Thought i'd spice up the forum as things are quiet at the moment !
3rd Test starts tomorrow at Joburg. England could be without Hales as he has a bug. Steyn is not fit for SA - and they have released Dane Piedt - and likely to go with 4 quicks, with Viljoen (who is almost as big as Morne Morkel) in for his debut.
AS an aside, was watching a bit of Big Bash this morning and the commentators were saying that the player of the tournament so far is Adil Rashid ! - i had to rewind it to make sure i didnt mis-hear.
He has been bowling exceptionally well. Top wicket taker with 14 and his economy rate is only just above six an over.
The biggest aspect of his bowling is that batsmen can't read his googly so either end up defending or getting bowled.
Will definitely be an asset to us in the World Cup in this form.
i bet he gets taken apart in the World Cup and goes for over 8. World class (and sub continent) players can all spot him - ordinary Ozzies cant.
Thought i'd spice up the forum as things are quiet at the moment !
3rd Test starts tomorrow at Joburg. England could be without Hales as he has a bug. Steyn is not fit for SA - and they have released Dane Piedt - and likely to go with 4 quicks, with Viljoen (who is almost as big as Morne Morkel) in for his debut.
AS an aside, was watching a bit of Big Bash this morning and the commentators were saying that the player of the tournament so far is Adil Rashid ! - i had to rewind it to make sure i didnt mis-hear.
He has been bowling exceptionally well. Top wicket taker with 14 and his economy rate is only just above six an over.
The biggest aspect of his bowling is that batsmen can't read his googly so either end up defending or getting bowled.
Will definitely be an asset to us in the World Cup in this form.
i bet he gets taken apart in the World Cup and goes for over 8. World class (and sub continent) players can all spot him - ordinary Ozzies cant.
Yes, I'd never thought of the Rashid googly terrorising batsmen...
Then you have to take my word for it because I've watched virtually every ball of this year's BB.
For the record, though, his victims this year are Christian, Wells, Lynn, Cutting, Willey, Tye, Agar, Maddison, Silk, Carters, Carberry, Marsh (M), Wright and Maxwell.
Eleven Internationals in that 14 including one of the world's best one day player in the shape of Maxwell plus Lynn, the top scorer in this year's BB and also tipped to be in Australia's WC squad.
In addition to the googly, he also bowled a "faster" leg break at 65 mph so he does have more than the one variation.
So I think the BB has done him the world of good. And anything less than 8 an over will be totally acceptable in the WC.
Lynn has just hit Hilfenhaus for five consecutive 6's!
And...... ??!!!!!!
It just so happened to be fairly entertaining. Don't often see 30 scored in five balls. Don't see 30 in 5 overs in Test cricket but that's not what the longer form of the game is about.
Great to be able to watch both matches simultaneously though ;-)
Didnt mean that ! - i meant what happened on the 6th ball ??!! I saw Willey tonk 34 off a six ball over from Yardy last season.( and the four was only a yard short of being a six)
Thought i'd spice up the forum as things are quiet at the moment !
3rd Test starts tomorrow at Joburg. England could be without Hales as he has a bug. Steyn is not fit for SA - and they have released Dane Piedt - and likely to go with 4 quicks, with Viljoen (who is almost as big as Morne Morkel) in for his debut.
AS an aside, was watching a bit of Big Bash this morning and the commentators were saying that the player of the tournament so far is Adil Rashid ! - i had to rewind it to make sure i didnt mis-hear.
He has been bowling exceptionally well. Top wicket taker with 14 and his economy rate is only just above six an over.
The biggest aspect of his bowling is that batsmen can't read his googly so either end up defending or getting bowled.
Will definitely be an asset to us in the World Cup in this form.
i bet he gets taken apart in the World Cup and goes for over 8. World class (and sub continent) players can all spot him - ordinary Ozzies cant.
Thought i'd spice up the forum as things are quiet at the moment !
3rd Test starts tomorrow at Joburg. England could be without Hales as he has a bug. Steyn is not fit for SA - and they have released Dane Piedt - and likely to go with 4 quicks, with Viljoen (who is almost as big as Morne Morkel) in for his debut.
AS an aside, was watching a bit of Big Bash this morning and the commentators were saying that the player of the tournament so far is Adil Rashid ! - i had to rewind it to make sure i didnt mis-hear.
He has been bowling exceptionally well. Top wicket taker with 14 and his economy rate is only just above six an over.
The biggest aspect of his bowling is that batsmen can't read his googly so either end up defending or getting bowled.
