SA under Shelsey (story)

[Shelsey]

Tour of India

With the tour of India fast approaching new SA coach Jack Sheldon announced his 18 man squad for the tour:

G Smith, H Gibbs, H Amla, A Prince, AB De Villiers, N McKenzie, JP Duminy, M Boucher, J Kallis, M Morkel, R Peterson, D Steyn, A Nel, P Harris, M Ntini, M Zondeki, C Langeveldt, A Morkel

The uncapped Albie Morkel and JP Duminy are included while Peterson's recall may surprise some. The tour will comprise of 3 Tests only.

[Shelsey]

India: Sehwag, Gambhir, Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly, Karthik+, Kumble*, H Singh, Z Khan, RP Singh

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Kallis, Amla, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, Harris, Nel, Steyn, Ntini

India choose Gambhir ahead of Jaffer to open while Karthik is surprisingly the chosen wicket keeper rather than Dhoni. Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma also dont make the team , so as that India can play the two spinners. South Africa choose Gibbs ahead of McKenzie to open and Nel ahead of Morkel in the attack.

Day 1: South African captain Graeme Smith wins the toss and elects to bat. The day is dominated by a wonderful innings from Gibbs, who is 156 not out at the close. Gibbs is supported by Smith (53) and Prince (71). De Villiers is 11 not out and SAfrica 314-4. RP Singh the best of the bowlers taking 3 wickets.

Day 2: Gibbs falls early on for 175 but 50s from De Villiers and Boucher ensure an impressive total of 483. RP Singh's figures are 5-137. Sehwag and Gambhir successfully block to the close, leaving India 49 without loss at the close.

Day 3: India are bowled out for 332, Gambhir top scoring with 72 and Laxman making 63. Spinner Paul Harris was the best of the bowlers with 4-87. However South Africa suffered a major blow with Kallis likely to miss the rest of the series with a back injury. South Africa faced 1 over before the close and are 2-0.

Day 4: South Africa dominate the day with only the 1 wicket falling of Gibbs to RP Singh for 18. Smith (120 n.o) played excellently for his 15th test century and Amla is 87 not out at the close.

Day 5: Kumble removes Amla who add 2 to his overnight score and South Africa then promptly declare at 255-2 with Smith 127 not out. India require 407 to win. Thanks to some excellent bowling from Nel (4-68) South Africa sniff a chance. Ganguly top scores for India with 50 but South Africa can only take 8 wickets. Karthik batting excellently with the tail and South Africa will probably regret not declaring earlier rather than waiting to see if Amla could reach his hundred.

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/3604/indvrsa1sttesteo9.png (http://imageshack.us)

[GrahamB]

Almost a win first up! ;)

How dangerous are the Indian spinners?
Spinners used to dominate and wreck the international game in ICC3.

[Shelsey]

India: Sehwag, Gambhir, Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly, Karthik+, Kumble*, H Singh, Z Khan, RP Singh

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Amla, Duminy, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, Harris, Nel, Steyn, Ntini

The only change on either side is that South Africas JP Duminy beats Neil McKenzie in the race to replace the injured Kallis. Duminy makes his test debut.

Day 1: Indian captain Anil Kumble wins the toss and elects to bat first. It was certainly the right choice as South Africa only take 2 wickets in the day. Sehwag to Nel for 48 and Gambhir to Harris for 31. Tendulkar then gave little chance to the bowlers and finished the day 113 not out with Dravid on 82.

Day 2: Dravid completed his hundred early on before South African spinner Paul Harris ripped through Indias middle order taking the wickets of Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman and Karthik along with Gambhir the day before and Zaheer Khan. Harris's final figures were 55.1-13-140-7. Harris's effort brought what had at the end of day 1 looked like being an excellent score to an average one of 420 all out. Despite this South Africa were in a spot of bother by the end of the day, Amla (58 n.o.) the only batsman to get in as SAfrica found themselves on 123-5.

Day 3: South Africa bat at an extemely slow pace throughout the whole day, Amla still there on a remarkable 122 not out off 584 balls. The tail wags as well, Harris making 22 and Nel 27 not out. RP Singh is the best of the bowlers with 4-27.

Day 4: After so much resistance the previous day Amla falls without adding to his overnight score in the first over of the day. Nel continues to bat well for his 37 but South Africa are all out for 269 and are still 151 runs behind India's total. SAfrica struggle to impose themselves on the Indian batsmen however. Only 3 wickets, Sehwag (79), Gambhir (15) and Dravid (32) fall before India declare with Tendulkar 92 not out (!) and Laxman on 30. Harris was once again the best of the bowlers with figures of 2-54. India made 257 and SA need 409 to win. South Africa 19-0 at the close.

