*Official* England in South Africa

[Hit_Wicket]

Swanneh strikes in his first over again.

Second, actually.

A significant breakthrough nonetheless.

Prince continues to look pedestrian as an opener. Don't think that's his spot.

 

[wpdavid]

What a pointless review that was plumb as a plumb.

Swanneh strikes in his first over again. Love the guy

It was his 2nd over, but yes he's a star.

Our quicks not doing the business with the new ball though. We've needed more from them in this match tbh.

 

[Woodster]

It did appear that Prince did walk earlier for the caught behind that was referred, and that clearly fooled Umpire Harper, no surprise there. Though you could tell from real time that the bat was absolutely nowhere near the ball, review system stops the 'shocker' from occurring.

Not sure Graeme Smith will be too pleased with Prince's reactionary signal for a review, it looked exceptionally close, Hawkeye proved it to be absolutely plumb. Very poor call from Prince, who then had the audacity to shake his head in disbelief while walking off, in fairness that must be due to his disappointment in getting out when he had made a start.

 

[Woodster]

Could have done with nicking another one out before lunch, very well poised this game though, unless a certain Jacques Kallis decided to be a funstopper by playing yet another outstanding innings and taking the game beyond England.

 

[wpdavid]

Great morning for SA. England paying the price for not making nearly enough of conditions on Day 1 and their batsmen's suicidal tendancies on Day 2. I suppose you can get away with underachieving in one discipline, but not both. SA's to lose, but you wouldn't bet on them doing that now.

 

[zaremba]

FACT OF THE DAY: Swann and Onions now have identical Test bowling averages.

 

[Woodster]

Great morning for SA. England paying the price for not making nearly enough of conditions on Day 1 and their batsmen's suicidal tendancies on Day 2. I suppose you can get away with underachieving in one discipline, but not both. SA's to lose, but you wouldn't bet on them doing that now.

To view it in that way I think would be unfair and not give enough credit to SA's determined qualities. With both sides being so closely matched and neither able to really assume control, it is not surprising that when a side gains an advantage, the other comes fighting back.

That said, I do think the way we lost our wickets yesterday was pretty average. The dismissals in isolation were on the whole soft, but maybe as a result of the pressure built by SA.

 

[Woodster]

Smith not looking entirely comfortable against Swann here, need the big skipper soon before he gets set for the day.

Quite bizarre watching the hot and sweaty conditions on TV, while we have about 5/6 inches of snow outside!

 

[GIMH]

I can feel this slipping away from us. If we don't get another wicket soon then I have a feeling they might set a huge target.

 

[Stapel]

I can feel this slipping away from us. If we don't get another wicket soon then I have a feeling they might set a huge target.

A wicket would balance this match. Right now, the Saffies appear to be in the driver's seat!

 

[Woodster]

Yes would agree SA in the driving seat right now, and England are indeed in need of a breakthrough. Fancying a big spell here from Onions just to drag this game back level.

 

[wpdavid]

To view it in that way I think would be unfair and not give enough credit to SA's determined qualities. With both sides being so closely matched and neither able to really assume control, it is not surprising that when a side gains an advantage, the other comes fighting back.

That said, I do think the way we lost our wickets yesterday was pretty average. The dismissals in isolation were on the whole soft, but maybe as a result of the pressure built by SA.

I think the batsmen were more culpable than the bowlers. Our bowlers are OK but perhaps not quite good enough to consistently dominate at this level. And Kallis did bat stupendously well. The batsmen otoh, chucked it away to a large extent either by poor shot selection or poor execution. I'm not sure how much it was donw to pressure. Strauss went in the first over, Trott was going nicely enough, KP only lasted 2 balls, and Cook & Bell gave it away when progressing nicely.

 

[King Pietersen]

Really need a wicket now. Smith's doing well to score off Swann and it's putting him off his line and length. Could really do with Onions picking up a scalp.

Also, I am enjoying the Sky adverts with the various commentary teams from different sports. Love the Cricket one in the Kitchen. Bumble and Nasser's lines are brilliant. "This is a crab" "They're not that bad mate". Quality advert; if I have to see that bloody Halifax radio advert again though I'm going to go mad, most annoying advert for ages, worse than those bloody Go Compare ones.

 

[Pizzorno]

Come on Dan, not even Phil Hughes is worse than those damn Go Compare ads.

 

[Woodster]

I think the batsmen were more culpable than the bowlers. Our bowlers are OK but perhaps not quite good enough to consistently dominate at this level. And Kallis did bat stupendously well. The batsmen otoh, chucked it away to a large extent either by poor shot selection or poor execution. I'm not sure how much it was donw to pressure. Strauss went in the first over, Trott was going nicely enough, KP only lasted 2 balls, and Cook & Bell gave it away when progressing nicely.

I think SA's attack yesterday geenrally kept a lid on it, we were not allowed to get away at anytime. and if you put enough balls in the right areas, more often than not you will get your reward. That is not to say our top 6 will not have had a look at their dismissals yesterday and thought they could have done much better.

Think today is now a real test for our bowling attack, thought they did well in the first innings, but for an outstanding contribution from Kallis, and at times world class players play top drawer innings and there is little anybody can do.

 

[wpdavid]

Think today is now a real test for our bowling attack, thought they did well in the first innings, but for an outstanding contribution from Kallis, and at times world class players play top drawer innings and there is little anybody can do.

It's a huge test. I quite like our attack, but there's no pretending they're up there with the best. Donald & Pollock, or McGrath & Gillespie would have enjoyed themselves on this wicket, I think. Even allowing for the fact that there's a couple of all-time greats in those sides, we just don't produce enough of that quality of bowler.

EDIT
Looking at how we're leaking runs right now, you can see this one being out of our reach by close of play. And it's a shame because SA were there for the taking if we'd applied ourselves better.

 

[Jono]

England in trouble now.

 

[GIMH]

This is brutal, glad not to be watching at the minute. Need to do something big here. Get KP on or something

 

[Jono]

Smith looks all at sea against spinners coming around the wicket to him I swear.

Stop sweeping you douche.

This may well be out.

 

[wpdavid]

This is brutal, glad not to be watching at the minute. Need to do something big here. Get KP on or something

Anderson must be worth more overs than he's had so far. But, yes, this is crap from our boys.