Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[Vishnu.Reang]

They have some name doesn't means they can beat test team like Sri Lanka who did beat South Africa in their own home. You must need to understand Test cricket is very different game of cricket, you require to play very good cricket all 5 days to beat any good team not just 1 inning or 1 day.

I never said that the Zimbabweans played well at any point during the test. They were horrible, right from the first day. I was saying that, on paper the strength of the Zimbabwe team looked great. Sri Lanka was not doing well.. at least during the past few months. So before the match, I was expecting a close contest between the two sides (which was proved wrong). 

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[Vishnu.Reang]

Zimbabwe would be disappointed they way they batted in 2nd innings considering the first innings showed some confidence in the team that they can steal at make some respectable score and the way they got out in 2nd would be point of worry for them. SL did good to get them all out quickly and win the match by 10 wickets .

This is what low morale can do to players. Taylor, Ervine, Jarvis.etc are playing county cricket in England they had virtually zero interaction with the other team members. And this was the reason for the lack of team bonding. The Zimbabwe team is always in a state of flux. No one knows who will go missing from the team and who will be coming back. But I am sure about one thing. There is still a lot of talent there and if all the experienced players turn out for the national side regularly, then they will be able to give good fight to the visiting sides.

[ene1980]

This is what low morale can do to players. Taylor, Ervine, Jarvis.etc are playing county cricket in England they had virtually zero interaction with the other team members. And this was the reason for the lack of team bonding.

I am not following both the teams especially Zimbabwe and hence i am not able to comment on the morale of the team but the strategy of playing by spending a lot of time in the crease became a success in the first innings but they were not able to replicate that kind of performance in the second innings and Sri Lanka played well to snatch this victory from Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe team is always in a state of flux. No one knows who will go missing from the team and who will be coming back. But I am sure about one thing. There is still a lot of talent there and if all the experienced players turn out for the national side regularly, then they will be able to give good fight to the visiting sides.

Sure the Zimbabwe team is in a state of flux but they are in this situation well over a decade and nothing has changed as of yet.

[Sithara007]

Sure the Zimbabwe team is in a state of flux but they are in this situation well over a decade and nothing has changed as of yet.

The ICC has refused to act on Zimbabwe, despite the situation showing no signs of improvement. ICC pumps in more than $10 million to Zimbabwe cricket every year and most of this amount vanishes in to the pockets of the politicians (who control the cricket board). On the other hand, emerging teams such as Afghanistan and Ireland receives a fraction of this amount as annual funding from the ICC. They could have reduced the amount and distributed the remainder to smaller teams, but no one want to change the status quo.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Sure the Zimbabwe team is in a state of flux but they are in this situation well over a decade and nothing has changed as of yet.

Zimbabwe is a failed country with a failed political system. The same can be said about the cricket team as well. Two decades back, they were being regarded as one of the strongest underdog sides. Players such as Neil Johnson, Andy Flower and Andy Blignaut helped them to upset many of the bigger teams. But when politics and sports got mixed, the team simply started disintegrating.

[Indymoney]

Sure the Zimbabwe team is in a state of flux but they are in this situation well over a decade and nothing has changed as of yet.

Zimbabwe is a failed country with a failed political system. The same can be said about the cricket team as well. Two decades back, they were being regarded as one of the strongest underdog sides. Players such as Neil Johnson, Andy Flower and Andy Blignaut helped them to upset many of the bigger teams. But when politics and sports got mixed, the team simply started disintegrating.

Now this same happening in South African cricket team they must need to have some good lessons from this failure but these politicians mostly doing with close eyes and bringing own agenda which is hurting players and spectators in recently we have many good players run away and joined KolPak which is more better option for them.

[Clement Kaliyar]

Zimbabwe is a failed country with a failed political system. The same can be said about the cricket team as well. Two decades back, they were being regarded as one of the strongest underdog sides. Players such as Neil Johnson, Andy Flower and Andy Blignaut helped them to upset many of the bigger teams. But when politics and sports got mixed, the team simply started disintegrating.

In the 90 Zimbabwe has many good players and they were capable of upsetting any team and they had great players in the side but corruption and political situation tore the country apart and with inflation and the intervention of the political system in sports made things difficult for them and i do not think there is a solution for that in the near future.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Now this same happening in South African cricket team they must need to have some good lessons from this failure but these politicians mostly doing with close eyes and bringing own agenda which is hurting players and spectators in recently we have many good players run away and joined KolPak which is more better option for them.

That's true and I don't know why the ICC is not acting on the board. They are allowing the corrupt board officials to loot money which is meant for the development of cricket in Zimbabwe. Recently, they suspended the ICC membership of Zimbabwe for a brief period, but it was reinstated after a few months. The ICC needs to grow a backbone to handle such issues.

[BitSat19]

England Cricket team is first to reach this milestone

ENGLAND IS RUNNING AND COUNTING IN TESTS

[deadley]

England Cricket team is first to reach this milestone

ENGLAND IS RUNNING AND COUNTING IN TESTS

Because they played more than 20% of matches 2nd placed and more than 50% matches of 3rd placed. This game is like who play more will score more and it's just normal nothing big achievement.

[ene1980]

Because they played more than 20% of matches 2nd placed and more than 50% matches of 3rd placed. This game is like who play more will score more and it's just normal nothing big achievement.

That is true, England played more matches than anyone and so is the reason they are leading in the run scored.
England had a really good start against South Africa with a hundred run partnership for the opening wicket but then they lost wickets 4 wickets and scored just 50 runs and their main in form batsman Ben Stokes is back in the pavilion, Pope who played a crucial innings in this series and their in form captain Joe Root is in the crease and the morning session will determine how much runs England is going to score in the first innings.

