**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[mono]

Amla vs Cook...who is the better batsman overall?

Records are very similar. Cook has played more important innings than Amla. Amla is definitely some you can watch bat all day. Cook is a lot less pleasing to the eye. Amla is also a lot more gifted in terms of skill. Cook is a grittier player.

 

[uvelocity]

When are the Saffers gonna declare?

tea or tea-abouts

and nothing wrong with the pitch.

not the roadiest of roady roads ever roaded

fully expect saffers to pick up 2 wickets at least in the evening session, and will not brook talk of changed conditions whatsoever.

 

[benchmark00]

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

Nasser and Shaun reading CW.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Apart from day 2 where the ball swung a fair bit and seamed, it's been straight up and down new & old ball, which is very unusual even for the Oval. The big thing though which isn't down to the pitch is there's been no swing from any of the balls, except for at the start of the SA innings before the rain came.

It seems like only a magic spell from a Saffa do something. 3.5/4 sessions to bowl out England on a road is tough.

 

[Prince EWS]

Amla vs Cook...who is the better batsman overall?

I'd probably go with Cook as it's harder to find an opener in their production range as batsmen than it is to find a number three.

 

[Jacknife]

Records are very similar. Cook has played more important innings than Amla. Amla is definitely some you can watch bat all day. Cook is a lot less pleasing to the eye. Amla is also a lot more gifted in terms of skill. Cook is a grittier player.

Such different batsmen aren't they, Cook & Smith is a better comparison.

 

[grecian]

HAHA, Ernie Els just missed a shortish putt, take that saffers....

 

[swede]

Every poster who offers T20 experience as evidence for how a team should be playing in a Test match has no ****ing clue what they are talking about.

I may very well have no clue but of course T20 is relevant in specific circumstances in tests.

SA cannot possibly doubt their ability to kill this game stone dead in a fourth innings if need be, making an all-out attack now the obvious solution. They are giving England a big chance here and they may well regret it.

 

[Spikey]

t
not the roadiest of roady roads ever roaded

It's roady, but really it's nothing these England bowlers haven't overcome before. These two are just not throwing their wickets away

 

[Jacknife]

It seems like only a magic spell from a Saffa do something. 3.5/4 sessions to bowl out England on a road is tough.

Yes, even taking into account how SA bowled and the better conditions England should have made 450/500 easy on this and will be kicking themselves for all the soft arse dismissals.

 

[Stumpcam]

HAHA, Ernie Els just missed a shortish putt, take that saffers....

Now he smacks a tee shot into the crowd.

You've put the mockers on him.

 

[uvelocity]

lovely cut

 

[benchmark00]

Putting on a clinic.

 

[Spikey]

amla into the 270 hall of fame club

loses membership if he passes 279 ftr

 

[Prince EWS]

That was a real old fashioned Jimmeh pie. The short and wide ball for the cut used to appear from him once every two or three overs as he dropped his head early; brings back bad memories seeing it again here.

 

[vic_orthdox]

What's the highest SA player's score of all time? In the 270s isn't it?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Apart from day 2 where the ball swung a fair bit and seamed, it's been straight up and down new & old ball, which is very unusual even for the Oval. The big thing though which isn't down to the pitch is there's been no swing from any of the balls, except for at the start of the SA innings before the rain came.

Surprising for an Oval pitch not to have seen more up and down bounce by now. Makes me think we will save the game.

 

[Spark]

What's the highest SA player's score of all time? In the 270s isn't it?

278*, ABdV.

 

[BoyBrumby]

ABCD going crazy later on would be enjoyable to watch

As if England are going to take a wicket...

Can any of the English batsmen bowl looping leggies?

Taylor bowls leggies, but what flavour they are I dunno.

Phil Hughes isn't someone you'd normally associate with the 'good bloke' tag itbt. Very focused individual, but is still polite.

See, that surprises me. Doesn't play like a bloke who thinks long and hard about his game.

 

[Spikey]

what's the highest sa player's score of all time? In the 270s isn't it?

270*
274
275
275*
277
278*