*Official* England in South Africa

[Woodster]

Seems a good toss to win for Strauss, very overcast, perfect swinging conditions, made for Jimmy and Onions with the new ball to rattle a couple out, hopefully. Commentators suggesting the next four days are predicted to be blazing sunshine, vital opening day.

 

[superkingdave]

JImmeh!! Tough ball to play it has to be said

 

[superkingdave]

Quiet this morning

Hopefully its Onions at the other end. Prince hasnt had much luck this series

 

[Dydl]

Haha, wow, what a start.

 

[superkingdave]

Damn Swanneh

 

[superkingdave]

Bah thats gonna cost us. Feel for Onions as well, hasn't had too much luck this tour

 

[Woodster]

Should have snaffled it there Swanny. Comfortable height, as straight forward as they come at slip. Feel for Onions.

 

[GIMH]

How did he drop that? ****ing Swann, bring back Panesar

 

[AaronK]

Why the RSA keep trying Prince as openner.. he clearly has failed at every chance he got as an oppener..

I would like to see kallis open for a change..

 

[GIMH]

We've just bowled our first no-ball of the series, can tell Flintoff's retired

Jimmeh bowling well here. Predicting a 5fer

 

[Woodster]

Yes should be perfect conditions here for Jimmy, and he seems to be in decent rhythm.

The interesting one for me will be when Broad comes on, anything short we've seen has been dispatched, not a morning for Broad to go through his repertoire, should do just as he did in the 2nd innings at Durban, home in on the top of off stump, and remain patient.

Nice flick off his hips for four by Amla, very strong there.

 

[The MG]

Peach there by Broad. Hope he keeps this up.

 

[Manee]

Surely a Broad 5 wicket haul, on the cards, here.

Interesting to see the decade brought in with two bowler friendly wickets.

 

[GIMH]

In a few years, people on CW will be denigrating the top seamers.

"They'd have averaged 32 on the flat pitches of the golden era that was the 00s!"

 

[superkingdave]

stupid referral

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, we need to stop referring them

Broad shaking his head, what will Sunil Gavaskar have to say

 

[Woodster]

Yes it must be difficult not to refer them when they are fairly sure a nick has taken place, but once again we see how rarely these decisions are overturned without the added help of snicko or hotspot.

 

[Manee]

What is the verdict on CW about the caught behind? Pollock saw daylight between bat and ball but the sound was pretty incriminating. I'm piss poor at judging these, myself, mind.

 

[wpdavid]

Once again England showing that incompetence is our default setting - awful dropped catch, ****e bowling in helpful conditions and Captain Thicky calling for a referral that can't be given with the technology that they know is available.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Ntini should have retired like Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Ian Healy before being dropped. I guess he wanted a chance to get to 400.