Will South Africa Be A Pushover?.>

[Ernest]

May seem a strange question, but not really.
England are the form team, there is no doubt about that, and South Africa seem to all at sea, not a happy bunch.

So are Englands disiplined players going to win with ease against such an upsett South africa?, I remenber the hype that came with New Zealand, and they where a push over.

What do you think.

Ern

[Lee Johnson]

I dont hink any team that has the likes of Smith, Kallis and Gibbs in there top three and a class performer like Pollock batting at 8 and opening the bowling will be a pushover. It all depends how well Flintoff and Harmison bowl at ther top order, if we can get the top 3 out for not a lot the rest will follow. The pitches should suit Harmisons style of bowling but how quickley he gets used to the conditions is anyones guess.

Saying that i'm still confident that England will win, but the margin of victory i wouldnt like to guess at.

[R W S]

Originally Posted by Lee Johnson

It all depends how well Flintoff and Harmison bowl at ther top order,

Saying that i'm still confident that England will win, but the margin of victory i wouldnt like to guess at.

I think the forthcoming prediction contest may make you think again!!

Also, Giles and Hoggard will have important roles to play. We still have question marks over GO Jones and Strauss in unproven away from home (i.e. Lords). We've still got enough to beat them and there is room for improvement in many of our players.

The SA squad for the two test tour to India is (cricinfo report here)

Squad Graeme Smith (capt), Boeta Dippenaar, Martin van Jaarsveld, Jacques Kallis, Jacques Rudolph, Hashim Amla, Justin Ontong, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Nicky Boje, Zander de Bruyn, Alfonso Thomas, Thami Tsolekile (wk), Makhaya Ntini.

No 'Iron Gloves' Boucher and a few new faces. There's a hint of positive discrimination in the selection also - but thats another issue. The new coach, Ray Jennings, will have an influence - and there's plenty of speculation whether it will be positive!

With SA playing a demoralised India and Australia playing NZ soon our result against the saffers will provide a better formline ahead of the ashes. But first things first - let's continue our seven test winning streak (what's the record 16 or sonething?)

[flanflinger]

I agree - push-over no, but they seem to be the team in a crisis at the moment. I think it is just the type of crisis that this England managment will expose. But Lee is right any team with Smith, Kallis, Gibbs and Pollock, is a team with a huge amount of quality and and experince.


Still think we will win, but it won't be easy

[Lee Johnson]

The Squad doesnt look aas strong as it used to, its nice not to have Gary Kirsten and Allan Donald in the line up against us, but South Africans are fighters, so you can never underestimate them.

[Mike Small]

New Zealand are a decent side with a reliable batting line up but really run of the mill bowlers, we just played so well it made them loook ordinary, as a unit they can be a handful on their day. Having said that South Africa are a side of different propositions right now. They are perhaps in the most lowest ebb of their cricketing history right now, in recent times this is what they have gone through:

Knocked out of the first round of the world cup being joint favorites and host nation - sacked Pollock as captain and appointed Greame Smith who was originally not a part of the world cup squad as his replacement - suffered defeat in England (in Nat West ODIs) - lost first ever series against Pakistan (tests) - lost first ever series against NZ (ODIs) - lost first ever series against Sri Lanka (test and ODIs) - lost 10 consecutive ODIs - knocked out of the CCT in the first round - coach Eric Simon sacked, Ray Jennings apointed - veteran keeper batsman Boucher dropped, plenty of new players called upon - things were so, very desperate at one stage there were romours of Cullinan being recalled from amongst the wilds. Gibbs who is one his day a world class performer is these days so unsure of his own self that he recently said he would not feel nice to be sitting in an indian jail IF (yes, if is the word he used) were innocent. These are not good signs.

Those are signs of a nothing side. SA still have 4 or 5 very good players, who can turn things on on their day but as a side, 11 players collectively they are a struggling unit who have not performed at all. They are struggling for confidence, for runs, for wickets, they are simply not performing. Any thing but a win against India (which remain by and large an unlikely prospect) in their forthingcoming series shall confirm for me that we'll give the saffers a real thrashing to remember.

[Amit]

In my point of view englend should win the series agiasnt south africa with the likes of trescothick , vuaghn, struass who is in form , flintoff with bat and ball , harmison , who is in form with the bal etc... The south african pitch should suit the englend bowlers , ecspecially harmison . but south africa are still a dangerous side by no means . with the likes of smith , kallis rudolph , dippeanarr , pollock boje etc , but the problem is some of the south african batsmen are not in form , smith one of them and i think the sa bowling is lehthal . its going to be a intresting series but i think englend should win it , englend are in good form , and sa have'nt done so well recently , 5-0 cleansweep defeat vs sri lankans when , smith , gibbs , boacher , k'naar , rudolph, pollock was playin , but it should not affect the sa team.

[Ernest]

Hi Amit

Yes I agree with your post, England should win it being the form team, a while since England went to South Africa, and not be the under dogs.
Ern

[Occasional Fan]

Pushover? Not a chance. There's probably no nation in the world which hates to field a losing team more than the South Africans. They'll fight all the way. They'll lose, I think, but I'm going for 3-2 as the series result.

[Ernest]

Hi OF,
I think uyou could just be wrong this time round, methinks England will whitewash the South Africans, or they will lose the series, sounds a bit silly , but on form it makes sence.

Ern