Good Luck James Taylor

For Gregory

It's the eve of the 2nd Investec test between test giants England and South Africa.


South Africa are currently leading the series which will decide which of the two teams are number 1 in the world, 1-0. And they went 1-0 up in style. Hashim Amla was just a different class...

Posting his best ever total of 311 not out he, with the help of Smith and co they marched on to victory at the Oval with ease. Now England are looking to bounce back at Headingley in order to level the three match series so they can retain their number one ranking. And with the absence of Ravi Bopara (which I'm ecstatic about) James Taylor is looking to stamp his authority on Test cricket in style.

Of course, it's going to be a tough challenge. From playing county championship cricket for Notts to facing Dale Steyn and the rest of the SA attack, which is arguably the strongest attack in the world. But I think he can do it, he's fresh to the international scene and will be full of confidence and enthusiasm - and with the guidance of senior players he can really stamp his authority on this game. A fantastic opportunity for such a young cricketer to showpiece himself to the world in what is, make no mistake about it, a huge spectacle.

With a first class average of just under 50 and several England lions games under his belt he was definitely the right choice of player to come in for Bopara in my opinion. Bairstow had his chance against a poor West Indian bowling attack and didn't impress. And Taylor was simply next in the pecking order. I hope he does well, I think he will do well.

James Taylor may not be the only change to the England side for the second test though, and with the English bowling attack failing in the first test changes may be made. Question marks have been raised over whether Swann may be dropped for an all seam bowling attack. But I think this would be a ridiculous move that would end up with England going down 2-0 in the series. Swann is the best spin bowler in the world in my opinion and would surely get in to every test team on the planet. Why would we drop him?

Steve Finn's name has also been brought forward, if he does come in he is likely to replace Bresnan. But if I was Flower and Strauss (Sadly, I'm not) I would stick with Tim. I think they are of a similar standard, but Bresnan is a good bat. He is head and shoulders above Finn with a piece of wood in his hands and he has got valuable runs before for England. For this reason, along with the fact that Leeds is Tim's home ground, I would definitely stick with him for the Headingly dule.

But Steve has still got a chance of breaking in to the side tomorrow. A few questions marks have been raised regarding Stuart Broad's fitness, and it really isn't a game in which England can afford to carry a player with a knock, which Broad looked throughout the oval test. If Strauss and Flower deem Broad unfit to play, they should and i believe would not hesitate in replacing Broad with the lively Finn. It really is a test which could define the path in which Andrew Strauss' career as England captain could take, lose and more serious questions will be posed regarding Strauss' future, win and he buys himself more valuable time in his quest to dispel the doubts over his place and captaincy of the side.
So here is the side I think will play tomorrow.

1. Strauss
2. Cook
3. Trott
4. Bell
5. Pietersen
6. Taylor
7. Prior
8. Bresnan/Finn
9. Broad
10. Swann
11. Anderson

Lets hope that team will be the one to level the series and help the mighty England go in to the 3rd test with a chance of retaining their number one ranking.

Come on England!

T20 Quarter Finals Round-Up + Finals Day Predictions

Over the last couple of days four thrilling T20 quarter finals have been taking place...

There has been big hitting, big yorkers and above all - it has been exilerating. At the end of this post once I have been through my personal main highlightes from all of the quarter finals I will give my opinion on who will end up being 2012 T20 champions...

The first two games on Tuesday were Somerset v Essex and Sussex v Glocestershire.

The night at Taunton couldn't have really started any better for Essex fans when Kieswetter was dismissed first ball lbw by Phillips. Getting Levi and Trescothick out relatively cheaply meant that Essex were in a good position with the hosts 56-3. Jos Buttler got a useful 33. But the star of the show for Somerset was James Hildreth. 10 fours in a very impressive 58 drove the hosts to 175 from their allocated 20 overs.

18 year old Reece Topley also deserves a mention with the 3 important wickets of Levi, Trescothick and Buttler next to his name. The left armer surely is a thing of the future...

175 was a good score but definitely a gettable one if Essex for filled their batting potential. But errr... they didn't.

All eleven of their batsmen got to the crease, but only four got in to double figures and this sums up Essex's batting performance. After Ravi Bopara  (if you have read any of my previous posts you will know I am literally Ravi's biggest hater) got out for a duck Essex were 9-2. Owais Shah is a big T20 player - and after hitting a six and a four he was also gone at the hands of Morkel.

A run out was the last thing Essex needed, but that was exactly what happened. James Franklin - out for 4. At 42-4 at this stage things weren't looking up for Essex. Skipper Foster hit a quickfire 26 to keep them in with a shout but along with the the loss of England one day skipper Alaister Cook the odds were firmly swinging in to Somerset's favour. ten Doeschate kept a glimmer of hope for Essex with a extremely impressive 47 from just 24 balls. But when Napier got out in single digits, the game was up.

The remaining wickets fell, and Somerset came out comfortable victors by 27 runs. The better side won.

Sussex v Glocestershire was next up...

