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[edge]

Anyway after Steyn declared himself fit for Jo'burg, Cricket South Africa has rated him as only "50/50". Whilst Philander is out of the whole series. Abbott is fit again.

Be interesting to see who gets binned off if Abbott plays, wouldn't want to see them drop Rabada but they clearly like that Morris can bat/pluck them out of thin air at slip.

[Aussie In England]

Be interesting to see who gets binned off if Abbott plays, wouldn't want to see them drop Rabada but they clearly like that Morris can bat/pluck them out of thin air at slip.

No idea how they'll balance their side. Rumours suggest they want to play 4 quicks at Jo'burg therefore Piedt misses out. That would mean they wouldn't meet the quota. Only Amla, Bavuma and Rabada would play if Steyn/Abbott played

[smilley792]

strange theory.


Chris Morris was the one that gave South Africa a chance to win. Without him they'd have lost.


Yes stokes smoked him, but ignore that. Had viljoen played instead they'd have lost.
England first innings, with the above playing on a Dead pitch, chances are England would have still gone big and declared. It was that flat! It may have been 550 not 630 but still a big score.

South Africa reply, all going well till amla du plessis and de kock fall.
No Morris to put on a big total with bavuma, so South Africa 450 all out with long tail.

England put on 250-300 on fast. And South Africa in trouble today batting as better bowling condition and lost.

Chris Morris was the key!!! There decision to play him coz he bats worked!!!!



That's my theory anyway.






Other theory. Test cricket played by nations that go slow will still be the best.

This game, stokes and bairstow played at a fair lick, but South Africa batting slowly for 210 overs meant England was tired, batted poorly and they had a chance to win, not England.

Go back to uae, Pakistan scored quick by attacking our spinners, but cook batting for 2 days and very slowly, meant Pakistan was tired and failed innings two.


Both games, the team batting time and slowly accumulating there runs had the chance to win at the end!
Never under estimate the power of tiring out your oponents much more effective than runs quickly it seems!!

[uknsaunders]

Might play diminey as a part time spinner number 6. Probably van zyl missing out and bavuma opening, which he did in India. Gets another quick in and keeps the quota.

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[Aussie In England]

Might play diminey as a part time spinner number 6. Probably van zyl missing out and bavuma opening, which he did in India. Gets another quick in and keeps the quota.

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Can't see the point in ruining another player(Bavuma) by forcing him to open. van Zyl isn't an opener. They need a proper opener such as Stephen Cook. They'll have to consider axing du Plessis for Duminy if Piedt is dropped.

[uknsaunders]

Van Zyl hasn't had the best of luck but can't see Bavuma being any worse and he has opened for SA in the India series. Who knows?

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[InternalTraining]

Good for Amla!!!! He should focus on getting runs and runs only. Cook should do that as well, hand the captaincy to Benji who is a fighter. Root should focus on runs too, captaincy is a trap.

[kdale6]

Might play diminey as a part time spinner number 6. Probably van zyl missing out and bavuma opening, which he did in India. Gets another quick in and keeps the quota.

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This would make good sense - I was thinking if they went with 4 seamers then duminy would come in but got a bit lost trying to work out who'd drop out

I think duminy and Morris add a nice bit of balance to the team

[uknsaunders]

Another option is to put de kock in to open and play JP at 7.

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[kdale6]

With AB taking the helm you'd think de kock will get a decent run now

Out of interest have they announced who's the VC, I'm assuming du Plessis?

[edge]

With AB taking the helm you'd think de kock will get a decent run now

Out of interest have they announced who's the VC, I'm assuming du Plessis?

Think the captaincy hasn't been permanently given to De Villiers yet so no VC.

[sanredrose]

With AB taking the helm you'd think de kock will get a decent run now

Out of interest have they announced who's the VC, I'm assuming du Plessis?

AB is not going to keep anymore, so they don't have an option but to retain Quinton in the line up. Quinton is an opener in shorter formats and SA should let him open in test match with Dean. Van Zyl should be given a break to improve himself.

[sanredrose]

Think the captaincy hasn't been permanently given to De Villiers yet so no VC.

If they announce Faf as VC, then he will never be replaced ... It restricts the options for SA too much. They should go with Dean or Mokel as vice-captain.

[sanredrose]

strange theory.

Chris Morris was the one that gave South Africa a chance to win. Without him they'd have lost.

Agree with you on this one. Morris was the last batsman in the line up who put up some resistance and offered support to Bavuma. Otherwise SA were looking at 450~500. Given that this team hasn't managed to reach any of this big score in 2015, i would think they would have walked away very happy even for a score of 450 to 500. 

Next match, SA should bat first put big runs on board and then let England chase them ... Second test match has definitely boosted their confidence in batting and bowling department is looking strong with Steyn declaring himself fit for duty.

[Aussie In England]

So Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the third Test with his damaged shoulder. Russell Domingo has stated Morne Morkel is 'in the red zone', but without Steyn and Philander I can't see South Africa leaving out the big lad. They are comtemplating an all seam attack though, with would see Hardus Viljoen debut in place of Piedt. JP Duminy scored 260* for Cape Town so could replace van Zyl, as Stephan Cook is still overlooked despite hitting his 35th FC hundred last week.