Will definitely be an asset to us in the World Cup in this form.
i bet he gets taken apart in the World Cup and goes for over 8. World class (and sub continent) players can all spot him - ordinary Ozzies cant.
Yes, I'd never thought of the Rashid googly terrorising batsmen...
Then you have to take my word for it because I've watched virtually every ball of this year's BB.
For the record, though, his victims this year are Christian, Wells, Lynn, Cutting, Willey, Tye, Agar, Maddison, Silk, Carters, Carberry, Marsh (M), Wright and Maxwell.
Eleven Internationals in that 14 including one of the world's best one day player in the shape of Maxwell plus Lynn, the top scorer in this year's BB and also tipped to be in Australia's WC squad.
In addition to the googly, he also bowled a "faster" leg break at 65 mph so he does have more than the one variation.
So I think the BB has done him the world of good. And anything less than 8 an over will be totally acceptable in the WC.
Lynn has just hit Hilfenhaus for five consecutive 6's!
And...... ??!!!!!!
It just so happened to be fairly entertaining. Don't often see 30 scored in five balls. Don't see 30 in 5 overs in Test cricket but that's not what the longer form of the game is about.
Great to be able to watch both matches simultaneously though ;-)
Didnt mean that ! - i meant what happened on the 6th ball ??!! I saw Willey tonk 34 off a six ball over from Yardy last season.( and the four was only a yard short of being a six)
313 looking a good score at the moment. Hales failed again. Isn't a test player. I know he's not popular but I would be thinking of bringing Balance back.
Joking aside, we could not have Cook, Compton and Ballance in our front three. The intent that we have demonstrated in the last few series would walk straight out of the door. And the pressure would then fall even more so upon Root to do all the scoring.
Compton had 42 dot balls out of his first 46 deliveries and was then dropped by ABV. As that is some sort of wake up call he hits two boundaries off the next three balls but, the truth is, he should have already been back in the hutch before doing so.
Great catch by Bavuma at short leg to dismiss Taylor for 7
91-4
Root 28* (64)
Will be interesting to see how Stokes plays. It's not the same sort of track where you can confidently hit through the one of the ball but, by the same token, if you just hang around, you will eventually get out - which is why we haven't had a 50 yet in the match.
Balance no, with him and Compton they would just be occupieng the crease.
Prob agree you cant have both Compton and Ballance in team - however, IMO , Ballance is a far better player than Compton. Ballance to come back in at 3 and *another* opener to get a go - my choice would be Vince - I think he will be a good player and a good foil to Cook
Balance no, with him and Compton they would just be occupieng the crease.
Prob agree you cant have both Compton and Ballance in team - however, IMO , Ballance is a far better player than Compton. Ballance to come back in at 3 and *another* opener to get a go - my choice would be Vince - I think he will be a good player and a good foil to Cook
Don't disagree that Compton and Ballance should not be playing together. Nor do I disagree that Ballance is a better player than Compton. However, I believe Compton should have opened with Cook with Ballance in 3 in this test.
The opener spot is obviously of massive concern, and I doubt Vince is the answer as an opener. Him at 3 or 5 with Taylor moving to 3 could be though.
I don't like the idea of Compton and Ballance in the same team on this wicket. Both them play naturally in survival mode and this wicket is one where that type of player won't reach past 30-40.
Having said that, it seems Hales isn't the answer. So who or what is?
Comments
If his body keeps getting stronger we could have a truly lightning fast player coming through.
I saw Willey tonk 34 off a six ball over from Yardy last season.( and the four was only a yard short of being a six)
Let us know what you think (via that discussion)
Opening partnerships have been 3, 13, 55 (in the 629-6 declared), 17 & 10.
Compton had 42 dot balls out of his first 46 deliveries and was then dropped by ABV. As that is some sort of wake up call he hits two boundaries off the next three balls but, the truth is, he should have already been back in the hutch before doing so.
Root 18* (47)
74-3
91-4
Root 28* (64)
Will be interesting to see how Stokes plays. It's not the same sort of track where you can confidently hit through the one of the ball but, by the same token, if you just hang around, you will eventually get out - which is why we haven't had a 50 yet in the match.
Ballance to come back in at 3 and *another* opener to get a go - my choice would be Vince - I think he will be a good player and a good foil to Cook
145-4
Great cricket and counter attacking from Root & Stokes
Root 60* (86)
Stokes 38* (31)
Partnership of 71 off less than 9 overs
The opener spot is obviously of massive concern, and I doubt Vince is the answer as an opener. Him at 3 or 5 with Taylor moving to 3 could be though.
Having said that, it seems Hales isn't the answer. So who or what is?