South Africa v England, 2nd Test, Capetown, 2-6 January, 2016

So de Kock and Morris have been drafted in for the SAffers. Will Stain be fit?

Can't see England making any changes.

Buttler in for Bairstow?

No changes for England?

Poor Jimmikins.

They're saying that Jandy got through a rigorous bowling session, so could be OK. Let's hope so. Let us please get Medioakes out of the side.

Aye, Finn bowling the way he did the last test, Broad plus Anderson is a pretty fearsome pace attack if they are all at their best. 

Since I've been alive, England V South Africa had produced some of the best test series I've seen, in fact it was the one in 2003 that moved me from being a casual cricket fan to a fanatic, have mentioned before but I watched every ball of that series that I was able to (it's strange but I think it was Smith hammering us in two tests in a row that made me love cricket as opposed to just being an England fan, I realised what a magnificent feat it was and was glued to the screen for both innings despite him not being the most aesthetically pleasing player).

They've been battering us in England since then but we've not lost in South Africa for a long time, but neither have we won a series there for over a decade. 

Whatever happens I don't think I'll be disappointed, if South Africa make a good fight back then that will hopefully get a few more people interested in test cricket as I'm worried for it's future and a strong fight back could make for yet another great England V SA test series.

But if we do win, I'm struggling to recall beating the number 1 side in the world in their own backyard and I'll finally have bragging rights over my saffer mates.

vilkrang wrote:Aye, Finn bowling the way he did the last test, Broad plus Anderson is a pretty fearsome pace attack if they are all at their best. 

Since I've been alive, England V South Africa had produced some of the best test series I've seen, in fact it was the one in 2003 that moved me from being a casual cricket fan to a fanatic, have mentioned before but I watched every ball of that series that I was able to (it's strange but I think it was Smith hammering us in two tests in a row that made me love cricket as opposed to just being an England fan, I realised what a magnificent feat it was and was glued to the screen for both innings despite him not being the most aesthetically pleasing player).

They've been battering us in England since then but we've not lost in South Africa for a long time, but neither have we won a series there for over a decade. 

Whatever happens I don't think I'll be disappointed, if South Africa make a good fight back then that will hopefully get a few more people interested in test cricket as I'm worried for it's future and a strong fight back could make for yet another great England V SA test series.

But if we do win, I'm struggling to recall beating the number 1 side in the world in their own backyard and I'll finally have bragging rights over my saffer mates.

If you can fall in love with cricket having watched that big goon thud the ball about the park then you know you truly are a serious cricket lover.

P.S. Love the classically English understatement re: Smith's lack of aesthetic appeal.

So the latest news I've seen is Abbott maybe out with hamstring issues.

Jimmy will surely play - Woakes did pretty much fukk all.

SA still look to be in turmoil - 1st test their batting was largely hopeless. Faff and Bavuma should be fukked off back to provincial game to find some form, Duminy just holds his place for me due to his effort in the last innings. But the selectors have gone and brought in De Kock - who should have been in from the start - and Morris as a bowling all rounder? So one of Bavuma and Faff will get a reprieve presumably.

With no Steyn, no Philander and maybe Abbott out, plus a batting unit that is well out of sorts then this is surely England's game to lose. Which we will no doubt obligingly do.

Depending on the team make up I can't see Morris playing before Rabada. If Abbott is definitively out Morris and Rabada will come in for Steyn and Abbott.

Given that Amla and Piedt will play that makes 3 with Rabada. So that leaves either Bavuma or Duminy to go for QdK.

Still doesn't solve the opening problem.

And they would be better off bring in QDK and RR.

Boycott thinks the Proteas are a mess and will be walloped in CT, especially given that there are meant to be more poms in the stands than locals.

In any case, England will have to up their game. Openers and Stoker in particular.

They have to expect the hosts will come back hard.

Is Stain defo out?

skully wrote:Is Stain defo out?

Looks like it and maybe Abbott too. The only plus with Steyn out is that there is a greater likelihood that might have a four-pronged attack for the duration of the test. His recent record of surviving matches is not good.

Good to see the Saffie cricketers are hard than ours - match starts on 2 Jan, not the 3rd.

South Africa will only gamble on Steyn as part of a five-man attack, ie if they play Morris at seven.

Steyn is confirmed as out and Rabada as in. Anderson looks increasingly likely though Cook is cautious regarding his selection. Abbott as a niggling hammy and he will play if fit otherwise Morris will come in. QDK will get the gloves apparently.

The weather is expected to be hot for the most of the test but there will be some cloud towards the end. The pitch is dry and should take turn later on bringing Ali into play. One expects if England win the toss they will bat.

It just doesn't make sense for South Africa to take a gamble on any of their quicks unless they plan to field a five-man attack. If there is any doubt at all surrounding Abbott, he should be ruled out. Personally I'd give Viljoen a go over Morris.

Henry wrote:It just doesn't make sense for South Africa to take a gamble on any of their quicks unless they plan to field a five-man attack. If there is any doubt at all surrounding Abbott, he should be ruled out. Personally I'd give Viljoen a go over Morris.

Agree, Morris screams medium pace, bits and pieces player. Abbott didn't overly impress in Durban in any case.

Morris can bowl around 140kph but he's not that consistent. I've never seen Viljoen bowl but I hear he's 145kph+ and he's been in great form of late.

They might pick Morris because of his batting ability. It's a flawed way to pick your bowling attack, but it's been done before on countless occasions. A four man attack should be the best bowlers available. South Africa seem intent on trying to squeeze square pegs into round holes.

a bad day for square pegs

Although it wouldn't surprise me if it's England who are the square peg recipients. Cape Town is a bit of a fortress for the Saffies and we are renowned complacent twats after a big win.

Henry wrote:Morris can bowl around 140kph but he's not that consistent. I've never seen Viljoen bowl but I hear he's 145kph+ and he's been in great form of late.

They might pick Morris because of his batting ability. It's a flawed way to pick your bowling attack, but it's been done before on countless occasions. A four man attack should be the best bowlers available. South Africa seem intent on trying to squeeze square pegs into round holes.

Morris and ill one. were much of a muchness when playing for the Lions the past few seasons. I agree that Viljoen is in good form but Morris offers more with the bat. Morris is not a bits and pieces player but a genuine quick bowler who can also bat.

Of course Viljoen could be suffering from the Lions curse, the same as Cook.

Cook wins the toss and bats on a scorching day. Seems the cricket gods continue to be with England!

Anderson is fit to play and replaces predictably the much maligned player beginning with W.

Kagiso Rabada is in for Steyn, Chris Morris for Abbott, and Quinton de Kock for JP Duminy, with AB de Villiers handing over the gloves.  Not sure what they see in Bavuma though. JP has been skating on thin ice but Bavuma's stats are terrible.

Hales always looks like a wicket waiting to happen but if we don't get 400 against this team on this wicket then we are very mediocre.

Good to have Jackers back.

taipan wrote:Good to have Jackers back.

Aye, but he's not sounding too flash. I haven't been able to find any information, but has the cancer been eradicated?