England v South Africa - Third Test

[Skaville]

When has there EVER been a successful test side with a captain who is so useless?

Wasn't Mike Brierley pretty gash?

 

[Marc]

Vaughan has been shit, 17 innings with only 2 of them over 50runs I think.....thats blatantly dropable for anyone else.

4runs left...utter GASH

 

[Pavilionaire]

Vaughan's had a poor series and must have had a say in some questionable selections as well.

I'm surprised at the lack of fire after we had them at 90-odd for 4. The last 3 hours has been tame.

 

[BensGrandad]

You're right. Pieterson is the weak link in this side. Why can't the selectors see it?

My point is that we would do better with a player like Graham Thorpe was, not now obviously, who would be virtually gauranteed to get 40 - 60 runs and occassionally a big score rather than a player who gets 150 in 1 innings then about 10 in the next 4 as you do not know which player is going to turn up on the day. So flair goes out of the window for reliability.

As far as blaming the bowlers we set them a respectable target of 281 that was both achievable by their batsmen or a difficult task if our bowlers got going, unfortunately they didnt, so they let us down.

 

[Don Tmatter]

You can put the defeat on many things:- woeful batting 1st inns, lack of bowling support for Fred, KP still not realising that it's a TEAM game, in the 2nd inns and then Fred & Monty being expected to bowl them out on their own for under 281.
But for me, the difference between the two sides is the captaincy, every bowling change Smith made in both inns got a wicket for him and then when the pressure was on in the 2nd inns, Smith lead his side home with ease in the end.
Vaughan in the series so far has been half the captain/batsman Smith is.
Good luck Mooresy, you're in for a rough ride.

 

[Scoffers]

South Africa are a much better all round side. Simple. They thoroughly deserve the victory. There are so many holes in Englands game right now, its difficult to know where to start.

 

[SNOOBS]

We just needed one more top order batsman to find form, and bring try to find a strike bowler (imo Harmison, not Jones yet). Cook hasn't had a ton for a while, Strauss has got lots of starts, we all know about Vaughan and Collingwood, Flintoff and Ambrose have also struggled. Sidebottom doesn't look fit, and when its not swinging hes a waste. I don't understand why Monty can't bowl a different ball either, hes an international professional. The Warnes, Muralis, Harbajans etc can all turn it both ways, without any bounce or rough hes also a waste.

 

[Paxton Dazo]

We just needed one more top order batsman to find form, and bring try to find a strike bowler (imo Harmison, not Jones yet). Cook hasn't had a ton for a while, Strauss has got lots of starts, we all know about Vaughan and Collingwood, Flintoff and Ambrose have also struggled. Sidebottom doesn't look fit, and when its not swinging hes a waste. I don't understand why Monty can't bowl a different ball either, hes an international professional. The Warnes, Muralis, Harbajans etc can all turn it both ways, without any bounce or rough hes also a waste.

If you say so.

 

[mattb]

If you say so.

what don't you agree with about that?

 

[Don Tmatter]

Agreed. Smith the batsman has one thing the England batsman don't - the ability to never give his wicket away cheaply. I know Vaughan is shit with the bat at the moment, but what do you think he could have done better as a captain? Bear in mind what he was working with for each test.

For me, Peter Moores is far too weak for the job.

Good captains always seem to be ahead of the game instead of chasing it, Something Smith has the knack of at the mo and something MPV did have in the 18 months up to and including Summer 2005, since he's come back from injury he (imo) has lost that spark/knack as a captain.Question is can he get it back?

As for Moores, he's always going to be up against in the media's eyes cos he never played at international level and to some ex-players,now pundits, he'll never be good enough.It'll be interesting once he gets his choice of captain to work with(if he gets that chance).

 

[essbee]

Another woeful performance - but it doesn't surprise me......we have
a bunch of players who, quite frankly, are not up to the task and either
need to ship out or get a wake up call to the realities of world sport.

I was ashamed to be an England Cricket supporter today.....an absolute
disgrace to the shirt they wear.

 

[mattb]

Another woeful performance - but it doesn't surprise me......we have
a bunch of players who, quite frankly, are not up to the task and either
need to ship out or get a wake up call to the realities of world sport.

I was ashamed to be an England Cricket supporter today.....an absolute
disgrace to the shirt they wear.

are you talking about cricket or football, rugby, tennis etc etc?

i think we in this country have far too high expectations as far as sport goes

 

[SNOOBS]

If you say so.

Just my opinion. Disagree with anything?

 

[Perry Milkins]

Are you headhunting me Pez?!

I think so.

we need a hard hitting middle order batsmen who bowls a bit and expoecially one who can disguise his slower balls..

 

[Brovion]

Just my opinion. Disagree with anything?

Just ignore him. I think most people thought your analysis was pretty spot-on.