to the Olympics.

SA were right to declare when they did and England were right to bring KP out first to try for the result. Sadly his early wicket set the tone and when Prior went in a moment of madness it was all over.

Perhaps England would have been better to not only bring KP up the order, but also promote other players too. Maybe open with KP and Cook, followed by Prior, Taylor, Bell, Strauss, Trott, Bres etc. If you are going to attack hard for the result it seems a waste just to bring KP out early when there are other very good T20/ODI players in the squad.

Sadly the big story from this test is that it could well be KP's last outing in an England shirt. It really is shocking how both sides have allowed this to happen. While the ECB are certainly not blameless, they really need to sort this out. In cricket KP is a superstar and if rules need to be bent (or easily rewritten) to appease him to some extent then so be it. In particular the IPL is not going away and is an easy way for cricketers to make a few quid. All the ECB can do is not book a series for those dates. If you do book a series and a player that has given good service to the side over many years wants to skip it to play IPL, let them.

ThomasFlynn · 18-08-2012, 21:50

145/3 is pretty good going by South Africa, another 150 runs and they'll be favourites.

**dfx-** · 19-08-2012, 04:25

They are sort of 139/4 with Steyn in. He's a decent batsman (for the world's premier pace bowler) who can stick around, but won't last long in the morning and who knows with his injured hand late on yesterday, might not come out.

South Africa can do it, but they can also be out for 175. Let's hope their 54/4 in the first innings was their standard one collapse per series..

mike65 · 19-08-2012, 10:34

Great match this, could go either way or a draw. The margins are apparently so tight.

Dozen Wicked Words · 19-08-2012, 11:09

Shame it's not a five test series. New number one nation after this series I think, which is fair enough, South Africa probably are the best all round team over the last few series.

spiralism · 19-08-2012, 14:19

Superb knock from Amla again. Man of the series for sure. If him or AB stay in for much longer England are in serious trouble, very difficult partnership to crack when both are going.

John mac · 19-08-2012, 18:28

no way back for england now. 10 for 2
5 overs left today.

boksmashoffice · 19-08-2012, 18:33

looking good Eng 12 - 2. I think its a question of a draw or win for SA. One more wicket tonight would be nice.

Rascasse · 19-08-2012, 19:22

Yeah looks like the fat lady is getting ready.

Questions surely now for Strauss. 107 runs from his 6 innings, 2 ducks, 0 50s. Not good enough and surrendering his wicket tonight has pretty much surrendered the no 1 mace to the proteas.

I just hope england give it a go tomorrow and don't capitulate. Better to go down fighting.

Le_Dieux · 19-08-2012, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascasse

Yeah looks like the fat lady is getting ready.

Questions surely now for Strauss. 107 runs from his 6 innings, 2 ducks, 0 50s. Not good enough and surrendering his wicket tonight has pretty much surrendered the no 1 mace to the proteas.

I just hope england give it a go tomorrow and don't capitulate. Better to go down fighting.

One major thing ( for me) missing from the English Team - A Mike Atherton to anchor the innings.

**dfx-** · 20-08-2012, 17:20

Phew!

Le_Dieux · 20-08-2012, 17:51

Who says Test Match Cricket is boring??????

Man, the ICC really have missed a trick or two over the last few months. Aussies tour SA and only have 2 Tests, then this tour only a 3 Test Series...........Hope whoever planned that is given the sack;-)

mike65 · 20-08-2012, 19:52

That was as good a final day as you could hope to see, some swashbuckling batting esp from Prior. The SA attack really needed that new ball to see England off.

Le_Dieux · 20-08-2012, 20:20

Love this quote on Cricinfo:

South Africa are also the first team to win a Test series in England since, er, South Africa, in 2008. Graeme Smith seems to like it here. Perhaps England should ask if they can swap him for Kevin Pietersen?

Dozen Wicked Words · 20-08-2012, 20:44

Win or lose, England usually do feature in the more entertaining test cricket. Congratulations to SA, deserved number one in world, Hopefully England will bounce back. 2nd and 3rd tests showed much more encouraging signs.

Bye, bye KP

19-08-2012, 14:19	#51
spiralism Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Galway Posts: 4,107 Adverts \| Friends	Superb knock from Amla again. Man of the series for sure. If him or AB stay in for much longer England are in serious trouble, very difficult partnership to crack when both are going. Last edited by spiralism; 19-08-2012 at 14:22.

