With the England vs. South Africa series having started in earnest, here's some of my predictions (made yesterday, I promise!) for the four-test-series.
England vs. South Africa: Test Series Predictions...
Scoreline: England to win 2-1
Top Run Scorers: Bell (Eng), Amla (SA)
Top Wicket Takers: Anderson, Nel
Most Economical: Sidebottom, Kallis
And finally...Flintoff to be back in the side, and probably injured again, before the series is out.
It promises to be a hard fought series, with England seemingly on the ascendency after wins against New Zealand home and away, and South Africa a side who mix both experience and youth with the run-machine that is Kallis, coupled with Dale Steyn, who is currently the holder of the second best strike rate (1 wicket every 35.8 balls) in the history of test cricket. The out of form middle order partnership of Bell and Collingwood are the men under pressure for England, and Matthew Prior (731 First Class runs @ 56.23) is not just knocking on the door of the wicketkeeping spot, held by former Sussex teammate Tim Ambrose, but also putting pressure on Bell and Collingwood.
South Africa's much vaunted pace attack isn't perhaps as great as some people make out, though, on their day they are as a significant force as any attack. Many question marks also remain over England's attack too; will Anderson be able to produce the goods two series in a row? Will Broad live up to the hype with the ball and bat? Will Panesar be targeted, yet again?
Only time will tell, but I'm backing England to perform when it matters.
England vs. South Africa on Cricinfo
No comments:
Post a Comment