South Africa tour of England 2022 (incl. 2 T20Is vs Ireland)

[Aislabie]

So the first Test XI just dropped:

1. Zak Crawley
2. Alex Lees
3. Ollie Pope
4. Joe Root
5. Jonny Bairstow
6. Ben Stokes
7. Ben Foakes
8. Stuart Broad
9. Jack Leach
10. Matty Potts
11. Jimmy Anderson

I still can't quite wrap my head around the continued presence of Zak Crawley. If they very specifically want a right-handed strokemaking opener, why not Phil Salt or Alex Davies or Dan Bell-Drummond or, or, or...

 

[Ed Smith]

Just cruel and unusual punishment keeping Crawley in the side now

 

[CerealKiller]

Just cruel and unusual punishment keeping Crawley in the side now

They’re just waiting for the Pakistan tour now, so he can unleash his true potential.

 

[Bevab]

Just cruel and unusual punishment keeping Crawley in the side now

Has outscored the team’s best batsman now which means he deserves twenty more games.

 

[GuyIncognito]

South Africa are missing Olivier as well. Lethal lineup.

 

[Aislabie]

Stat.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Stat.

He could be the next Mike Brearley

 

[RUDI]

Nortje you beauty! Stokes not a happy camper.

 

[Paranoid Kendroid]

#StokesOut

 

[wasteyouryouth]

What an attack this is for South Africa

 

[wasteyouryouth]

"It's the best I've seen him bat for quite a while"

Sanga on Crawley

What did I miss?

 

[Aislabie]

"It's the best I've seen him bat for quite a while"

Sanga on Crawley

What did I miss?

I'm beginning to think that Sanga's silky voice and batting average are covering for a lot of bad takes

A couple of Tests ago he said he'd open with Crawley and Buttler

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Stat.

I couldn't really stop myself from getting to that right side tab and I notice Shahid Afridi played 145 innings as an ODI opener!

 

[wasteyouryouth]

I'm beginning to think that Sanga's silky voice and batting average are covering for a lot of bad takes

A couple of Tests ago he said he'd open with Crawley and Buttler

Yeah. I've noticed recently he's almost as dull as Andrew Strauss.

 

[Bevab]

South Africa are missing Olivier as well. Lethal lineup.

Olivier has been absolute gash since his return in terms of pace. Would rather have Sipamla or Coetzee ahead of him as the next cab off the rank.

Nortje is a very puzzling bowler. Up until the Bairstow dismissal he was getting clobbered by Pope and bowling just below 140 with terrible accuracy. That wicket happens and all of a sudden he is pushing close to 150 and bowling threatening lines. If I had to pick one guy to get Bazballed this series it would probably be him.

No Maharaj to Pope is also puzzling. The latter shivers at the mere thought of a spinner and thrives on pace, even bringing the former for an over or two could have brought some doubt to his mind.