*** Official*** South Africa in England 2017

[harsh.ag]

Face it people, Saffer players are only happy in the IPL.

 

[Shady Slim]

because abdv had a brilliant ipl

lol@RCB

 

[harsh.ag]

because abdv had a brilliant ipl

lol@RCB

Didn't say they were good in the IPL. Just that they are happy to be there.

 

[Shady Slim]

willey

smuts

 

[StephenZA]

SA A 194/2 (46.5 ov, T Bavuma 0*, TB de Bruyn 11*, J Overton 2/25) | Live Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
I'm guessing a pretty placid wicket. But both Markram and Kuhn putting their hands up for the opening spot. With Kuhn also jumping up and down with the quick hundred. 22Nb in the first innings by the SA bowlers is not a good look though, and pretty envyingly spread.

 

[Howe_zat]

Foakes ton!

One step closer to the triumvirate.

 

[Jarquis]

Really not going as well for Leach this year as last

 

[91Jmay]

I've always really liked Jamie Porter. Not sure he is international standard but he is always excellent for Essex on generally flat pitches

 

[wpdavid]

Another failure for Hameed today. Surely he won't be opening in the first test.

 

[theegyptian]

I reckon England would have picked Hameed almost no matter what for this first test given his performances in the winter and as he is someone they have pinpointed as someone with a big future. Well he's been that bad that he may well not be selected.

Hameed is someone they presumably think they can build their batting around for the next 15 years. He showed that he has the mental game last winter, and technically he was decent. The selectors will want to show faith in him. But does it do him any favours if they pick him when he's badly out of knick and struggling for confidence?

If he scores some runs next week I reckon they pick him. If not, it would be hard for them to pick him.

Be interesting to see what the consensus is from the former captains, Atherton, Hussain, and Vaughan. I don't think they've wrote their pieces yet on the issue.

 

[Howe_zat]

Hameed's 20. Bags of time on his hands. If you don't think he'll score runs then don't play him.

 

[Howe_zat]

1 Jason Roy, 2 Sam Billings, 3 Jonny Bairstow, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Liam Dawson, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 David Willey 10 Liam Plunkett, 11 Tom Curran

Batting down to 11 is back in fashion then. Billings to make customary once a series appearance.

 

[StephenZA]

Big improvement to the SA team dropping Tahir to play Paterson...... what is the point of this series really!

 

[MW1304]

I know it's been said to death but there really isn't any point to bowling Jordan at any time other than the death. Can pretty much guarantee a few wides and a load of runs.

 

[Bijed]

I don't mean to be harsh, but I reckon Jordan can consider himself fairly lucky to be playing for England these days

 

[SeamUp]

Nice to see Curran getting his debut.

I said on here when he had left SA he will play for England.

A wicket in his first over to.

 

[MW1304]

I don't mean to be harsh, but I reckon Jordan can consider himself fairly lucky to be playing for England these days

Maybe. Still one of our better death bowlers, which is useful in this format. Was particularly useful at the back end of the World t20 last year, possibly still coasting off that.

It's painful when they try to sneak in an over or two early on and you can predict exactly what will happen.

 

[MW1304]

I think Smuts has one of the worst full names I've ever heard.

 

[SeamUp]

JJ needs to make the most of this start.

But on this belter we should have had more runs.

Reeza out on the pull first game, nearly out on it first ball from Curran, out on it 2nd ball from Curran.

Mosehle hopping around all out sea but expect shots like that 6 in between.

 

[Bijed]

Jez on Cricinfo

"Not seen it written anywhere, but if England win today they go top of the T20 rankings!"

Hadn't realised that, and am surprised to hear it.