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

[mackembhoy]

Same 4 holes as we had 2/3 years ago though. No opening partner for Cook, lack of another middle order bat, decent spinner and back up pace bowler (though Woakes being injured doesn't help there) and no real prospect of filling the void really.

Going to be a long winter ahead unless we drop lucky and find a couple of them quickly.

Jennings has more runs than cook in the last 4 tests.

Cooks not exactly a rock at the minute.

 

[MW1304]

Same 4 holes as we had 2/3 years ago though. No opening partner for Cook, lack of another middle order bat, decent spinner and back up pace bowler (though Woakes being injured doesn't help there) and no real prospect of filling the void really.

Going to be a long winter ahead unless we drop lucky and find a couple of them quickly.

What's dispiriting is it looked like we might have finally come across at least one top order find in the winter. As with almost every case, though, they looked good at first before completely tailing off. It's a bizarre pattern, rarely do these guys look completely useless from the start, why can none of them make it stick? Hameed is the most depressing case.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Jennings has more runs than cook in the last 4 tests.

Cooks not exactly a rock at the minute.

Jennings looks out of his depth in this series. Cook has enough in the bank to know he will come good, we can't say Jennings will improve. Even Lyth got a ton you know.

 

[SeamUp]

Actually don't want it to go all our way here because possibilities of the pitch easing out. Stokes proving if you bend your back there is something still. Quality nut from Jimmeh though.

 

[mackembhoy]

Jennings looks out of his depth in this series. Cook has enough in the bank to know he will come good, we can't say Jennings will improve. Even Lyth got a ton you know.

A ton on your home ground is a bit different to scoring a ton on debut in Mumbai against the best spinner in the world.

Got out to some unplayable deliveries from Morkel isn't being out of depth. He's playing his 4th test, we afforded players more time off doing less(hales,lyth,vince and robson)

Cook appears to be back to the man Harris had on toast. After having a summer bullying average bowlers.

Cook (question marks on can he get back to his best)
Jennings (still new)
Ballanc (not good enough)
Root (conversion is a massive problem)
Bairstow (where do you bat him)
Stokes (poor for a while, needs to be averaging 40+)
Mooen (can't criticise his batting)

 

[SeamUp]

For England's batting order.

Potentially 3 spots up for grabs for batsman.

Jennings (25)
Ballance (28)
Dawson

Been around the block & scoring runs this season. Some tested & failed like Ballance.

Stoneman (30)
Robson (28)
Malan (30)
Westley (28)
Vince (26)
Northeast (28)


Potential with runs behind their name at some point in short careers - (these are the tricky one's because overall could be better package than some of the above for the long run.)

Davies (23)
Hameed (20)
Duckett (23)
Lawrence (20)
Livingstone (24)
Clarke (21)

 

[Heboric]

Has Warne started talking about the declaration yet?

Nah, he hasnt the time , he has been talking about energy a lot

 

[Moonsorrow999]

For someone who is meant to be fast, Mark Wood sure does look like he struggles to bowl 140 and he barely even hits that.

 

[mackembhoy]

For someone who is meant to be fast, Mark Wood sure does look like he struggles to bowl 140 and he barely even hits that.

Injuries seems to have taken it's toll.

He was rapid at the end of the season for 2016 Durham. Bowling as fast as 94mph

Of course he got ****ed playing in a game against Surrey he didn't need to play as the ECB had already decided to send Durham down.

 

[weldone]

Why the **** is Jennings playing ahead of Hameed?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Hameed averages about 10 this season so has rightfully been dropped. Not that Jennings was doing much anyway but there aren't any other options.

Hameed actually averages 20 in 8 games without scoring a 50 yet. You can't pick him at present.

 

[SeamUp]

The Sky cricket inserts certainly are fantastic. Brought a few tears over these test matches. Love history, tradition and stories being told on the game.

 

[Daemon]

Hameed averages about 10 this season so has rightfully been dropped. Not that Jennings was doing much anyway but there aren't any other options.

Hameed actually averages 20 in 8 games without scoring a 50 yet. You can't pick him at present.

Maybe Hameed did a reverse Ballance and only figured out how to score against good bowling

 

[MW1304]

Great situational batting from these two. So far ahead in the game you can easily ride out the good bowling and wait for Wood to come on.

 

[Gob]

Just ask 'why do you want to slow the game down Nasser?'

We are in the 2nd session of the 3rd day and there's absolutely no point in slowing the game down time wise.

 

[wpdavid]

Great situational batting from these two. So far ahead in the game you can easily ride out the good bowling and wait for Wood to come on.

Object lesson for England's batsmen who singularly failed to do that against Morkel yesterday afternoon.

Mind you, most of the last 2 and a half days has been an object lesson from SA in how to play test cricket.

 

[StephenZA]

Well played Hash... get the 100 in the next test for us.

 

[fredfertang]

At last

 

[fredfertang]

Bavuma must be due a blob

 

[honestbharani]

Opened crapinfo. Headline said Amla solid as lead passes 300. Clicked link to see he was out just that ball. You English CW fans owe CI one here, I think.