England V Sri Lanka - First Test at Cardiff 26-30 May

[yappy]

Tremlett is gonna win them a lot of tests.

 

[Hallatia]

In all seriousness, England again show why their quest to be World Number 1 is a very realistic goal... Well played England.

It was a complete performance from them, but I don't think they are a complete team in the way say a South Africa is. I also think the fact that they play more tests than South African and India works in England's favour as well. England do have four tests against India in July/August, which should be awesome\\\\/

 

[Sudhir]

Wouldn't say South Africa are a complete team, they still don't have a world class spinner

Imran Tahir could of course change that

 

[Hallatia]

Wouldn't say South Africa are a complete team, they still don't have a world class spinner

Imran Tahir could of course change that

It is the one thing they've been missing, but the rest of their attack have been so good, that Harris (although average) has been good enough. Agree about Tahir, quite excited about him, Peterson was also superb during the world cup and his caught and bolweds were freaking amazing, but the most amazing thing about them is even when he had to dive a couple of metres to his left to take the catch, the keeper and slips were all certain he'd do it. The one against England gets me every time I see it, you can see van Wyk and co go up before he catches it. How do they know that he's going to catch it when he has to dive that far from a standing position?

It's the third one here at 1:24
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT3-UTOQbII

 

[Sudhir]

Extraordinary catch, ruined somewhat by the commentary. Guy takes the catch of the tournament and the first reaction of the commentator is to mope about the shot

 

[Hallatia]

Extraordinary catch, ruined somewhat by the commentary. Guy takes the catch of the tournament and the first reaction of the commentator is to mope about the shot

Couldn't agree more, I should have suggested you watch it on mute. That was also one of about 5 caught and bowleds Peterson took in the tournament - superb value. 15 wickets in the world cup as well, in an attack which included Steyn, Kallis and Morkel and another spinner (Tahir) who took 14 wickets in the 5 games of the tournament that he played.

 

[Red Bear]

South Africa are good but they dont have the depth England does. Steyn is better than anyone England has but after that Morkel is pretty good and no one else is particularly good. England have alot of good quicks at the moment (oh and muppet broad).

 

[Hallatia]

ummm, Kallis?

 

[Red Bear]

Averaging in the 40's with the ball the last 15 tests or so, long way behind much of englands attack.

England dont have a standout the quality of Steyn but they have more than two really good bowlers (although as mentioned Tahir could be really good for the Saffers).

 

[Hallatia]

Kallis has been injured and not bowling so much over the last few, but you can't deny his quality.

The other guys are inexperienced, but not without talent - we got to see some of that in the world cup where they were spoilt for choice (but in my opinion still made the wrong one in the final). However, South Africa don't play enough test cricket to blah blah blah, but we'll see them against Australia and Sri Lanka and be able to judge better then.

Even if it is mostly the work of 2 guys, as a whole, SA bowling is better than everyone else's aaaand, Steyn is young, so he will be the spearhead of the attack for a long time as they cement an attack.

 

[Red Bear]

At mid 30's Kallis is unlikely to have his bowling hit great heights again (which doesnt really matter, he'll keep churning out runs).

South Africa at present are the best side, but I dont rate their depth all that much (although if there are no injuries it wont be an issue).

 

[Sudhir]

I'm sure South Africa have plenty of capable fast bowlers waiting in the wings, we just don't see them because they're such a settled side. England on the other hand have had a horrid run with injuries to their bowlers so we've have the benefit of seeing their bench strength.

Since 2005/06, just 11 South Africans have made their Test debut

Over the same period of time, England have introduced 24 new Test cricketers

 

[Tommy Smith]

England quite obviously have a better bowling attack than RSA by virtue of having the world's best spin bowler in their line-up.

And then there's Anderson who is a quality swing bowler. Tremlett appears to have awoken and on form would probably get a start in a World XI at present. And then theres the likes of Broad, Finn and Bresnan.

Great quality and great depth.

 

[Hallatia]

Swann is a good bowler and yes he is currently the world's best spin bowler, but he is a pretty tame world's best spin bowler and really pales in comparison to some of the past ones. Steyn on the other hand is the world's best bowler at the moment and will go down in history as one of the best seamers to grace the game.
South Africa' depth doesn't get tested the way England's does, but that's not to say they don't have it, but it does make it hard to compare, but we have seen a few different guys coming through since Ntini's departure from the game and they have very little to fear in the coming years, because their top talent is still quite young and the management is smart about how they bring guys into the team - look at the way they brought Tahir in in the world cup. I see South Africa as a complete side because they have the different aspects of the game covered (apart from declaring which I won't get started on) to such an extent that they will always be competing with the use of each facet...

And, England's depth is partially dependant on South Africa's depth anyway.

 

[TheParraboy]

There is no ready made depth for the Proteas when one Jacques Henry Kallis retires

 

[Twizzle]

you're right, Kallis provides plenty of width but not the depth

 

[Sudhir]

Kallis might as well retire now, CSA don't seem interested in having their team play any cricket.

Unless I'm mistaken, as it stands the South Africans aren't playing Test cricket again until October? So that's about nine months without any Tests.

Disgraceful

 

[Red Bear]

Re the Saffers, if Tsotsobe is their 3rd best quick their depths is not flash at all beyond Morkel and Steyn, he is mediocre.

 

[hineyrulz]

There is no ready made depth for the Proteas when one Jacques Henry Kallis retires

It will be a sad day when the great man hangs up his boots

 

[joseph1]

England are a better captained and coached unit at the moment, though RSA have the better players. India are still better than either mind you. It wont be til SRT retires that they drop back down. Unless injury ravages their pace attack.