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

[91Jmay]

That AB drop could end up saving SA. I just can't see us taking 18 wickets on this pitch unless it starts to spin or reverse. Looks ideal pitch for good players to bat on as it has pace/bounce but no movement.

 

[Niall]

If I was being greedy I'd have liked one more wicket but we're a great position. And I reckon if we get one of these two, then we can run through the lineup.

Exactly, I think at least one of these 2 have to get to 150 or so, because you really don't want to be relying on the rest to go big despite the pitch looking flaccid.

 

[Furball]

Especially as we seem to be feeling morally obliged to give him a life every innings at present.

Having just switched back on, the declaration is looking as bad an idea as I thought at the time. Surely there was a case for keeping SA in the field for another our or two before unleashing our boys at them.

If South Africa bat all day tomorrow and score 300 then they're in the position where they've only just saved the follow on and are still the guts of 200 runs behind. We're miles ahead.

 

[wpdavid]

What makes you think these would have batted any worse had we had declared later?

Obviously it isn't a certainty, but just the extra fatigue of best part of two days in the field.

No-one's arguing that they aren't magnificent players. It's just about doing what the opposition least want you to do. In my opinion, anyway.

 

[Niall]

If South Africa bat all day tomorrow and score 300 then they're in the position where they've only just saved the follow on and are still the guts of 200 runs behind. We're miles ahead.

The other problem for South Africa is even if they bat for another day and a bit which will be very hard no matter the pitch, they still won't be safe. Its possible England in a session or a bit could add another 150 or so due to the team been loaded with hitters and send South Africa back in for a really tough fifth day.

Its possible South Africa may save this, heck the bookies have the draw favourite, but its going to take a mammoth effort when you consider how out of form so many of the bats are.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Amla should declare on about 900 to give our bowlers something to bowl to.

 

[Tom Flint]

I just think delaying the declaration only takes more time out of the game therefore less time to take 20 wickets. Had root held onto ab we might well have got Faf too and we'd be in a fantastic position, regardless we're still well on top and should win from here

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Amla should declare on about 900 to give our bowlers something to bowl to.

1000 imo

 

[kykweer.proteas]

1000 imo

Good point, still plenty of time.

 

[Tom Flint]

Im not sure if morris can bat or not but Morkel rabada and Piedt is an awful tail. De Kock could be dangerous on this deck however

 

[Compton]

Yeah the declaration was on the early side of fine. England still in a dominant position, would probably have taken another after the Root drop had he caught it. SA's tail have barely threatened to wag so far.

 

[Captain_Cook]

Is this pitch too flat for a result? I didn't watch too much of SA's innings, was there any help or movement happening at all?

 

[Stefan9]

Great innings by Stokes. Poor bowling by SA thought.

Only positive was to see hash get some runs again.

Is this pitch too flat for a result? I didn't watch too much of SA's innings, was there any help or movement happening at all?

There is pace & bounce so if you can get it in the right place you should be able to make in roads. I think both bowling sides have been very inconsistent in this game.

The issue is because of the ball comes onto the bat very nicely because of the pace and bounce once someone gets in it becomes a fantastic batting wicket.

England did drop amla and ab.

SA made some strange bowling changes on the first day as well which didn't help their cause.

 

[Spark]

Watching highlights. Christ, how pure are these shots?

 

[Furball]

Great innings by Stokes. Poor bowling by SA thought.

Only positive was to see hash get some runs again.



There is pace & bounce so if you can get it in the right place you should be able to make in roads. I think both bowling sides haven't been very inconsistent in this game.

The issue is because of the ball comes onto the bat very nicely because of the pace and bounce once someone gets in it becomes a fantastic batting wicket.

England did drop amla and ab.

SA made some strange bowling changes on the first day as well which didn't help their cause.

There's pace and bounce but there's **** all movement off the deck or through the air. One of those roads that bizarrely gets praise for being a 'good cricket wicket offering something for everyone' when all the pace and carry does is allow the ball to ping off the bat to the boundary faster.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Watching highlights. Christ, how pure are these shots?

Yeah, I'm watching it now and it's ridiculous. Some of these sixes off Rabada

Gutted I didn't catch it live though.

 

[Furball]

I woke up during the lunch break and stuck on the TV. When Sky came off their break they showed the slow motion shot of Stokes raising his bat for the double ton, my first thought were 'good, he's carried on and got his 100' - when they played Athers commentary voice over announcing the double ton I had to double check what time it was

 

[Spark]

Yeah when I flicked on, I had a moment where it took me a bit to work out what time it was, because I assumed that it had to be pretty much the end of the day based on the score.

 

[91Jmay]

The six the ball before he got out is one of the biggest and cleanest I have ever seen. Reminds me of Flintoff nuking Ntini at the Oval.

 

[Adders]

I still can't believe what I saw last night, simply incredible. I think England were a couple of runs short of 200 for the first session........has that ever been done before?

Poor old Bairstow though.......his first test ton and it was immense in itself, but no one will remember it while Stokes is going to go down in cricketing folk law and will be talked about for eternity!!