Day 5: South Africa do very well on a pitch doing a lot to bat out for a draw, loosing just 2 wickets, Smith for 29 and Gibbs for 15. Amla remained an immovable object for India, finishing on 62 n.o. off 331 balls. Test debutant Duminy made 40 not out. The series goes down to the decider.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8292/indvrsa2ndtestns6.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8292/indvrsa2ndtestns6.8338a907d4.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=142&i=indvrsa2ndtestns6.png)

[Shelsey]

Almost a win first up! ;)

How dangerous are the Indian spinners?
Spinners used to dominate and wreck the international game in ICC3.

Harbhajan and Kumble have been fairly inaffective so far but from playing a bit further with West Indies during my trial some good spinners come up after a couple of seasons.

[GrahamB]

What bowling tactics do you use (if you don't mind sharing)?

[Shelsey]

India: Sehwag*, Gambhir, Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly, Karthik+, Pathan, H Singh, Z Khan, RP Singh

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Amla, Duminy, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, Harris, Nel, Steyn, Ntini

India sensationally drop their captain Kumble. Sehwag steps in as captain while bowling all rounder Pathan is brought into the attack.

Day 1: Sehwag wins the toss and elects to bat. This decision proves correct when India recover from the early loss of Sehwag for 1 and Tendulkar for 21 to find themselves 333-4 at the close. Gambhir made 76, Dravid 120 not out and Ganguly on 90 not out at close of play. Steyn and Nel take 2 wickets each. Ntini suffers a muscle strain and will be unable to bowl in the remainder of the match.

Day 2: India bat very well to make 588. Dravid falls to Steyn for 139 while part timer Duminy makes Ganguly his first test wicket for 149. However, the Indian tail wagged immensely and Pathan made 58 and Harbhajan Singh 65. The bowling was a team effort with Nel, Harris and Steyn taking 3 each. South Africa unfortunately lost the 3 early wickets of Smith, Gibbs and Duminy before Amla added stability together with Prince. Both batsmen were not out at the close. Amla on 42 and Prince on 27. Harbhajan Singh took 2 of the wickets.

Day 3: South Africa bat very poorly to collapse to 215 all out. Amla makes 55 and Prince 73 but other than 26 from Nel their is no support and Indian captain Sehwag enforces the follow on. Pathan is the best of the bowlers with figures of 5-62. The key objective was to survive a tricky evening session without loosing a wicket but Zaheer Khan traps Smith lbw for 17 to leave SA 48-1.

Day 4: Amla bats through a completed days cricket for the 2nd time during the series as only 1 wicket, Smith lbw to Harbhajan Singh for 44 falls during the days play. At the close Amla is on 78 and Duminy on 69.

Day 5: Amla falls short of what would have been a well deserved hundred, making 97 but Duminy then takes over and bats brilliantly on the way to his maiden test century, finishing on 140. Prince (48 not out) also added resiliance as SAfrica saved the game, loosing 4 wickets. Harbhajan Singh (3-99) was the best of the bowlers. 3 drawn games mean that the series is drawn despite some very good performances from both teams.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/921/indvrsa3rdtestbv8.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/921/indvrsa3rdtestbv8.f8e36f2cd2.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=155&i=indvrsa3rdtestbv8.png)

[Shelsey]

What bowling tactics do you use (if you don't mind sharing)?

I tend to not worry too much about field settings, line and length etc. but will just bowl to a batsmens weakness and on 2-4 bars depending on the situation.

[Shelsey]

With a long tour of England upcoming SA coach Jack Sheldon announced an unchanged 18 man squad for the tour:

G Smith, H Gibbs, H Amla, A Prince, AB De Villiers, N McKenzie, JP Duminy, M Boucher, J Kallis, M Morkel, R Peterson, D Steyn, A Nel, P Harris, M Ntini, M Zondeki, C Langeveldt, A Morkel

Following general success in India and with no South African domestic cricket having been played yet this season it made sense to stick with the same group of players. Albie Morkel the only uncapped player among them.

The tour starts with 3 day games against Somerset and the MCC before 4 Tests, a T20I and 5 ODIs. Further tour games are scheduled against the Combined Universities (3 day), Scotland and the MCC (both 1 day).

