Facts and figures: SA vs England.

South Africa batting

Amla: 482 runs- Average 120.5- 2 centuries
Smith: 272 runs - Average 54.4 - 1 century, 2 fifties
Kallis: 262 runs - Average 65.5 - 1 century
Peterson: 244 runs - Average 61 - 1 century
De Villiers: 161 runs - Average 40.25
Rudolph: 141 runs - Average 35.25 - 1 fifty
Duminy: 135 runs - Average 67.5 - 1 fifty
Philander: 115 runs - Average 28.75 - 1 fifty

England batting.

Prior: 275 runs - Average 45.83 - 3 fifties
Pietersen: 219 runs - Average 54.75 - 1 century
Trott: 217 runs - Average 43.4 - 2 fifties
Cook 195 runs - Average 32.5 - 1 century
Bairstow: 149 runs - Average 74.5 - 2 fifties
Bell: 144 runs - Average 28.8 - 2 fifties
Strauss: 107 runs - Average 17.83
Swann: 100 runs - Average 50

South Africa bowling.

Steyn: 15 wickets - Average 29.2
Philander: 12 wickets - Average 23.66
Morkel: 11 wickets - Average 34.54
Tahir: 7 wickets - Average 47.25
Kallis: 4 wickets - Average 45
Duminy: 1 wicket - Average 28

England bowling.

Broad: 11 wickets - Average 39.72
Finn: 10 wickets - Average 32.2
Anderson: 9 wickets - Average 40.66
Pietersen: 4 wickets - Average 22.75
Swann: 4 wickets - Average 77
Bresnan: 2 wickets - Average 139

It seems to me at least when you look at the bowling figures it was definitely tough for them during the series and definitely not really spin friendly.

my top 3 players from eitehr side:

1) Philander
2) Amla
3) Bairstow...ok he played only one test....but the boots he was filling were huge, the pressure immesne and match situation very tense... high quality temperament

Think Prior deserves a mention in a top 3, he was immense all through.

Its amazing how well Prior has performed for almost 2 years now. He seems to consistently score a 50 for England, even when they seem to be in trouble. The guy is completely selfless, a real team player and I think he deserves all the credit in the world.

Well, this series should really put the Steyn vs Anderson debate to bed. Whilst I believe that Jimmy bowled better than his figures suggest, Steyn looked a cut above.

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:Well, this series should really put the Steyn vs Anderson debate to bed. Whilst I believe that Jimmy bowled better than his figures suggest, Steyn looked a cut above.

The debate on the two attacks as a whole has certainly been put to bed. We can now clearly say that South Africa have the best attack. England and Pakistan come next - just because they are spin based doesn't mean they aren't up there with the best.

For me the debate has been about Anderson vs Zaheer and not so much about Steyn, He has been a cut above the rest for a very long time Jimmy reached that stage where they both could be brought together in such a debate only after the last ashes. Steyn is a real modern day great, Tendulkar, Lara, Warne, Murali, Steyn

Doesn't mean Anderson isn't top class, He indeed is a very fine bowler, a world class performer, arguably the best of the rest along with Zaheer.

I'm not sure about Zaheer right now. Looked poor (though still the best Indian) in the Australia series - down on pace and even movement. I'll be interested to see how he goes v NZ and in particular England and Australia this winter.

Philander is the new Steyn, the new Jimmy.

msp83 wrote:For me the debate has been about Anderson vs Zaheer and not so much about Steyn, He has been a cut above the rest for a very long time Jimmy reached that stage where they both could be brought together in such a debate only after the last ashes. Steyn is a real modern day great, Tendulkar, Lara, Warne, Murali, Steyn

Oh I agree! In fact, I have said exactly the same thing before.
But there has been a lot of Steyn vs Jimmy debate of late. Not that I agree with it as its a no contest for me.