South Africa v England: 2nd Test: 26-30 December

[Occasional Fan]

Geoffrey Boycott says that South Africa cannot beat England: only England's own complacency could do that (and he doesn't suggest that they are complacent). And he's not bothered about Gibbs returning or Kallis being fit either.

Originally Posted by Geoffrey Boycott on the BBC

If England improve like I think they will, it might not matter who the hosts put on the park.

Full article here.

[R W S]

Oh what fun to be offering advice to the opposition on how to run their team!!!

I've said elsewhere that to give the gloves to an untested player is a decision even the maverick Jennings wouldnt countenance - but I suppose by definition that's the type of choice a maverick makes!

So Tsolekile stays. Now let's take it that the Saffers are looking to get a win - i.e. 20 wickets, so they need more penetration in the bowling. Pollock is a given and so is Ntini. Kallis will bowl - although i wouldnt expect to much from him at first, quality player that he is. They need some variation to their attack and in the interviews I've seen from G Smith I read that Boje will play, without his thyroid.

Langeveldt bowled well in the A team match and will have confidence, and a disciplinarian like Jennings cant overlook the noballing of the promising Steyn, so a straight swap there. Expect Steyn to be back in the picture for the fast Cape Town track. With Kallis back bowling there must be doubts over Hall, even though he seemed favoured by Smith in PE. Which leaves us looking at what role ,if any, Gibbs will play. I dont like to see him on their teamsheet and for that reason I guess he'll play, even though he is woefully out of form, returning from injury & doesnt get along with Jennings (& possibly Smith). From 0-1 down the Saffers would take a drawn series.

G C Smith
A B de Villiers
H Gibbs
J H Kallis
J A Rudolph
H H Dippenaar
S M Pollock
T L Tsolekile
Boje
M Ntini
Langeveldt

Looks a bit lightweight in the batting but is capable of getting the 20 wickets needed to win. Dont expect this test to last five days - England to win in four and go 0-2 up with three to play.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by eng fan

so if Langeveldt is non-white, as you say, that would be two non-white players. But feasibly, I would bring in either Tsolekile or Boucher as wicketkeeper instead of de Villiers because although people have said he is a keeper, I don't know if he can actually keep that well. Steyn should definitely play - he looked very threatening. But given that SA are never going to drop Ntini, that means that one of Steyn, Boje and Langeveldt will have to go. Which do you think it will be?

Langeveldt is white.

I would have Boje in the team just for some control and variation. He's a decent fielder who can also hold a bat. If they're determined to play Langeveldt then Steyn would miss out unless Andrew Hall is dropped - which I suspect to be unlikely. Steyn's time will come.

[R W S]

Can you dismiss Boycott from your deliberations? - He's a relic from the past and has missed the jump to the modern cricket era because he was too busy buffing up his ego. A Tosser of the highest order who never understood that the team is more important than the individual - even in a marraige.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Langeveldt is white.

Officially Cape Coloured, like Gibbs.

[Occasional Fan]

I think that should be "historically Cape Coloured", Pete - thank God all that nonsense is history now.

[Occasional Fan]

So you don't like Geoffrey Boycott, RWS? I'm not sure I'd ever have him round to dinner either, but I wouldn't discard everything he says purely because it is he who says it.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

I think that should be "historically Cape Coloured", Pete - thank God all that nonsense is history now.

I don't really know what cape coloured is to be honest. I always thought Gibbs was white, then I saw people describe him as Cape Coloured and that he counted as non white.

Is it a form of mixed race or something?

[Occasional Fan]

It was a legal classification under Apartheid (there were four: White, Black or "Bantu", Indian and Coloured). A dreadful obscenity which is best consigned to history, but which should never be forgotten lest it be repeated in the future.

[Pete]

Oh right, I saw him described as it on BBC website. I never was one for history, not even my own.