England v South Africa at Southampton, 2nd ODI

First topic message reminder :

With the wash out at Cardiff, this fixture has no less the importance of that as regards to whoever wins either keeps/gains the number one International ODI team position in the world. Both will give it everything they have.

Likely teams i would think pretty much as the first ODI, ie:

England.
AN Cook, IR Bell, IJL Trott, RS Bopara, EJG Morgan, C Kieswetter†, TT Bresnan, CR Woakes, GP Swann, JM Anderson, ST Finn.

South Africa.
GC Smith, HM Amla, D Elgar, AB de Villiers*†, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, R McLaren, WD Parnell, RJ Peterson, M Morkel, LL Tsotsobe

Smith gone, Bresnan gets a wicket. Bit of a wild shot there from Smith, the lack of flow of runs seems to have got to him.

Meanwhile, a one time England batsman moves on to 51 not out for Surrey in their CC match against Somerset ....

surprised to see Duminy in at 3. Interestingly had Patel's decision against Amla been reviewed (the one where he was down the pitch) it would have been overturned. Wonder if one day umpires will feel confident enough to give those...

SA have been very fortunate imo this innings. Plenty of edges and balls lobbed in the air. England just have to stay patient on a wicket that isn't easy to bat on.

Patel proving me wrong atm, never really rated him but is bowling a very nice spell atm.

Kieswetter shells one, though not an easy chance.

I would'nt be suprised to see JP Duminy have a hit out once he settles.

Biltong, how do you rate Dean Elgar? Had a look at his cricinfo player profile, averages close to 50 in FC matches and close to 40 in ODIs. Has a pretty solid T-20 average of around 35. Can bowl a bit as well by the look of things. He bats in the top order doesn't he? Perhaps he should have come in at 3 in place of JP Duminy?

You took the words right outta my mouth msp. I was going to ask Biltong the same question. Did he play in the champions league a couple of years ago?

Hashim Amla was considered not capable of scoring quickly enough in the ODI format and wasn't a regular in the ODI side till 2010. Have a look at his record now!!. A superb player, and he really is making up for lost time!.

MSP, Elgar has had a great season in our domestic ODI series, he was top run scorer, he looked very promising when he just got onto the scene, his bowling is probably more in line with Duminy's, I think it is more of Duminy's experience that they decided on him to go in at three.

cracking bit of banter between Pollock and Knight after Morgan makes a good stop at backward point:

Knight: "you had some pretty good fielders in there when you were playing"
Pollock: " I was spoilt: Rhodes followed by Gibbs followed by de Villiers."
K: "just imagine how your figures would have been without them."
P: "Terrible, just terrible. You might have got some runs."

big shout, did it pitch in line?

Reckon this will be a wasted one.

nah, outside leg surely. Yep, not by much, but England have lost their review.

Thanks biltong.
LB I think he did captain one of the sides in the CLT20 a couple of years ago, and impressed people.

MFC, still waiting on hearing tell of your travels in China!

Good bit of banter there!

Worth a review i thought. It was very close.

woops, had forgotten I'd promised that. OK, I'll write something up this week some time. Anderson getting a bit of shape, but Duminy responds with a cover drive for four, beating the not so energetic chase of Samit Patel.

"Hawk Eye" Hibbz correct again.

Ha ha run fat boy run!! I'm a big fan of Samosa Patel in part because he clearly enjoys his life but I do rate his bowling and batting.

On to TMS from TV, just a question, has CMJ retired?

50 for Amla.

Good pipty for Amla, good strike rate, Man you gotta love this guys ability.

more luck for SA batsmen there with Duminy's reverse sweep. Been that type of day for England's bowlers, bowling well with no luck at all.

Well played Amla though, superb knock so far.

50 for Amla

has played very nicely despite not getting much of the strike.

I thought that JP Duminy would have a bit of a hit out but he has looked very nervous out there.

oh FFS, get a square leg in for Amla already, this is ridiculous...

Graeme Swann back on, and JP Duminy, from what we saw during the test series, is a seriously improved player against him, he didn't have a clue during England's last tour of SA.

Runout, Duminy gone!.

there you go

gets the square leg in, Amla hits it to him (well to his left actually) but there's never a run there. Amla thinks there is, and Duminy is run out by half the track. well done Jimmy

Now we have Dean Elgar, playing his first innings for South Africa.

Silly run and England take the chance. 121/2.

Bopara into the attack, interesting move

msp83 wrote:On to TMS from TV, just a question, has CMJ retired?

He's ill at the moment but I'm not sure of the nature of the illness as the others never elaborate when they mention that he's unwell.

Google doesn't even seem to know.

Here's wishing him well and hopefully a full recovery at some point.

gotta love this line from the beeb live text: "That brings Dean Elgar to the crease - cue more 'classic' puns."

First international run for Elgar.

this is where England need to turn the screw: new batsman on debut, not necessarily an easy pitch to get in on. Get some men inside the circle and really squeeze the pressure on.

Hibbz wrote:

msp83 wrote:On to TMS from TV, just a question, has CMJ retired?

He's ill at the moment but I'm not sure of the nature of the illness as the others never elaborate when they mention that he's unwell.

Google doesn't even seem to know.

Here's wishing him well and hopefully a full recovery at some point.

Thanks Hibbz, and indeed wishing him a quick recovery.

Elgar showing he has many talents.

First producing a rendition of Jerusalem, now playing international cricket...

I'll get my coat.

really don't think Bopara should be bowling bouncers at his pace on this pitch. Disappointing as the pressure was building a bit, Elgar's first boundary in international cricket.

that sort of day for England, Swann completely defeats Amla in the flight, Amla goes through with the shot anyway but it just evades Morgan at short mid-wicket.

ach, Jimmy has a chance to run out Amla but his throw from short fine leg just misses the stumps at the bowler's end.

Hate to say it but I reckon SA are heading for 300+.

Elgar starting to find his form, Amla continues on his merry way. What's par on this pitch, 260, 270?

150 up for SA, with 18 overs to go and players like AB de Villiers to come, they should look at 270-280.

278-7 after 50

Bresnan proving, once again, that he is actually pretty darn ineffectual against any high quality batsman. Poor show today.

That batting powerplay is going to be very important I feel. If SA manages 45-50 without much damage, then they should be set for 300. But batting powerplays often bring wickets, and if England could nip one of these 2 and AB out, then that would mean more pressure on SA.

Bresnan hasn't been as effective or consistent in ODIs as he used to be in test matches. I think they should give young Woakes an extended run in the side, could be more handy as that all-rounder.

beautiful bowling from Swann to Elgar, and he gets his reward when a slower ball bowls him neck and crop. Lovely bowling

classic swann dismissal to the left hander, seen it many times before