England vs South Africa - test series thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

In the fast paced nature of international cricket, we are just over a week away from the first of four test matches between SA and England - should be a good one.

South Africa have named their squad...missing some big names in Steyn, ABDV - also no Dane Piedt, Stephen Cook either.

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Duanne Olivier, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Still a very strong team - especially in the seam bowling ranks. Although with Faf missing the first test, the batting is reliant on Amla and De Kock I feel

England have a few injury concerns - particularly Stuart Broad - any thoughts on the SA squad, and potential England one?

[alfie]

Not much happening for the bowlers now : movement seems to have vanished with the sandwiches...
That was always possible as the pitch continued to dry out. Probably why England were keen to score fast and get bowling this morning. Might have hoped for a little helpful spell after lunch but not to be ...so it will be hard work and pressure now.

Perhaps TRJ will have some more magic...

[GSC]

Amla gone

[alfie]

Ha ...TRJ indeed works his magic

Amla - rapidly becoming his "bunny" - glances a leg side loose delivery to Bairstow !

Bonus wicket.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Has Raf been around?

[eirebilly]

Excellent job by Bavuma and Du Plessis to steady the South Africans. Easier batting conditions but England have not really offered that much.


As I type, Jimmy gets Bavuma

[eirebilly]

Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy

2 in one over

[CaledonianCraig]

England just need to keep nibbling away here as South Africa lose their fourth wicket. Key end to the day now. If this pair can make it through to close then South Africa will be up to around 200 and feel right in it. However, if England take another wicket....

EDIT And there is another wicket. Anderson bowls Du Plessis. England take control.

[CaledonianCraig]

Chances being shelled in quick succession.

[eirebilly]

Two fairly tough chances though CC.

[CaledonianCraig]

Two fairly tough chances though CC.

Indeed and you get the feeling, at the moment, another one will be around soon.

[eirebilly]

England bowlers are well on top here, Jimmy is getting a lot of movement. I would almost be tempted to take off Ali and bring on TRJ.

[CaledonianCraig]

England bowlers are well on top here, Jimmy is getting a lot of movement. I would almost be tempted to take off Ali and bring on TRJ.

Hmm...no I'd keep Ali on. He is tying one end down and creating the odd chance and it keeps the pace bowlers fresh.

[eirebilly]

England bowlers are well on top here, Jimmy is getting a lot of movement. I would almost be tempted to take off Ali and bring on TRJ.

Hmm...no I'd keep Ali on. He is tying one end down and creating the odd chance and it keeps the pace bowlers fresh.

Give him a few more but with that wind out there, there is a lot of movement to be had and I think TRJ is the next best to Jimmy to exploit that.

[eirebilly]

Jimmy again. 6 down now and England may look to finish them off today with a 150+ lead

[CaledonianCraig]

Jimmy again. 6 down now and England may look to finish them off today with a 150+ lead

This is almost a carbon copy of how it went at The Oval. England batting first and tail wagging to reach a decent score then South Africa collapsing in their first innings surrendering a lead of 150+.

[sirfredperry]

Another tough chance missed. Like to see Bairstow played just for his batting and a wk-batsman bought in. We're playing too many players who can't bat at Test level and pushing those who can too far down the order.

[GSC]

England a little bit average in the field today

[LionsV2]

Another tough chance missed. Like to see Bairstow played just for his batting and a wk-batsman bought in. We're playing too many players who can't bat at Test level and pushing those who can too far down the order.

Not sure what that's achieving?

[eirebilly]

7 down now as Ali strikes.

[CaledonianCraig]

England look set to take a lead of 100+ into the second innings.

[sirfredperry]

Another tough chance missed. Like to see Bairstow played just for his batting and a wk-batsman bought in. We're playing too many players who can't bat at Test level and pushing those who can too far down the order.

Not sure what that's achieving?

Well it's strengthening the batting and improving the wicketkeeping.

[eirebilly]

Another tough chance missed. Like to see Bairstow played just for his batting and a wk-batsman bought in. We're playing too many players who can't bat at Test level and pushing those who can too far down the order.

Not sure what that's achieving?

Well it's strengthening the batting and improving the wicketkeeping.

Don't think that Bairstow has been bad behind the stumps. Who would you bring in as wicket keeper, the unreliable (at test level) Buttler?

[sirfredperry]

Foakes? If only to have Foakes, Woakes and Stokes in the same side?

[eirebilly]

I would have to say that Bairstow would have to be an absolutely dire keeper to be replaced now.

His keeping has been very good to excellent and his batting at 7 has been outstanding. Not sure swapping him for another keeper moving him up the order (where he does not have a great record) is an option myself.

Another wicket, 8 down.

[CaledonianCraig]

No wickett-keeper is infallible behind the stumps and for me Bairstow is the man for the job. South Africa on the ropes on 189 for 8 and at this rate could be nowled out tonight still 150+ runs behind.