[Shelsey]

Somerset: Trescothick*, Edwards, Hildreth, Trego, Durston, Blackwell, Kieswetter+, Thomas, Caddick, Munday, Willoughby

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Amla, Kallis, Duminy, Prince, Boucher+, M Morkel, Harris, Nel, Steyn

SAfrica leave out De Villiers for controversial 3 day game against Somerset. Morkel is preferred to ageing Ntini. Somerset name 3 South African kolpaks in Kieswetter, Thomas and Willoughby.

Day 1: Gibbs hits a brilliant 141 at the top of the order, in partnership with Kallis whos 85 includes 4 sixes. Amla made 27 and Prince 6. Duminy is 23 not out and Boucher on 6 at the close. Michael Munday was the best of the best of the bowlers with figures of 2-59.

Day 2: Munday swept up the rest of the SA batting line up to finish with 7-121. Boucher made 31 and Morkel 39. Nel was left on 19 not out. South Africas bowlers then restricted Somerset to 198-7. Trego top scored with 67 and \edwards made 54. Steyn was the best of the bowlers, taking 4-60.

Day 3: The Somerset tail was pushed over by the SAfrican bowlers, particularly Nel (4-63). Somerset were 199 runs behind SA's total so the option to enforce the follow on was available to Smith. However, SA chose not to enforce it in order to give more practise to their batsmen.
Smith and Gibbs put on an unbroken 229. Gibbs making 123 and Smith 97 as the match wad drawn. A further practise game follows against the MCC.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/5148/somvrsa3dayan6.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Shelsey]

MCC: Savage, Hulme, Sharpe, Ogden*, Charlton, Jefferson, Highsmith, Rowntree+, Duckett, Perry, Henshaw

SAfrica: Smith*, McKenzie, Amla, Kallis, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, M Morkel, Harris, Langeveldt, Ntini

Against an inexperienced MCC side South Africa rest the in form Gibbs, Duminy, Steyn and Nel. In their place McKenzie, De Villiers, Langeveldt and Ntini get a chance to stake their claim for a place in the 1st Test.

Day 1: Smith won the toss and elected to bat. South Africa's batsmen hit over 400 in the day. Smith making a fantastic double hundred and remains not out overnight. McKenzie made South Africa's selection headache worse with his 141. In order to give batsmen who aren't in particularly good form the order was shuffled around. Prince made 15 and De Villiers was 36 not out at the close.

Day 2: South Africa continued to bat and bat, ending play on 792 for 4. Smith made his double hundred a triple before falling to Perry for 319. De Villiers also made a hundred (128). Amla was on 87 and Boucher 81 at the close. Perry (2-216) was the best of the bowlers.

Day 3: Amla continued his habit of falling just short of 100 when he fell for 95 but Boucher did complete his ton before long. At 836-5 SA declared. Perry finished with figures of 3-239 from his 63 overs. The MCC were embarassed when after more than 2 days in the field taking just 5 wickets they found themselves 18-4, then capitulated to 129 all out. Langeveldt taking 4 wickets and Ntini 3. The follow on was enforced. The MCC composed themselves much better 2nd time round surving to the close at 118-1. The performances of McKenzie, De Villiers, Langeveldt and Ntini make selection extremely difficult for the 1st Test.

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/7783/mccvrsa3dayfs8.png (http://imageshack.us)

[acook]

batters look in good form. I also noticed before that J.P Duminy is class on it. Why is this I had never heard of him in real life untill S.A came to England this summer and I looked at there squad. But hes something like 3rd in the ICC rankings on the game! V.Strange.

[Shelsey]

England: Cook, Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Shah, Prior+, Vaughan*, Flintoff, Sidebottom, Harmison, Hoggard

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Amla, Kallis, Duminy, De Villiers, Boucher+, Harris, Nel, Langeveldt, Steyn

England choose Shah over Collingwood, and Harmison and Hoggard over Broad and Anderson. Panesar is oddly left out despite taking 8-58 and 4-72 in the previous test match played by England. England skipper Vaughan will bat at a new position - number 7. For SA selection was extremely difficult with so many players in form. In the end Prince and McKenzie, despite his hundred against the MCC are left out. In the bowling department the only change from the 3rd Test v India is that Ntini is left out in favour of Langeveldt.

