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

[Jono]

Surely we have enough of a platform to send in Buttler and take the game away from South Africa?

But its not the type of pitch you can come in and hit from ball 1

 

[91Jmay]

Morgan has to back himself in this situation. Setting a total is different, but in this situation the Captain has to step up.

 

[Black_Warrior]

soft

Watson

 

[Howe_zat]

Easy to say they are putting all their eggs in the last 20 basket here, but there's been far more mistimed attempts at boundaries for 0 or 1 this game than boundaries for both sides.

Behardien has got to go here. He's getting away with it so far

 

[theegyptian]

the problem with this batting order (and I'm not per se suggesting they should change it) is that Stokes and Ali I wouldn't trust in a chase like this. They're top order bats who aren't used to guiding chases (and so really shouldn't be batting at 6 and 7). Morgan and Buttler are the two who are experienced and cleverer in that regard. Long term you don't want Stokes and ALi together at 6 and 7 imo.

 

[91Jmay]

Stokes should come in next and just try and smash us into a comfortable chase.

 

[Howe_zat]

the problem with this batting order (and I'm not per se suggesting they should change it) is that Stokes and Ali I wouldn't trust in a chase like this. They're top order bats who aren't used to guiding chases (and so really shouldn't be batting at 6 and 7). Morgan and Buttler are the two who are experienced and cleverer in that regard. Long term you don't want Stokes and ALi together at 6 and 7 imo.

So long as they remember the batting order doesn't have to be set in stone, it's fine I think. Morgan has brought himself up the order here to control the chase for example. They can replace him with Buttler if he gets out, but still might replace Hales with Stokes to ensure that one of Buttler or Morgan is always there.

Moeen does look out of place as a number 7 I agree, but it's hard to think of a genuine batsman who is used to that role who we could bring in.

 

[Pothas]

Stokes should come in next and just try and smash us into a comfortable chase.

Nah, he is far more likely to get stuck than Buttler. We are totally fine for run rate here.

 

[91Jmay]

Moeen is fine as a 7 i think. Most of the time he will just be smashing the ball down there which he can do well. Taylor would have been really useful on this surface.

 

[Howe_zat]

Behardien has got to go here. He's getting away with it so far

cheers Mogs.

 

[Pothas]

So long as they remember the batting order doesn't have to be set in stone, it's fine I think. Morgan has brought himself up the order here to control the chase for example. They can replace him with Buttler if he gets out, but still might replace Hales with Stokes to ensure that one of Buttler or Morgan is always there.

Moeen does look out of place as a number 7 I agree, but it's hard to think of a genuine batsman who is used to that role who we could bring in.

From a batting point of view I would much rather have Billings in at 6 or 7 leaving one spot for Moeen and Stokes but having 6 bowlers makes such a big difference that it is well worth it having those two, even if they are out of position.

 

[91Jmay]

Tahir bowling some absolute filth here.

 

[Howe_zat]

Moeen is fine as a 7 i think. Most of the time he will just be smashing the ball down there which he can do well. Taylor would have been really useful on this surface.

You could fit in some extra cake by playing Taylor instead of Roy and getting Moeen to open. It's probably what I'd have done back in June but they're really invested in Roy and Hales as a partnership now and I think it's worth sticking with for a bit.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah that is what I'd have done as well but Hales/Roy average 50 with a really healthy strike rate so they are worth giving a good long run to.

 

[Niall]

Tahir bowling some absolute filth here.

The Saffer posters will have watched him closer than me, but I don't think he has been up to much for close to a year even in limited overs cricket where he used to be very reliable. Its hugely concerning with the t20 world cup because no matter what Ab does, its going to be close to impossible to win a world cup in India with your frontline spinner looking so poor.

 

[Howe_zat]

Anyway this partnership has put England right in control.

 

[Jono]

No matter the form of cricket, it is so wahhh than when you have a pitch assisting spinners and your frontline spinner bowls crap. It just destroys your game plan.

 

[91Jmay]

That was really, really unnecessary.

 

[Howe_zat]

Well, piss.

 

[Jono]

weird shot from the captain. filthy really.

Could have a decent finish now. Eng still on top but Saffers a solid sniff