England v South Africa, The Oval, 1st Test Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

Here we go then, England v South Africa at The Oval where the battle for Number 1 will commence. A win or draw in the series for England will see them retain that coveted spot whereas South Africa need a series win to take the crown. This will be a true battle of the World's two best Test teams. Here are the lineups:

1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Ravi Bopara, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson

England bat down to 10 with the formidable Cook opening (made 294 less than 12 months ago), KP (who walks into any team at the moment) and the best WK batsmen in the game, Matt Prior (averages over 40 and he bats at 7). Add the fact that their probable No.8 bats with an average over 40! England have probably the best all-round bowling attack in the game - 2 World-class quicks, a World-'class spinner and a very good all-rounder in Tim Bresnan who averages over 40 with the bat and under 30 with the ball. One weak link though, Ravi Bopara.

1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Alviro Petersen, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers (wk), 6 Jacques Rudolph, 7 JP Duminy, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran Tahir

7 specalist batsmen which includes the best no.3 in the World and the best all-rounder seen in this era. There's also Graeme Smith and De Villiers who both average a shade under 50. Then the best fast bowling attack in the World, Steyn (best bowler in the World), Morkel and Philander (average of 14.15 in 7 Tests). Weak links? Petersen isn't the best opener, Boucher the usual WK is injured and Tahir is far from the best spinner in the World.

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My series prediction: 2-0 England.

Enjoy the game!

[Ozzy3213]

Matt Prior is one gritty son of a %^*£$, can't think of a better man for us to have out there in these circumstances.

[Biltong]

Kallis is bowling very well here today

[Ozzy3213]

Showing all of his experience Biltong. I think he's been pretty underated by some down the years. One of the greatest all rounders of all time for me.

[Biltong]

True Ozzy.

[Pal Joey]

If Prior makes any more than 20 I will eat my second hat of the Test.

... Bon Appetit!

I hope that dusty old pair of tweed trousers (and matching tie) are safely hidden away somewhere in the back of your wardrobe!

[Duty281]

England cross 300. Keep going lads!

[skyeman]

Never doubt England at home, still fancy them to get to 400 and would have taken 300 after losing Strauss, my only concern is Bopara, even with 2 or 3 more Tests he will still be like a frightened cat in the headlights.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Oh Breadvan you useless sausage.

This is hopeless.

[Ozzy3213]

What a terrible ball from Tahir to get a wicket there. Unlucky for big Bres, although really and truly he should be middling them and seeing it race to the ropes.

Keep fighting boys.

[Duty281]

Ah, just when I thought "Tahir, let's milk him for easy runs" Bresnan gets bowled. Time for Broad to swing the bat?

[trebellbobaggins]

That will annoy Boycott on TMS, Tahir proves him wrong.

England are deep in trouble now. The 400 TMS said they must get to avoid failure is far away. Brilliant morning from SA and they get to bat when all the moisture is gone now.

[trebellbobaggins]

Oh Breadvan you useless sausage.

This is hopeless.

It's been a poor mornings work.

[mystiroakey]

broads in - our true allrounder, so its all good

[skyeman]

Oh Breadvan you useless sausage.

This is hopeless.

It's been a poor mornings work.

Understatement

But the best attack in the world will be bowling later.

[skyeman]

Get through to lunch and then attack, might come off, might not but we have seen it before come off for these two.

[Liam]

Great shot from Broad, more of that please, Prior can try and bat around around him.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

That will annoy Boycott on TMS, Tahir proves him wrong.

It was Bresnan playing a club cricket shot, not Tahirs bowling. Thats whats been frustrating, at least half of Englands wickets have come from players getting themselves out to nothing balls. Boparas was by no means the worst, at least it was a half decent bouncer that got him even if he shouldve been able to deal with it without flapping.

[trebellbobaggins]

ah right. Giving wickets away. That's where the great aussie teams were different. You had to prise them away kicking and screaming.

[chrisss]

That will annoy Boycott on TMS, Tahir proves him wrong.

England are deep in trouble now. The 400 TMS said they must get to avoid failure is far away. Brilliant morning from SA and they get to bat when all the moisture is gone now.

And even worse, it was a Yorkie who got out to him...

[skyeman]

Lunch Eng 326 /7 SA's first winning session, so overall 3-1 to England.

SA no reviews left.

Cook loose, Bopara , Bell, to close to leave, so a couple of gifts to SA, same as yesterday.

Prior can make the difference once again.

But over 300 on the board, i will always take that.

Up the r/r after lunch and Eng will be in pole position'

Top stuff.

[Ozzy3213]

Big morning session in store. If England can reach lunch at about 350 for 4 then I think it will be a long way back for South Africa. Couple of quick wickets this morning and England go in at 320 for 5, 6 or even 7, and all of sudden we have a real game on our hands.

can't wait.

326 for 7 it is then. South Africa's session. I stand by what I have said all morning though, this is not anywhere near over, it is simply game very much on.

Great test match.

[mystiroakey]

This pitch is falling apart. this is gonna be a good innings for england in the scheme off things-perfect batting first

[Liam]

Plenty of movement for the seamers, plenty of turn. England's bowlers will be licking their lips and if they can get 350+ on the board it will be tough for SA to get a lead imo.

[mystiroakey]

Donald has gone mental..wtf was that??

[Liam]

Donald has gone mental..wtf was that??

What happened, I knocked it off?

[mystiroakey]

posted that on the wrong thread- donald just bladed a wedge - its a shot pros just dont play!

