**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[Uppercut]

Tahir's generally really good against the tail.

 

[amanuensis]

If ever there was a time we could do with one of Broad quick fire 70's, it's tomorrow.

- I'll be pleasantly surprised if he reaches double figures. Sorry, but England aren't going to win this match.

 

[hazsa19]

Depends how much they face of Tahir, at least in Broad's case.

Smiths been so quick to change bowlers to new batsmen; Morkel to Strauss, Steyn to Trott. No doubt Tahir will bowl soon enough after Broads arrival to the crease.

 

[hazsa19]

- I'll be pleasantly surprised if he reaches double figures. Sorry, but England aren't going to win this match.

We may as well forfeit now then

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Prior the key, he gets a ton then we win. Simples.

Hope Jonny can get one tomorrow, done a great job today and rammed some criticism back down certain peoples throats. SA helped though by overdoing the short stuff.

 

[hazsa19]

Prior the key, he gets a ton then we win. Simples.

Hope Jonny can get one tomorrow, done a great job today and rammed some criticism back down certain peoples throats. SA helped though by overdoing the short stuff.

Indeed. I just hope Broad Swann and Anderson realise this. I've no problem with them playing shots if there's no recognised batsmen at the other end, but it pisses me off when they toss away their wicket while Prior's doing his thing. They've got ability so they should be able to block for an hour.

 

[Cricketismylife]

Hussain was spot on when he said that he doesn't know how good or bad Bairstow's career will be, but whatever you say, he's got great character. Really good innings today, almost everything was against him in terms of the media discussing the short ball, failures in easy conditions against West Indies, a top attack and England struggling. The only thing in his favour was the flatness of the pitch, but overall it was a top innings in tough circumstances.

I still think Taylor looks the better batsman, I'm not a fan of Bairstow's wide stance, the only guy who could pull that off was Richie Richardson.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Another fairly even day's play. Obv SA let Eng off the hook bigtime from 54/4. The reason for this is they got sucked in to completely changing their game plan that had been working so well up to that point. Why would you? It's as if they forgot how they had just got the first 4 wickets with sustained accurate line and length bowling, and got sucked in to barraging Bairstow all over the place with absolutely no subtlety.

Bowling proper lines and lengths should always be plan A to any new batsman, with the occasional bouncer to keep him guessing. Bairstow played well, but SA lost the plot the moment he came in, and never really regained the same control after that. Perhaps they were so captivated salivating on their video analysis of this particular opponent that they forgot about other things like cricketing basics, the state of the game, and what had been working to that point, lol. Sometimes you just have to be reminded of the obvious mantra, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[grecian]

Another fairly even day's play. Obv SA let Eng off the hook bigtime from 54/4. The reason for this is they got sucked in to completely changing their game plan that had been working so well up to that point? Why would you? It's as if they forgot how they had just got the first 4 wickets with sustained accurate line and length bowling, and got sucked in to barraging Bairstow all over the place with absolutely no subtlety.

Bowling proper lines and lengths should always be plan A to any new batsman, with the occasional bouncer to keep them guessing. Bairstow played well, but SA lost the plot the moment he came in, and never really regained the same control after that. Sometimes you just have to be reminded of the obvious mantra, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Nah, they did the normal thing against Bell, and they still didn't get him for a few hours, they had to try short-pitch stuff against Bairstow, after his recent performances. We just batted well on a flat pitch. Philander had incredible control throughout.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Exactly.. Philander wasn't trying to bounce people out in the parts I watched.. stuck to his plan, unlike a couple of the others.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Have to lol at Shield Berry's typically wide-of-the-mark sooth-saying match analysis in this article, although he may have been slightly tongue in cheek by the end.

England v South Africa: Tourists' have head for heights in battle for summit - Telegraph

One gesture from Graeme Smith symbolised how the outcome will probably be different this time. While England have tussled, and Jonny Bairstow has batted magnificently, ultimately South Africa will either win or draw this match and ascend to No 1.

At long leg Imran Tahir was walking in too far to back-pedal for a top-edged hook. South Africa captain Graeme Smith waved him, firmly not frenetically, back to the boundary’s edge. Nobody was going to be over-eager in pursuit of the team’s goal.

