England and South Africa are heading for another tussle which would see a lot of needle from the crowd and the Saffa players.
Thanks to the half the number of players in England team from Saffa land. Most prominent among them to be Strauss, Trott and Kevin Pieterson.
Graeme Smith has already predicted that crowd would rally against KP owing to later's outburst against quota system in SA cricket.
Given the backdrop and given the lovey dovey relations Smith, Strauss enjoy and Smith, KP enjoy, this series could be acrimonious as India - Australia 2008. Actually that would be good for Test cricket.
Need crowd to rally behind some players and get the atmosphere vibrant.
English are the favorites for the series win as they come post an Ashes win. Saffers havent played Test cricket in 9 months and a lot of their players havent played first class either. They have been jerks in the ODIs they played so far. So England would be favorites to go in the series starting 12/16.
Players to watch for :
England :
- KP
- Strauss
- Trott
- Swann : can he spin in fast conditions ?
South Africa
- Graeme Smith : Best test player and the man to lead. How he plays in 4th innings would be a big factor when Saffa chase. He has been the best in the 4th innings in last few years.
- Ntini : Only the 7th fast bowler to play 100 Tests and 3rd Saffer fast bowler. How he plays would be a big factor cos he hasnt been that effective off late.
- AB : Bloggers' favorite and supposedly the "cutest" one.
My prediction : England to win with a selfish motive that if Saffa win India dont remain on top.
