**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[Spikey]

nas isn't treating that graph with the respect it deserves

 

[BoyBrumby]

Swann doing his best **** on a bull impression.

Yeah, getting turn and all, but these two look like they could play him with a toothpick.

An arseholing is much easier to stomach without Fat Gray at the crease, anyway. At least these two don't have a technique that makes me wanna wretch.

Sad day when Ravi's as fast as the rest of our seamers tho, but.

 

[Spikey]

Ravi's looked more threatening too

 

[Jager]

Ravi Bopara, demon bowler. Nearly halved his test bowling average in a single delivery

 

[benchmark00]

This pitch is very MCGesque. Get the keeper up to the stumps, bowl cutters stump to stump with a ring field.

 

[benchmark00]

Only thing Shane Warne talks about is bowling part timers,

 

[social]

With top quality batsmen in form and not much movement, the English pace attack really does look pretty pedestrian - all 3 bowlers are sameish and they are really crying out for something a bit different

 

[Stumpcam]

With top quality batsmen in form and not much movement, the English pace attack really does look pretty pedestrian - all 3 bowlers are sameish and they are really crying out for something a bit different

We should have played Steve Finn - 90mph from about 10ft up!

At least he would have got some bounce out of this dead surface.

 

[BoyBrumby]

We should have played Steve Finn - 90mph from about 10ft up!

At least he would have got some bounce out of this dead surface.

Was clearly our best bowler versus the crims.

I'll be honest and say this is exactly the team I'd have picked, but there must be a case for something different for the 2nd.

If you ignored the crack of my jerking knee, I'd say Compton for Bopara and Finn for Bresnan.

 

[benchmark00]

England need Tremlett.

 

[Jager]

Compton would be a fantastic addition! Jacques halfway there

 

[BoyBrumby]

Effortless 50 from the great man.

 

[benchmark00]

Swann's thrown his toys.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Was Gower saying the pitch was too placid when Cook and Trott were batting?

Well that was day 1 and it is now deep into day 3 and nothing is happening. With weather set fair England should be able to bat out a draw comfortably as SA looked a bit naff on Day 1 too.

Maybe this pitch is just too good and the overhead conditions played a huge part in the collapse yesterday. Soon find out but I not taking anything away from Amla and Smith as they have batted superbly as did Cook on day 1.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Was clearly our best bowler versus the crims.

I'll be honest and say this is exactly the team I'd have picked, but there must be a case for something different for the 2nd.

If you ignored the crack of my jerking knee, I'd say Compton for Bopara and Finn for Bresnan.

I'd go the same. Possibly Taylor for Ravi but it is only a matter of time till Finn replaces Bresnan as much as I love Bres it is clear Finn is the long term class option.

 

[benchmark00]

Haha that is awesome.

 

[Jayzamann]

First decent laugh I've had all night.

 

[stumpski]

Swann's thrown his toys.

At least that gave him a laugh, the sunglasses proving a lot less solid than SAf's batting. Looks like he's going to be bowling about 60 overs at this rate though.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

One for What Happened Next? in a few years time.

 

[benchmark00]

Is that technically 5 penalty runs to South Africa?!?!?