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

[Adders]

What a knock from Root. Seriously

**** yeah!!

I only watched up till lunch when I think Root was on 2, but unless the wicket and quality of bowling changed in the next 2 sessions this must be up there with one of his best knocks. So glad he's cracked the ton too.......for how great he's been the last year that conversation rate was definitely becoming a concern.

Obviously need to bat on and get a decent first innings lead but I'm ****ing stoked to wake up to this scorecard. Went to bed at 27/2 fairly convinced SA would be batting by EOD.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

**** yeah!!

I only watched up till lunch when I think Root was on 2, but unless the wicket and quality of bowling changed in the next 2 sessions this must be up there with one of his best knocks. So glad he's cracked the ton too.......for how great he's been the last year that conversation rate was definitely becoming a concern.

Obviously need to bat on and get a decent first innings lead but I'm ****ing stoked to wake up to this scorecard. Went to bed at 27/2 fairly convinced SA would be batting by EOD.

The bowling did get worse. Stokes completely ****ed with their heads. It was a fabulous knock however.

 

[Captain_Cook]

Cook has 60 runs at 12 in this series. If he scores less than 107 in the last 3 innings of this series it'll be his worse ever 4-test series and likely his worst test series by average. I hope this is a hiccup rather than another slump, his last one was so long...

 

[Burner]

So SA is Cook's kryptonite?

 

[hendrix]

Awesome from Root

 

[Furball]

South Africa's the hardest place in the world for an opening bat. Won't be the first to fail and won't be the last.

 

[Captain_Cook]

South Africa's the hardest place in the world for an opening bat. Won't be the first to fail and won't be the last.

To be fair to Cook, he tonned up in an innings win on his first visit so he's had limited success before in SA. Durban and Centurion were/are the most likely grounds for him to succeed given his failures on quick pitches (excluding his rearguard ton at Perth in 2006).

 

[burr]

I hope England get no more that about 50 ahead. If so, this is set up to be a classic. Loving this series to date.

 

[Furball]

And again, I'm not watching loads of the match but the impression I've had of Cook is that he's been got out rather than horrendously out of nick. Similar to the Ashes, he was batting well but didn't get a big score.

 

[Captain_Cook]

And again, I'm not watching loads of the match but the impression I've had of Cook is that he's been got out rather than horrendously out of nick.

I think the reason he's suffering is that his determined technique has loosened significantly. The two balls he got in Durban were good, the ball from Steyn pitched in the corridor from over the wicket and jagged away and Piedt outsmarted him.

Since then, he's got himself out. I think the fact he's striking at 60 or 70 against the new ball gives him false confidence hence getting out driving (brilliant catch by Morris aside) and groping outside leg (twice).

 

[Groundking]

For Cook, it's not like his last run of woeful form where he didn't look like he could hold a bat, he's just doing stupid things instead now. It really doesn't help that he's captain IMO (I despise captains opening) and that the other opener, whoever it is, is useless, I mean, when on earth was the last time we had an opening stand of 100? It must be years and years and years ago.

 

[Stace]

I've heard Daniel Bell-Drummond's name mentioned quite a lot. I mentioned him purely based on how ****ing great he can look a few months back but his record doesn't merit selection at all.

I was there when he made a ton against the Aussies in the warm up tour and he was absolutely sensational, must be half decent to get as ton against a side with Ryan Harris (even if he wasn't 100% he gave it 100%). I'm sure he made 2 tons in 2 innings (it was only div.2 CC) but he didn't kick on after that as hoped. Maybe he's the kind who steps up when facing better competition on better pitches, anyway I've ordered my season ticket so hopefully he'll show improvements from last year with more consistency.

 

[Gnske]

Hope the head groundsman gets significant reward for producing this pitch.

 

[Compton]

Cook was hardly gotten out by a good ball today.

 

[grecian]

Cook has 60 runs at 12 in this series. If he scores less than 107 in the last 3 innings of this series it'll be his worse ever 4-test series and likely his worst test series by average. I hope this is a hiccup rather than another slump, his last one was so long...

The bloke scored 263 about 2 months ago, Which btw was our last ton opening partnership (for Groundking) think we can probably not call it a slump yet......

 

[weldone]

Hales scored 1 run more than I expected.

And yes, the counter-attacking knock from Root was quality.

England should get a healthy first-innings lead. SA will bat better in the 2nd innings than the 1st. And this test will have a close finish.

 

[Niall]

. SA will bat better in the 2nd innings than the 1st. [/B.

Maybe, but its also possible that England will bowl better second time around as well. The lack of a Saffer bowler able to slow the scoring rate is killing them here, so many loose deliveries.

 

[Spark]

Oh ****, massive.

Weird that he reviewed it.

 

[fredfertang]

Had a feeling I'd regret not staying in bed

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Game twists again then.