[Sithara007]

Because they played more than 20% of matches 2nd placed and more than 50% matches of 3rd placed. This game is like who play more will score more and it's just normal nothing big achievement.

That is true, England played more matches than anyone and so is the reason they are leading in the run scored.
England had a really good start against South Africa with a hundred run partnership for the opening wicket but then they lost wickets 4 wickets and scored just 50 runs and their main in form batsman Ben Stokes is back in the pavilion, Pope who played a crucial innings in this series and their in form captain Joe Root is in the crease and the morning session will determine how much runs England is going to score in the first innings.

I would say that the match is evenly posed. England was in some trouble, but the partnership between Ollie Pope and Joe Root put them back on track. Now they are close to 200 (192/4 to be precise) and they still have 6 wickets remaining. As we have seen till now, South Africa has struggled to score any sore in excess of 300. So if England can manage 350-360, then they will have a go at another win (provided the rain gods doesn't interfere much). South African bowling looked toothless, as usual.

[onrise]

Because they played more than 20% of matches 2nd placed and more than 50% matches of 3rd placed. This game is like who play more will score more and it's just normal nothing big achievement.

That is true, England played more matches than anyone and so is the reason they are leading in the run scored.
England had a really good start against South Africa with a hundred run partnership for the opening wicket but then they lost wickets 4 wickets and scored just 50 runs and their main in form batsman Ben Stokes is back in the pavilion, Pope who played a crucial innings in this series and their in form captain Joe Root is in the crease and the morning session will determine how much runs England is going to score in the first innings.

England started well their innings but would be disappointed the way they lost quick 4 wickets and now score is 192/4. England would like to capitalise the start they had got and would like to post a good first innings total of 400+ runs on board and on other hand SA would feel they have done well to pick up quick wickets and try and restrict them as quickly as possible.

[Vishnu.Reang]

England started well their innings but would be disappointed the way they lost quick 4 wickets and now score is 192/4. England would like to capitalise the start they had got and would like to post a good first innings total of 400+ runs on board and on other hand SA would feel they have done well to pick up quick wickets and try and restrict them as quickly as possible.

The Brits were in some trouble, after they lost some quick wickets. At one point, they were 269/7. But then Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler. At the end of first session, England has made 300/7 and they may get a total of somewhere around 350-360. This should be a good enough total for England to beat the South Africans, provided there is not much rain interruption from now onward.

[7788bitcoin]

The Brits were in some trouble, after they lost some quick wickets. At one point, they were 269/7. But then Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler. At the end of first session, England has made 300/7 and they may get a total of somewhere around 350-360. This should be a good enough total for England to beat the South Africans, provided there is not much rain interruption from now onward.

Stuart Broad and Mark Wood are building a partnership for the last wicket and they already put almost 80 plus runs and that too scoring at a really high pace and it is disappointing to see South Africa bowled really well to pick good batsman but they were not able to pick one more wicket and this will make a huge difference in the match because the South African batsman are struggling.

[onrise]

The Brits were in some trouble, after they lost some quick wickets. At one point, they were 269/7. But then Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler. At the end of first session, England has made 300/7 and they may get a total of somewhere around 350-360. This should be a good enough total for England to beat the South Africans, provided there is not much rain interruption from now onward.

Stuart Broad and Mark Wood are building a partnership for the last wicket and they already put almost 80 plus runs and that too scoring at a really high pace and it is disappointing to see South Africa bowled really well to pick good batsman but they were not able to pick one more wicket and this will make a huge difference in the match because the South African batsman are struggling.

England would be very happy the way last 3 batsmen have played and scored very important runs for the team. Due to which they were able to score exact 400 runs and got all out.  7th wicket was out at 279 and still were able to make 400 runs shows that lower order did not gave their wicket easily. SA have started their innings very slow and are 8 runs for no loss in 9 overs.

[7788bitcoin]

SA have started their innings very slow and are 8 runs for no loss in 9 overs.

South Africa started too defensive and it might be a huge problem once England is able to pick wickets and they will be forced to follow on and that is what i am expecting in this match, England made the runs they required in the last few wickets that could help them have a superior edge in the match. Temba Bavuma is back in the team and i hope he can stay in the crease and strengthen the middle order.

[JSRAW]

Poor South Africa, nothing went in their favor when bowling tailenders. Must be a nightmare if No 10 and 11 making runs against you. You gotta feel for them no matter what, 80+ runs partnership for 10th wicket is brutal for any team.

This series is almost done for Protea fans, they must be crossing their fingers for another home series.

[Clement Kaliyar]

Poor South Africa, nothing went in their favor when bowling tailenders. Must be a nightmare if No 10 and 11 making runs against you. You gotta feel for them no matter what, 80+ runs partnership for 10th wicket is brutal for any team.

This series is almost done for Protea fans, they must be crossing their fingers for another home series.

South Africa needs to travel to Zimbabwe for a series or Bangladesh should visit South Africa for the batsman to regain some confidence, touring Bangladesh will be difficult as they will stack with spinners which will be a struggle again for South Africa, they need to find some easy tours rather than taking on top level teams and hamper their confidence further.

[7788bitcoin]

As expected with the slow start South Africa had now they are struggling as they lost 4 wickets in quick succession, Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma is in the crease and they still trail by 330 runs and how long they can occupy the crease depends how much lead England will be having and there is no doubt that South Africa will be forced to follow on, another pathetic performance by the top order and the battle continues.