*Official* England in South Africa

[BoyBrumby]

Colly skips down the wicket and smashes Steyn over the covers for four. That's the shot of a bloke who's full of confidence.

9 from the over; looking all too easy. With the obvious rider this is England, so never say never.

 

[four_or_six]

Would be fantastic if both of these two could get to 100.

 

[Pothas]

This is almost disturbingly competant from England. I even half enjoying Collingwood for once.

 

[four_or_six]

Shame. Still, very good innings. Up to Colly to take us home then.

 

[social]

Love Boycs - he's just put the throwing issue totally into perspective

 

[GIMH]

What did he say?

 

[social]

What did he say?

SA commentator was comparing the relative merits of Van Der Merwe and Botha and made the comment that Botha had lost something now that he was banned from bowling the doosra

Boycs chips in with "it's ridiculous that anyone is banned whilst Murali is still playing", "Murali should be called as a witness for the defence in any throwing case" and "it's unfair that a lesser bowler is banned whilst he's allowed to bowl just because he could potentially get a 1000 wickets."

Never a truer word has been said

 

[GIMH]

Not like Boycs to be so honest!

 

[Pothas]

I think a grumpy Graham Smith is a far more enjoyable sight than a grumpy Ricky Ponting.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeesh. 17 off that Steyn over.

 

[four_or_six]

I think a grumpy Graham Smith is a far more enjoyable sight than a grumpy Ricky Ponting.

Hmmm... not quite.

 

[four_or_six]

Common sense umpiring, I do like to see that. Not sure what the exact rules are around referring like that are, but that seemed very sensible.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Interesting call here. Are standing umps allowed to ask the third umpire about waist-high full tosses? Was clearly above, so the right decision was arrived at.

 

[Goughy]

Did Bumble just call a beamer "a ball of full length"?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Dunno. It's Beefy and Knight on Sky just now.

Heck of a shot from Morgan for six. Strong little bugger, I bet. Hits the ball a long way.

EDIT: ton for Colly. Well deserved.

 

[four_or_six]

Colly

MOTM

 

[four_or_six]

Lovely, have made some nice money off betfair today. Can't believe how long the odds have been on England at various points in this match. Crazy stuff.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Really competent performance from the chaps. Rashid aside there aren't too many negatives. Few more runs from KP would've been nice, but he's a banker anyway, so no worries there.

 

[social]

Common sense umpiring, I do like to see that. Not sure what the exact rules are around referring like that are, but that seemed very sensible.

I used to play with Rod Tucker - nice bloke and a very good cricketer

Good to see another former player in the umpiring ranks

 

[BoyBrumby]

I used to play with Rod Tucker - nice bloke and a very good cricketer

Good to see another former player in the umpiring ranks

You and Bumble both; he was the pro at Accrington, so Lloyd informed us.