Day 1: On a flat pitch, Smith won the toss and elected to bat. England nabbed the crucial early wickets of Smith and Amla, and from their on England's confidence was high as Hoggard reminded everyone what a good bowler he is by taking 6-59. The best of the batsmen was Duminy, who made 71 before being given out lbw to Hoggard. SA were highly disappointing in capitulating to 201 all out, considering the good form shown against Somerset and the MCC. England survived the day to be 23-0 at the close.

Day 2: South Africa did well to restrict England to 295. Prior making 74 and Pietersen 68. Bell suffered a fracture while on 25 and had to retire hurt. He's likely to miss at least the 2nd Test. Steyn (4-61) was the best of the bowlers but Harris who took 3 wickets bowled well too. England lead by 94 after the first innings. South Africa's objective was not to loose a wicket during a short spell before the close but they failed miserably, loosing both openers.

Day 3: SA find themselves in serious trouble by the close. Amla top scores with 73, De Villiers makes 44 and Duminy 41 but by the close SA are
234-6 and only 140 ahead. Hoggard completes his 10 wickets for the match with his figures of 4-54. Boucher is on 29 and Harris on 1 overnight.

Day 4: Sidebottom (5-82) rips through the South African tail as the Proteas are bowled out for 254, Boucher making 36. Nel (3-49) does well to take the wickets of Cook (30), Strauss (47) and Pietersen (57) but Shah is 25 not out when England reach what proves to be an easy target. A very disappointing performance from SAfrica and a polished one from England. England lead the series 1-0 and it will now be an uphill struggle for SA if they are to win this series.

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9275/engvrsa1sttestru8.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Shelsey]

England: Cook, Strauss, Pietersen, Shah, Prior+, Vaughan*, Joyce, Sidebottom, Harmison, Panesar, Hoggard

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Amla, Kallis, Duminy, De Villiers, Boucher+, Harris, Nel, Steyn, Ntini

England surprisingly hand Joyce a test debut rather than bring Collingwood in for the injured Bell. Panesar returns, but shockingly in place of the fit Flintoff. South Africa resist the temptation to fiddle with the batting line-up but do make one change to the bowlers, recalling Ntini in place of Langeveldt.

Day 1: England win the toss and unsurprisingly elect to bat first. They then dominate the day scoring at a fast rate. After a good start SA take the wickets of Cook (52) and Pietersen (34), Strauss is agonisingly run out on 96 before his Middlesex teammate Shah gets his 1st test century. Prior makes 60 but Vaughan falls cheaply before the close leaving Shah on 133 and Joyce on 14. Ntini, Steyn, Nel and Harris take a wicket each. Injury to Nel makes the tourists day even worse.

Day 2: Shah completes his 150 before falling to Steyn for 152. The tail is swept up by Harris (4-157). England amass 476. SA collapse to 129 all out and look likely to go 2-0 down in the series. Duminy (34) and De Villiers (26) are the top scorers. Worries are beginning to grow over the form of Kallis. Hoggard continues his excellent form to claim figures of 4-33, Panesar takes 3 wickets. Following on the openers survive to the end of the day.

Day 3: SA have their best day of the series so far. Smith and Gibbs put on 171 for the first wicket. Smith (77) is the only wicket to fall during the day, caught behind off Hoggard. Amla then continues as Smith had done, finishing the day on 22, Gibbs reaches his hundred and overnight has 111 off 308 deliveries.

Day 4: SA loose Gibbs and Amla early on. The rest of the batsmen all make a contribution with none of them going on to make 50. Boucher is on 32 and last man Ntini on 0 at the close. It looks an impossible task for SAfrica as they are still after almost 3 days batting only 30 ahead of England's 1st Innings score.

Day 5: Ntini is out for 4 early on, completing Panesar's 5 wicket haul. Boucher finishes on 36 not out. England need 39 to win. England's openers safely guide the hosts to a 10 wicket victory. England lead the series 2-0 and SA must win the remaining tests if they're to tie the series.

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/750/engvrsa2ndtestmr1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Shelsey]

C Univs: Plant, Leigh, Chapman, Hull*, Wallis, Moody, Hutchinson+, Duncan, Milne, Brummer, Haylett

SAfrica: Smith*, McKenzie, Amla, Kallis, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, Peterson, M Morkel, Langeveldt, Zondeki

A number of key players were rested by the South Africans against a Combined Universities team in which nobody had played a previous first class match. McKenzie replaces Gibbs, Prince is in for Duminy and Peterson, M Morkel, Langeveldt and Zondeki replace Harris, Nel, Steyn and Ntini.

