*Official* England in South Africa 2019/20

[Pothas]

Oh man. I might even get the Rootometer out.

Absolutely must if he gets 5.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Not really apropos of the current play and I'm not necessarily suggesting his presence would've made a difference to the outcome, but swapping Pretorius for Paterson seems to have weakened both SA's batting and bowling.

Hate to be that guy, but is Paterson from what's occasionally termed (in sotto voce voices) a previously disadvantaged background at all?

 

[honestbharani]

Root taking a haul? Really, RSA?


And to think I was rooting for you guys. But good on Joe. Maybe hoping to join some fab 4 of spinners now that he seems well and truly out of the fab 4 batting club.

 

[Howe_zat]

Four drops for Stokes in two days. A nice contrapositve to the notion that he performs when it matters.

 

[Heboric]

Not really apropos of the current play and I'm not necessarily suggesting his presence would've made a difference to the outcome, but swapping Pretorius for Paterson seems to have weakened both SA's batting and bowling.

Hate to be that guy, but is Paterson from what's occasionally termed (in sotto voce voices) a previously disadvantaged background at all?

I am not sure, but definitely not the right one to satisfy dodgy politicians and crappy cricinfo "journalist"

 

[slippy888]

Something has to be done South Africa cant keep picking these players for next few years

 

[Starfighter]

Did a double take at the scorecard. While I think Root's bowling is handy, he ain't that good.


I bet SA would still somehow manage to beat us though.

 

[Heboric]

Did a double take at the scorecard. While I think Root's bowling is handy, he ain't that good.


I bet SA would still somehow manage to beat us though.

Not in PE we wont

 

[Howe_zat]

Not in PE we wont

yeah I was bad at PE in school too

 

[Prince EWS]

I reckon a game like this for Root was coming for a while; his bowling has been getting a lot better without any real reward lately. I have an inkling he may have decided to take it a bit more seriously once Moeen was dropped.

 

[Adders]

As great as these wickets are from Root, id prefer he concentrate on his batting tbh.

 

[theegyptian]

I reckon a game like this for Root was coming for a while; his bowling has been getting a lot better without any real reward lately. I have an inkling he may have decided to take it a bit more seriously once Moeen was dropped.

He's just doing it so he can pick 5 seamers and annoy you.

Wouldn't be surprised if they cut Bess for the next test and bring in Archer or Woakes, or both if Wood is crocked.

 

[sphynx]

Something has to be done South Africa cant keep picking these players for next few years

The real problem is this isn't even a world class attack that hey are facing.


This RSA batting lineup has real claims to be the worst batting lineup outside of the legit minnows in world cricket at the moment. Excluding QDK - Elgar and Faf are both their 'star' batsmen, both barely average 40, were always glue type players in the batting order and are both struggling being the alpha's in this side.


The Australian attack might not be allowed out of the country due to the things they do to this batting lineup when they tour there in 12 months.

 

[FBU]

I would have sent my favourite nwm Nortje in ahead of Maharaj but I see he is to come in at 11.

 

[Flem274*]

enjoyed watching root bowl last night. love a batsman sending down some half decent stuff.

so it looks like every team on the planet will be lining up with offies to bowl against south africa.

 

[morgieb]

So Joe Root has taken 4. South Africa should automatically forfeit Test status. This is worse playing of spin than the worst excesses of the Lehmann years, at least then we generally destroyed spinners at home.

 

[StephenZA]

Cold horrible today, gusty winds. But clouds high and rain not gonna save SA.

 

[Bolo.]

Does anyone else feel like they have sullied their soul a bit when they really hope for rain, cos that is the only chance their **** team has to escape?

 

[Starfighter]

In Australia it apparently doesn't rain any more, so it's not worth wasting the mental effort hoping.

 

[Heboric]

Lol people conveniently forgetting how their team went through periods of crapness as well.

ALthough not surprising in a place where the whole future of a nations cricketing future was put in doubt after a loss of a 20/20 game