*Official* England in South Africa Thread

[wpdavid]

Key gifting away his wicket...please, Vaughnie, get a fifty...

That's three times out of three for Key, when he really should be intent on batting them into the ground. Funny bloke Key. Clearly he can bat, but he's still not convincing as a test number 3. Any way, let's see what the captain can do this time.

 

[Pratters]

Finally out!

There is light at the end of the tunnel.. no matter how long the tunnel is

 

[Neil Pickup]

"The partnership had reached 182, and Key 83, when the return of Makhaya Ntini to the South African attack paid dividend. A sustained burst of short bowling from both Ntini and Steyn unsettled Key sufficiently to induce a snatched drive to a slightly quicker, full and slightly wide ball with Graeme Smith clinging on at first slip.."

Not *too* wide, but didn't need to go at it

 

[Magrat Garlick]

"The partnership had reached 182, and Key 83, when the return of Makhaya Ntini to the South African attack paid dividend. A sustained burst of short bowling from both Ntini and Steyn unsettled Key sufficiently to induce a snatched drive to a slightly quicker, full and slightly wide ball with Graeme Smith clinging on at first slip.."

Not *too* wide, but didn't need to go at it

Dividends, not dividend.

 

[Mister Wright]

Strauss falls short of the 150 again. Great innings from Strauss, hopefully Thorpe & Vaughan can keep ou the new ball for the rest of the day, and cash in tomorrow.

 

[Mr Casson]

Strauss falls short of the 150 again. Great innings from Strauss, hopefully Thorpe & Vaughan can keep ou the new ball for the rest of the day, and cash in tomorrow.

Still need to bat most of tomorrow if they want to drive home the advantage, so Strauss has only done half the job. Vaughan needs to spend some significant time at the crease.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Love the way the radio commentators go on about how if SA get another wicket it'll be an even day... Right 280ish for 4 batting first on a dry pitch that has a bit of movement in it is below par (gotta factor in the advantage later on of batting first - such that a first innings deficit of say 50 makes the game even). As if those cheesy retch-inducing adverts about some fireman program exclusive to sky isn't bad enough.

 

[wpdavid]

Still need to bat most of tomorrow if they want to drive home the advantage, so Strauss has only done half the job. Vaughan needs to spend some significant time at the crease.

When will they learn? Seven overs to go against the second new ball and he flashes at a wide one. Great innings of course, but we didn't need the middle order exposed at this stage.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

When will they learn? Seven overs to go against the second new ball and he flashes at a wide one. Great innings of course, but we didn't need the middle order exposed at this stage.

Never happy...

 

[Mr Casson]

When will they learn? Seven overs to go against the second new ball and he flashes at a wide one. Great innings of course, but we didn't need the middle order exposed at this stage.

"When will they learn"? What the hell is that? How about "Congratulations, what an important knock"?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

D'oh. Thorpe c Dippenaar b Ntini 0.

 

[Scaly piscine]

D'oh. Thorpe c Dippenaar b Ntini 0.

Doesn't surprise me, the ball has moved all over the place when the cloud has come over

 

[Pratters]

Doesn't surprise me, the ball has moved all over the place when the cloud has come over

Trust an English fan to complain. You didnt say any thing in the first session when Pollock was so unlucky did you

 

[Scaly piscine]

Trust an English fan to complain. You didnt say any thing in the first session when Pollock was so unlucky did you

How is that a complaint? You're paranoid.

If the forecasts of cloud for the rest of the Test come true SA are in big trouble (obviously this excludes it raining for 4 days...).

Atherton just said it's marginally been England's day... no wonder he was England's worst ever captain.

 

[wpdavid]

"When will they learn"? What the hell is that? How about "Congratulations, what an important knock"?

That was the "great innings" bit. Still doesn't make it a great idea to give it away at that stage of play, as Thorpe's subsequent duck shows. Bit like Gibbs' 1st innings at the Oval in 2003.

There's an interesting discussion on the radio at the moment about whether Strauss's unbelievable form has made it look an easier wicket than it really is. If so, and we skittle them, then great. If not, and they skate past our first innings score, then we've allowed them back in. That doesn't mean Pollock & Ntini didn't bowl well, before the Saffies get upset about that last comment, but there are times when you need to shut up shop, concentrate on keeping your wicket intact, and save it for the next day.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Sunny tomorrow, then...anyone's guess, but looks dangerous for cricket.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0082

 

[Pratters]

How is that a complaint? You're paranoid.

If the forecasts of cloud for the rest of the Test SA are in big trouble (obviously this excludes it raining for 4 days...).

Atherton just said it's marginally been England's day... no wonder he was England's worst ever captain.

Okay the wicket didnt occur due to the clouds for pete's sake although it does offer some help!

England had the hold on the day for most of the period but their position has slightly weakened by the loss of those two wickets. If they manage around 400, they still stand in good stead.

 

[Jono]

Ouch. Strauss & Thorpe's wickets late in the day had to hurt.

Will be an interesting day's play tomorrow.

 

[wpdavid]

Okay the wicket didnt occur due to the clouds for pete's sake although it does offer some help!

England had the hold on the day for most of the period but their position has slightly weakened by the loss of those two wickets. If they manage around 400, they still stand in good stead.

Right now, I'd be delighted with 400, given the form of our remaining batsmen. On the radio, they're trying to work out how likely swing bowlers like Hoggard & Anderson are to move the ball around at this venue. What do you reckon about that?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Okay the wicket didnt occur due to the clouds for pete's sake although it does offer some help!

England had the hold on the day for most of the period but their position has slightly weakened by the loss of those two wickets. If they manage around 400, they still stand in good stead.

Well they wouldn't have gotten Thorpe in the manner they did if there were no conditions to exploit, that's not to say there is no skill in exploiting the conditions when they arrive - that's what your Pollocks and McGraths have done throughout their careers. I'll be the first to accept England will probably get the better of the conditions in this game (and lets face it they were due some luck in this way) and I'll happily accept SA bowlers couldn't do a huge lot more to take wickets today.

What England does in their innings will as ever depend on what conditions you get tomorrow, if England get sunny conditions then they've got no good reason not to score comfortably over 400 - regardless of how SA bowl.