*Official* England in South Africa

[Briony]

Could this be the innings where Morkel FINALLY steps up?

I think he might have been more impressive at times had he been given the new ball. Too often he comes to the bowling crease after Ntini has taking the shine off it with his pies and general spraying of the new cherry. It would have been interesting to see him bowl on day one when there was a lot of help early for the seamers.

 

[superkingdave]

Cook seems to be receeding as a player before our eyes...seems to have no solution to a ball pitched in his half of the pitch

 

[Sam Handwich]

Cripes, KP you lucky boy.

 

[GIMH]

Got up early to watch and my Sky+ box has decided to have one of its semi-regular fits whereby it refuses to switch on for about half an hour. Am seething.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Been a good morning so far,very interesting battle.With the ball getting softer and a pretty toothless attack we should push on as the day goes on.Lets hope Kallis regrets the drop of KP.Cook is in the same mode as Strauss in NZ when he was totally out of form,hopefully he gets the same result at the end of it.

 

[Scaly piscine]

****ing pathetic. Giving that ****ing clown a wicket yet again after being dropped off him.

 

[chalky]

Another Harris dart gets a wicket

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Lets hope Kallis regrets the drop of KP..

Or not.

Bugger,keeps the game well set though.

 

[Stapel]

Well done Cook! Delivering wen it matters! Good test cricket this.

Cripes, KP you lucky boy.

Dropping Pietersen might prove to be decisive. Dropping Pietersen is never a good idea, anyway............., and he's gone!

 

[Prince EWS]

Herro, Harro.

 

[wpdavid]

Some very odd comments by Boycott on TMS about KP. First he's saying how KP shouldn't have swept the ball because it wasn't outside leg stump, which contradicts what I'd always heard about sweeping on length rather than line. Then he's going on about how the captain should stop him playing those shots that sometimes get him out. How exactly is the captain suppsoed to do that? The shot may well have been poorly judged and even more poorly executed, but spare us the complete bollox Geoffrey.

 

[jboss]

So a Rugby world cup and Tri Nations with a pair of coloured wingers is evidently unacceptable..

yes because I don't support racist motives from either the cricket or rugby boards in South Africa. Couldn't care less if SA win and rugby trophy as I wont stand for it and let my children, when I have any support such BS. all that these sports bodies are doing are ditributing racism well into the future generations.

 

[archie mac]

Pietersen reminds me of Matthew Richardson, has all the talent but brings their sides down when they stuff up the easy ones

 

[Scaly piscine]

Some very odd comments by Boycott on TMS about KP. First he's saying how KP shouldn't have swept the ball because it wasn't outside leg stump, which contradicts what I'd always heard about sweeping on length rather than line. Then he's going on about how the captain should stop him playing those shots that sometimes get him out. How exactly is the captain suppsoed to do that? The shot may well have been poorly judged and even more poorly executed, but spare us the complete bollox Geoffrey.

It was a horrible shot. Of course the captain should be having a word because it's absolutely pathetic. You think if he was playing for Australia they would just sit back and watch someone throw away their talent like he's doing?

 

[GIMH]

Haven't seen a lot of Cook's innings (mainly saw Strauss hitting it about yesterday before I had to go out), but I noticed dav said he looked turd before. How has he looked since then? This could be a pivotal moment in his career if he sticks about, especially the sort of innings we need from him.

Nice shot there as I type, Harris bowling a pie or two this over

 

[wpdavid]

It was a horrible shot. Of course the captain should be having a word because it's absolutely pathetic. You think if he was playing for Australia they would just sit back and watch someone throw away their talent like he's doing?

Sure, but I meant that the captain can't force him to do anything when he's averaging circa 50 in test cricket. He kows full well he's our most consistent batsman, so it's not as if they're going to drop him.

 

[King Pietersen]

I've seen about as much of the innings as you GIMH, and it is reminding me of that innings Andrew Strauss played in New Zealand, the 170odd. It was one of the scrappiest scores of 170 you're ever likely to see, but it's what got this current spell of form going. Hopefully Alastair will be able to put a similar 3 figure score on the board, gain confidence from that and start scoring consistent and convincing runs again.

 

[wpdavid]

Haven't seen a lot of Cook's innings (mainly saw Strauss hitting it about yesterday before I had to go out), but I noticed dav said he looked turd before. How has he looked since then? This could be a pivotal moment in his career if he sticks about, especially the sort of innings we need from him.

Nice shot there as I type, Harris bowling a pie or two this over

Strikes me that Cook's doing what Strauss did about 18 months ago - cutting out as much risk as possible to ensure that he stays there. I'm fine with that. Also, he probably knew the importance of seeing off Steyn & Morkel at the start of the day, and that's pretty smart too. And his RR is up to 40 now, so he's going along quite nicely after the slow start.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

This is the danger time for Cook,once he gets to 60 he seems to switch off like Thorpe used to and gets out.Lets hope for Cooks sake he goes on and eases the stupid calls for his head.It is Bell who shouldn't be in the side as we need the 5th bowler.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, looking at his wagon wheel he seems to have scored about 8 on the offside, playing to his strengths for sure. Just hope he goes on with it as even when he's been in form (in 2008 he always seemed to bat well without ever getting past three figures) converting has been a problem.