*Official* England in South Africa 2019/20

[Dendarii]

Nortje could be a massive frustration if England don't get him too early. They really want to get at de Kock as early as possible.

Nortje has a first-class average of 15.32 which includes four 50s. I don't know how much of that was at franchise level, but it does point to him having the potential to stick around for a while.

 

[Spark]

Gotta hit that.

 

[StephenZA]

15 wickets yesterday is ridiculous. Pitch is nowhere near that tough.

 

[wpdavid]

15 wickets yesterday is ridiculous. Pitch is nowhere near that tough.

It will look rather different when SA are bowling on it. This really is garbage from England yet again.

 

[Spark]

England need to wake up ffs. He's hit that straight to mid-off and got an easy single.

 

[greg]

I hope Mark Nicholas’s presence in the commentary box this series isn’t a sign of things to come for lucky Sky Sports viewers. Does he ever shut up?

 

[Spikey]

Spark, they're all sick.

 

[Spark]

Missing leg imo

 

[StephenZA]

Root down as well? Team really needed to get their flu jabs.

 

[SeamUp]

If there was ever a dismissal for Rassie that plagued him early on in franchise cricket... that was it.

 

[wpdavid]

If there was ever a dismissal for Rassie that plagued him early on in franchise cricket... that was it.

But he's fine. England firmly in white flag mode. Beginning to wonder how many test careers will be ended out here if England continue to get slaughtered throughout the series.

 

[Spark]

okay who in england broke a warehouse full of mirrors about two weeks ago

 

[Spark]

shot!

 

[Gnske]

This is so abject. They all look like they want to be sitting in a cottage in Shrewbury sipping some Earl Grey.

 

[SeamUp]

But he's fine. England firmly in white flag mode.

They do look down and out. This flu situ hasn't helped. Not a lot of people liked what Archer did yesterday evening but I think it was something England needed.

 

[Daemon]

Root down as well? Team really needed to get their flu jabs.

Is it flu? This sort of thing typically tends to be food poisoning.

 

[StephenZA]

Is it flu? This sort of thing typically tends to be food poisoning.

Depends whether they caught it in the hotel ... and who the waitress was. Need to ask the NZ '95 WC team.Seriously don't know if it is flu are really bad tummy bug. I know if I was in the SA camp would not be having beers after the match with them.

 

[SeamUp]

Is it flu? This sort of thing typically tends to be food poisoning.

Pretty sure Mark Nicholas said flu on day 1

 

[SeamUp]

Lets not forget scores of 481/8 & 475 in 2016 , 552-5 in 2014 , 409 in 2013 , 620-4 in 2010 , 480 in 2005 & 604 in 2004 have been scored on this ground in test cricket.

 

[StephenZA]

Lets not forget scores of 481/8 & 475 in 2016 , 552-5 in 2014 , 409 in 2013 , 620-4 in 2010 , 480 in 2005 & 604 in 2004 have been scored on this ground in test cricket.

It was only the last two seasons that this pitch became atrocious... Now it is behaving pretty much as expected. Slow pitch first day, speeds up 2nd, 3rd day but decent batting. Will probably have lots of cracks from 4th day onwards. Hardly unplayable, just poor batting overall.