"A five minute break as Anderson is treated and when they restart, Steyn dredges up an absolute horror story delivery that rears up off a length, ducks back and strikes Anderson in the cheek. He's obviously protected by a grill, but that probably hurt a bit. Anderson hits the deck and there's real concern here, but he looks to be OK after some treatment from the England medical staff. He can move his cheek, but he should probably go off to be honest. Steyn really has a head of steam up, he's Headingley's angriest man. Just seen the slo-mo reply of that delivery - the way Anderson ducked away from that ball, it was like seeing a boxer turning away from a vicious uppercut."
At times Pietersen is an absolute idiot. There was no need to play at the shot he got out to. Completely undoes all of Andersons hard work as well. 4 wickets down, we've got no chance now.
Broad will need to be dropping, we've got 3 Number 7's in the team, and no 6, and Broads Bowling isn't good enough for me. I do like the kid, but Malfoy will return in the winter.
Bring back Jones for Broad (Sidebottom back in of course), and away we go
Indeed, whilst Broad’s batting has been admirable, his bowling at the moment is well below international class. However he is young and has the potential to get there.
His batting displays must not cloud the fact that he is in the side fundamentally as a bowler.
So Question to all our Cricket 'Experts' on here, what went wrong this time ? How come we can play well for best part of Four days in one Test & crap in all Four the next ?
[cite]Posted By: Ketman[/cite]So Question to all our Cricket 'Experts' on here, what went wrong this time ? How come we can play well for best part of Four days in one Test & crap in all Four the next ?
A number of factors:
The South African bowlers were much better than they were at Lords and exploited the favourable conditions well.
Our batsmen were much worse with one or two exceptions
Our bowling was weaker in the absence of Sidebottom and the gamble of selecting Pattinson failed dismally.
To many Changes and not enough from the top order once again. playing it back to back did nothing to help the situation, the performance in the first test and the victories against new zealand came from consitency, as in football england had a settled side and this help peoples confidence and form, for the 3rd test i would expect to see everyone back in, the only good thing to come out of the 2nd test was stuart broad, what a player he could be, he looked like ian botham yesterday, we were up against it but he was going to fight all the way!! if only strauss and cook and vaughan could take a leaf out of his book we could be a major force again and get the aussies worried for the ashes.
South Africa bowled better and England self-destructed under what were good bowling conditions on day one. Then SA batted with more discipline on day two and three and turning a situation around from ca 120/4 to a lead of 300 and then rolled England over again who mostly gave the keeper and slips more catching practice.
Comments
If KP and Fred both get going we could still win this!
Fingers crossed!
I'll have a pint of what you're on!! :-)
Seeing as we have to bat through well into tomorrow, i'm hoping he can stay around for another 3-4 hours!
His FC best is 37 and in sight now.
If so that is a double whammy by Miller & Co.
He is not an international bowler and so we should have let the Aussies pick him so we could batter him. Not that they would have done mind......
You DO NOT pick a bowler for a Test Match because he's "swinging it all over the shop at the moment, so he's in form".
the link i posted earlier in the thread got closed on the second day. can't find another free one anywhere.
The fat lady is on the listerine for your guide.......
Monty Panesar is in, so don't blink.
Will be as good as McGrath in a few years with the ball. Excellent prospect.
.......
He can bat alright and perhaps should be in at 7 rather than 8, but his bowling needs a lot of work, but that will come.
Bring back Jones for Broad (Sidebottom back in of course), and away we go
His batting displays must not cloud the fact that he is in the side fundamentally as a bowler.
A number of factors:
The South African bowlers were much better than they were at Lords and exploited the favourable conditions well.
Our batsmen were much worse with one or two exceptions
Our bowling was weaker in the absence of Sidebottom and the gamble of selecting Pattinson failed dismally.