2 Twenty20's are about to start followed by 5 ODI's. I really can not see past a severe a$$ whooping in the short format and I'm not sure the test series will be much better

Can't wait

Fri Nov 13 … 16:00 GMT 1st T20I - South Africa v England
Sun Nov 15 … 12:30 GMT 2nd T20I - South Africa v England
[i
Fri Nov 20 … 12:30 GMT 1st ODI - South Africa v England
Sun Nov 22 … 08:00 GMT 2nd ODI - South Africa v England
Fri Nov 27 … 12:30 GMT 3rd ODI - South Africa v England
Sun Nov 29 … 08:00 GMT 4th ODI - South Africa v England
Fri Dec 4 … 12:30 GMT 5th ODI - South Africa v England[/i

Wed Dec 16 - Sun Dec 20 … 08:30 GMT 1st Test - South Africa v England
Sat Dec 26 - Wed Dec 30 … 08:30 GMT 2nd Test - South Africa v England
Sun Jan 3 - Thu Jan 7 … 08:30 GMT 3rd Test - South Africa v England
Thu Jan 14 - Mon Jan 18 … 08:30 GMT 4th Test - South Africa v England

K.P, Strauss and Broad are out so expected line up tomorrow

Joe Denly
Alastair Cook
Jonathan Trott
Paul Collingwood ©
Eoin Morgan
Matt Prior (w)
Luke Wright
Tim Bresnan / Adil Rashid
Graeme Swann
Sajid Mahmood / Graham Onions
James Anderson

Against
1. Graeme Smith
2 Jaques Kallis
3.Hasim Amla
4. JP Duminy
5. AB dE Villiers

....I'll just leave it there. They should have enough to win with those!!

Who all have a habit of bottling it as well.

The recent evidence of a major tournament on their own patch shows that.

I think we'll do better than some people are expecting...I'm not expecting us to win either the ODI or Test series but I think we will be very competitive in the Test series and may even sneak a draw out of it.

We've got better spinners than them, whether that will come into play at all is another matter, and our bowling is on a par with theirs (after Steyn and maybe Parnell who else have they got that is top notch??)

And if Pietersen and Trott can help Strauss out and Cook performs how he can then we have enough batsmen to get some decent runs on the board.

I'll go for 1-1 or 2-1 to SA in the Tests and 3-2 to SA in the ODI's.

Top run scorers will all be South African, Smith for them and Strauss for us

In ODI's thats true, but I think they're a different kettle of fish in Test Matches. Can't wait for the test series - You won't be able to drag me away from the sofa on Boxing Day!

Although I do rate Swann higher than him, Paul Harris is a better player than some people would have you believe. He's got a knack of taking wickets and showed that against the Aussies over last winter.

I'll be interested to see if Morne Morkel is drafted back into the test side, as he's talented but erratic. Ntini is not as good as he used to be - Pietersen loves batting against him.

Ah, but I bet you Boycs could still play him with the handle.

With KP, Strauss and Broad back I quite like the look of the ODI squad

Strauss
Denly
Trott
KP
Colly
Morgan
Prior
Broad
Swann
Mahmood / Rashid / Onions
Anderson

Good start...

Good old Saffers, couldn't read a D/L sheet to save their lives

Anyone know a good rain dance?

Another 1 starting today and the Sarf Africans have got thier knickers in a twist over Keiswetter? declaring his intentions to play for England next year as he qualifies in Feb......talk of England taking him to Bangladesh and capping him to stop him playing for them.......heard he has got very good reviews on the county circuit and could he be the answer to what has been a problem area?

England bowlers currently being slaughtered by the SA openers in the 2nd T20 match.

SA 192/2 (14.4 overs)

Smith's 88 was stunning

Some amazing hitting in there but I don't think I've ever before witnessed such a truly inept bowling display as that.

Sajid Mahmood in particular was diabolical, when he wasn't bowling full tosses he was bowling slower ball long hops, which Loots Bosman rather liked. The guy's a complete fool and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near international cricket.

Rashid admittedly only got one over but that was pretty awful. This is going to be a red rag to the yorkshire bull on here but I just don't get it with Rashid. Yes his batting is quite useful but I've yet to see anything thats impressed me bowling wise. And I don't see how him getting carted about the place in 20/20 is going to improve his confidence.

Says it all that Joe Denly was called on to bowl really. And then England never even looked bothered with that run chase. How out of depth did Denly look? At least he made Alistair Cook look good.

Re Craig Kieswetter - very good batting keeper, not seen enough of his keeping to comment on that side of things. Keeping regularly at Taunton can't be particularly taxing though can it??

Wouldn't be surprised if he did go to Bangladesh just to keep him away from SA, but he has said he is committed to getting England qualification so it may not be as pressing as the ECB may think.

[u2nd ODI[/u

SA 223/8 (46.4 overs)

Good perforance by the English bowlers so far.

I see the batsmen didn't do too badly either, finishing it off with ease. Great knock by Collingwood apparantly.

Great display from England, quality partnership from Colly and Trott.

Botham made a point about how good the England one day side actually will look once Broad and Swann come back in.

The top 6 looks very good and then we have the likes of Wright, Broad and Swann that keep us solid down to 9 and in Jimmy Anderson we have a lad thats picking up regular one day wickets.

Good stuff.

Looks as though we have picked up another cracking player in Trott from South Africa.....looked at home in the 5th test v Aus and is scoring runs on tour already....be good to see how he handles the pressure in the tests but is looking very good and could be the answer at no3...just need another quality opener for Strauss.

Well that was all a bit easy in the end really.

Good bowling in the middle overs, taking the pace off the ball well. It does look like the Saffers have decided to target Rashid though based on the two games so far, and with the pitches not turning it's difficult for him.

Trott and Collingwood made the likes of van der Merwe and Albie Morkel look very, very ordinary cricketers when England batted.

They are...I still stand by my pre-tour prediction that we have nowt to fear bowling-wise from this lot as Steyn apart they have no real pace and/or cleverness/variety...I know this may well bite me on the anus later on in the year but I still say if our batters can fire we can take them very close.