Third one-day international, Port Elizabeth:4th Febuary

[Ernest]

Wonder if this will match up to the 3rd ODI on Wedensday, hard act to follow.

But this whole tour seems to have been special, every match different, I am sure anything can happen on this tour, maybe Hoggard getting 100 .

Thing is though, who is going to be the fith bowler?, Wharf has gone for 7, Anderson the same, Kabir has been expensive, this is the weak ling in this England team.

Will Vaughan be fit?,if not that is a problem.
Please post your pre match, and match comments here.

Dont forget the match starts at 12;30 GMT.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Depends how much faith you have in each part of the side. If vaughan is out, who do you bring in ? Solanki can provide the runs in theory at least, wharf can add a dimension to the bowling in theory. Problem being I dont have much faith in either, yet both could be "carried" IF the existing bats/bowlers do their thang. Ali did OK in the first ODI depsite having a stinker generally yesterday, so he keeps his place. Harmison - I'd stick him on the plane home.

[John]

SA problems are round mainly their bowling. Pollocks powers are waning Ninti isn't a great one day bowler Nel does not look great. And Hall would be a useful oneday bowler on the county circut.
As for Kallis his bowling days look behind him.
With this sort of attack any decent one day side will look to post a big total and SA will also need a long batting lineup for sometime to come.
I think your right about Harmisson he should be sent home and Jones should of been given a work out.

[Pete]

Not only was Harmison bowling **** in the tests, but his radar was buggered. He'll bowl way too many wides unless he's sorted it out.

I'd stick with Kabir.

[Essex Eagle]

I think the most interesting aspect of the 7 ODI's will be to see how Pietersen,Bell & Kabir Ali do

I just hope Bell gets a decent amount of time at the crease in the next 5 games.

[Notts Exile]

It would appear that Tresco will captain the side and Solanki will take Michael Quorn's position at three. Not sure as I like the thought of Jones and Solanki as two of the top three!

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Be afraid. Be VERY afraid. If there was ever and argument for opening with strauss and tresco this is it. From what I've read though, crucher vaughan was out on safari yesterday so he cant have been THAT ill.

[tigerlillythe7th]

He looked positively green in the photos from yesterday, but hopefully he'll be better by the next one...am I the only one that's a bit nervous without him at the helm?

xxEmmaxx

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Captaincy wise - definately. I thought tresco, who i believe was nas vice captain should have had the job when he gave it up and i wassnt sure vaughan was up to it, but i think he's up there with the best of them and tresco, bless him, looked a bit bewildered by it all. perhaps a more straight forward game might settle him.

Batting wise, vaughan just doesnt seem to get it in ODIs but his bowling is OK, better than trescos. Tresco however, is one of the best ODI openers in the world.

[Mike]

Nice start by England. SA bowling well but Tresco and Jones have the class to score runs. Jones has all the shots - a huge six over the head of Pollock and a reverse sweep for four off Boje. The Jones experiment seems to be working well. Solanki at 3 needs a confidence boosting innings and he seems to be mixing good defence with rotating the strike. Hopefully, he can hang around for a bit. He's batting with Strauss at the moment due to the loss of Tresco and Jones.