McCririck: Master tactician

Psychologically South Africa are broken. Putting us into bat was a huge error. A huge self-inflicted blunder. They know they can't win, they are finished.

John McCririck
Quotes of the week

- and said the South Africans are broken.

The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant, who is known for his outrageous dress sense, was adamant that Graeme Smith's decison to bowl first will backfire badly.

"I am looking forward to seeing South Africa really roll over," he said. "Psychologically they are broken.

"Putting us into bat was a huge error. A huge self-inflicted blunder. They know they can't win, they are finished."

McCririck did admit it might have been different had fellow Cricket AM guest Shaun Pollock.

Pollock popped in on the show before heading off to Lord's to take up his new position in the Sky Sports commentary box and horse racing's most famous face for one, was delighted that he was going to be on the other side of the boundary.

"Aren't we lucky that he is not playing now?" said McCririck pointing to Pollock, who had moved as far down the couch as possible.

"If the phone rings, please don't answer it!"

McCririck was not shy in declaring his love for the game, but said that it had lost some of its more graceful individuals.

Even Friday's hero Ian Bell did not pass his critical test of a man used to watching the stylish and successful Surrey side of the 1990's.

"I love cricket, I was at the Oval in John Major's time and the great Surrey side," raved McCririck.

"But we were talking in the green room about elegance. Where has all the elegance gone? Peter May's on-drive was so beautiful to watch; Tom Graveney was another fantastic elegant player; David Gower was another.

"Where has the elegant, the really beautiful player gone?

"How many players would you go to see because they are playing? KP, Flintoff. Would you pay to go and see Bell? Okay he played beautifully yesterday, but you can't judge it on one day!"