ODI Series - Eng./Zimb./Sth. Africa

[JLC]

Zimbabwe are rebuilding and their batting order is fragile to say the least. Ntini is bowling ok but lets pass judgement when he is destroying quality top order batsman.

Hopefully Jimmy Anderson is proving to everyone that his spells in Australia were not enhanced by the Aussies playing crap deliberately with some good performances in this series.

Final should be a ripper but England should win

jlc

[Donny]

A good fightback from Streak (50 n.o.) gave the Zimbabwe bowlers something to work with and Hondo struck early with 2/4 after his first 3 overs.

But Smith scored 69 and Rudolph was 69 n.o. as SA won easily by 7 wickets and 14.4 overs.

[Donny]

All about bottle
Ralph Dellor - July 11, 2003

England v South Africa, Lord's - Saturday, 0945GMT

It is a hard man who would look at the final of the NatWest Series and claim that it is no more than another stepping-stone for teams hoping to go on to something grander. Both England and South Africa would like to have a trophy at the end of this particular stage of their development to prove that they are actually making progress after such disappointing World Cup campaigns. Having said that, the fact that both countries are in the throes of rebuilding means that neither will pay undue attention to the longer-term implications of a victory on one day at Lord's.

England have two wins in three meetings against South Africa in this tournament, though their loss first time out to Zimbabwe will still rankle. To come back from such a defeat as emphatically as they did shows a degree of character that has sometimes been missing in English teams. They have also demonstrated that it is possible to put out sides that can be compared to the best when it comes to fielding.

There have been disappointments, notably a fragile middle order, but events like this at this stage of rebuilding are useful in showing who is not ready or even capable of the step up, as well as thrusting forward those who are.

It is the same story with South Africa. Perhaps there is more of an inherent ruthless streak that means they do not slip up quite as easily against the likes of a Zimbabwe side that has been very much the third team in this triangular tournament, but there is still a lack of depth. Apart from Jacques Kallis, who is in stunning form, not too many others have hit their straps yet.

All that might change at Lord's. The sides are evenly enough matched for either to come good on the day and make the other look ordinary. Of course, what the tournament needs is a thrilling final between two sides who play at their best, like last year's England-India classic. Then we might get an idea as to which one has the technical ability to develop, as well as which has that vital ingredient in the make-up of any top side – bottle.

[Donny]

SA are 6/76 after 24 overs.

Some highly contrasting bowling figures: Gough has 2/9 and Anderson, 2/42 - both from 7 overs !!.

[Donny]

SA all out for 107 in 32.1 overs.

[Donny]

After the early loss of Trescothick (0), Solanki and Vaughan seem to be cruising and are on 1/54 after 11 overs.

[Donny]

England won in a canter. Solanki made 50 and Vaughan, 30 as they won with 29.4 overs to spare and 7 wickets.

Darren Gough won Man of the Match and Andrew Flintoff, Player of the Series.

[JLC]

Too Easy

Great demolition job by England on South Africa. South Africas batting never was their strong suit and it appears to be even more fragile these days.

England are definately on the way back and it was a great effort. Flintoff seems to have come on in leaps and bounds. They need a quality spin bowler to add to their attack.

But then again i think both Zimbabwe and South Africa are crap.

jlc

[Donny]

Never was their strong suit ? How quickly we forget. Gibbs, Kirsten, Kallis, Rhodes, Klusener, Boucher, Pollock ....

England's good showing can be put down to one thing. They now have an attack - at least for English conditions.

With Gough - real class and the one Englishman in quite a while who could've made an Aussie team - and Flintoff back from injury and Anderson and Jonnson stepping up, they now take the field with some confidence. A big difference to the pop gun attack used in Australia recently.

The other area on the improve for the Poms is their middle order. Trescothick and Knight would set the team on it's way with positive opening stands only to see collapse after collapse.

Knight has retired but Solanki has stepped into his shoes admirably and Vaughan has a degree of class. Flintoff, McGrath and Read are providing the fight in the middle.

The upcoming Test series looks mildly interesting. At this stage, Sth. Africa would go in as favourites.

[Donny]

A steady rise
The Wisden Bulletin
by Ralph Dellor - July 12, 2003


Whisper it quietly, but there is an aggression and confidence about this England side that has more than a hint of Australia about it. There is not the class of the Australians yet – certainly not the depth of class – but there is a growing self-belief and assertiveness to suggest that the rebuilding programme is ahead of schedule.

The mood was evident in the field as the South Africans were simply humbled. From the moment Michael Vaughan won the toss, he made a statement by asking the South Africans to bat. It said: "We think our attack is good enough to get you out." And they did.

There would have been times when an early dropped catch would have resulted in drooping shoulders and sagging morale. Not any more. When Vikram Solanki gave Graeme Smith a let-off from the first legitimate delivery of the day there was no suggestion of despondency but more an idea that having beaten him once, they could do so again. And they did a few balls later when Smith edged James Anderson to slip.

The mood reflects the character of the captain. Vaughan does not scream and shout but he exudes a calm authority that transmits itself to the rest of the team. He is blessed with natural leadership qualities and his team responds accordingly. He has been fortunate to start his reign against teams that are also in the process of reconstruction, but his influence should not be underestimated when attributing credit for the fact that England's progress can be measured favourably against that of South Africa and Zimbabwe, and Pakistan before them.

Of course, when things are going well it is easy to create a buzz and enthusiasm in a team. However, such opportunities have been wasted before and this team really does have a youthful exuberance about it. When there is genuine enjoyment at the success of others, the unit becomes a team in the true sense of the word so that collective achievement can outstrip individual contributions.

It was not only in the field that England were superior to South Africa. Earlier in the series, there was an unhealthy dependence on Marcus Trescothick to provide a bulk of the runs. At Lord's, Trescothick was out without making any impression on South Africa's meagre total, yet Solanki and Vaughan snuffed out any potential crisis with a composed partnership of 87 to put the result beyond doubt.

The result of this win takes England to third in the ICC one-day international rankings. That might be a little high at the moment and there is a very real danger that public expectation could overtake the reality of a highly promising outfit that has real potential. They are not world-beaters yet but, at this rate of progress, they could become genuine contenders before too long.

[JLC]