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

[Howe_zat]

aww

 

[marc71178]

One school of thought on TRJ is that years of playing a on a flat Lord's pitch and getting good results stands him in good stead for a typical Test pitch.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Fair buyer beware on TRJ, although to be fair to Kirtley he would have been a decent Test player without injuries and action issues. I'd bet he'd be in our current Test side.

Though Kirtley wasn't the best bowler in county cricket for a couple of seasons like TRJ has been. Not saying TRJ is going to be a superstar in tests but he showed here he deserves a decent crack at it.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

The rise of the Ali

 

[grecian]

Not really on-topic, but as I'll be incredibly annoyed by it whilst watching cricket (and football, but apparently no-one cares about that this year), are we just going to have to put up with all the Sky channels advertising, in every break and in every way, this farce of a "fight" between Mayweather-MCgregor for the whole month of August?

actually a rhetorical question, I'm just going to be the first to vent my ire about it. If you pay that kinda money for it you must be an utter bloodly doltish dunderhead.

carry on....

 

[honestbharani]

Yeah, but it's kind of 5th bowler/lead spinner isn't it. Not like we expect him to bowl 20 overs in a day ever, but if he can it's a nice bonus as he'll likely be bowling well.

In a side where the strength is the pace attack and the fact the next 3 series after this one will be won by the pace attacks then he has a role of filling in and then attacking on the few occasions the pitch allows. Suits him fine then that he can bat freely at 7 or 8 too.

Not saying he cannot fill that role well, just meant that his role is still lead spinner and his runs should be considered a bonus really.

Root bowled ahead of him in the first innings so clearly he's lead spinner this game.

Whatevs.

 

[wpdavid]

One school of thought on TRJ is that years of playing a on a flat Lord's pitch and getting good results stands him in good stead for a typical Test pitch.

Not an unreasonable school of thought at all.

 

[Furball]

I've been impressed by how Root is managing Anderson this series.

 

[vogue]

So Finn in and injured Wood out for 4th test.

 

[theegyptian]

I've seen a couple of places discuss Hales batting at 5 in test cricket in the last day. I'm mean come on. It's Buttler all over again. They score a 100 in 50 over or 20 over cricket and next day people start putting them in their test teams.

It shouldn't work that way, especially the way Buttler and Hales play white ball cricket (in a fashion that doesn't easily translate to test cricket).

 

[wpdavid]

I've been impressed by how Root is managing Anderson this series.

What in particular?

 

[SpaceMonkey]

View attachment 23563

aww

One of the best cricket pictures of the last decade that. So much going on.

But I can't get over the fact Ali looks like he's doing the Anchorman celebration.

 

[wpdavid]

So Finn in and injured Wood out for 4th test.

How's Old Trafford playing lately?

 

[weeman27bob]

I've seen a couple of places discuss Hales batting at 5 in test cricket in the last day. I'm mean come on. It's Buttler all over again. They score a 100 in 50 over or 20 over cricket and next day people start putting them in their test teams.

It shouldn't work that way, especially the way Buttler and Hales play white ball cricket (in a fashion that doesn't easily translate to test cricket).

If only there was someone who scored a 100 in 20 over cricket and could be a good middle order player in the test team.

coughJoeClarkecough

 

[Gnske]

Can't wait to see Mark "I can't even average 35 in first class cricket" Stoneman take to test cricket. It's going to be a must see event.

 

[Burgey]

Need an early wicket today, if they get to lunch 4 down could get a bit twitchy. Backing Moeen to make an impact, thought he looked pretty good yesterday.

Good get.

 

[Burgey]

I honestly could see him having OK-ish figures in Australia. Wouldn't be surprised if he takes wickets, anyway.

A visiting finger spinner in Australia taking wickets would be a big achievement on his part.

 

[Adders]

I've been impressed by how Root is managing Anderson this series.

Yeah me too, if anything he's underbowling him rather than over working him like Cook used too. Bodes well for prolonging his career.

 

[superkingdave]

How's Old Trafford playing lately?

Weather has been pretty awful of late. Wouldn't be surprised if it was pretty slow. Not been much in it for the spinners so far this year, seamers faired better.

 

[grecian]

Weather has been pretty awful of late. Wouldn't be surprised if it was pretty slow. Not been much in it for the spinners so far this year, seamers faired better.

Yes bumble was saying it's been slow, a shame because I like a bouncy OT pitch, the only reason Test cricket has got to go to Manchester TBPH.