Day 1: Smith wins the toss and chooses to bat first. SA produce a decent batting performance to reach 352-7. Smith top scored with 123, Kallis makes 67 and Boucher is 43 not out. Moody (2-74) is the is the best of the students bowlers.

Day 2: Boucher bats excellently to make 117, the SAfrican tail wags as Morkel makes 25 and Langeveldt an unbeaten 34. Wallis (4-107) finishes as the best of the bowlers. Morkel removes Plant lbw but Leigh and Chapman bat well to bring C Univs to 67-1 at the close.

Day 3: Leigh scores 101 on his first class debut, before being caught by Amla off Kallis. Morkel and Zondeki take 3 wickets each, Langeveldt and Kallis 2 each. The Universities are forced to follow on but reach 50-0 by the end of the day and the match.

http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/2005/cunvrsa3dayqz5.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Shelsey]

England: Cook, Strauss, Pietersen, Shah, Prior+, Vaughan*, Joyce, Sidebottom, Harmison, Panesar, Hoggard

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Amla, Kallis, Duminy, De Villiers, Boucher+, M Morkel, Harris, Nel, Steyn

With Bell still injured England are unchanged. SA introduce Morne Morkel for the first time in the series, beating Ntini, Langeveldt and Zondeki to the place.

Day 1: Vaughan wins the toss and elects to bat. SA make a good start removing Strauss (20) and Cook (42). Pietersen and Shah then add a massive 235 for the 3rd wicket. Shah finally falls for 107 but Pietersen is still there on 173 overnight and Prior is on 37. Steyn, Morkel and Harris take a wicket each.

Day 2: England bat and bat and bat against the offcolour Protea bowlers. Prior makes 54 and Vaughan 80, accomponying Pietersen who scores an undefeated 278. England eventually declare on 606-5. Harris toiled away for 51 overs for his figures of 3-207. The flat track is proven as SA reach the close at 76-0.

Day 3: Smith makes 111 and Gibbs 68 but Amla, Kallis, Duminy and De Villiers all fail to get in. Boucher is on 1 and Morkel 0 overnight. SA still have someway to go just to avoid the follow on. Hoggard (4-76) is the best of the bowlers.

Day 4: Boucher falls for 1 and Morkel and Harris quickly follow. Nel and Steyn put on 47 for the last wicket but SA are still nowhere near avoiding the follow on. Panesar (4-88) joins Hoggard in taking 4 wickets. SAfrica bat very well to end the day at 118-2. Smith is on 62 and Kallis not yet off the mark. SA now have a fair chance of drawing the game.

Day 5: Smith looses his wicket in the first over of the day without adding to his overnight score. Kallis makes 41 but Duminy is the anchor batting excellently for his 59 not out. Boucher is out half an hour from the end but Morkel bats well to secure the draw. Despite this England secure the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy with a test to go.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4658/engvrsa3rdtestuw8.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Shelsey]

England: Cook, Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Shah, Prior+, Vaughan*, Sidebottom, Harmison, Panesar, Hoggard

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Amla, Kallis, Duminy, De Villiers, Boucher+, Harris, Nel, Steyn, Zondeki

Bell is fit again for England and comes in for Joyce. The last bowling spot changes for the 4th time in 4 tests this series, this time it's Zondeki who replaces M Morkel.

Day 1: For the 3rd Test in succession Smith looses the toss and Vaughan elects to bat. Both openers fall for ducks but Pietersen and Bell then put on an excellent partnership. Pietersen makes 100 exactly, Bell falls just short with 92. Both of these, along with Shah are taken by Zondeki (3-102). Shah makes 47 and Vaughan is 49 not out. England are 341-7. Steyn suffers an injury and will miss the rest of the match but should be fit for the one day series.

Day 2: Vaughan makes 69 but the tail, other than Hoggard who is 17 not out at the end of the innings, collapses as Zondeki completes a 5 wicket haul on his recall. Nel (3-54) also bowls well. SA start badly when Smith (19) falls early. Amla then gets a first baller but Gibbs (74) and Kallis (66) help SA to a respectable position. But when these two fall the rest of the order collapses and SA can only make 199. Panesar (5-74) strangling the SA batsmen on a pitch conducive to spin. England face one over and are 6-0 at the close.

Day 3: Cook (72) and Strauss (81) ensure the Proteas make a bad start to the day. They somewhat improve however, after part-timer Duminy removes Strauss, Harris (4-86) takes the wickets of Cook, Pietersen, Bell and Shah. Prior is on 35 and Vaughan on 4 overnight. England are on 317-5, 502 ahead of SAfrica.