20-08-2012, 20:44	#60
Dozen Wicked Words Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,721 Adverts \| Friends	Win or lose, England usually do feature in the more entertaining test cricket. Congratulations to SA, deserved number one in world, Hopefully England will bounce back. 2nd and 3rd tests showed much more encouraging signs. Bye, bye KP Last edited by Dozen Wicked Words; 20-08-2012 at 21:13.

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07-08-2012, 01:26	#46
Rascasse Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,160 Adverts \| Friends	Interesting test even though I must admit it hasn't had my fullest attention due to the Olympics. SA were right to declare when they did and England were right to bring KP out first to try for the result. Sadly his early wicket set the tone and when Prior went in a moment of madness it was all over. Perhaps England would have been better to not only bring KP up the order, but also promote other players too. Maybe open with KP and Cook, followed by Prior, Taylor, Bell, Strauss, Trott, Bres etc. If you are going to attack hard for the result it seems a waste just to bring KP out early when there are other very good T20/ODI players in the squad. Sadly the big story from this test is that it could well be KP's last outing in an England shirt. It really is shocking how both sides have allowed this to happen. While the ECB are certainly not blameless, they really need to sort this out. In cricket KP is a superstar and if rules need to be bent (or easily rewritten) to appease him to some extent then so be it. In particular the IPL is not going away and is an easy way for cricketers to make a few quid. All the ECB can do is not book a series for those dates. If you do book a series and a player that has given good service to the side over many years wants to skip it to play IPL, let them.

18-08-2012, 21:50	#47
ThomasFlynn Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: omagh Posts: 773 Adverts \| Friends	145/3 is pretty good going by South Africa, another 150 runs and they'll be favourites.

19-08-2012, 04:25	#48
dfx- Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Solvency Posts: 7,244 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Soccer	They are sort of 139/4 with Steyn in. He's a decent batsman (for the world's premier pace bowler) who can stick around, but won't last long in the morning and who knows with his injured hand late on yesterday, might not come out. South Africa can do it, but they can also be out for 175. Let's hope their 54/4 in the first innings was their standard one collapse per series..

19-08-2012, 10:34	#49
mike65 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: waterford Posts: 80,969 Adverts \| Friends	Great match this, could go either way or a draw. The margins are apparently so tight.

19-08-2012, 11:09	#50
Dozen Wicked Words Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,721 Adverts \| Friends	Shame it's not a five test series. New number one nation after this series I think, which is fair enough, South Africa probably are the best all round team over the last few series.

19-08-2012, 18:28	#52
John mac Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: 54n,9.1w ish 23M Posts: 4,080 Adverts \| Friends	no way back for england now. 10 for 2 5 overs left today.

19-08-2012, 18:33	#53
boksmashoffice Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 141 Adverts \| Friends	looking good Eng 12 - 2. I think its a question of a draw or win for SA. One more wicket tonight would be nice.

19-08-2012, 19:22	#54
Rascasse Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,160 Adverts \| Friends	Yeah looks like the fat lady is getting ready. Questions surely now for Strauss. 107 runs from his 6 innings, 2 ducks, 0 50s. Not good enough and surrendering his wicket tonight has pretty much surrendered the no 1 mace to the proteas. I just hope england give it a go tomorrow and don't capitulate. Better to go down fighting.

20-08-2012, 17:20	#56
dfx- Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Solvency Posts: 7,244 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Soccer	Phew!

20-08-2012, 17:51	#57
Le_Dieux Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dark Side Of The Moon, Cill Dara Posts: 1,235 Adverts \| Friends	Who says Test Match Cricket is boring?????? Man, the ICC really have missed a trick or two over the last few months. Aussies tour SA and only have 2 Tests, then this tour only a 3 Test Series...........Hope whoever planned that is given the sack;-)

20-08-2012, 19:52	#58
mike65 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: waterford Posts: 80,969 Adverts \| Friends	That was as good a final day as you could hope to see, some swashbuckling batting esp from Prior. The SA attack really needed that new ball to see England off.

20-08-2012, 20:20	#59
Le_Dieux Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dark Side Of The Moon, Cill Dara Posts: 1,235 Adverts \| Friends	Love this quote on Cricinfo: South Africa are also the first team to win a Test series in England since, er, South Africa, in 2008. Graeme Smith seems to like it here. Perhaps England should ask if they can swap him for Kevin Pietersen?