South Africa A

[flanflinger]

From what I can tell - we have a major problem... The itineray. Who agreed to just one proper warm up match before such an important tour.

We should have had at least one game (prefarbly two) against a F/C team. Then faced an A team, in time for the Test series.

From what I can tell there are some serious form concerns. Thorpe, Harmison, Trescothick, Flintoff etc all out of match practice and they are our key players (apart from Vaughan who of course was in Zimbabwe and well prepared).

We are playing a Test in three days time with just four days cricket under our belts. It's insane!!

I know we have to get through Test series quickly these days, but you cannot prepare for Test matches in the nets... You need time in the middle.

[Occasional Fan]

FF, the only thing I can think of is that, when this tour was arranged, it was the second country on a full test and ODI tour. Our test players have not played a test match for months, but once upon a time it was intended that they would have had two (or three?) under their belts on this tour before they reached South Africa. The Zimbabwe ODIs went ahead, I believe, according to the original timetable - i.e. England arrived late in Zimbabwe as compared to the original schedule, losing valuable time as a result. If it is accepted that England had to go to Zimbabwe (and let's not get into that one again), probably we should have moved the ODIs up into the slots vacated by the cancelled test matches, thus allowing for a proper practice schedule of longer games in South Africa.

What's that rule about the 7Ps?

Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents **** Poor Performance.

Still, we're there now. Better just get on with it.

[flanflinger]

True,

But the Zimbabwe Test leg was cancelled months ago, surely enough time to get a game against a number of states.

Intrestingly Angus Fraser has made the same point this morning

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/4093781.stm

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

What's that rule about the 7Ps? Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents **** Poor Performance.

Hmmm. Someone should have told the WI about that before we went to tour their part of the world in the spring. Seems some clever clogs just said "oh, it's a home series, it doesn't apply". Hardly any batsman had played since the SA series.. and no one had done anything about getting ready for pitches that were far, far more lively than the slow and low things that WI players were used to finding in their own back yard.

[Goatman]

It could be worse. The bowlers have been given a really good trot through thier paces against a decent batting lineup, and though the bats could have benefitted from more time in the middle they have - as Captain Quorn put it - been given a boot up the backside and reminded that they are not quite as good as some people would like to think. It should mean that they go into the first innings of the tests with thier mind properly on the job in hand.

It would have been far worse to have just 2 warmup games, and for them both to be against the Nicky Oftenhopeless XI. Then they have gone in rusty AND cocky!

I am hoping that Mr. Harmison was properly awake in the dressing room. Remember his comments about how he found the length and line that led to his 7-12?

"I just watched how the 4 best bowlers in the West Indies bowled on thier own patch. Then I did the same".

In my book, as a pure bowler, Willoughby is pretty much no. 3 in SA. Both he and Langeveldt have been around a bit - they know what doing on thier own patch. During the WI series Harmison had already been out to bowl in WI first innings by the time he saw bowlers of thier quality operating.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

But the Zimbabwe Test leg was cancelled months ago, surely enough time to get a game against a number of states.

Perhaps you have forgotten FF that the South Africans wanted the England team to play a complete series v. Zimbabwe.
They would not have changed the schedule to accomodate us given that we were attempting to rudely pull out of their country cousin's tour.

And regarding Goatman's Harmison baiting... that is my biggest bug-bare regarding the big man's world number one status.

Can a bowler truly be number one in the world, when he can only work out where to bowl after he's seen how the opposition bowl on the track?

I've made this point before, and surely this (for Vaughan) can be the only reason why he should always choose to bat first.
Nothing to do with continually batting the opposition out of the game - you're not going to do that with six guys who aren't in the top fifteen, not consistently at any rate. IF the opposition bowl first, then Harmison can see where to put the ball.

He really is number one!

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Oliver

Perhaps you have forgotten FF that the South Africans wanted the England team to play a complete series v. Zimbabwe. They would not have changed the schedule to accomodate us given that we were attempting to rudely pull out of their country cousin's tour.

Not so sure it would have been that political. The bit of the Zimbabwe tour that was cancelled was the first bit, not the last, so the way forward ought to have been to move the Zimbabwe ODIs up by ten days or so, and then get into SA for some provincial games before SA A. I don't think the South Africans would have had a problem with that - and the provinces certainly wouldn't, as England tour games would have brought in a few rand. Still, no use crying over spilt milk, as they say. (Actually, who does say that? I don't think I've ever heard it.)

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

Still, no use crying over spilt milk, as they say. (Actually, who does say that? I don't think I've ever heard it.)

Probably one or other of your Primary School teachers, or perhaps someone at Secondary.
I think I heard it in both places.

[Occasional Fan]

So, you were one of those swots who paid attention at school, were you? The secret's out now, Oliver.

[Oliver]

I said: "I think I heard it..."

I didn't listen that hard. And definitely not a swot, otherwise I wouldn't continually start sentences with "and."