Day 4: Harris (6-136) removes Vaughan (34) and Sidebottom (2) early on. Prior is on 89 not out and Harmison 8, when England declare, 600 ahead. Smith (58) and Gibbs (24) make a good start but when they fall Amla (11) follows. Kallis is on 16 and Duminy on 9 at stumps. Hoggard has 2 of the wickets and Sidebottom 1.

Day 5: Kallis is removed for 30 but Duminy plays a marvellous innings to save the game for the second match in succession. De Villiers (36) and Boucher (25) also play an important role. Duminy is horribly unlucky to fall short of 100, 99 not out as the match reaches a draw. Nel (3*) is at the other end. England win the series 2-0 and despite 5 draws SA are yet to record a victory under new coach Jack Sheldon.

http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/2125/engvrsa4thtestod5.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/2125/engvrsa4thtestod5.17c85c8f2c.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=383&i=engvrsa4thtestod5.png)

[acook]

there seems to be plenty of draws on the international game. Is it because your bowling has been poor and batting good? or are your bowlers in form aswell and its just to hard to bowl teams out?

[Shelsey]

there seems to be plenty of draws on the international game. Is it because your bowling has been poor and batting good? or are your bowlers in form aswell and its just to hard to bowl teams out?

My bowling has been OK. Bowling teams out is very hard, however quite realistic considering the last couple of tests.

[Shelsey]

Scotland CC: Sheikh, Watts, Watson*, McCallum, Haq, Wright, MacRae, Hamilton, Smith+, Moran, Hoffman

SAfrica: Smith, Gibbs, Kallis, Duminy, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, Harris, Steyn, Zondeki, Nel

South Africa choose Prince ahead of Amla and McKenzie for the first limited overs game under coach Jack Sheldon. Zondeki beats Langeveldt, Ntini and M Morkel to the last bowling place. Scotland are as expected.

Scotland Innings: Scotland make a disappointing 160-8 from their 50 overs. Watson top scores with 44 and McCallum makes 25. All the bowlers keep the run rate down - Nel (4-40) the best of them. Steyn, Zondeki, Kallis and Harris each take a wicket.

SAfrica Innings: Gibbs (14) and Kallis (9) fall early on but Smith (70*) and Duminy (64*) secure an easy 8 wicket victory. Hoffman and Wright take a wicket each.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2194/sccvrsa1dayar0.png (http://imageshack.us)

[ahmershamsi]

Nice and interesting thread. Your team should be tagged as the "down-but-not-out-till-the-game's-over" bunch. Good show.
Could the excessive number of draws stem from too defensive batting and as a result very slow scoring rate?
Another thing I've noticed is that a lot of your bowlers tend to get injured during games. This I think could be due to not rotating them frequently enough and by just plugging away till they can no longer bowl any more and need to be rested.
I hope I haven't been too critical.:D

[Shelsey]

Nice and interesting thread. Your team should be tagged as the "down-but-not-out-till-the-game's-over" bunch. Good show.
Could the excessive number of draws stem from too defensive batting and as a result very slow scoring rate?
Another thing I've noticed is that a lot of your bowlers tend to get injured during games. This I think could be due to not rotating them frequently enough and by just plugging away till they can no longer bowl any more and need to be rested.
I hope I haven't been too critical.:D

I think your probably spot on with both

[Shelsey]

MCC: Savage, Hulme, Sharpe, Ogden*, Charlton, Jefferson, Highsmith, Coddington, Rowntree+, Perry, Henshaw

SAfrica: McKenzie, Gibbs, Kallis*, Amla, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, A Morkel, M Morkel, Harris, Ntini

The MCC make one change from the 3 day match they played against SA - Coddington for Duckett. South Africa are weakened, as they were for that match: skipper Smith and Duminy are rested with McKenzie and Amla coming in - Kallis becomes captain. A Morkel, M Morkel and Ntini replace Nel, Steyn and Zondeki.

MCC Innings: Kallis looses the toss and must field. MCC make a respectable 151 despite 4-45 from Morne Morkel. Ntini (2), Kallis (3) and Harris (1) are the other wicket takers. Jefferson (41) top scores.

