***Official*** South Africa in England

[Laurrz]

Love Strauss

 

[SpaceMonkey]

You can understand why SA decided to bowl first. The weather for weeks has been really crap so they probably thought they'd be alot of moisture in the pitch which would do a lot. Also its going to be a day of showers so the batsmen will be off and on all day which makes it harder for batsmen to settle down and having to keep 'getting in' over and over again.
Given that SA also believe England have a dodgey middle order they probably felt a few early wickets and they could really get us in trouble in bowler friendly conditions.

Not thats not the case (so far) England could easily collapse after lunch still, and then we'd all be saying what a good decision it was But it was hardly a shocking decision to bowl first considering. But if England can make it to Tea with only 2 down or less we'll be in a great position in this Test.

 

[Goughy]

You can understand why SA decided to bowl first. The weather for weeks has been really crap so they probably thought they'd be alot of moisture in the pitch which would do a lot. Also its going to be a day of showers so the batsmen will be off and on all day which makes it harder for batsmen to settle down and having to keep 'getting in' over and over again.
Given that SA also believe England have a dodgey middle order they probably felt a few early wickets and they could really get us in trouble in bowler friendly conditions.

Hard for the ball to swing too much in those conditions unless it is really hot.

There may be arguments for bowling. I dont doubt it. However, they are seldom as good as those to bat.

 

[Goughy]

Anyway, good session for England.

Im not going to say much about players etc as Ive said a lot about most over the last while and I dont want to jinx my bold and brave prediction

 

[Speersy]

You know Geoff Boycott though, @if you win the toss bat. If you're not sure, think about it, and then bat.@

9 times out of 10 you bat first, then on the 10th time you think about it than bat first anyway

 

[Kweek]

Cook for President


and Strauss....well he can just stay and play cricket...


not to jinx it of course

I mean if Cook fails then he has more reason to go for a presidency spot...


P Save a tree...please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

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[wpdavid]

Wasn't it only one test ago when we lost a shedload of wickets immediately after lunch on Day 1 after a decent first session? A good start, which is way better than I expected 2 and a half hours ago, but we all know about England's batting.

I wouldn't be too despondent if I was supporting SA. Morkel has caused some genuine discomfort to both openers despite it being a sluggish pitch, and you can see him being a real handful as the series progresses. And we all know what Steyn is capable of, even if he hasn't got it right this morning.

 

[Langeveldt]

I always look forwards to SA vs Eng above perhaps all else. Only Eng vs Aus is in the same league.

Mind, SA vs Aus is pretty close too.

Eng v SA is my most sought after cricketing event.. Bigger than the world cup, the ashes, SA v Aus.. It's probably the only set of games that I'll religiously watch every ball of..

First morning - simple though.. Too short, too wide.. Not too worried though, first morning at Lords, need a couple of wickets to settle the nerves though

 

[superkingdave]

England all out 279 tomorrow afternoon (rain)

 

[Laurrz]

Wasn't it only one test ago when we lost a shedload of wickets immediately after lunch on Day 1 after a decent first session? A good start, which is way better than I expected 2 and a half hours ago, but we all know about England's batting.

I wouldn't be too despondent if I was supporting SA. Morkel has caused some genuine discomfort to both openers despite it being a sluggish pitch, and you can see him being a real handful as the series progresses. And we all know what Steyn is capable of, even if he hasn't got it right this morning.

I think once the scoreboard reaches 100.. if England are 0 down.. that will test South Africa a lot.. bowlers and captain

 

[Goughy]

Wasn't it only one test ago when we lost a shedload of wickets immediately after lunch on Day 1 after a decent first session? A good start, which is way better than I expected 2 and a half hours ago, but we all know about England's batting.

I wouldn't be too despondent if I was supporting SA. Morkel has caused some genuine discomfort to both openers despite it being a sluggish pitch, and you can see him being a real handful as the series progresses. And we all know what Steyn is capable of, even if he hasn't got it right this morning.

Yeah, not at all. 2-3 quick wickets and they are laughing.

As for Steyn, I dont want to say much on the issue. But his recent record doesnt reflect him as a bowler. He has been in a purple patch but that doesnt make him Malcolm Marshall just yet. His record isnt sustainable. I cant tell when it will slow down (this series, the next, the one after?) but it will.

 

[Manee]

As for Steyn, I dont want to say much on the issue. But his recent record doesnt reflect him as a bowler. He has been in a purple patch but that doesnt make him Malcolm Marshall just yet. His record isnt sustainable. I cant tell when it will slow down (this series, the next, the one after?) but it will.

Indeed. No one with such deficiencies against left handed batsmen should ever have a strike rate of under 36 in Tests. 90.6mph from Steyn, as a type that, his quickest ball of the game so far.

EDIT: Speaking of Marshall, I just read that Ntini modelled his action on him, ITSTL.

 

[Richard]

Why is it outdated? There may be reasons why it was more relevant but there is a weight of evidence to suggest it still holds true.

Basically batting allows you to dictate the game. There are countless other reasons that I guess Ill get dragged into if you go into why bowling first often is a good idea.

Fielding first also allows you to dictate the game. Put simply, there are times when fielding first is a good idea; there are times when batting first is a good idea. There probably are still more occasions where batting is the better idea than fielding, but the maxim of "bat first all the time" IS outdated, archaic indeed.

There is always a disproportionate amount of criticism aimed at those who unsuccesssfully fielded first. Those who bat first and crash and burn barely get more than a "oh that wasn't so good an idea was it?" Similarly those who bat first in difficult conditions and succeed usually get lauded and those who field first successfully (and there's plenty of such a thing) barely get a word their way.

 

[steds]

Does Strauss fancy playing a shot any time between now and christmas?

 

[Richard]

9 times out of 10 you bat first, then on the 10th time you think about it than bat first anyway

As I said - outdated maxim.

I'd be surprised if batting first was the best decision 7 times out of 10 these days.

 

[Richard]

Does Strauss fancy playing a shot any time between now and christmas?

Hope not - if he does he'll probably edge it to slip.

 

[Richard]

Eng v SA is my most sought after cricketing event.. Bigger than the world cup, the ashes, SA v Aus.. It's probably the only set of games that I'll religiously watch every ball of..

First morning - simple though.. Too short, too wide.. Not too worried though, first morning at Lords, need a couple of wickets to settle the nerves though

Cook must have edged at least 3 in the gap. Despite the low bounce, they'd all have carried had they happened to go to a fielder.

But that's a half-century for him, and he's had some good strokes in there.

 

[popepouri]

I'm enjoying Shaun Pollock's commentary. I hope he keeps doing it.

 

[Richard]

Yeah sounds one of the better new commentators of recent times TBH.

Five no-balls... how unusual.

 

[Jakester1288]

I am very interested in this series. I am looking forward to seeing how Strauss, Cook and Bell play as well as Steyn with the ball.

Cook is 55 atm, and England are 0/98.