If Prior goes it's a draw, if not there's a chance.
This is brilliant stuff.
This is brilliant stuff.
England vs South Africa 09/07/12 - 12/09/12
- Thread starter Sassy Colin
- Start date
Prior out!!!
That's the end for England.
Edit: Agent Trott doing SA a favour.
That's the end for England.
Edit: Agent Trott doing SA a favour.
Ends in a draw. Good test match, unfortunately the rain took away a decisive result for either side and means that this series could end in a draw if England win the next match.
The ICC need to make it compulsory that all tests between the top 4 ranked teams have to be 5 match series. Get rid if the pointless ODI's and play more test games, especially when you have 2 extremely well matched-up teams.
Edit: KP suggesting the next match could be his final test. It would be a shame if he did retire only to concentrate on IPL games.
The ICC need to make it compulsory that all tests between the top 4 ranked teams have to be 5 match series. Get rid if the pointless ODI's and play more test games, especially when you have 2 extremely well matched-up teams.
Edit: KP suggesting the next match could be his final test. It would be a shame if he did retire only to concentrate on IPL games.
Just seen the Kallis dismissal, what a disgraceful decision by the 3rd umpire.
England comfortably on top at the moment.
England comfortably on top at the moment.
Unfortunately both Duminy and Rudolph are more than capable of putting up a decent lead for South Africa.
Interestingly poised going into day two.
If England have another good day today, they set themselves up to win the test match.
Five test match series please
If England have another good day today, they set themselves up to win the test match.
Five test match series please
309 all out.
At last!
At last!
Again, Strauss?
54/4
That's the way to do it.
That's the way to do it.
SA were 4 down for a similar score though...
Great stuff so far from JB, who needs KP?
Pietersen would never have played that innings. He'd have tried something flash and got himself out cheaply.
James Taylor looks a bit rubbish. Early days, yes, but even then..
We were trying to work out who he is, but our sports expert is on holiday this week.
Who is he btw?
Know very little as I don't follow county cricket much. All I know is that he captains England Lions(england's A team) and did very well recently on a sub-continent tour(Bangladesh, I think) with the Lions.
Knowing us Bairstow will probably get out tomorrow in the first over and we will finish at 230 all out.
Bairstow scored about the same in 3 innings prior to this match as Taylor had in 1 ... and that was against the Windies.
Taylor looks like a posh 15 year old kid in a stupid hat playing against an adult side.
Bairstow even in his previous three innings atleast looked the part, and fair play to him for that knock yesterday.
I still think Bopara is the man ahead of Taylor, but fantastic if Bairstow can nail down the KP position.
Setup to be a cracker this test match if England can add 100+ this morning.
Bairstow even in his previous three innings atleast looked the part, and fair play to him for that knock yesterday.
I still think Bopara is the man ahead of Taylor, but fantastic if Bairstow can nail down the KP position.
Setup to be a cracker this test match if England can add 100+ this morning.
Yeah, there will definitely be a result in this match. Swann and Tahir are going to have a huge say in this match.
Well played Bairstow. It is a 50/50 game this now.
Useful innings from Swann here
South Africa have a strong advantage at the moment even if they end up with a slight deficit.
Compared to the first couple of days the pitch is a bit flatter and slower.
Compared to the first couple of days the pitch is a bit flatter and slower.
Amla looking shaky at the moment, come on lads! Couple of wickets before close of play could swing it our way.
All results still possible, delicately poised in typical cricket jargon. Cracking match so far. What's impressed me most is how both sides have adjusted bowling tactics and executed those tactics.
South African in the box seat for me.
They are one solid partnership away from taking this away from England.
They are one solid partnership away from taking this away from England.
Yep. And they have 4 quality batsmen still there, including Amla.
Yep. I think they just need to add around 120 more runs and they have it in the bag. I can't see England chasing anything north of 250.
Saffers clear favourites at this point. Amla looking as serene as shit out there (even the slips are gone) and Rudolph and Duminy still to come plus Philander's no mug. 350 lead if you ask me...by the end of the lunch session.
Yea, but that was clearly a case of debut jitters. He looked pretty talented in the limited overs matches I saw him in before that. Of course, ODI proficiency shouldn't be a judge of test match talent, but James Taylor just looks ordinary.
And lunch called.. and it looks like it's about to rain. England are finished in this game, I guess.
If AB and Amla play out 10 overs of the new ball, that'll be goodbye to the #1 ranking.
New ball is killing us here. I think we've played the better cricket over the whole series but it can all come apart this session.
Awesome spell!
Think it's enough anyway. It's 329 for 7. Add another 20-25 quickly to be sure and declare. That'll do it.
Why would they declare? They just need a draw to win the series. I would bat as long as I can, and force England to defend on the final day. England need to win, SA don't.
Game over, shame for us to lose the ranking and never cement it, but all in all SA have played the better cricket in this series and deserve it.
Broad and Swann have been crap. Anderson has been crap except when the conditions have suited him. Plus point has been Finn.
All in all SA have the better attack, the better team and deserve to be no.1.
All in all SA have the better attack, the better team and deserve to be no.1.
Complete over-exaggeration on all accounts there.
It has not quite clicked for England at any point in this series, and none of our bowlers have managed the desired consistency that SA have.
Swann has generally bowled very well, particularly in this test match, while Anderson this innings aside has been excellent
The only 'crap' bowler could be Broad, but even he took a quality 5 for on the last day at Headingley.
Certainly agree SA have been the more accomplished and consistent side though.
350 target would make for an interesting last day..
Duminy's played very well
Duminy's played very well
Oh my god, what a bunch of shit. Strauss and Cook really need to sort themselves out, some truly appalling form at the moment.
SA have well and truly deserved this series win.
SA have well and truly deserved this series win.
appalling form? Can't do anything about that. Massacre. What a fecking bowling trio.