SAfrica Innings: Gibbs is run out for 21 and McKenzie makes 73 but Kallis (27*) and Amla (30*) bring SA home to a comfortable 8 wicket victory in perfect preparation for the ODI series. Ogden takes the wicket.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/7620/mccvrsa1daycr9.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Shelsey]

England: Cook, Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Shah, Prior+, Flintoff, Collingwood*, Sidebottom, Panesar, Hoggard

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Kallis, Duminy, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, M Morkel, Harris, Nel, Steyn

England bring in Flintoff and Collingwood for Vaughan and Harmison in changes from the test team. Followung his 5 wicket haul against MCC M Morkel is picked ahead of Zondeki, Ntini and Langeveldt.

England Innings: For the 6th match in succession SA loose the toss. England ODI skipper Collingwood elects to bat. Morkel takes the early wicket of Cook. Strauss and Pietersen each make 62. England amass 164-4 from their 20 overs.

SAfrica Innings: An England victory looked on the cards when Smith, Gibbs, Duminy and Prince were all dismissed in single figures. Kallis and De Villiers then brought SAfrica to a position where they could win, only for Kallis to fall followed by Boucher, Morkel, Harris and Nel. SA needed 11 off Flintoff's last over with last man Steyn and De Villiers in. 11 off 6 soon changed to 2 off 1 - but Steyn was on strike, they scampered a single but couldn't make 2 as the match was sensationally tied. Sidebottom finished with figures of 4-19.

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6273/engvrsat20ijv7.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6273/engvrsat20ijv7.16a942f960.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=112&i=engvrsat20ijv7.png)

[Shelsey]

England: Cook, Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Shah, Prior+, Flintoff, Collingwood*, Sidebottom, Anderson, Hoggard

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Kallis, Duminy, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, M Morkel, Harris, Nel, Steyn

England bring in Anderson for Panesar and choose not to play a spinner. Following the tied T20I SAfrica don't feel the need to make changes.

SAfrica Innings: Graeme Smith wins the toss and chooses to bat on a flat wicket. Both openers hit quick centuries - Smith (101) and Gibbs (124). Duminy makes 43 not out and SA make 326-3. Flintoff, Hoggard and Anderson take a wicket each.

England Innings: An excellent team bowling performance sees Kallis (4-57), Nel (2-50) and Morkel (2-80) all bowl well. Shah (90) is the cornerstone of the England innings but it isn't enough and SAfrica record a comfortable victory.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3046/engvrsa1stodipw0.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Shelsey]

England: Cook, Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Shah, Prior+, Flintoff, Collingwood*, Sidebottom, Panesar, Hoggard

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Kallis, Duminy, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, M Morkel, Harris, Nel, Steyn

England bring back Panesar for Anderson - possibly regretting not including Panesar in the 1st ODI. SA are unchanged.

England Innings: Collingwood wins the toss and elects to bat. The South African bowlers do well to restrict the English run rate, despite 84 not out from Pietersen and 67 from Cook. Kallis takes 3 wickets, Steyn 2 and Morkel 1. England make 249-6.

SAfrica Innings: Smith (46) and Kallis (51) do well as SA get themselves well ahead of the required run rate. Regular wickets then fall until Morkel and Harris get together and see SA home, Morkel making an excellent 37. Sidebottom (3-48) gets 3 wickets and Collingwood 2, Hoggard and Panesar get 1 each. 2-0 to South Africa with 3 games remaining.

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/9987/engvrsa2ndodiop5.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Shelsey]

England: Cook, Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Shah, Prior+, Flintoff, Collingwood*, Sidebottom, Harmison, Hoggard

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Kallis, Duminy, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, M Morkel, Harris, Nel, Steyn

The only change to either team is Panesar being left out again and Harmison coming in.

England Innings: England win the toss and choose to bat first. Cook (45) and Strauss (38) give England a good start but then loose regular wickets until Prior (45) and Flintoff (35*) get together. Steyn and Harris take 2 wickets each, Nel and Kallis 1 each. England are restricted to 211-6.

SAfrica Innings: The South African batsmen score at a brisk and punishing rate as they win by 8 wickets in the 35th over. Smith makes 89, Gibbs 54 and Kallis 62 not out. Sidebottom and Harmison are the wicket takers. SA secure the series 3-0 with two games to spare.

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/5721/engvrsa3rdodics8.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Shelsey]

England: Cook, Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Shah, Prior+, Flintoff, Collingwood*, Sidebottom, Panesar, Hoggard

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Kallis, Amla, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, M Morkel, Harris, Nel, Zondeki

England bring back Panesar for Harmison. With the series already tied up Duminy and Steyn are rested, Amla (ODI debut) and Zondeki come in.

