England v Saffers

[SouthAfricaRed]

I'm not sure it was all that impressive to be honest. We have always been good in dead rubbers.

In general though Pieterson was less horrible as a captain than I expected and we got the win which was important. Other than Harmison as a strike bowler I don't think this test provided answers to any of the questions we had (Wicketkeeper, Strauss as an opener, Monty going backwards as a fielder and pissing off umpires with his appealing and no longer progressing as a bowler).

The one dayers will indeed be interesting though. Without Harmison I expect you to win quite easily unless the change in captaincy makes a big difference to the way we perform.

Well the Test proved that you cant play a Test with 4 Bowlers

If you can find a WK that is a decent batter then you will be even better. Finding a Good Spin Bowler is a problem outside of the sub Continent. SA could do with one as well. IMO Bopara should be given a chance. He is a Great player and I was amazed he never got a chance this series

[dww]

Don't see enough non-Test cricket to know whether Bopara is good enough but on Test Match Special the consensus was that he is playing as well as he ever has.

I just think Monty responded well when his place was questioned and he was under pressure - since he became a certain pick he has regressed and some days it really costs us - both in terms of his fielding and his occasional inability to mix it up. It is frustrating as he has the potential to be something really special for us IMO - and especially in an era of so few top spinners that would make a big difference to us.

Agree that a 5 man bowling attack makes a lot more sense for us. The problem is that we have done nothing in terms of finding a greater consistency to our batting (even with two decent batsmen in the bowlers - Flintoff and Broad). The problem is that none of the players other than Pieterson have really made themselves undroppable but then all of them have at times done just enough to not be the obvious fall guy. I guess the secret is in having people who work well in tandem - particularly as openers - and someone who is good at sheparding the tail.

In lots of ways we are very close to being an excellent team and in an era when Australia may be falling a little from their peak there a big opportunities. Sadly for us though this series has shown that South Africa are in a much better place in terms of intensity, team balance and ruthlessness.

[Scratch]

Well, that was eventful...Broad getting 5 wickets and bowling 10 straight overs, Flintoff getting 3 wickets despite being all over the shop with wides off bouncers, and Harmy getting 2 wickets in his only over...SA all out for 83!!

[PTP]

gutted - a load of mates (8) went to the one dayer on friday at headlingley - i was supposed to be going but due to lack of funds coupled with football commitments pulled out,

they went dressed as mexicans, got bladdered and said it was class - don't know if they managed to get on tv haha

[Vermilion]

Well it's all good for Pietersen eh, wtf has he done to the guys, we look a different side, and we're lucky, incredible.

[FatTony]

Can't wait to watch this now, got a couple of freebies for next weeks match in Cardiff.

[FatTony]

Well that was a wash out. Got to Cardiff for 12:00 into the pub, a pint and fish n chips. Walked over to the Swalec, had another pint. Basically spent the next 5 hours waiting around hiding from the rain, drinking beer for what ended up as 15 minutes or 3 overs.

Broad looks good.

Also Flintoff lobbed a ball over during practice which I managed to grab and throw back. Why I didn't put it in my pocket I don't know, he gave them all away after anyway.

That was it....3 bloody overs!