[alfie]

Obviously SA morning ...they looked altogether more switched on today , and it was hardly surprising to see this very good pace attack bounce back quickly after their rather limp performance on the first day.
Getting Cook early really changed the game , runs suddenly became almost impossible to come by and the inevitable wickets fell. I won't read too much into Bopara's failure (any more than that of Strauss) as anyone can get out early , though it does reduce by one the number of chances he will get to prove at last he belongs in the Test team - or not. Reckon he has at least this and the next match.
You can say Bell was a victim of poor judgement but really he was a bit unfortunate to be out to a ball that just kissed the very top of the bail...

326/7 isn't what England were expecting as a lunch score , but I think they still have a good chance of getting enough to form a good platform to attack SA : we will know better when SA bat , but even yesterday I was not so sure all this 400 minimum for par was accurate. SA really bowled rather poorly - or perhaps just too passively ? - yesterday , and Cook and Trott played very well.

If the weather doesn't spoil it this might be a very good match.

[Duty281]

First session that South Africa have won. England need to get to 375 at least. I'm still confident of a victory for England.

[packofwolves]

What a great test this is shaping up to be. SA's session no doubt but england still well within sight of 400 if they apply themselves well in this session. Prior, Broad and Swann all score quickly and could yet take the game away from SA.

Or...Steyn could rip out three sets of poles in a couple of overs and turn this on it's head again. Reminds you why we love this game though, doesn't it?

[guildfordbat]

Hi Pack - a real nail biter, yes. Oh hang on, I thought you meant the Lancs v Worcs match ....

[packofwolves]

I'm typing with toes Guildford, no fingers left!

[DouglasJardinesbox]

DJsBox

There's not really much to criticise when a batsman is got out early by a decent ball, especially when he has been producing good form in the recent past. OK, if it keeps happening then you have to start looking at why and considering whether there is a technical issue to address, but sometimes these things just happen.

I'm always more critical of batsmen who get out once they are well set at the crease but have failed to go on to make a significant contribution, especially if they get out by doing something a bit stupid - KP has a bit of a habit of this, although to be fair he is also the best batsman we have at dominating an attack, so you have to allow for the occasional error (especially when he's got 150+ on the board). I thought yesterday was particularly poor though - Kallis had just bowled a similar ball that he nearly gloved, and the ball was too close and too high for the shot KP was attempting. He could quite easily have left that one alone and waited for Kallis to bowl something up and outside off stump for him to crack away (as he did in the previous over).

I also wouldn't exempt Trott from criticism yesterday - he was well set and got out to something of a loose shot. Of course, he (unlike KP) doesn't have a reputation of doing this, and had a few more runs on the board, so is getting a bit less stick.

Both of them will however really be kicking themselves for the mistakes they made - with Cook so solid at the other end, either could and should have gone on to make a properly big score and all but take the game right away from SA. They'll both know that, and don't really need blog 'experts' like us telling them so.

Being more critical of a batter who makes 42 and gets out to a poor shot is worse than getting a duck? Sorry, that is one of the most absurd things I've ever heard. What about the 90 or so balls he played well before getting out? Do we just dismiss them? Think we'll have to disagree on this one!

[Duty281]

Afternoon delayed to rain. Looking at the radar, shouldn't be too much of a delay.

[Fists of Fury]

Two fours from Prior to get him underway. Told you he was rubbish.

[skyeman]

FoF, you can borrow a few of the wifes spare hats, it seems you are the new Trebs

If these two can bat for 45 mins or so we could see some real fireworks and the r/r soaring.

[Fists of Fury]

I'm gonna have to at this rate.

Broad will be out at any moment, looks dodgy, but as I speak he plays a glorious shot through the covers.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Both of them rocking now...should make 400 but really england shouldnt be in this mess. Real roller coaster innings
Has the makings of a classic test match so far

[skyeman]

350 up, not so bad now hey

[alfie]

What a good cricketer Matt Prior has become. When he first arrived he was seen as a slightly rough keeper who could make runs against the weaker attacks but maybe wasn't top drawer ... Now if he isn't the best WK/Batsman in the world ..well he is , actually

Another very handy and timely fifty

[Fists of Fury]

Told you.

[skyeman]

Prior on you're 50, cometh the hour, cometh the man.

[chrisss]

Excellent 50 from Prior

[packofwolves]

Right, who do we blame for that? Philander bowls Broad.

[liverbnz]

I'm gonna have to at this rate.

Broad will be out at any moment, looks dodgy, but as I speak he plays a glorious shot through the covers.

Lottery numbers please?

[Fists of Fury]

Don't blame me, I told you Broad looked dodgy. Was a matter of time.

ALl out for 370 now, SA in control.

[skyeman]

Told you.

What a SAGE

About the next wicket and the winner of The Open.

[chrisss]

Right, who do we blame for that? Philander bowls Broad.

Err Broad? :P

[Fists of Fury]

I'm gonna have to at this rate.

Broad will be out at any moment, looks dodgy, but as I speak he plays a glorious shot through the covers.

Lottery numbers please?

Might as well have a go. Euromillions numbers as follows:

08 11 16 23 29 Stars: 02 05

[alfie]

And Philander gets a wicket at last ! Broad gone ...

Another ball just skimming the bails like the one that got Bell , though he didn't leave it deliberately.

SA must practice that

[packofwolves]

Right, who do we blame for that? Philander bowls Broad.

Err Broad? :P

Come on, I think we all know it's not that straightforward. Well, the delivery was...

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