SA under Shelsey (story)

[Shelsey]

3rd Test

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.

[Shelsey]

4th Test

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.

[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]

1 Day Match v Scotland CC

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.

[ahmershamsi]

Some queries regarding injuries and draws

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.

[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.

I think your probably spot on with both

[Shelsey]

1 Day Match v MCC

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.

[Shelsey]

Twenty20 International

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.

[Shelsey]

1st ODI

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.

[Shelsey]

2nd ODI

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.

[Shelsey]

3rd ODI

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.

[Shelsey]

4th ODI

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!

[Shelsey]

5th ODI

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.

[Shelsey]

Bangladeshi Tour of South Africa

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.