3rd Test South Africa vs England

[Paoli]

Originally Posted by Cricinfo

An elegant, stroke-filled player blessed with the temperament to make the most of his talent, Hashim Amla is the first South African of Indian descent to reach the national squad. His elevation was a poorly kept secret after he reeled off four centuries in his first eight innings of the 2004-05 season, after being appointed captain of the Dolphins (formerly Natal) at the tender age of 21. His older brother by four years, Ahmed, made his first-class debut two seasons before Hashim, but there is little doubt that the younger Amla is the better player. He is also a devout Muslim whose requests to have logos promoting alcohol removed from his playing gear have been successful so far. Amla toured New Zealand with the South African Under-19 team in 2000-01, he captained South Africa at the 2002 Under-19 World Cup, and he also starred for South Africa A. As sure as he possesses the most impressive beard in all the game, Amla is a candidate to become South Africa's first non-white Test captain. Telford Vice (October 2004)

i was wondering how you could say that about one who has done nothing in the test arena.

The only one who got that was Clarke of Australia....but to play test cricket for AUS at 23 means your a damned good player

http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/RS...A_HM_03009952/

[Occasional Fan]

This was discussed on Talksport yesterday morning. I'm not saying necessarily that the UCBSA got it right this time around, but one of the points made by a South African commentator (I'm not even sure who it was I was listening to) was that the UCBSA has not really made any secret of its policy on selection. They are on record as saying that in any fifty-fifty situations - i.e. those where two people have otherwise equal claims to a Test place - race will be taken into account as a deciding factor, with preference going to the non-white candidate all other things being equal. As I say, I don't necessarily think that VJ and Amla are "otherwise equal" in their claims to a place, so perhaps the UCBSA didn't get this selection quite right.

[Occasional Fan]

I've been away and have not been giving this my full attention, but I see that Butcher is not playing this time around, and I thought I heard mention of an injury in the few minutes I could hear yesterday (staying with friends in Scotland did not guarantee me all the access to the cricket that I might have liked!). Can anyone shed light on this?

[freddie flintoff 142]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

I thought I heard mention of an injury in the few minutes I could hear yesterday

butcher apprently did sumit to his left wrist ligaments in the gym (likely!) and aggravated it in the nets day of the test. That was according the daily mail this morning anyway

[Ernest]

Vaughan was injured in the nets, don't know what happened to Butcher click here Flintoff up beat still.

[Ernest]

Trescothick gone, bad shot selection, Rob Key gets his chance.

[Occasional Fan]

Just read a similar report about Butcher in today's Grauniad. He really is unlucky, isn't he?

[Pete]

What a shambles this is turning out to be.

Something has gotta change with Vaughan too, he seriously can't go on like this.

[Moss]

I spy, with my little thigh, something beginning with "follow on"....

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Pete

Something has gotta change with Vaughan too, he seriously can't go on like this.

I have to question the captain's decision to send in a night watchman as well. Curious, given that there was only an over to go and Thorpe was there on strike. Follow on is not at all out of the question, I'd say.