by daniel
30. November 2009 17:39
OK. I haven’t got a clue what’s going on. Friday in Cape Town was a hideous replay of the 2nd 20/20. Sunday at Port Elizabeth and it’s tempting to talk of a finished product, an England team packed with players who know their roles and even space for Flintoff to return in place of Wright resulting in a resounding World Cup win in the last ever 50 over competition (before 20/20 takes over) and we stay champions for eternity. It's like the players have been digitised and are literally composed of a notional on or off.
So far England have managed to produce sensational victories followed immediately by filth. “Anti momentum” is sofa new boy James’ explanation. Victory in the tests will only be achieved by getting so far ahead that the inevitable comeback from South Africa will just fall short. If so, we’re in for a hairy time. Perhaps Cook, Bell and Onions can bring consistency for the tests (though frankly a more inconsistent trio is hard to imagine – The Police?). But then, who wants dull predictability (apart from semi professional gamblers)? There is something delicious about watching James Anderson not knowing whether he’ll go for 60 or take 5-23. You can tell Trott’s new to the set up. He’s failed just the once in 8 innings, and can expect to stay behind for naughty boy nets as he perfects his “my head’s not quite on it I’m afraid” dab to backward point. Even the fielders are at it. Strauss took a blinder on Sunday having dropped three sitters in the week.
The same could of course be said of South Africa for whom only Peterson has shone in all three games, though De Villers’ hundred on Friday was frighteningly good. Morkel has been the pick of the bowlers but I maintain he’s just Chris Tremlett without the looks (well, not just without looks; with a whole new set of genetically impossible looks tacked on, and a mouth that screams “half masticated sandwich” gaping open at every ball), and will be soothingly innocuous come the tests.
At least the current pattern has ensured th
at England can’t lose the series, but with Nigel back on the sofa on Friday an England loss by about 237 runs looks inevitable, which will set us up beautifully for the 1st test.
Listen to SA v Eng 4th ODI Highlights Port Elizabeth.
Listen to SA v Eng 3rd ODI Highlights Cape Town.