1st Test: South Africa v England at Centurion, Dec 16-20, 2009

[Simster]

OK, this is getting hilarious.

 

[Marc]

theres a GREAT banner in the crowd:

Tickets to the match £4.50
A bottle of sunscreen £3.00
A pint of beer £1.40


Watching SA vs SA....Priceless

 

[Pavilionaire]

Interesting stat - if Swann manages another 17 runs he'll have a better test average that Bell...

 

[MJsGhost]

Interesting stat - if Swann manages another 17 runs he'll have a better test average that Bell...

Swann is quality! Bell? Not so much. My doomsaying earlier seems to have done the trick, so I hope I don't get the reverse affect now.

(though I still think we'll lose unfortunately)

 

[Simster]

Another huge SIX. England are doomed. Any minute now it's all going to end.

Good effort Swanny and Anderson but it's a forlorn effort.

 

[Taybha]

my aunty vera has a better average than bell

 

[pasty]

Someone call the RSPCA - A Swan is on fire in South Africa

 

[Simster]

Smith is going ape shit at his team.

Marvellous.

 

[Taybha]

smith chucking his toys out the pram OWNED by the tail of england

 

[Pavilionaire]

Someone call the RSPCA - A Swan is on fire in South Africa

I tried to give them a Bell...but they said they didn't want the (unt!

 

[MJsGhost]

There's going to be a lot if ifs here, but... I can't help but think that if Luke Wright matures into the decent test all-rounder I think he has the talent to be (and replaces Bell), if Broad keeps up the steady improvement with bat & ball, if Onions can build on a good start to his test career and if Pietersen finds his form...

We'd have a bloody good team!

 

[Pavilionaire]

Re Luke Wright, the Prior / Broad / Swann 7,8,9 axis looks pretty good, so it's not a bad time to try and introduce him at 6, especially as he'd be playing with solid pro Colly and county teammate Prior.

 

[MJsGhost]

The great Aussie sides were so good at turning a 217-6 into a 380 / 390 all out. We need to be able to get to at least 300 from this position.

Good shout. How much further can they go? I suspect the 10th won't be far behind the 9th wicket, so I hope Jimmy can stick around while Swanny canes them! I do like it when our tail wags!

 

[Simster]

50 up for Sir Swanny.

 

[MJsGhost]

50 up for Sir Swanny.

And what about the switch hit?!? KP eat your heart out!

 

[Pavilionaire]

Swann becomes the 7th member of this team with a 40+ average - that leaves bowlers Broad, Onions, Anderson, plus...Bell.

 

[MJsGhost]

Swann becomes the 7th member of this team with a 40+ average - that leaves bowlers Broad, Onions, Anderson, plus...Bell.

I'd never noticed Bell's middle name before... Ronald!

 

[Pavilionaire]

What IS it about spinners? Gilo, Monty, Tuffers - all characters, and this match has firmly established Swann as yet another "cult" hero.

 

[Mackenzie]

Swanny has a 40+ average in tests....amazing for a number 9!

 

[Pavilionaire]

The sort of average Warney could only dream of...