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

[Howe_zat]

One reason why this partnership is worth sticking with is that Roy is such a good starter. Bit of a hacker as the innings progresses but he compliments Hales well, who takes a bit more time to get going.

 

[Groundking]

One reason why this partnership is worth sticking with is that Roy is such a good starter. Bit of a hacker as the innings progresses but he compliments Hales well, who takes a bit more time to get going.

Especially with Root and Morgan at 3 and 4 who both bat sub 90 strike rate.

 

[Dan]

Especially with Root and Morgan at 3 and 4 who both bat sub 90 strike rate.

Morgan's struck at 90+ every year since 2010 (2014 excluded, when he couldn't bat to save himself). Career stats are pretty misleading in that respect, insofar as striking at 60-70 for Ireland makes him look a little slower. Root also struck at >90 last year.

 

[Howe_zat]

Tahir is having the kind of series I can smell from here.

 

[mackembhoy]

Looking a lot better now. Root and Hales can take a bit of time to get going.

 

[Stace]

Ali has a better average opening then Roy and has a similar SR, he should have been given a longer opportunity. Then as I say billings can come in for the last 10 overs as Stokes and Ali are more top order players.

 

[superkingdave]

What time is the rain due?

Not watching as at work, par score about 280-290?

 

[robbypark]

What time is the rain due?

Not watching as at work, par score about 280-290?

330+

 

[Compton]

Ali has a better average opening then Roy and has a similar SR, he should have been given a longer opportunity. Then as I say billings can come in for the last 10 overs as Stokes and Ali are more top order players.

Ali is precisely the player you want in the last 10 overs. His game is perfect for it. He just finds this remarkable tendency of hitting the boundary. I'm not sure why you seem to think Moeen batting so far down is a problem.

 

[Howe_zat]

I think ideas of a par score should bear in mind that AB wanted to bowl.

 

[robbypark]

With the lack of wickets, England could score as high as 350 here.

 

[mackembhoy]

Ali has a better average opening then Roy and has a similar SR, he should have been given a longer opportunity. Then as I say billings can come in for the last 10 overs as Stokes and Ali are more top order players.

Kent fan by any chance? No problem with wanting to have your players in the side, Billings looks like an excellent player.

Roy will be a superb opener for England, Moeen's an excellent pinch hitter down at 7. We've got a longer tail than most too. Can't see them chaning the openers for a long time.

 

[Prince EWS]

If Moeen was to open (which I think he should), I'd be more inclined to bring Taylor in to give the team more cake and free up Morgan a bit more.

 

[Stace]

Ali is precisely the player you want in the last 10 overs. His game is perfect for it. He just finds this remarkable tendency of hitting the boundary. I'm not sure why you seem to think Moeen batting so far down is a problem.

Are you serious? Do you really think Moeen is better in the last 10 then opening? Moeen likes to play proper cricket shots who has shown he is better at opening in his career so far. In the last 10 overs you need someone more versatile like Billings who can hit the ball anywhere especially now with more fielders allowed outside the circle.

 

[Groundking]

Hales Hopefully we're smart and send Buttler in.

 

[Compton]

Are you serious? Do you really think Moeen is better in the last 10 then opening? Moeen likes to play proper cricket shots who has shown he is better at opening in his career so far. In the last 10 overs you need someone more versatile like Billings who can hit the ball anywhere especially now with more fielders allowed outside the circle.

I think he's perfectly suited to the role he's in. He's performing well there, as is Roy.

The old "if it ain't broke..." comes to mind. England are consistently posting big totals with the side, I don't see why you'd be looking to change that just to fit in Sam Billings. He's a quality cricketer and he'll get his chance, but the time for that isn't when everything with the batting lineup is delivering.

 

[Spark]

literally just as they were saying "few players as destructive as Jos Buttler"

 

[91Jmay]

Good knock from Hales. Does need to start converting but he looks like he is finding his feet and as mentioned above I like the combo of him and Roy.

 

[Stace]

Kent fan by any chance? No problem with wanting to have your players in the side, Billings looks like an excellent player.

Roy will be a superb opener for England, Moeen's an excellent pinch hitter down at 7. We've got a longer tail than most too. Can't see them chaning the openers for a long time.

Yeah i'm a Kent fan. I would like Billings to keep wicked instead of Jos too as he's certainly better but I understand England wanting Buttler to improve as they want him in the Test side in the future.

 

[weldone]

That over from Rabada has brought SA right back in the game.