-

Surely nothing less than a major England lead on first innings will force South Africa to crack in their second. Now they are no longer desperate, now they can get their cricket in perspective, the tourists are likely to bat big in their second innings, and set England a tempting declaration: like 700 in two hours.

 

[Burgey]

This test could be so monumentally good if there's parity or thereabouts on the first innings.

 

[NasserFan207]

Have to lol at Shield Berry's typically wide-of-the-mark sooth-saying match analysis in this article, although he may have been slightly tongue in cheek by the end.

England v South Africa: Tourists' have head for heights in battle for summit - Telegraph

One gesture from Graeme Smith symbolised how the outcome will probably be different this time. While England have tussled, and Jonny Bairstow has batted magnificently, ultimately South Africa will either win or draw this match and ascend to No 1.

At long leg Imran Tahir was walking in too far to back-pedal for a top-edged hook. South Africa captain Graeme Smith waved him, firmly not frenetically, back to the boundary’s edge. Nobody was going to be over-eager in pursuit of the team’s goal.

-

Surely nothing less than a major England lead on first innings will force South Africa to crack in their second. Now they are no longer desperate, now they can get their cricket in perspective, the tourists are likely to bat big in their second innings, and set England a tempting declaration: like 700 in two hours.

Or they could play ten deliveries poorly and get rolled.

Test cricket hinges on such things.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

This test could be so monumentally good if there's parity or thereabouts on the first innings.

Maybe...

But if it comes down to the wire then there will just be monumental pressure between the choker-ers and the england-sux-ers on here.. nevermind on the field

 

[grecian]

Have to lol at Shield Berry's typically wide-of-the-mark sooth-saying match analysis in this article, although he may have been slightly tongue in cheek by the end.

England v South Africa: Tourists' have head for heights in battle for summit - Telegraph

One gesture from Graeme Smith symbolised how the outcome will probably be different this time. While England have tussled, and Jonny Bairstow has batted magnificently, ultimately South Africa will either win or draw this match and ascend to No 1.

At long leg Imran Tahir was walking in too far to back-pedal for a top-edged hook. South Africa captain Graeme Smith waved him, firmly not frenetically, back to the boundary’s edge. Nobody was going to be over-eager in pursuit of the team’s goal.

-

Surely nothing less than a major England lead on first innings will force South Africa to crack in their second. Now they are no longer desperate, now they can get their cricket in perspective, the tourists are likely to bat big in their second innings, and set England a tempting declaration: like 700 in two hours.

yeah 700 lead is by far the most likely outcome, you clearly know the game, can I spoon?

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Shield's words not mine... go right ahead

 

[grecian]

Shield's words not mine... go right ahead

oh right sorry, just read the article, it seems bizarre, saw your quotes and thought it was you, again I apologise, I've been drinking dammit don't judge me, and you were looking at my pint funny, spooning still on?

 

[Pothas]

This test could be so monumentally good if there's parity or thereabouts on the first innings.

I know and for once we are actually getting some good weather, going to make it all the more frustrating that we are not going to get another two tests.

Still got a feeling that this won't end well for us but you never know.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Another fairly even day's play. Obv SA let Eng off the hook bigtime from 54/4. The reason for this is they got sucked in to completely changing their game plan that had been working so well up to that point. Why would you? It's as if they forgot how they had just got the first 4 wickets with sustained accurate line and length bowling, and got sucked in to barraging Bairstow all over the place with absolutely no subtlety.

Fair point but lets be honest we did the same to them in the last innings really.

 

[Dan]

I must admit, I wasn't a fan of Bairstow being selected for this Test, but credit where credit's due - he's played one hell of a knock so far.

Three Tests in with a perceived weakness against the short ball and up against arguably the best fast bowling attack in the world (arguably being irrelevant, since he can't possibly face the other claimants in Test cricket anyway..), replacing England's greatest modern day batsman, and coming in with the score at 54/4. Not an easy situation to be in, but he thrived and made runs.

Top knock. Deserves to keep going.