Not much you can do when two batsmen play knocks like that.
Thought England bowled pretty well today bar the last hour.
Draw, but SA the only team who can win this now.
England vs South Africa 09/07/12 - 12/09/12
- Thread starter Sassy Colin
- Start date
Not much you can do when two batsmen play knocks like that.
Thought England bowled pretty well today bar the last hour.
Draw, but SA the only team who can win this now.
BBC reported earlier that neither he or Tahir were fasting.
This game will be a draw. Like I said before, the current set of international bowlers are not near a high enough level to force a result on a flat deck.
Haven't been able to watch a second of this because of work. Has the wicket just completely flattened out, or have they played well, or have we bowled badly?
Flat deck, but two top class batsmen not giving anything away.
England bowled well enough, but without any definitive plans or execution.
A bit of nostalgia there I think.
So when will they declare? They have to know that if they have to bat again, it's a guaranteed draw. 4 sessions 250-260 and give it everything they've got?
Most probably. Still, you'd think Warne and McGrath would have done something on this pitch.
Bloody hell just saw the score 544-2. The feck happened here, I thought flat placid pitches were only supposed to be in the sub-continent 
Been watching last seven-eight overs and Stuart Broad has been quite rubbish. Bowling short balls regularly.
Edit: I want to see AB go crazy on this pitch.,
Been watching last seven-eight overs and Stuart Broad has been quite rubbish. Bowling short balls regularly.
Edit: I want to see AB go crazy on this pitch.,
Swann 0-150.. heh
Amla gets to 300. Superb innings from a terrific player.
SA should declare at tea and hopefully they'll get a few wickets before end of play today to make it a bit interesting.
SA should declare at tea and hopefully they'll get a few wickets before end of play today to make it a bit interesting.
Amla is such an old school batsman. Very pleasing on the eye who seems to have an amazing temperament.
Lovely delivery Philander. 2/1.
Oh dear oh dear England. Pietersen, stand up and be counted.
South Africa really running rampant here. Steyn's got Trott - 32/2
Brilliant from Morkel. 3 down now...
It's only the first test, but the two teams look miles apart at the moment.
That's a beauty by Morkel.
Strauss gone! England all over the place, superb bowling from SA.
featherbed apparently. Maybe so...but....
England have been trounced in this test.
This really is make or break for Bopara. If he forms a partnership here and shows up the top order, his test selection may just look a little more secure.
Superb day of cricket from SA.
Total domination and it's set themselves up perfectly to win the match tomorrow.
Total domination and it's set themselves up perfectly to win the match tomorrow.
Tomorrow is Tahir's day. This is exactly why he is in the team.
Amal made history today, looked like a decent guy too in the interview I saw.
Appears to have put his hair on upside down though...
Appears to have put his hair on upside down though...
Amla is class. Great to watch too.
England bowlers once again struggle on an unresponsive pitch. S Africa have managed to get 14 wickets already whereas England have gotten 2. Ridiculous.
England bowlers once again struggle on an unresponsive pitch. S Africa have managed to get 14 wickets already whereas England have gotten 2. Ridiculous.
Yep. They're line and length bowlers, none of them have searing pace, or the ability to extract bounce on the lowest of wickets. Finn may've been able to do something with his extra pace and bounce, though.
Completely outclassed by SA in most if not all departments in this test.
Almost certain defeat here.
Will be interesting to see England attempt to fightback in this series, or the Number 1 ranking was simply a novelty.
You can't fail to win all winter, then lose a home series in the same 'year'.
Almost certain defeat here.
Will be interesting to see England attempt to fightback in this series, or the Number 1 ranking was simply a novelty.
You can't fail to win all winter, then lose a home series in the same 'year'.
Bopara doesn't look comfortable at all in the test match mode. I know it's early days n all but you could pretty much know if a player looks comfortable or not. What are England's options in middle order if Bopara is dropped?
Only players unequally unproven/shaky.
Morgan and Bairstow are the obvious calls, although i wouldn't mind seeing Prior at 6, with Bresnan dropped for Finn.
The tail is already strong enough, and Swann at 10 is a bit silly.
Drop Bopara. Promote Prior. Bresnan isn't good enough as a bowler IMO. However provide a decent option as a bowling allrounder.
Bell gone, I guess that's just about it.
Maybe the tail can wag but I doubt it will for long enough.
Maybe the tail can wag but I doubt it will for long enough.
8 down now, an example of why the DRS is good for the game.
Agree with this but Flower & Strauss seem to like the 6 batters + 4 bowlers option. Personally I think Finn should be in the side ahead of Bresnan.
And thats that then. Innings and 12 runs. Would've been a moral victory of sorts if they'd managed to make the South Africans bat again but wouldn't really matter in the context.
Very poor batting effort
Well done to our boys. I must say, I didn't expect we'd be this sharp. Same sentiment was carried by most here in SA because we've been lacking match sharpness. Incredible match from us.
SA were excellent.
I wonder if they'll bring in a specialist WK or stick with AB behind the stumps?
I wonder if they'll bring in a specialist WK or stick with AB behind the stumps?
I love Dale Steyn.
James Taylor? Not seen him, but read a bit. Unproven, yes, but Morgan and Bairstow have proved that they can't hack it(yet) at test level.