![]() ![]() Anyway, while noting the discussion about Broad's agression, I cant help thinking of a Munster Rugby mantra - (one of the many noble statements that those turnip munchers probably lifted from somewhere else) - 'Fire in the belly, Ice in the Mind'." Mmm, like a man trying to sure a cold by eating a curry? Wicklow with my baby daughter," writes a rather glum-sounding Gary Gibson, "catching snippets of the discussion, when she will allow me flick over from Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom (which is actually quite watchable). The rain is holding off for the moment, and the toss will take place in ten minutes' time, at 8.45am. It's very much a case of being desperate to win again and I like the feeling in the dressing room at the moment." It's important we don't read too much into that. Strauss, at least, has been making all the right noises, as he always does: "There have been a lot of people patting and telling us how great we were. And that's before we even being to think about Headingley '09. And duly got thumped by 196 runs, routed by a combination of Charl Langeveldt (5-46) and Jacques Kallis (149). It is a formidable record.Įngland were 1-0 up after two matches in the series when they last played here, back in 2004/'05. Of the other six, three have been drawn, and three lost, all of those last to Australia. As you may have read by now, South Africa have won 14 of their 20 Tests at this ground since they returned to Test cricket in 1992. I think the same may be true for England. everyone seems to think that England are the best team in the world, and the lead singer of Dr Comfort and the Lurid Revelations is suddenly the no3 ranked Test bowler in the world, the most dazzling debutant spinner England have had since, umm, Monty Panesar.įor Swann, everything is going to get harder from here on in. So, you take a few days off for Christmas and when you come back. ![]() They are, I assume, unchanged from the last match, but if you really want to read a team listing I've cut-and-pasted from the news wires, well, who am I to deny you? AJ Strauss, AN Cook, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, PD Collingwood, IR Bell, MJ Prior, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, G Onions. As Duncan Fletcher pointed out in these pages the other day though, Newlands is a very hard pitch to read.Īnd yes, Paul Collingwood is playing for England. Athers reckons that whoever wins the toss will want to bowl first, because the ball has been swinging around in practice this morning. They're aiming for an 8.45am start, but it seems to have started drizzling again over Mike Atherton's shoulder. "My fear is that we're about to receive the same in cricketing terms, especially from Graeme 'Biff' Smith." "Is that a photo of Swanny enjoying what Barney Ronay described as 'the Broadinator and his rearing bumpers'?" asks James Debens, somewhat bafflingly to anyone who hasn't been keeping up to speed with Barney's columns over Christmas, myself included. So South Africa look like this: Graeme Smith, Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Friedel de Wet. He has been put in the back of the van with Boxer and packed off to the glue factory, replaced in the side by Friedel de Wet. I've had a little bit of team news through from the ground: South Africa have bitten the bullet and decided to drop the knacked old lag of their attack, Makhaya Ntini. At least I can take a moment to recover then. The latest news is that the covers are coming off now, but the toss has been delayed all the same and will take place at 9.25am. It seems my lung-busting late dash to the office this morning - thanks very much Transport for London - has been in vain. He reckons Flower and his captain, Strauss, have done magnificently well to salvage a year that began in chaotic style.Īnd after his heroics in the second Test, why not find out how Graeme Swann has matured from a joker into a key man for England? Meanwhile here's a preview of today's match, with England hopeful all-rounder Paul Collingwood will be fit to play.Įlsewhere Vic Marks has written about how England have flourished under the tutelage of Andy Flower. ![]() While you wait for Andy, why not relive the final day of that Test by reading Barney Ronay's over-by-over report? After victory in the second Test, England can hammer home their advantage in Cape Town. ![]()
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