***Official*** England in South Africa 2015/16

[vcs]

Even if SA bat another 60 overs and get the lead down under 100, England would still be in a pretty decent position to bat a couple of sessions and have a go on day 5. Stokes's speed of scoring really makes a big difference.

 

[Daemon]

Finn is a gun imo. If there aren't any injury troubles he'll be quite a handful in the foreseeable.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Another ball not going to hand.

England should enforce a follow-on in the unlikely event of being a possibility. South Africa getting to the 450-500 range is where Cook's premature declaration would really bite. Saves the follow-on and means England would play with a degree of caution getting to around 70-80.

 

[Furball]

For such an 'excellent cricket wicket' there's a lot of edges getting nowhere near the cordon.

#commsareidiots

#waaaah

 

[91Jmay]

Pitch has lost its pace over last session or two. Full blown road now.

 

[Niall]

Even if SA bat another 60 overs and get the lead down under 100, England would still be in a pretty decent position to bat a couple of sessions and have a go on day 5. Stokes's speed of scoring really makes a big difference.

Exactly,think their is a good chance that at least one of Cook or Compton won't be allowed to bat second time around. Does anyone remember the Ashes test when Australia were in slog mode and despite losing five or six wickets, Rogers didn't get a bat.

Get Amla and England will be reasonably pleased with the day.

 

[91Jmay]

Lead of <200 and England will not change their batting order.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Well this is fun. Pitch flat and getting flatter.

Can't fault the bowlers, worked hard, just been let down by the catching.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah, you can't shell Amla twice and expect to prosper.

 

[Niall]

Lead of <200 and England will not change their batting order.

Well maybe not the openers, but no reason for Compton to bat next time around especially if he is going to bat like normal.

 

[91Jmay]

If the openers but the lead past the 300 mark then Root might get promoted.

 

[Pratters]

This is like watching paint dry. Worse actually.

 

[91Jmay]

Have to give Saffers credit, whilst we've given them lives they have knuckled down and approached a big score very well.

 

[Compton]

Another ball not going to hand.

England should enforce a follow-on in the unlikely event of being a possibility. South Africa getting to the 450-500 range is where Cook's premature declaration would really bite. Saves the follow-on and means England would play with a degree of caution getting to around 70-80.

I can't imagine England's seamers fancy another 100 overs in that heat.

 

[Niall]

I can't imagine England's seamers fancy another 100 overs in that heat.

They won't, I recall when they were rolling over india in 2014, and Agnew asking Broad about enforcing the follow on, and he was appalled at the prospect and went on a mini rant about why bowlers hate it. I'd be astounded if he or the rest would have had a change of heart since then especially on this surface.

 

[Pratters]

So what's going to happen? South Africa score around 500 till tomorrow. England bat for 1.5 sessions or so and then England try to get SA in 2.5 sessions.

 

[91Jmay]

If SA get near level then all the pressure will be back on us, could make an interesting final session tomorrow. Day 5 is going to be really crap though, just a dead match on a pitch which is doing very little.

 

[Compton]

Oh good, Hales is on.

 

[Chrish]

Great from Amla.. So happy for him!

Now needs Faf's form back and it will be a competitive series

 

[91Jmay]

Alex Hales on before Root is a bold move. God I just want one more wicket, a real end to attack.