[LionsV2]

Another tough chance missed. Like to see Bairstow played just for his batting and a wk-batsman bought in. We're playing too many players who can't bat at Test level and pushing those who can too far down the order.

Not sure what that's achieving?

Well it's strengthening the batting and improving the wicketkeeping.

I don't see how it's improving the batting which is the bigger problem.

[sirfredperry]

Eng may have dropped a few today but Stokes's effort at the end was excellent.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

You have to give the recognised batsmen a chance to accumulate runs at the other end, it just highlights that Bayliss needs to go.

Lol @ the state of this

[LionsV2]

You have to give the recognised batsmen a chance to accumulate runs at the other end, it just highlights that Bayliss needs to go.

Lol @ the state of this

What's wrong with it or do you think a coach that doesn't watch the players or have a clue about test cricket is a good thing?

[eirebilly]

That's it then, a very good lead for England going into the second innings

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

You have to give the recognised batsmen a chance to accumulate runs at the other end, it just highlights that Bayliss needs to go.

Lol @ the state of this

What's wrong with it or do you think a coach that doesn't watch the players or have a clue about test cricket is a good thing?

Because the main job of a "coach" is to watch and select the players...oh no wait we have "selectors" for that

Clearly also has a clue about test cricket. A lot more than everyone here I'd say too

[LionsV2]

The coach as well as the captain are usually part of the selection process, obviously not with Bayliss because he's clueless.

[eirebilly]

Cook gone, Morkel and Rabada have bowled well.

Jennings dropped by Elgar previous over, I am actually surprised that Elgar didn't claim that catch and send it for review

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Warne starting declaration speculation in the 5th over of the 3rd innings. God he's an awful commentator. England should literally bat until tea on Tuesday if they can!

[eirebilly]

I have come to the conclusion that Warne must be paid by the word and not by the day. The amount he talks is seriously annoying.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I have come to the conclusion that Warne must be paid by the word and not by the day. The amount he talks is seriously annoying.

He is great in the pre match zone - talking about leg spin I could listen all day. He should stop at that!

In other news Hameed is out for 6 (39) today for Lancs against Hampshire.

[eirebilly]

Not going too well for England, Morkel looks up for a big spell today.

[eirebilly]

How could you even consider to review that, absolutely shocking from SA.

[SimonofSurrey]

Ben Foakes has been consistently the best w/k on the country for a while now. He's also made good runs for the Lions. So how about the following for 1st Adhes Test:

Cook
??Stoneman/AN Othe
Westley
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Foakes (wkt)
Woakes
Broad/TRJ
Anderson

5 frontline bowling options, a genuine w/k batsman and good batting down to 9. What's not to like?

[eirebilly]

Why move Bairstow up the order to accommodate Foakes? Bairstow has not been successful up the order so I feel it would be a mistake. His wicket keeping has also been very good so also no need to replace him for that.

As it is, Bairstow is the best option as wicket keeper and 7. There may be an issue with batters further up the order but look to replace them with actual batters and not look to Bairstow.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Lead nearly at 200 with 8 wickets left - England in complete command here, pitch is already got uneven bounce and spin, I think a lead of 250 would be enough but with it only being day 3 England can just bat on and on and on!

[GSC]

Why would we be replacing Bairstow behind the stumps anyway

[eirebilly]

Why would we be replacing Bairstow behind the stumps anyway

Exactly, he has been one of the players of this series and is a well proven test player. He has hardly been poor behind the stumps, he has actually been very very good.

[eirebilly]

Ooohhh Jennings, that was very poor and a very soft dismissal again...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Think that'll be the last we see of Jennings this summer - surely Stoneman to come in now? (As much as I'd love Hameed, the kid is averaging 18 without even a half century this summer, I don't think it'd be fair to bring him in at the moment)

[James100]

Yep. Hameed if he puts together some form before the WIndies tests, otherwise Stoneman for me

[eirebilly]

Jennings has simply looked out of his depth at this level. I have to agree with Warne that he bogs himself down, a few more singles and rotation of the strike and his confidence will build. It just does not seem to be in him though.

[eirebilly]

Very poor from England. 4 down now.

SA could realistically bowl England out for under 150 needing two days to get around 275. Root and Stokes must steady the ship here now.

[alfie]

England struggling here - thank heavens for the substantial lead !
Whenever Cook goes early I worry.

Still SFA from the new , on trial , batsmen... Westley has to continue but I think times up for Jennings and I fear Malan just doesn't look up to it - though I admit conditions have given him a very tough introduction.
I just hope they don't decide to give up on finding batsmen and start messing Bairstow and Moeen around up the order again...whoever they end up with they will need deep batting in Australia so the last thing they should contemplate is undoing the part of the batting order that is consistently productive.

Lead of 221 now ; but they won't want to lose any more cheap wickets...

[eirebilly]

Afternoon alfie, England are in a bit of bother here as the SA bowlers are on top. Luckily England do bat deep and I feel on this pitch and these conditions, 300 will be a very defendable lead.

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