England v South Africa, 3rd Test, Lords, 16-20 Aug, 2012

Changes?

Carn England. Time to square the series.

England with KP-

Strauss(c)
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Taylor
Prior+
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Onions/Finn

England without KP-

Strauss(c)
Cook
Trott
Bell
Taylor
Prior+
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Onions
Finn

Bit of a tail, though.....

It'd be great to see how committed KP really is to bowing out in a huff out after, say, a humiliating king pair. He SO expects to be in a position to 'take his bat and ball and go home' after a successful Test finale, I'd love to see his commitment to this loudly trumpeted 'retirement plan' should he in fact fall flat on his face in this final match.

He's an arrogant tosser with all the intestinal fortitude of a nematode.

It would be even funnier if his planned grand finale is scuppered because England call his bluff and drop him.


It's just so unfortunate that we really need his runs.

Henry wrote:It would be even funnier if his planned grand finale is scuppered because England call his bluff and drop him.

true!

So... world number 1 decider. KP's last Test perhaps... if we haven't had that already. Strauss's 100th Test, 50th as captain... and possibly last as well if we lose and/or other situations persuade him it's the end of an era? Surely the final Test in England for Kallis and maybe one or two others on the SA side. And thanks to the Olympic archers it's at Lord's as well.

All set up nicely then, let's hope it's a match worthy of the occasion.

probably rain all 5 days now

beamer wrote:So... world number 1 decider. KP's last Test perhaps... if we haven't had that already. Strauss's 100th Test, 50th as captain... and possibly last as well if we lose and/or other situations persuade him it's the end of an era? Surely the final Test in England for Kallis and maybe one or two others on the SA side. And thanks to the Olympic archers it's at Lord's as well.

All set up nicely then, let's hope it's a match worthy of the occasion.

It's too bad the Lord's pitch will be a pancake.

Henry wrote:It would be even funnier if his planned grand finale is scuppered because England call his bluff and drop him.


It's just so unfortunate that we really need his runs.

He tried to call their bluff over the captaincy issue and lost so will be interesting to see how he plays it.

The One wrote:probably rain all 5 days now

The most astute of posts good sir

Overnight I dreamt that KP was selected, and that Strauss told him on the morning of the game that he was 12th man.

lardbucket wrote:Overnight I dreamt that KP was selected, and that Strauss told him on the morning of the game that he was 12th man.

Did you pole vault out of bed?

I would have if I had a dream that enjoyable.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I wouldn't put that handkerchief back on your head now.

WideWally wrote:

lardbucket wrote:Overnight I dreamt that KP was selected, and that Strauss told him on the morning of the game that he was 12th man.

Did you pole vault out of bed?

I would have if I had a dream that enjoyable.

... and I just wish I'd stayed asleep long enough to hear KP's response to the situation

With Pietersen being dropped, England now have some big selection decisions to make, mostly centering around whether to play a four or five man attack. I suspect with Pietersen out they'll go down the five man attack route, with Prior at six. Possible team-

Strauss(c)
Cook
Trott
Bell
Taylor
Prior+
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn
Onions

A bit of a 'go for broke' team with such a long tail, but it's probably what's needed at this stage if England are to draw the series on what will no doubt be a flattish Lord's pitch that will only get flatter as the game goes on. I'm actually surprised they didn't add Panesar to the squad.

Henry wrote:With Pietersen being dropped, England now have some big selection decisions to make, mostly centering around whether to play a four or five man attack. I suspect with Pietersen out they'll go down the five man attack route, with Prior at six. Possible team-

Strauss(c)
Cook
Trott
Bell
Taylor
Prior+
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn
Onions

A bit of a 'go for broke' team with such a long tail, but it's probably what's needed at this stage if England are to draw the series on what will no doubt be a flattish Lord's pitch that will only get flatter as the game goes on. I'm actually surprised they didn't add Panesar to the squad.

The early intelligence on the pitch suggested it might favour spin more than normal. Interesting plan Henry as without KP the batting surely is weakened so to pick one less batsman would leave them vulnerable.

Hmm, Sturat and the Chin almost add up to the 6th batsman. But Anderson, Finn, Onions is a looooooooong tail. I think Trev's line up looks OK, but history has consistently shown that 5 bowlers rarely do a better job than 4.

Indeed. Given KP's omission I suspect England will need every batsman they've got especially as the Saffies tend to do well at Lord's. Swann for Finn and Bairstow for KP appear to be the obvious changes.

The other overlooked factor of KP's exclusion is that it leaves England without a reserve spinner so let's hope Swann's elbow (and everything else) holds up. It is a particularly cruel fate that KP should be disciplined after his best ever all-round performance for England.

Of course his omission and the absence of Mr Ego from the dressing-room may also lift the side. Both the Tests (also at Lord's) following the exclusion of Barrington & Boycott in 1965 & 1967 respectively were won easily although that was against comparatively weak New Zealand & Indian sides. Botham's exclusion from the first 5 Tests in 1986 due to a cannabis conviction saw England lose 3 and draw 2 against much stronger Kiwi & Indian teams.

I am hoping for the best but I fear for the worst.

If the pitch is spinning, don't get Bairstow in. He's leaden footed and prods at the ball like a drunken 10 year old.

If the pitch has a bit of bounce, don't get Bairstow in. He literally loses the ball like he's some befuddled, blind pensioner.

Amazing that he averages 45 in first class cricket then.

But seriously, I think he's a decent player. He should attack. That's what he does. Apparently he takes on the short ball at Yorkshire. Play your natural game son.

Bairstow for KP with Taylor at 5 and a not in the runs Bell at 4?

Tail starts at 5 against this SA attack. Number 1 status definitely gone, especially with our bowling attack misfiring blanks (yes its that bad).

Henry wrote:
Apparently he takes on the short ball at Yorkshire.

Against 75mph dobbers, the "short ball" doesn't get above waist height.

Two-pronged strategy by the Saffies - first get KP out of the side by leaking the text messages, then get Bairstow in by getting Midge to bowl rubbish at him in the 'A' match - brilliant.

Henry wrote:Amazing that he averages 45 in first class cricket then.

Wholeheartedly agree. He seems to have the talent to score runs. It just seems that it's not when his weaknesses are exposed.

He reminds me a bit of Chris Read with that whole 'rabbit in the headlights' look he does so well.