SAfrica Innings: Smith wins the toss and elects to bat first. SA compile a strong 248, Gibbs's 120 is the cornerstone of the innings. Nobody else gets more than 30. Flintoff (6-60) finally hits top form, Sidebottom (2) and Panesar and Collingwood (1 each) are the other wicket takers.

England Innings: SA's bowlers all perform well as England are skittled out for 198. Flintoff (57*) continues his excellent all round performance as he becomes England's only 50 maker. Kallis (3-28) is the pick of the bowlers, Nel and Zondeki take 2 wickets each, Nel and Morkel 1 each. 4-0 to the Proteas!

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/580/engvrsa4thodixj0.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Shelsey]

England: Cook, Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Shah, Prior+, Flintoff, Collingwood*, Sidebottom, Harmison, Panesar

SAfrica: Smith*, McKenzie, Kallis, Amla, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher+, M Morkel, Harris, Ntini, Zondeki

Harmison replaces Hoggard in the England team as they strive to avoid a 5-0 series whitewash. South Africa rest Gibbs, who's hit 2 centuries in the series and Nel. McKenzie and Ntini come in. Duminy and Steyn continue their well deserved rests.

SAfrica Innings: Smith wins the toss and elects to bat. SA are restricted to 232-5 despite 91 from Prince, 47 not out from De Villiers and a slow 42 (off 99 balls) from Amla. Flintoff (3-47) is the best of the bowlers.

England Innings: Cook (49) gives England a good start but nobody else exceeds 30 as the SA bowlers sweep England up. Kallis (4-23) continues his excellent series with the ball, Morkel (3-43) takes 3 wickets while Ntini, Zondeki and Harris take 1 each. England are bowled out for 153 as SA take the series 5-0. An excellent performance all round.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/7941/engvrsa5thodifm5.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Shelsey]

Bangladesh tor South Africa for 2 Tests and 3 ODIs. This series presents an oppurtunity to build on a 5-0 ODI whitewash of England.

South Africa selected their 12 man squad for the 1st Test:

G Smith, H Gibbs, H Amla, J Kallis, JP Duminy, AB De Villiers, M Boucher, P Harris, A Nel, D Steyn, M Zondeki, M Morkel

The batting line-up remains unchanged from the tour of England while Zondeki and Morkel are preferred to Ntini and Langeveldt amongst the bowlers.

[Shelsey]

SAfrica: Smith*, Gibbs, Amla, Kallis, Duminy, De Villiers, Boucher+, Harris, Nel, Steyn, Zondeki

Bangladesh: M Hossain, Nafees, Iqbal, Saleh*, Bashar, Reza, Al-Hasan, Mashud+, Islam, Rasel, S Hossain

South Africa choose Zondeki over Morkel. Bangladesh leave out Ashraful and Rahim. Saleh takes over the captaincy.

Day 1: Smith wins the toss and elects to bat, before making his 17th test century, finding himself on 147 overnight. Gibbs makes 32 and Amla is on 46. Reza takes the only wicket to fall.

Day 2: Smith falls early on for 156 but Amla continues to make 106 and De Villiers is 64 not out. Steyn is on 7. Reza has 3 wickets, Islam and Rasel 2 each and S Hossain 1.

Day 3: SA declare half an hour before lunch after De Villiers (103*) becomes the third South African centurion of the innings. Steyn provided good support with his 24 not out. SAfrica make 547-8. Bangladesh are 200-6 at the close after 3 wickets for Nel, 2 for Zondeki and 1 for Harris. Al-Hasan is 62 not out and Mashud is on 27.

Day 4: Zondeki takes 4 wickets in 2 overs as Bangladesh are bowled out for 207 early on. Al-Hasan (63) is first to go followed by Mashud, Rasel and S Hossain. Zondeki's final figures are 6-39, Nel takes 3 wickets and Harris 1. Bangladesh are asked to follow on. Iqbal makes 74 and M Hossain 69 as Bangladesh make some sort of recovery to 234-5 at stumps. Steyn takes 2 wickets, while Zondeki, Kallis and Harris take 1 each.

Day 5: Bangladesh do well to reach 371, thanks to 71 from Reza and 60 from Al-Hasan. South Africa ensure their victory target will only be 32 when Paul Harris (4-30) takes a hattrick to wrap up the tail. Steyn takes 3 wickets, Kallis 2 and Zondeki 1. SAfrica's openers knock off the runs with ease to secure a 10 wicket victory.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/2531/rsavban1sttestaz6.png (http://imageshack.us)