Sussex lost the toss and were put in bat, and things couldn't have really started any worse for the home team, 3-2. But these wickets brought England pro Matt Prior to the crease, and his 60 from 38 balls including 3 sixes may have made England T20 skipper Stuart Broad wonder if Prior could be his keeper for the world cup.

Prior and Goodwin both played magnificently until Prior was ran out. Glocestershire could still restrict Sussex to a gettable  score yet...

But these hopes were quickly dashed as Prior's 60 was overshadowed by a gutsy, spectacular and extrordinary innings by Scott Styris who hit a ton of just 37 balls. That's right, don't readjust your glasses, just 37 balls. 9 sixes and 5 fours, wow. Take a bow that man.

230 was always going to be a massive score to chase - and it was.

Nobody could fault Glocestershire's efforts, Scott Stryis was just too much for them. Even with scores in the forties by Marshall, Housego and Gidman they fell 39 runs short of victory.

Sussex and Somerset - the two semi-finalists of day 1 of the quarter finals...

An early wicket was another feature in the game between Yorkshire and Worcestershire. A rediculas run out between Gale and Jaques meant that dangerman Jaques was gone for 2. But then youngster Joe Root came to the crease and played fantastically. It wasn't massive hitting like the innings of Stryis the night before, it was more classy than that. And this style of play got him 65 off 40 balls.

Keeper Bairstow was gone cheaply, lowering his chances of reciveing another call up to England at any level. Be it T20, ODI or Test. His failure against West Indies means he is unlikely to play test cricket again for at least another few months and other youngster's succeses such as Alex Hales v WI means that he is unlikely to get the nod.

74-3.

Miller came to the crease now, a player with immense power with a bat in his paws. 3 sixes and 4 fours in a very useful 50 along with Ballance striking a very quick 46 meant that Yorkshire finished their innings 212-5 off their allocated overs.

Worcestershire's fightback with the bat was spearheaded by mainly one man, Phil Hughes. Opener Vikram Solanki went for one and Hughes marched to the middle and masterminded a gutsy 83. The wickets of Cameron and Andrews fell, Cameron was out to a quite unbeliveable catch. He smacked it miles up in to the air, Joe Root got under it and while realising he was going to fall over the rope he managed to loop it to Miller who happilly accepted the catch - a remarkable catch if I ever saw one. My hat is off, Mr Root. While he was at the crease and the batsmen at the other end to Hughes just couldn't keep up with the run rate Yorkshire's high score demanded.

Mitchell Starc was the star with the ball, 4 overs, 3 wickets for just 24 runs arguebly won Yorkshire the game.

Like the Somerset game, the better side won.

3 of the 4 teams for finals day had now been decided. The limelight now swicthed to Trent Bridge and the upcoming battle to be fought between Hampshire and Nottinghamshire. The teams were pretty even in my view, Notts, even without Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad hosted a collage of talent on their team sheet. As did Hampshire with stars such as Simon Katich and Dimitri Mascarenhas on show.

After Hampshire won the toss they put Notts in to bat.

Another early wicket in this one, Alex Hales, who may be in the frame for the T20 world cup later this year, was the victim.

Notts had clearly got a plan of going after Mascarenhas early, and he was tonked a bit early on. But he got his revenge when he got Wessels out for 19. Lumb and Taylor now put on a decent partnership of 35 before James Taylor was caught out for 10. After 20 more runs were added to the total Lumb was also gone, Mascarenhas with his second wicket.

This brought Samit Patel to the middle, I am by no means Samit's biggest fan, I think he is a good one day player but I don't think him being in the test side was a brilliant idea and I hope the England selectors don't do this again. But this is T20, and Samit is a very impressive T20 player, at his home ground at Trent Bridge in front of a packed stadium he shon. His 60 from 33 balls  along with Voges 33 made sure that Notts had a competative total of 178.

Maxwell got three wickets but didn't particularly bowl fantastically, his economy rate didn't leave a lot to be desired.

This left Hampshire to bat for their place in finals day, to become the first away team to win a quarter final this year, could they do it?

Another early wicket fell, Adams was caught behind to a delightful delivery by Gurney. Aussie Simon Katich came to the crease now, Simon's getting on a bit but he hasn't lost his ability to hit some good shots. He added 25 to the total, hitting five fours along the way. At the other end James Vince had got out for a cheap 11 which bought the game changer in - McKenzie.

Samit Patel got three wickets at the other end but they just couldn't budge McKenzie, and he, joined by skipper Mascarenhas, got Hampshire over the finishing line. But there was drama! Balls from the end, McKenzie got a touch of cramp going for a quick single and had to call for a runner. Sound familiar? Memories of when there was a runner in the T20 final two years ago came flooding back. But the cramp didn't stop McKenzie getting down on one knee and flicking a full ball down to fine leg for four to ensure victory for Hampshire.

All four teams had now been decided, and the draw for finals day took place.

They are: Somerset v Hampshire will play each other for the third finals day in a row - while Yorshire v Sussex will be the other semi final.

