Day 5, 4th Test - SA Vs Eng - Johannesburg

[Oliver]

Surely they can't declare. South Africa will **** 300 or anything really under 350... if we bowled as we did in the first innings...

... and it's not as though our attack will have improved in the one day off that it's had.

We cannot win with three bowlers bowling so poorly.

Will someone in authority now, do you suppose, put their hand up and say: "the schedule was too tough and basically (in a word) stupid."

[cantplaycantalk]

Can we bowl that badly twice?

[flanflinger]

Over 300 runs the lead.

I love England fans very quick to panic. I really don't thik we can bowl as badly again, but I really can't see them chasing over 300. Game safe, only one possible winner - England. Saffers are too defence orientated to chase this.

Over rate is appauling - they fined Vaughan 100%, I think Smith should recieve a call to chat with Lloyd as well

[Oliver]

Harmison presumably won't bowl... so we are let off that disappointment for a start.

I see no reason why Anderson would bowl better. He got two wickets with terrible deliveries. I mean here, deliveries that were so terrible that it would be laughable to say that they were the bad balls that take the most wickets.
He found almost no rhythm and for all the good works Troy Cooley has done with Simon Jones during his rehabilitation from what should have been a career destroying injury, and any plaudits he should gain from turning Harmison into the destroyer that he was against a hopeless West Indian outfit, he [Mr. Cooley] should apologise whole-heartedly for absolutely ruining the burgeoning natural talent that was Jimmy Anderson.

Furthermore, when you have a pivotal player who is prone to injury problems and you are also aware that he should probably not bowl too many overs in a test match, partially because he is that pivotal player and you don't want to have to let him sit a match out because he is SO PIVOTAL. You do NOT agree to playing five Tests in thirty-odd days.

That is tantamount to madness.

[The Worker]

Now the lead is over 300, I don't think we can lose from here, given the light situation at the end of the day.

However, I still wouldn't declare and play the game out for a draw. We need to regroup and have a serious think about selection for the final test. S Jones has to come back, either for the unfit Harmison or the out of form Anderson (who just hasn't played enough cricket. Not his fault.)

Coach / Captain to come down hard on G Jones to sort his gloves out and Thorpe/Flintoff to get some runs.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Oliver

He found almost no rhythm and for all the good works Troy Cooley has done with Simon Jones during his rehabilitation from what should have been a career destroying injury, and any plaudits he should gain from turning Harmison into the destroyer that he was against a hopeless West Indian outfit, he [Mr. Cooley] should apologise whole-heartedly for absolutely ruining the burgeoning natural talent that was Jimmy Anderson.

Olly,

Sorry mate, but this is the kind of comments that really get my goat (nothing to do with Goaty though). Lets knock players, coaches when things aren't going so well. It just really annoys me as no other country would have fans like that.

However, we do also get too excited when we do well. I am sure I was not the only person that thought that SouthAfrica weren't going to just lie down and let us take the series at home. I think people read too much into the ICC Championship positions. the Saffers are fighters and proving it.

I agree with Ern's comments on the other threads taht what we needed was a hard work out before the Ashes. We have got that, it is a good series and both sides are competing.

We are quick to say that England haven't bowled well, but in neither innings have the saffers taken 10 wickets. What does that say about their bowling? The run rate in the 2nd innings was over 4 an over!!

[Glamorgan Wanderer]

Well played Marcus Trescothick. For a bloke who doesn't look like he belongs at this level he certainly scores a decent amount of runs!

[Occasional Fan]

I don't understand this. Most people (Oliver excepted) are saying England can't lose from here. I'm sure that's right. It might take a miracle, but England surely can win from here. So they should go for it. Hope MV declares at lunch - ten minutes before the end of lunch to make sure he pees Smith off again - and that we see the South Africans have a bat this afternoon. For about two hours. With wickets falling like ninepins. Or ten, to be exact.

And for anyone who doesn't understand what I am whittering on about - sorry! I need a new wristwatch. Thought we were already due for lunch. I'm an hour out of phase.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Glamorgan Wanderer

For a bloke who doesn't look like he belongs at this level he certainly scores a decent amount of runs!

Is this annoy Flanflinger day!!

Trescothick has just scored his 10th ton. Blasted 180 runs on a pitch when other palyers have strugelled. He averages 53 at home, 44 in all Tests!! Why doesn't he look good enough?

[Occasional Fan]

SA target is 325.