*** Official*** South Africa in England 2017

[Adders]

Better to get a performance like that out of the way before the CT...........I think that our batting line up is going to be prone to this every now and again against top bowling and in the right conditions. They have and will do some incredible stuff....but they'll also have the odd shocker like this.

 

[Black_Warrior]

And this is also why you need Root in the top 4 even if he can't always match up the SR of Morgan, Hales and Roy. I know it didn't work here but he is the one guy in the entire line up who can get you outo of jail in days like these

 

[StephenZA]

So Duminy at 3 and everyone moves one down? Sounds like the best way forward.

Duminy at 3 would worry me, I can accept him at 4, I feel that Faf would read the game better and either knuckle down or else play his shots as needed. Duminy will play the same no matter what....

Thinking about it, maybe rather than Duminy at 3 have Duminy come in between overs 15 and 30, gives him time to settle and normally just looking to rotate strike at that stage. After that ABdV or Faf comes in or Faf comes in if we lose an early wicket... I am not big on the flexible batting order but seems the most sensible way to use Duminy.

 

[tobe_ornot2]

To be fair it wasn't a ODI wicket......it was a typical test strip.

There is nothing wrong with ODI's that have something for the bowlers and I generally much prefer the 200 V's 220 type scenarios, but you need that assistance right through 100 overs. This wicket had grass on it and like a test match it was gonna do plenty early on and then flatten out and become significantly easier to bat on. There was too much of an advantage in the toss with a wicket like this IMO.

That said, SA bowled incredibly well and no matter what the wicket is doing there is never an excuse for 6/20 inside 5 overs........England were woeful.

I don't know what you were watching mate but I didn't see any live grass on the pitch. It was brown and pretty straightforward.

 

[Prince EWS]

Duminy at 3 would worry me, I can accept him at 4, I feel that Faf would read the game better and either knuckle down or else play his shots as needed. Duminy will play the same no matter what....

Thinking about it, maybe rather than Duminy at 3 have Duminy come in between overs 15 and 30, gives him time to settle and normally just looking to rotate strike at that stage. After that ABdV or Faf comes in or Faf comes in if we lose an early wicket... I am not big on the flexible batting order but seems the most sensible way to use Duminy.

On this topic more generally, I'm a big fan when you have a plan for a player or a couple of players like the one you just laid out for Duminy. That way the order may be flexible but the roles are, if anything, actually more fixed, and players can specialise their training. Often though when we hear captains and coaches talk about flexible batting orders, they're talking about changing it based on whims rather than plans, sending bowlers up the order or overestimating the importance of things like left/right hand combinations. That sort of "flexible batting lineup" is doomed.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So Woakes will probably miss the first test at least. Side strains don't clear up easily and you can't pick him without a game or two before he returns to make sure he is fit. With Anderson already doubtful I guess we may see TRJ make his debut.

 

[SeamUp]

So come first test match what is England's team ?

Cook
Jennings
Root
Ballance
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Plunkett
Ball/Wood/Finn/Roland-Jones
Broad
Crane/Leach

Suppose Livingstone and Lawrence have put up numbers with the bat to play as the extra batsman

Can't see them bringing in Foakes too keep.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

You are wrong with Ballance, Plunkett and a 2nd spinner.

It will be
Cook
Hameed
Jennings
Root
Livingstone
Stokes
Bairstow
Moeen
Broad
Roland Jones
Wood

 

[SeamUp]

You are wrong with Ballance, Plunkett and a 2nd spinner.

It will be
Cook
Hameed
Jennings
Root
Livingstone
Stokes
Bairstow
Moeen
Broad
Roland Jones
Wood

Fair enough.

I like Hameed but possibly needs to get a few more runs than he is at the moment. Averaging 14 for Lancashire. His opening partner Alex Davies is outshining him well and truly.

I think Ballance is putrid but is probably knocking the door down like they asked him to.

 

[Bijed]

Not sure Hameed will be there, his season so far has been terrible (think he's averaging 14.75 so far for the season), wouldn't be surprised if Ballance comes in, though it would be nice to see someone like Livingstone, Lawrence, given a chance.

 

[SeamUp]

Will Macpherson‏ @willis_macp 15h15 hours ago
More
Away game, 7.40pm on Saturday, Jimmy Anderson doing sprints on outfield. England increasingly optimistic he'll make first Test.

James Anderson now having a bowl at Headingley. Operating at about 50% I reckon.

 

[StephenZA]

Will Macpherson‏ @willis_macp 15h15 hours ago
More
Away game, 7.40pm on Saturday, Jimmy Anderson doing sprints on outfield. England increasingly optimistic he'll make first Test.

James Anderson now having a bowl at Headingley. Operating at about 50% I reckon.

I really hope he plays... will be great for the the series.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Will Macpherson‏ @willis_macp 15h15 hours ago
More
Away game, 7.40pm on Saturday, Jimmy Anderson doing sprints on outfield. England increasingly optimistic he'll make first Test.

James Anderson now having a bowl at Headingley. Operating at about 50% I reckon.

If he is fit enough for that already he should be fine for the test and probably fit a game or two in beforehand. Great news.

 

[FBU]

If he is fit enough for that already he should be fine for the test and probably fit a game or two in beforehand. Great news.

I think Anderson will play the day/night game against Warks in three weeks time.
Bowling for the 1st Test - Broad Anderson Wood Stokes Ali. I wonder if Stokes has had an injection to get him through the next six months.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah Wood would probably by my first nod as well. He's actually gone ok in the ODI stuff as well.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah, should definitely be Wood.

 

[Furball]

Yeah, should definitely be Wood.

With doubts over the fitness of Anderson and Stokes, I don't know if I'd be happy with someone as injury prone as Wood.

 

[vogue]

First test starts one month today...hopefully all the rain will have fallen in June and there'll be a heatwave in July..

 

[harsh.ag]

First test starts one month today...hopefully all the rain will have fallen in June and there'll be a heatwave in July..

Nailed it

 

[Adders]

First test starts one month today...hopefully all the rain will have fallen in June and there'll be a heatwave in July..