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[PM7]

Gonna be a long day in the field, Smith and Amla looking rock solid ... and only Kallis and AB to come in next

[spl]

I could sit and watch Amla bat all day......just less so when he's batting against England!

[Vic Nicholas]

nah, he needs to go work on some issues then come back, Bopara was the right choice given his ODI form and Morgan's poor winter, but I still don't think he's good enough. We've a head of depth in bowling but an England second XI would be a pretty weak batting side.

England First XI batting line up would be pretty weak...if you take out the South Africans.

[A-Swing-And-A-Miss]

There are tons of good English county batsmen, the problem is most of them seem to struggle to make the step up when facing international standard bowling. A good example of this how the England Lions were torn apart by the England first team. The only way we are going to produce better county players who can deal with international standard bowling is to improve the quality of bowling in the county game.

England have looked very flat and allowed the South Africans to play the game their way, they need to put the pressure back on and stop bowling so many on leg.

[PedalsMcgrew]

Judging by a few of these comments you would think that England aren't the no1 ranked team in the world! 

Flat pitch, ball not moving = practically impossible to get international class batsmen out. If we were batting now, in these conditions the result would be the same...we'd be lots for none...

[Vic Nicholas]

There are tons of good English county batsmen, the problem is most of them seem to struggle to make the step up when facing international standard bowling. A good example of this how the England Lions were torn apart by the England first team. The only way we are going to produce better county players who can deal with international standard bowling is to improve the quality of bowling in the county game.

England have looked very flat and allowed the South Africans to play the game their way, they need to put the pressure back on and stop bowling so many on leg.

I think there are many excellent county bowlers, so it can't be that. Or atleast that alone.

I still blame T20 messing with techniques.

How does a Bopara look so good at T20 or ODI level, yet be so inept at test level?

That is just one example of many that could be made.

The Saffers are a strong batting line up and this pitch does look like a belter...so it is a bit early to tell where things are going.

By the end of this series we will have a clearer picture of where everything at the top of the tree is at.

[Cys1]

England First XI batting line up would be pretty weak...if you take out the South Africans.

My thoughts exactly.Thought about putting this up on Thursday. Brings me to an interesting point. Why are so many South Africans who couldn't cut it In SA and who then move over to England doing so well in county cricket and then even end up playing for England? Pietersen, Trott, Tendoschate, Moore etc.
Are they simply getting more opportunities or is the County standard a bit lower? I know this might rub some people up the wrong way but the amount of SAffers who go over and make it is fairly high.

[Vic Nicholas]

My thoughts exactly.Thought about putting this up on Thursday. Brings me to an interesting point. Why are so many South Africans who couldn't cut it In SA and who then move over to England doing so well in county cricket and then even end up playing for England? Pietersen, Trott, Tendoschate, Moore etc.
Are they simply getting more opportunities or is the County standard a bit lower? I know this might rub some people up the wrong way but the amount of SAffers who go over and make it is fairly high.

Trott was a late bloomer it seems.

Pietersen simply rubbed everybody the wrong way and told the SACU to go forth and multiply.

Both would have made it had they stayed.

Strauss and Prior's parents immigrated for economic reasons and both left SA fairly young.

[Cys1]

Actually not so sure about that. Pietersen never got into his provincial side, the quota system was stil only starting off and only 1 or 2 previously disadvantaged players were  required per side, and Trott was not able to get a franchise contract.
Was actually speaking about other guys who also couldn't make I over here who have gone to the UK and are now playing county cricket as well.
Just an interesting anomaly.

[Sam to the C]

this match if anything proves what a brilliant waste of space Stuart Broad is, England could easily replace him for Finn who is taller, instead of the popular Bresnan/Bopara, Bresnan who seems a better bowler and batsmen for that matter, if they want balance they need to stop looking at the name and look at the talent

[ajmw89]

Anyone there today?

[Tumo]

this match if anything proves what a brilliant waste of space Stuart Broad is, England could easily replace him for Finn who is taller, instead of the popular Bresnan/Bopara, Bresnan who seems a better bowler and batsmen for that matter, if they want balance they need to stop looking at the name and look at the talent

Are you kidding me? In his last 11 tests he's taken 54 wickets at 20! He EVEN did well in the UAE against Pakistan, taking 13 wickets at 20! He's been a revelation since the India series last year. He may not be to everyone's taste as a character, but you cannot deny his ability, and his ability to take wickets. Anderson, Broad, Bresnan, Finn, Swann should be the bowling, personally. Leave out Rav, bat Prior at 6.

[Manormanic]

Actually not so sure about that. Pietersen never got into his provincial side, the quota system was stil only starting off and only 1 or 2 previously disadvantaged players were  required per side, and Trott was not able to get a franchise contract.
Was actually speaking about other guys who also couldn't make I over here who have gone to the UK and are now playing county cricket as well.
Just an interesting anomaly.

and probably a financial one.  They were toughened cricketers available for a fraction of what it would cost a county to raise one of similar standard from scratch.  I don't think its particularly that they were better than what was here, just that there are so nmany placesfwith 18 counties and those nice EU loopholes.

[Manormanic]

There are tons of good English county batsmen, the problem is most of them seem to struggle to make the step up when facing international standard bowling. A good example of this how the England Lions were torn apart by the England first team.

I suspect the same would happen in any club, county etc - if you give team A the first pick of a pool of players well known to them, you'd expect that the resulting side would be stronger than the best of whatever is left, no?

Especially so in one day cricket, where the England "A" side has lots of international experience and takes the big hitters, whilst the B side is inexperienced, filled with young lads unfamiliar with the format and has its hitters taken away to the A side.  No, the result was not ina ny way surprising or representative.  Look instead at their creditable performances against other nations A sides and recent touring teams!

[Number4]

Great knock by Amla for is double ton