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

[Pothas]

What a horrible day this has been.

We are the same side as we were last week though, nothing has really changed the last year or two.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

What a horrible day this has been.

We are the same side as we were last week though, nothing has really changed the last year or two.

The batting has been suspect for too long now basically. No particular issues with the bowling attack when all are fit. We should have bowled them out for 50 runs less though imo.

 

[wpdavid]

What a horrible day this has been.

We are the same side as we were last week though, nothing has really changed the last year or two.

I wonder what Broad's averaged since the win in SA. It will probably turn out to be about 22 judging by my contribution to the Anderson discussion earlier, but I'm not convinced we are as good with the new ball as we were a couple of years ago.

As for last week, perhaps it's a good time to remember how lucky we were to post any sort of score in the first innings, and then this performance doesn't come as quite such a surprise.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

I wonder what Broad's averaged since the win in SA. It will probably turn out to be about 22 judging by my contribution to the Anderson discussion earlier, but I'm not convinced we are as good with the new ball as we were a couple of years ago.

As for last week, perhaps it's a good time to remember how lucky we were to post any sort of score in the first innings, and then this performance doesn't come as quite such a surprise.

27.25

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

Woakes gun. At 22

 

[Bijed]

27.25

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

Woakes gun. At 22

Yeah, Woakes was absolutely mint last summer - his already impressive average of 22 is actually being spoiled somewhat by his poor tour of India

Also, I guess last game shot him up the list a bit, but I'm surprised to see Mo topping that list

 

[Scaly piscine]

Glad to see England have gone from a balanced position at 130-3 when I last checked, to having basically lost the game. Good stuff.

 

[fishyguy]

England's batting is pretty bad. Why don't they play guys like Alex Hales and Jos Butler. These guys Balance,Jennings and Dawson pure garbage. Are these guys really the cream of the crop in county cricket. Embarrassing that England still have to rely on foreign players from Zimbabwe and South Africa. There ain't 11 Englishmen good enough to play for England??

 

[Bijed]

England's batting is pretty bad. Why don't they play guys like Alex Hales and Jos Butler. These guys Balance,Jennings and Dawson pure garbage. Are these guys really the cream of the crop in county cricket. Embarrassing that England still have to rely on foreign players from Zimbabwe and South Africa. There ain't 11 Englishmen good enough to play for England??

We have and neither showed themselves to be test-standard batsmen.

I did like Hales though

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Yeah, Woakes was absolutely mint last summer - his already impressive average of 22 is actually being spoiled somewhat by his poor tour of India

Also, I guess last game shot him up the list a bit, but I'm surprised to see Mo topping that list

Mo has also played every test since then. Which no one else has (bowling wise) his figures will have been absolutely shocking before Lord's.

Broad has always been more streaky than Jimmy. He'll probably have another 6 month period averaging about 15 soon enough. While Jimmy has been around 20-23 for years now.

Both completely irreplaceable.

 

[Pothas]

Hales seems like so long ago now and yet he was playing last summer. The opener thing has been almost 5 years now.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Hales seems like so long ago now and yet he was playing last summer. The opener thing has been almost 5 years now.

There's a good chance we could be going full circle and back to Robson shortly

 

[Bijed]

Mo has also played every test since then. Which no one else has (bowling wise) his figures will have been absolutely shocking before Lord's.

Broad has always been more streaky than Jimmy. He'll probably have another 6 month period averaging about 15 soon enough. While Jimmy has been around 20-23 for years now.

True, forgot Broad had missed some. Just if you'd asked me to guess how many wickets Mo had taken in that time frame, I'd probably have said 20-25. Rashid also got more than I'd thought, so maybe I'm inherently biased against remembering the better exploits of our spinners

 

[mackembhoy]

Yeah, Woakes was absolutely mint last summer - his already impressive average of 22 is actually being spoiled somewhat by his poor tour of India

Also, I guess last game shot him up the list a bit, but I'm surprised to see Mo topping that list

He took 34 at 17 last summer.

 

[srbhkshk]

I know that he has a got a lot of credit, but Cook has also been somewhat below par in the last year and a half. He's obviously not going anywhere for now, but Ashes could be critical for him.

 

[Furball]

Write off Anderson at your peril, muppets.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Write off Anderson at your peril, muppets.

I can't see why anyone would do anymore. He's been consistently taking wickets at less than 25 for years now whilst never going for a stack of runs.

He could get to 500 this summer as well.

I love Jimmy.

 

[Groundking]

I know that he has a got a lot of credit, but Cook has also been somewhat below par in the last year and a half. He's obviously not going anywhere for now, but Ashes could be critical for him.

Cook, 1249 @ 43.06 in the past 18 months, which, whilst is below par for him, is actually pretty good for an opener. Out of all that Root and Stokes are the real disappointments IMO, for a player as good as Root who should be entering his prime during this period, whilst also being our best bat, averaging 51.9 isn't really good enough, especially considering he's had 10 50's in this period (31 innings). Whilst considering the talent Stokes has, and the fact he bats 6 in the team, only managing 619 @ 30.95 isn't good enough really. Also Moeen's conversion rate <3 (compared to the rest of our clowns)

 

[SeamUp]

Hash went past AB in test runs scored for SA. Just Biff & Jakes ahead.

Very happy to see fighting spirit back but Faf really is important to this team as leader. Backed Morris after tea when perhaps could have been easier to go to someone else.

Heino. Tough first 4 innings in test cricket. Deserves a run at the spot though.

 

[srbhkshk]

Cook, 1249 @ 43.06 in the past 18 months, which, whilst is below par for him, is actually pretty good for an opener. Out of all that Root and Stokes are the real disappointments IMO, for a player as good as Root who should be entering his prime during this period, whilst also being our best bat, averaging 51.9 isn't really good enough, especially considering he's had 10 50's in this period (31 innings). Whilst considering the talent Stokes has, and the fact he bats 6 in the team, only managing 619 @ 30.95 isn't good enough really. Also Moeen's conversion rate <3 (compared to the rest of our clowns)

Thought he was averaging about 40 for 16-17, 43 seems better.

 

[Zinzan]

Jeez root will be dirty with himself. Play that well & then play a loose nothing shot outside off.

If SA can get up here & then bring Rabada back for the 3rd, they should rightfully be bullish. Must confess to have written them off for this test without Rabada.