***Official*** England in South Africa 2015/16

[wpdavid]

Bad light break may not be a bad thing if it gives Root a chance to recover from the bang on the head.

What's the forecast for the rest of the day?

 

[Stapel]

Root looks so awfully damn good.

 

[vcs]

Root and Stokes are awesome. So jealous of England producing quality Test cricketers on a consistent basis, especially bowlers.

 

[91Jmay]

Really does put a lot of credibility to the idea that Flower as a coach was seriously oppressive force to a lot of players. Remember how timid and defensive Root was under him?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So I missed it all from lunch onwards. Seems I missed a Root masterclass. If we can bat till a new ball is due we will have a lead and SA will be under serious pressure then.

 

[harsh.ag]

Really does put a lot of credibility to the idea that Flower as a coach was seriously oppressive force to a lot of players. Remember how timid and defensive Root was under him?

He was also just starting out so let's take that with a pinch of caution

 

[wpdavid]

So I missed it all from lunch onwards. Seems I missed a Root masterclass. If we can bat till a new ball is due we will have a lead and SA will be under serious pressure then.

Three an over will give us a lead when the new ball is due. I don't see us scoring as freely as this afternoon when we get to start again, so if we are still batting after 80 overs it will probably be about parity, and then it's down to how many wickets we have left.

 

[JRC67]

Has Stokes now broken through? 4 months ago there was a significant call for him to be dropped. I don't think there is much debate he is now one of the top six batsmen in England and his bowling is much improved. The only worry is the frequency with which 6 - 9 have had to make up for the failings in the top 5. If one or two world class batmen could come through over the next 18 months I don't think there is any doubt England could be number one in the world.

 

[wpdavid]

He was also just starting out so let's take that with a pinch of caution

Yeah, I won't hear too many criticisms of Flower, as his achievements with England by far outweighed the latter day failures. Which may well have been more due to the mindset of the senior clique than anything Flower was doing wrong. And tbf Johnson would have made mincemeat of most sides in 2013-14.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Three an over will give us a lead when the new ball is due. I don't see us scoring as freely as this afternoon when we get to start again, so if we are still batting after 80 overs it will probably be about parity, and then it's down to how many wickets we have left.

Yeah I was thinking 3 an over till new ball and any over that is good news. If we get to new ball with Moeen and one of these two in then SA are in deep **** as I would think Broad won't bowl as badly again given another day of recovery from the bug.

 

[grecian]

He was also just starting out so let's take that with a pinch of caution

Indeed.

Anyway, fascinating match, thoroughly in the balance. Not going to praise Root too much yet, because we really need more runs from him tomorrow, or we could be in the ****e again.

 

[wpdavid]

Yeah I was thinking 3 an over till new ball and any over that is good news. If we get to new ball with Moeen and one of these two in then SA are in deep **** as I would think Broad won't bowl as badly again given another day of recovery from the bug.

I'd managed to miss hearing about Broad not being well on Day 1.
Perhaps the match is set just right for one of his golden spells on Day 3.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah, I won't hear too many criticisms of Flower, as his achievements with England by far outweighed the latter day failures. Which may well have been more due to the mindset of the senior clique than anything Flower was doing wrong. And tbf Johnson would have made mincemeat of most sides in 2013-14.

Root during the home Ashes I distinctly remember blocking half volleys from Starc because the team tactics were the top order occupied crease. Perhaps his move down the order is part of it as well.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Magnificently poised.

Stokes really brought the game back to us. From a **** position.

Compo did a job soaking up the new ball. A few question marks on Taylor on pitches like these but we'll see going forward.

Root was just Root.

Also our bowling this morning was horrible. They shouldn't have got near 300.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Also our bowling this morning was horrible. They shouldn't have got near 300.

Seeing as it was worse than in the opening session of the match then yes. Some achievement to be worse too.

 

[Howe_zat]

Has Stokes now broken through? 4 months ago there was a significant call for him to be dropped. I don't think there is much debate he is now one of the top six batsmen in England and his bowling is much improved. The only worry is the frequency with which 6 - 9 have had to make up for the failings in the top 5. If one or two world class batmen could come through over the next 18 months I don't think there is any doubt England could be number one in the world.

Broke through in the summer.

 

[91Jmay]

We need another top 3 bat desperately, and Cook needs to regain his 2015 form again (with a few more hundreds). Until then we won't be a genuine number 1 side.

 

[Black_Warrior]

What a knock from Root. Seriously

 

[JRC67]

I agree but there were still plenty of doubters.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

We need another top 3 bat desperately, and Cook needs to regain his 2015 form again (with a few more hundreds). Until then we won't be a genuine number 1 side.

Compo back to open and Ballance at 3 seems the obvious option for the start of the summer. Nobody really screaming to be picked like Bairstow was and he isn't a 3 anyway even if Buttler got the gloves back.