Lewis Called Up By England..>

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by dezz

great, now that england are crap again we've got somehting to talk about

I would not say we are crap, we don't seem organised, I mean why did Vaughan declare, when it is known South Africa have players who can turn a game arround, and our squad is to small, we are wining sessions, but so are South Africa,

Originally Posted by John 34179

As an SA supporter I felt he threatened more than delivered. Apart from his spell in the 2nd innings of the 1st test he was just steady.
So Vaughan and Fletcher were looking for alternatives and they thought wrongly as it goes that Anderson would be worth having a go.

OK John In take your point, but England selectors don't seem to have a clue, how to select pace bowlers, Simon jones was rushed back into the team, after that bad accident he had in Australia, and he bowled poor, and looked Jaded.

So Jones has not been the star of this tour, but was improving, and I think he would have kept on improving.

I cringed when Anderson was selected, I knew this would happen, he has played to little cricket, just over 200 overs in a year, and in the odd ODI, has looked poor, he needs overs under his belt.

Anderson at his best, is an attacking bowler who can take wickets out of the blue, even when it seem he is not bowling that good, but he is not at his best, and it shows, and he will know, I wonder if this match will have ruined him.

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

Dont you guys think this may just be a wake up call? after the whole ashes back to england hype.... Maybe england were setting themselves up for a big fall...... I mean this has been a very tough and well fought out contest between these two sides, but i feel cracks are starting to show, and widen, in the england armourery

[John]

Sometimes selections are better in theory than in practice. But risks have to be taken and I am sure Fletcher and Vaughan will take stock and Jones role will be seen in a different light.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1

Maybe england were setting themselves up for a big fall...... I mean this has been a very tough and well fought out contest between these two sides, but i feel cracks are starting to show, and widen, in the england armourery

No Rahul,I think England needed a hard series, and that is what they have got, I think this series will help England win back the Ashes, dont forget we have suffered just one loss, in about 14 games, so that is hardly a chink in the England armourery.

Originally Posted by John 34183

Sometimes selections are better in theory than in practice. But risks have to be taken and I am sure Fletcher and Vaughan will take stock and Jones role will be seen in a different light.

I hope so john, is they include Jones in the next Test, they wont have to play an unready Lewis, BTY should be a cracker tomorrow, it should be a draw, Buttttttt, the way things have swung one way then the other.

Only for the floodlight issue, supporters of both teams have had their moneys worth, this series has had drama.

[Moss]

I like the fact that we've struggled in this test.
Let me rephrase that....
It will do us good in preparation for the Ashes - we will go in as the rightful underdogs, rather than have the media panting that we can be Australia's equal.

Hopefully the weaknesses in the side that have been shown up in such clarity can be worked on between now and the summer.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1

Dont you guys think this may just be a wake up call? Maybe england were setting themselves up for a big fall.

Premature, RD1. We haven't fallen yet. There is still a way to go in this series, and I still think England will win it. Would have been nice to have won it already, very acceptable to have won it by the end of today, but we knew all along that South Africa would be a hard nut to crack at home and I am not surprised that we have had some hard games against them. We'll certainly have some hard games against Australia in the summer, and having one or two which actually last five days in this series is only going to help England's preparation for what will be a tough summer back in England.

[John]

Well that was sutble RD1. The fall you are talking about is it of the magnitude of India in the last world cup final.
I think this tough series is more vital for the fans than the players. Which might help players in the long term might.
Apparently in SA the press was noticeably quiet about the coming England series. They usually brag about SA strengths. This has proably been been helpful to the team.

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

Im not talking about a fall of losing to just south africa. if you do lose the series, as Moss said, it will be better for england because their will be less pressue on them, but they should still have the belief they can win. it would be bad going into the ashes with the media going about being equals etc etc.

but if they lsoe to south africa and then lose the ashes whatwill be in the player's minds then?

dont forget we have suffered just one loss, in about 14 games, so that is hardly a chink in the England armourery.


no but if you look at the game as a whole, i think england's middle order have been brittle and there have been poor bowling performances. but what worries me is the sudden collapses. england have had two scores under 200 in the series. yeh its a small thing, but i hope england are a aware of it going into the ashes and work on it.


The fall you are talking about is it of the magnitude of India in the last world cup final.
yes exactly like tha john

[Ernest]

Every series is different Rahul,

England were unbeaten for about 14 games, won the first in this series, then England lost.
This is the test of a teams metal, they have not been beat since, a creditable draw, and what loks like another creditable draw.

That loss I thin did England no harm at all, we now go into the Ashes, ready for a fight.

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

hehe you could even win this match now......but i think people got overexcited after the nZ and windies tours, and i hope this hard-fought series will put soem reigns on many people's minds. its been a fantastic series so far to be honest. one the best ive ever seen