I think I would feel at home in South africa at the moment.

The media really have it in for The SA coach - and captain.

The problem is this kind of pressure is not needed by the players, the press should get behind the SA team at least until the end of the series.

Is there anyone better that Smith?, to late to change managers and captains now, a sure way to lose a series, sounds like South Africa would be a home from home - England have a press like that.
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Do bear in mind that the appointment of the current SA coach was cause for dismay in many quarters: he was NOT welcomed by one and all!

Bets on Fletcher coaching SA after the World Cup?

I'm not sure if the South African cricket board prevent players from playing first class cricket between series but I believe all of the South African test squad had the opportunity to play some first class cricket between the one-day series and the test series. Sadly not one of them went away and played for their first class side to get into some kind of form.

The bowlers looked on pretty good for in the first test. They certainly weren't firing on all cylinders but they didn't exactly bowl badly.

It's the batsmen that worry me more thoguh; Smith and Gibbs, especially, have been in very mixed form in the longer form of the game and did nothing to try and get some time in the middle.

However, maybe the South African media don't give enough credit to the Indian bowlers (Sreesanth in particular) who bowled extremely well and deserved to win the match for India.

To be honest I'm not sure whether the South African media should get behind their side. Maybe there needs to be some negative vibes sent around to get the players (and the staff) thinking about sorting themselves out and not expecting to beat sides with no effort.

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James May

It's probably not a bad thing to have some critcism right now as long as it doesn't turn into rout. The point is we have got a number of problems at the moment. They are Smith, Gibbs and people like Nel who is not really fit for this level.
Also Styen injury didn't help.
Gibbs is close to being dropped the only thing keeping him in the side is lack of replacement.
Smith is struggling it would do him no harm to drop down the order.
Nel is the same as Gibbs in the side because of no replacement.
Kallis hasn't been in his best form either.
As long as the press take these factors into account some critcism is necessary.

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"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

You mean the media could be scared of The SA coach doing well? - so they could say 'I told you so', could just make sense but in my book they should get behind the SA team.
To odds would be to short to make a bet worthwhile, seems a natural progression for Fletcher.

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Ern

excatly where in this world today are the media not negative and brutal in the assesments of their teams. Its basically a reflection of what we all have become as a world, cynics and un trusting of each other. We celebrate players good fortunes and demises alike, we build them up and tear them down the next day, forgetting that they are just liek us.. normal humans who try their best. Sometimes they succeed and sometimes they do not.

Critcism does have a place in sport. Some of the recent critcism of the England side was valid but than it goes over the top calling for people like Fletcher to go and expecting players to play beyond their ability ie Harmison.
Critcism of the SA team is fine as long as it recognises the lack of replacements avaliable and the inexperience of players like DeVillers.
Like I don't see the point of calling for Smith's head I think this is an issue for after the WC. Anyway who is going to replace him?
I think probably there should be a few replacements after the WC.
One critcism I have is why Kemp isn't playing. He is a vital member of the one day squad and I thought leading up to the WC he should be playing in Test matches.

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"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction