*Official* England in South Africa 2019/20

[flibbertyjibber]

Not my cup of tea style-wise but a terrific start. Get the target to under 300 with 10 left in the shed and its game on.

Get to close only 1 down and see how the sicknotes are in the morning, may have a slim chance then.

 

[Tom Flint]

It's not as lively as day 1 or 2 morning sessions but it's not a flat pitch at all. This has been a good start but they are really fighting every ball. Will take a hell of a lot of concentration for these to bat to the close.

 

[Uppercut]

I'm not seeing any seam movement at all.

 

[SeamUp]

Definitely looks like a good time to bat. The odd ball was nibbling from Vern. Runs are out there but you think there could be a ball around the corner that gets you still with the steep bounce.

SA batted like real **** last night losing 4 for nothing.

 

[StephenZA]

Nothing much to work with, but why Rabada not bowling straight away is strange.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Setting up nicely for another 8/50 special.

 

[King Pietersen]

Sibley looked a bit nervous first up but has settled in nicely now he knows where his off-stump is. Has left the ball well after flirting outside off early on and recently been gifted a few straighter ones which he's been able to put away. Positive signs.

 

[Uppercut]

Definitely looks like a good time to bat. The odd ball was nibbling from Vern. Runs are out there but you think there could be a ball around the corner that gets you still with the steep bounce.

SA batted like real **** last night losing 4 for nothing.

The pace and bounce is double-edged though. They're getting good value for their shots.

It might start to look a lot worse if a new batsman comes in.

 

[theegyptian]

Maybe it's the opposite of England and when the clouds come in it's a good time to bat in SA. Or Root is a tactical genius and bowling first was a masterstroke as the wicket is now a road and we'll knock these off comfortably.

 

[Uppercut]

Oof. Was that a bouncer or did it take off from a length?

 

[King Pietersen]

Oof, that really jumped off one of the cracks. Good luck playing that.

 

[Tom Flint]

Just because two batsman are doing a good job doesn't mean the pitch is flat. I'm seeing good carry bounce and seam movement when philander or rabada bowl

 

[SeamUp]

This is why they playing Maharaj. The 2nd innings can be a bit of a frustration when there is no side ways movement and the cracks aren't fully in effect (it is mainly excessive bounce). Run scoring can also be so quick you panic as a fielding side.

Besides the QdK/Rassie mess up again we have rarely created a chance. Less movement and England played Vern better. I wonder if they held KG back to see for reverse (abrasive enough - not so sure ?)

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Rabada as expensive as Archer again then.

 

[ImpatientLime]

maybe burns is good?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

maybe burns is good?

Looks the best opener tried since Strauss despite not having a technique that pleases the eye.

 

[SeamUp]

8 of England's last 11 fifties from an opener has been from Burns. Not a special stat but it shows he has made a positive impact.

 

[Uppercut]

"Good" is probably going too far. He looks quite a bit worse than his average and his average is 32.

Definitely worth persevering with though. He's got a lot of time at the crease against good attacks, which gives him a decent chance of becoming good.

 

[StephenZA]

I`m getting irritated about the 1st slip being to deep. Both the catches clearly reached Rassie, 1st one he just dropped, 2nd one a bit tougher. As for QDK wicket-keeping, he has always stepped towards the bowler, he watches the bowler from behind and just before the ball is bowled steps forward to get behind the wicket better. Nothing has changed. And I`m pretty confident that if this was a serious problem Boucher would be a pretty good person to fix it quickly.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Rabada as expensive as Archer again then.

He's looked a bit off for quite a while now, should be concerning for SA fans.