The England test squad will need to find something very special if they are to get themselves back into the test series with South Africa after ‘the Proteas ‘thrashed them by nine wickets in the last match and at www.sportingbet.com.

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The South Africans have shown, this summer, why they are the second best test-playing nation as their batsmen have adapted their style to each as required. Graeme Smith’s side batter for almost two days to save the first test at Lords and then put on a similar master class of patience and shot selection to put themselves in a winning position at Headingley and with sportingbet.

In the end it was 10 wicket victory but had Stuart Broad not shown maturity beyond his years with a 67 not out it would have been an innings defeat for England and this would be felt at sportingbet.com. The fact was England seem to have lost the knack of playing proper test cricket whereas South Africa thrive on it. This time it was AB De Villiers who showed how it is done with a batting performance that yielded 174 runs from 381 balls, which killed off England’s chances.

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The England selectors have to ask themselves some hard questions too after a bizarre decision to pick the previously uncapped Darren Pattinson when more experienced bowlers were available. Captain Michael Vaughan has even gone so far as to describe the choice as ‘confused’.

Well whoever is picked in the next match they will have to work hard to beat this very good test playing nation.

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Posted on July 28th, 2008 by Cricket
Filed under: Test Match