South Africa v England, 1st ODI, Johannesburg, Nov 20

Let's get this thrashing out of the way.

England have called up James Tredwell. Yes, that's how strong our bowling depth is...

You've got to be feckin kidding right? (He says knowing full well you're probably not)

Nope. Swanny's out for the first two ODIs (along with Broad) and England are obviously shitting it that Rashid is their only recognised spinner.

http://www.cricinfo.com/rsaveng09/content/current/story/435139.html

Although, with Tredwell now on board, he's still their only recognised spinner...

Jesus...

reading that article I can't help but notice Broad is trying to fill Freds boots too seriously... he's even sporting the 'better than Jesus' stubble.

Well, he's nailed the whole body-falling-to-pieces element already.

What he needs now is for his agent - or one of his "people" - to have a whinge to the press on his behalf about him not being picked as a specialist batsman...

Needs to get his celebrations sorted too...

SA 1.43
Eng 3.45

Generous odds on SA given Englands likely attack.

JKLever wrote:Needs to get his celebrations sorted too...

Needs to take some wickets first...

JKLever wrote:SA 1.43
Eng 3.45

Generous odds on SA given Englands likely attack.

England's batting's been pretty good, though, and SA's bowling nothing too special, so I guess they're fair odds.

Especially if it's going to be cold and cloudy (fire up the Anderson Cycle) or rain-affected (SA can't work out the D/L).

Wickets you say? See, just like Freddie.

As for the match itself, what's the betting England sh!t themselves about Rashid getting smacked a couple of times and go with the 'dull county journeyman' over the promising young talent who was first pick for the tour?

Would be the worst selection since... ooh? Paul Grayson. (FFS)

Dunno - they only sent for Tredwell today, I think.

Be a bit desperate to draft him straight into the first XI as he's stepping off the plane.

Dello wrote:

Be a bit desperate to draft him straight into the first XI as he's stepping off the plane.

He'll be in the XI then.

Probably captain.

Can he open the batting?

JKLever in loving men shocker!

Will be very surprised if there's any play today

Poor weather there taips ?

I'm maybe 15km from Wanderers. Starting smashing it down about 2 yesterday. Floods all over Joburg. Still raining now but a steady rain, not a torrent.

Hmmmmm ..... may be a good thing in the overall scheme of things from Englands POV - it will give Jimmy Anderson another couple of days to settle down his injury. He was due a fitness test before the game according to our tv news.

Personally while the management obviously want to win the ODI,s, I'd sooner he missed a couple of them to ensure he's fit for the tests, as he is undoubtedly the key to any possible success.

He's been streets ahead of any other bowler so far on tour. Even with him on top form it will be bloody hard work to win this series. If he's not, I fear we'll be humiliated unless at least two other bowlers improve dramatically very soon.

Apart from Steyn ( if he's in form), why is SA's attack any better placed than England's?

It's not the bowling attacks red .......

it's the fact that the SA batting doesn't appear to have any weak links. Ours can be decidedly shaky.

Just look at the difference in batting during the T20 games. We won the first one by D/L simply because the skipper saw the rain coming & had Anderson come back for the crucial final over. He restricted them to just 6 runs ......... everyone else was going for 9 or more.

Jesus Christ, it's bad enough having Joe Denly in the England set up, he of the father against whom I used to play. But bloody Tredwell too? I used to play against HIS Dad as well.

Pffft you pessimists. Tredwell > Swann. He'll decimate the SA batting line-up. You just watch.

Yeah, Tredwell is a massive gashweasel. It is a clownish selection. It's like giving Steve Claridge a game for the England football team. Special needs. Not so disappointed to hear there may not be much action today. ****** the ODIs.

Still raining, and this is proper rain.