Can South Africa win the Ashes for the first time?

[The Falcon Strike]

Pietersen, Trott and Prior - and captained by Strauss.

Could be a landmark win for South Africa - and a little surprising considering they aren't listed as competing.

 

[Cudi]

Plus an Irishman in Eoin Morgan

 

[King Elvis]

It's a fair point, and one I'm sure we'll all be making frequently, especially if the Poms are on top

 

[NAUGHT5]

Some are saying that this is the best English side South Africa has ever produced.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

It's a fair point, and one I'm sure we'll all be making frequently, especially if the Poms are on top

I'm thinking positive

It will be good to beat the Poms and the Saffers in the one series!

 

[Reincarnation]

Hopefully Haider begins playing for a county and after the alloted time period in England he becomes their keeper. Chortle.

 

[royboy2]

Kepler Wessels played in the Australian Ashes winning side of 82-83

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Kepler Wessels played in the Australian Ashes winning side of 82-83

Alan Lamb, Tony Greig, Robyn Smith etc etc

However 4 in one squad? That's over half their main batsmen

 

[Santana]

Get off their back. We have to give them a chance, because we all know they wouldn’t have one if they actually played a team of 11 Englishmen for once.

 

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

Pietersen, Trott and Prior - and captained by Strauss.

Could be a landmark win for South Africa - and a little surprising considering they aren't listed as competing.

Do you mean first time in Australia? The above 4 were all involved in South Africa's successful Ashes campaign last year.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Do you mean first time in Australia? The above 4 were all involved in South Africa's successful Ashes campaign last year.

Damn you and your facts and details

 

[eddiesmith]

Maybe Australia could recall Symonds and Ronchi and give a debut to Khawaja, then it can be a true International Ashes

 

[Bomber Bears]

Strauss - who cares, been in england since he was 5 or something?

It's more guys like Pieterson, who essentially upped and moved to england because they thought they'd have a better chance of making the english side than the south african one.

 

[Selective Retention]

So they gonna boycott boxing day?

 

[sherb]

Alan Lamb, Tony Greig, Robyn Smith etc etc

However 4 in one squad? That's over half their main batsmen

England’s foreign-born Test cricketers

 

[The Falcon Strike]

England’s foreign-born Test cricketers

Geez - never realised that the bowling line up from the early 90's was all West Indian born.

Small, Defreitas and Malcolm

Not to mention Chris Lewis and his supposed all round ability.

Number of blokes also played most of their cricket outside of Eng before debuting. I remember watching Mullally and McCague playing for England after plying their trade in WA.

 

[FreoBulldog]

This subject always makes me laugh, as if Australia would never dare play anybody not born here...Khawaja is the next big thing for the Aussies and just look at Australia A... Khawaja (Pakistan), O'Keefe (Malaysia) even the wunderkind Steve Smith has a pommy passport...(if he is such an aussie what's he doing applying for an english passport?). Don't get me started on all the 'Aussie' athletes in the commonwealth games team...especially the weightlifters, boxers etc. How many non-Australians have played rugby for Australia? What about all these Aussie musicians like Neil Finn, AC/DC (one australian-born member at last count), the BeeGees, former Australian of the Year John Farnham. Actors..hmmm let's see... Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts, Sam Neill. Just because Strauss spent the first 6 years of his life and Prior spent the first 13 years in South Africa they are forever referred to as South African but Andrew Symonds....naaah mate he's an Aussie. All of the so called 'foreigners' in the England cricket team have at least one english parent.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Don't get me started on all the 'Aussie' athletes in the commonwealth games team...especially the weightlifters, boxers etc. How many non-Australians have played rugby for Australia? What about all these Aussie musicians like Neil Finn, AC/DC (one australian-born member at last count), the BeeGees, former Australian of the Year John Farnham. Actors..hmmm let's see... Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts, Sam Neill.

I'm sorry, I thought this was a cricket forum. My mistake.

 

[Romeo]

Trott played under 19s for SA, a bit different to guys like Usman. Remember Kieswetter too.

 

[royboy2]

Maybe Australia could recall Symonds and Ronchi and give a debut to Khawaja, then it can be a true International Ashes

Promote Henriques he was born in Protugal

 

[TassieSaint]

Two things English fans in this thread have glossed over

1. Moving to Australia as a baby/toddler =/= Moving to England after learning to play cricket in South Africa (Pietersen, Trott)

2. Handful of fringe players, some yet to debut =/= Most of their batsmen including captain, keeper and best player.

 

[eddiesmith]

Umm so make up your mind

1. Players who are truly English but born overseas dont count ie Strauss and Prior

or

2. They do count and so does Australias list of internationals

 

[Santana]

Strauss is fine, Prior is borderline but I'd give him a pass, the rest should **** off.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Umm so make up your mind

1. Players who are truly English but born overseas dont count ie Strauss and Prior

or

2. They do count and so does Australias list of internationals

I want it both ways!!!

IMO - if you're playing competitive cricket by about 17-19 - that's your country.

Strauss cleary is a pom - but won't stop me heckling from the WACA members

Interesting though that 3 of the last 5 english captains were born outside the country.

 

[Bomber Bears]

There's a huge difference between moving to a different country as a youngster, ala khawaja for us and Strauss for England, and moving after over the age of 20 cos you cant make your own side (ala Pieterson).

No issue with most of the poms, Pieterson and Trott is a bit poor, and there's a host of their ilk in the County game. Not good for development in that country.

And FreBulldog, im very much an australian but if i could somehow get one i'd grab a pom passport with both hands, getting an EU passport would make travelling a breeze