South Africa v England (& Zimbabwe)

Johnson also bowls not throws. He also bowls 150kph and has an action where it's hard to see the ball as it's quite slingy + he's the fast left armer in the world. Yer, he's perhaps lucky, but bowlers who spray it like him are renowned for getting wickets.

Spin the reason why he gets those poles on bad balls is because he is spraying it around. You don't get used to a length. You get a short ball then a full one then a half volley, it's not hard for the batsman. He gets a shed load of wickets with great deliveries or after placing great pressure on the batsman.

I Think we can use this thread for the two ODI's between RSA and ZIM as well, no point in running a different thread for just 2 ODI's that too involving ZIM.

List of fixtures for that series (if you call it a series! )

Sun Nov 8 10:00 local | 08:00 GMT 13:30 IST	1st ODI - South Africa v Zimbabwe Willowmoore Park, Benoni
Tue Nov 10           14:30 local | 12:30 GMT 18:00 IST	2nd ODI - South Africa v Zimbabwe SuperSport Park, Centurion

I can't imagine a (fully fit) Australian team making so many changes to the team as the South Africans have. The Australians would want to win, and win well, never letting the opposition have a sniff of a chance. Of course the Australians would perhaps rest the likes of Ponting, Hussey or Johnson but not such wholesale changes?

They end making 295 thanks to Morkel... Yup! quite a few changes in the southafrican line up, but it's so good to see Charl Lengeveldt back in the side!.

Regarding Amla, I think he has done very well in test matches almost in every country... In ODI's, I have my doubts, we'll see how he goes in the long run.

one hell of a fight from Zimbabwe as they fall short by just 45 runs! A superb 188 run partnership between Taibu and Matsikenyeri was the highlight of their innings. A terrific century for the talented Tatenda Taibu and a superb 86 from Matsekenyeri!

ZIM are certainly a much improved side now and these are very good signs for ZIM cricket, which looked dead and buried about an year ago!


Edited by sam_ahmed - 08 November 2009 at 4:11pm

Originally posted by milkman , but Gibbs hasn't been in the best form and he's getting on a bit now.

He made an unbeaten 102 (80balls) against the Dolphins on Friday night to get the Cobras home.

England making a rock solid start to a tour is somewhat unnerving. We're used to them being in total disarray during the tour matches, so maybe they are saving that for when the important stuff starts.

Originally posted by Sledger Originally posted by milkman , but Gibbs hasn't been in the best form and he's getting on a bit now. He made an unbeaten 102 (80balls) against the Dolphins on Friday night to get the Cobras home.

I meant in internationals in recent times, that's a main reason he was dropped..

England's batting with KP looks quite solid. However I'm worried about the bowling. There is a lack of what I call x-factor, or quite blatantly hostility. No real out and out pacer or somebody who really scares the batsmen. Freddy and Harmy not playing is a big loss. Even AB de Villiers the other day said he rated Harmy very highly and was quite surprised he wasn't picked, while all the Aussie boys still have nightmares about him. However he has lost it a bit these days with age and a lack of effort on his part. Spin department looks fine, Swann is a gifted off break bowler but just needs to make sure he doesn't bowl too full. I don't think Anderson, Broad, Onions is the right pace attack. I think Anderson and Onions are quite similar, perhaps someone who hits the deck hard like a Plunkett might play. What's your thoughts guys? Should be a cracker of a series with SA slight favourites at home.

They use Kookaburra balls in SA I believe. They normally only swing when the ball is new if that is any help SW. Not 100% about the conditions at this time of the year.

I don't think you see much reverse swing happening in SA either which won't help the likes of Anderson and Onions. I think Broad will be the biggest threat... hit the deck type of bowlers are quite useful in SA. Although if you can swing the ball at pace like Anderson then you will do very well. Johnson got a fair amount of swing (nothing extravagant though) this year and he's not much of a swing bowler at all.

Originally posted by spin wizard Sledge, how much does it swing in SA, more so this time of year?

 It depends on conditions on the day (like most places!). On the highveld there are often afternoon storms of great intensity. Preceding the storm , the atmosphere gets very heavy and the ball can swing around corners! Conversely , if it's a cloudless day with no hint of rain , it doesn't leave the straight for the entire match.
         In Durban it swings practically all day , but some swear it goes more when the tide turns!  In Cape Town it goes after dark - never chose to bat last at Newlands !


Edited by Sledger - 10 November 2009 at 5:28am

but some swear it goes more when the tide turns!

Laughable wasn't it.  The finest impression of headless chickens since that abysmal performance in the Caribbean.   Maybe the skipper will have to come back !

Edited by Sledger - 11 November 2009 at 9:48am