My prediction: Somerset v Hampshire will be a tightly fought affair, but I think Somerset will just edge it. I don't know why, on paper I can't choose between them but I just have a gut feeling. It's not particularly professional of me to base my prediction on a 'gut feeling' but that's my opinion.

In the other semi final I can't look any further than Sussex. They look strong this year. Prior, Yardy etc. And I don't think T20 is Yorkshire's strongest form of the game. Because of these two reasons, Sussex will win this game.

The final: If my predictions are correct Somerset will play Sussex in the final. And I think Somerset are going to fail at winning the T20 crown once again, Sussex will have great momentum and excitement going in to a final, where as I think it will feel like Groundhog day for Somerset.

So Sussex are going to be T20 champs this year in my opinion, so get a few bob our of your wallets, walk down to your nearest BetFred and stick a tenner on that. (I'd like to add I am usually wrong at predictions)

Cheers

England or South Africa?

Firstly, an apology.

I've been on holiday (yay) and since I haven't had a good opportunity to watch some cricket I thought I would disgrace my self and you the reader by blogging without having a clue what was going on.

But I'm back now so I can enlighten you all with my fantastic cricket views. (That was a joke by the way) 

Anyway, before I went on holiday I set a poll. England or South Africa...

The poll has now come to a conclusion and England have just nicked it. But considering only a few people have viewed this blog from South Africa it isn't surprising that Blighty won.

So it got me thinking, with the West Indies test series wrapped up, Andy Flower and his merry men must have started to set their sights on the big test in the summer.

And with them thinking about it, I thought I should as well. What do I, the most prestigious cricket Journo in the northern hemisphere think. By the way I think Jarrod Kimber is the best in the southern Hemisphere. His book, "When Freddie Became Jesus" is a pretty damn good read... I just love his take on things, and overall. He's got pretty good bant as well.

Anyway, I think that England's fait in the summer depends on the following factor...

Individual battles.

So many of these mini-wars are going to be taking place in the summer, and if Blighty's stars can shine brighter than their individual opponents then it could be all smiles for England.


But what are the battles, and what does each individual involved bring to the table?

The first battle is between two demons.

Two demons with a shiny red cricket ball in their right hand.

Dale Steyn and James Anderson.


Steyn or Anderson?



James Anderson is England's strike bowler, and his wicked swing at the start of an innings has gifted him 258 test wickets at an average of 30.  He strikes fear into most opening batsman and probably Matt Prior behind the twigs as well!

And his opponent, in the green corner...

Dale Steyn. South Africa's hit man. Like Jimmy he is in his prime at the ripe age of 28. (Jimmy is 29) With an average of just over 23 looking at the stats one could assume that Steyn is a much better player. But personally I think they are of a similar quality. Steyn is quicker than Jimmy but Anderson can swing the ball very well at the start of an innings.

The two skippers next. Graeme Smith and Andrew Strauss.

These two guys are both opening batsmen, both left handed opening batsmen both captains and look very very similar... (to me)

My theory is that they are lost twins, divided at birth on to different planes. One going to England and the other to South Africa. And now they are going to meet to settle there differences in a cricketing battle for the throne. The number one test team in the world.

Both are equal captains in my book (I don't actually have a book, and if I did, nobody would read it) and in terms of caps, Smith has more even though he is four years younger than the England captain. Batting wise Strauss has just hit a bit of form after hitting a couple of centuries against West Indies. But I wouldn't get carried away, Windies bowling is pretty shabby and the likes of Steyn will provide a much greater threat to Blighty's opening batsman than Edwards of WI ever will...

Never the less two centuries is two centuries and he hopefully has got himself in to some sort of nick.

Smith is also a very good opening batsman, with a impressive average of just under 50 he will surely relish the challenge of leading his South Africa side against England to try and gain the number one spot that both teams crave so much.

The last battle I'm going to touch on between these nations is the battle of the high order batsman. And in particular Amla and KP.

KP or Amla?

KP first, recently retired from limited overs cricket (I don't know why either) is the flamboyant number four in England's batting line up. Born in South Africa he is bound to get some stick from the South Africans but if he can shrug that off and play how the whole of England knows he can he could hit many match changing innings for Blighty.

Amla next, and this guy is pretty damn good. With experience of playing in England before and hitting a century at Lords and gaining him a place on the honours board, this guy is certainly no mug. And I expect him to hit at least 3 or 4 half centuries with 1 of these half centuries being converted in to another ton to add to his 14 test centuries. This battle is sure to provide us fans a lot of entertainment. May the best batsman win.

It's these three battles that I expect to win one of the sides the series. The tactics battle will be decided by the captains. The batting battle by KP and Amla. And the bowling battle between Steyn and Anderson.

England also have the home advantage. And this is sure to be quite a strong advantagen with most of the South African squad not playing regular cricket in England.

** My Prediction **

I'm going to go for a England win, had the series been in South Africa I might have gone for a draw or a South Africa win. But with both teams being very simular strength wise in my view I think the home advantage is just going to edge it.

Cheers