*Official* England in South Africa 2019/20

[Woodster]

South Africa showing their own batting frailties here, which we knew existed was just a case whether Broad and Anderson could find enough assistance in this pitch to expose those deficiencies.

Haven’t seen England so up for it in the field for quite some time. They were passive and almost accepting of situations in NZ yet here we’re showing positive signs of aggression and being up for the fight.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

These are two seriously mediocre batting lineups.

Very much so, though in SA case they lost half their batting in Amla and AB and are trying to replace them. Ours is just crap.

 

[wpdavid]

Popped out at 17-0, so I'd have taken this as a lunchtime score. It looks like our openers have bowled really well. How did Bess look?

 

[Tom Flint]

Not bad but not too threatening either, it kind of relieved the pressure a bit you had Jimmy at one end and the ball was doing a bit, stokes hadn't bowled at that point I thought he should have been on a the ball was only 15 overs old or so. Elgar loosely drove bess' first ball through covers that pope nearly got his fingertips too

 

[Gnske]

Double it Dean, surprisingly fluent this innings.

Really need to hang in, good value for shots on this outfield.

 

[vcs]

269 looking a decent total now

Always is in SA. Especially with two fairly mediocre batting lineups, as people have noted. Makes for some fun cricket, though.

 

[StephenZA]

Keep going goblin...

 

[Gnske]

Curran really can look pedestrian and docile can't he. I wouldn't even be bothering bowling short with his style on this deck.

 

[wpdavid]

Elgar looking very comfortable and Curran looking very mediocre at present. Root needs someone to dry up the runs.

 

[thierry henry]

Has this whole series been available on Sky in NZ? Cos I just changed the channel and got a pleasant surprise.

 

[Woodster]

Elgar’s looked exceptionally secure to this point, we need him quickly and I’m fairly certain Curran bowling like this isn’t going to do the trick. Hope we don’t give Curran overs that Stokes should be bowling purely because he’s picked as a ‘specialist’ bowler.

 

[thierry henry]

...although I do question (a) KP’s existence and (b) Pollock explaining how to bowl 145kph

 

[Gnske]

Lmao unbelievable

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Elgar has played really well. Need him out quickly, could be a series winning knock as we all know he is happy to go on and on.

 

[Groundking]

Really? How hard is it for professional cricketers to not bowl no balls?

 

[MW1304]

You've played 136 Tests mate.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Really? How hard is it for professional cricketers to not bowl no balls?

Clearly very hard given how many do it.

 

[wpdavid]

That's inexcusable at this level. How is it difficult to keep part of your front foot behind the line?

 

[thierry henry]

Sibley is incredibly ungainly right? Looks like he could be a plodding heavyweight boxer though

 

[Gnske]

That's inexcusable at this level. How is it difficult to keep part of your front foot behind the line?

Apparently Broad needs every last bit of pace as is the meme.

He's bowled quicker than I can remember in recent times today.