Sth Africa v England Dec 17-Feb 13

[admin]

Please, add your thoughts about the five-Test and seven-one-day series to this thread. A frank exchange of views is welcome as long as those views aren't trite and designed to irritate - that they are backed up with reasoned argument and/or facts.

Schedule

Sun 5 Dec Arrival at Johannesburg International Airport 
Wed 8 Dec         v Nicky Oppenheimer XI Randjesfontein 
Sat 11-13 Dec     v South Africa A       Potchefstroom 
Fri 17-21 Dec     1st Test               Port Elizabeth 
Sun 26-30 Dec     2nd Test               Durban 
Sun 2-6 Jan 2005  3rd Test               Cape Town 
Thu 13-17 Jan     4th Test               Johannesburg 
Fri 21-25 Jan     5th Test               Centurion 
Thu 27 Jan D/N    v South Africa A       Kimberley 
Sun 30 Jan        1st ODI                Johannesburg 
Wed 2 Feb D/N     2nd ODI                Bloemfontein 
Fri 4 Feb D/N     3rd ODI                Port Elizabeth 
Sun 6 Feb Day     4th ODI                Cape Town 
Wed 9 Feb D/N     5th ODI                East London 
Fri 11 Feb D/N    6th ODI                Durban 
Sun 13 Feb D/N    7th ODI                Centurion

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I'll go boldly into this one. England shall win the series as SA have no spin option, and only Pollock with any true class with the ball. They might scrape a draw in the first test as our 3 strike bowlers will be a bit rusty.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I know its only a warm up, but key is out scoring tresco in a one dayer !

Has the world gone mad !

[R W S]

5 day weather forecast here

Here's a picture of PE for all you radiobound people

[Shaka]

South Africa are really struggling to get a team out if 5 or 6 of their players don't recover from stomach bugs. Kallis is also reported to be doubtful and if he's out England will win the 1st test for me.

[Occasional Fan]

Thanks for the picture, RWS. I'll pin it on my wall for the next five days. Could be as close as I get to any coverage.

[R W S]

"The English are not very spiritual people, so they invented cricket to give them some idea of eternity" G B Shaw

Port Elizabeth

Having staged South Africa's first ever Test match in March 1899, Port Elizabeth is a ground with an abundant cricketing history.

It is the home of Eastern Province and has a more intimate feel than the bigger venues like Cape Town and Johannesburg.

The ground was refurbished in 1993, with a new stand at the Duckpond End making it one of the more picturesque arenas in South Africa.

Port Elizabeth is known as the "Windy City" and the winds are notorious for making bowling difficult when they get up.

[flanflinger]

Is a very nice Ground, I was there for the ODI between England and Australia during the Worl Cup...

Funny but I should have been preparing to fly out to SA, but circumstances worked against me. But I will be off early Feb for the ODI at Cape Town. Hurrah

[R W S]

Nice one FF! I hope you didnt book with CivAir!
Dont forget to take your digital camera - caption competition gold!

[flanflinger]

I am glad I didn't luckily I bought my tickets with good old BA..

Was down the pub earlier with my mate I am travelling with, and he pointed out that if we had been off for the Cpae Town Test we would have been leavinin two weeks time....But sadly he had problems with the date and could not travel out on New Years eve. Luckily the problem and him have split up, but by the time they did, the prices had soared beyond what either of us could afford.

But the prices for the ODI series were still quite reasonable....