5th ODI, S. Africa v Eng, East London, Wed 9th Feb

[Ernest]

Well can England square the series?,I think it is going to be tough!.

Some of the lads have been away from home for a while now, and must feel they need a break.

We will see what England are made of in the one day format, they will have to pick themselves up, and fight for form, and to win.
Can England square the series?,can England go on to win the series?.

Good luck England, hope we get the breaks.

Please post your pre match, and match comments on this thread.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Ernest

can England square the series?can England go on to win the series?

Can they? Well of coarse they can, they have the ability to do so, but if they will actually utilise that, I don't know, no one except God can be 100% sure about that. Good Luck to both team.

England are missing Freddie.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

England are missing Freddie.

Yes they are, I just hope his early return will get him fit for the Ashes,(off topic sorry).

I am looking forward to tomorrow,

[Kirsty Harris]

To remain off-topic, I have to agree, England are missing Flintoff, and more to the point, so are the crowd/viewers at home. Apart from the final over's of the 2nd game, I think this series has lacked that bit of sparkle that Flintoff brings to the OD game...sigh.

[cantplaycantalk]

Of course England miss Flintoff, he is among the top players both as a batsman and as a bowler in ODI's

It is the equivalent of having an extra player in the team, and that player being one of the best in the world.

With Flintoff we can play 5 bowlers and 7 batsmen or 4 + bits and pieces and 8 batsmen without him we are limited to the more normal 5 and 6 or 4+ and 7 and in this case the quality of both the batting and bowling is less.

I would go as far as saying Flintoff is Englands best ODI bowler and up with Trescothic and Pietersen as the best batsmen

However even without Freddy, we should have a strong team, so far Trescothic hasn't gone on as he should after making a decent start, and our bowling has been well below par far too often. Ali has looked like he has promise, and Colly has done very well for a dibbly dobbly bowler. To the point where I wonder if he can think clearly enough to be effective with his bowling perhaps we are missing a trick not letting him take over the captaincy in ODI's when Vaughan is off the field, could be his energy in the field might perk up the team a bit as well.

To win this series England need to perform better with both bat and ball, and need to break the Gibbs/Kallis/Smith grip on the middle overs

[Zainub]

Colly has done very well for a dibbly dobbly bowler. To the point where I wonder if he can think clearly enough to be effective with his bowling perhaps we are missing a trick not letting him take over the captaincy in ODI's when Vaughan is off the field, could be his energy in the field might perk up the team a bit as well.

That certainly is an interesting suggestion, I was wondering though, if Paul has had any previous experience of leading a side, has he ever captain his county side, this is just a thought, nothing else.

[Pete]

Helecopter has been called to dry out the pitch, apparently it was raining badly.

Gowers reckons it MIGHT start 40 mins or so after the inspection in 10 mins.

[Zainub]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/sportt...name_page.html

Originally Posted by Mike Walters

STEVE HARMISON'S one-day comeback may be short-lived as England attempt to redress their Cape Town horror show here in East London After a two-week lay-off with a sore calf muscle, Harmison's 10 overs went for 65 runs in the 108-run defeat at Newlands and he could make way for Matthew Hoggard or Alex Wharf on the slow Buffalo Park pitch. Harmison's admission at the weekend that he would rather be putting a barren winter behind him at home in Northumberland led to some ill-informed pontificating on TV and radio about his attitude following his expensive return to action. Although the Durham fast bowler was arguably too honest for his own good, Harmison is not in the doghouse with the England management for his comments. Coach Duncan Fletcher said: "Steve has told us he wants to play one-day cricket for England, and that's the end of it."

[Pete]

Solanki is in for Bell and Hoggard is in for Harmison. Solanki will bat at 6.

Vaughan lost the toss and is bowling first.

[Ernest]

Play in less than 10 minutes,weather clouds welling up though.

Come on England.