England v South Africa - Test series

[SteveH]

KP needs to stop digging - he's in a big enough hole.

Sadly I can see him going to T20 world cup. That's a crying shame.

 

[alfie103]

We need to stop being so negative, We bowled well to get south africa out for 309 and we just need to get a lead of about 50-100 and i think we can have a real decent chance of winning this test match and staying No 1 in the rankings.

 

[AW?]

I think KP is a bit of a dick but didn't Strauss tap Trescothics missus? The how thing stinks of cliques, jealousy and bullying to me.

 

[SteveH]

43-3 Deep poopooo

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Sorry, Matt Prior, but what kind of fucking idiot chases the first delivery with a new ball outside the off stump and tries to drive it through the covers without taking at least a few deliveries to see what it's doing?

 

[kishman]

Not looking good for England. Looks like we'll be removed from top spot coming tomorrow evening.

Were given a reasonable target to chase, but as it's been all series, the opening pair have flopped.

 

[SteveH]

No longer are we the best test side. Mind Fifa though would still make us top if they ran cricket

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

We've had a good run and I think now the hard work starts to reclaim top spot. I'm a bit puzzled as to the pitches we've been preparing for this series, which seem to have played into the saffers hands a bit, our batting hasn't been good enough and our bowling has been patchy at best.

Over the past few years we've been good at having a 'winning' session when it's been required, this time around we've fallen short when we've had the opportunity to take a game by the scruff of the neck. I still think England and SA are very closely matched teams however, before it started I thought it would have really been good if this was a 5 match series but now i'm not so sure, I think the team is in a bad place right now but pretty sure we'll bounce back.

 

[sexymagicmike]

No longer are we the best test side. Mind Fifa though would still make us top if they ran cricket

Still right up there though with SA in my opinion. I wish they would stop with these shitty 3 test series and keep to 5 test match series instead (not saying it would make any difference to the result in this case, as I agree with much of what Archibald wrote).

England and South Africa are far and away the two best test playing sides on the planet in my opinion, right now, both certainly capable of beating each other.

Obviously not a cat in hell's chance of England chasing the total down today, but could be exciting viewing, as they might as well go down fighting and lose 2-0, rather than just bat out (in my opinion).

 

[Kendall]

Our batsmen have been in poor form. Strauss, Trott and Cook could recapture their form from Australia or Bell from the India test series we'd be laughing.

Too much inconsistency from our batsmen and its been an issue since the Pakistan tests.

 

[Kendall]

Still right up there though with SA in my opinion. I wish they would stop with these shitty 3 test series and keep to 5 test match series instead (not saying it would make any difference to the result in this case, as I agree with much of what Archibald wrote).

England and South Africa are far and away the two best test playing sides on the planet in my opinion, right now, both certainly capable of beating each other.

Obviously not a cat in hell's chance of England chasing the total down today, but could be exciting viewing, as they might as well go down fighting and lose 2-0, rather than just bat out (in my opinion).

It's a shame that Morgan isn't in the squad in that respect. A one-day/t20 batsman of the highest order. If Trott and Bell can get in, they could make it interesting, but I think we'll run out of time.

Bairstow is a bit handy in limited overs mind, a quick hundred from him and anything could happen.

 

[sexymagicmike]

It's a shame that Morgan isn't in the squad in that respect. A one-day/t20 batsman of the highest order. If Trott and Bell can get in, they could make it interesting, but I think we'll run out of time.

Bairstow is a bit handy in limited overs mind, a quick hundred from him and anything could happen.

Aye, it's not impossible - I think it's just the fact that the SA bowlers are fucking good that is the main problem. Pitch looks decent enough for batting on - SA just seem to be able to do more with the ball than the English bowlers (which takes a lot of doing!).

Would love to see an epic run chase today - I see no point in playing for a draw!

 

[Kendall]

Think we have to try and smash it about a bit now. Shame KP has to be such an egotistical nobhead. Today is ready made for him.

 

[Kendall]

We've had a good run and I think now the hard work starts to reclaim top spot. I'm a bit puzzled as to the pitches we've been preparing for this series, which seem to have played into the saffers hands a bit, our batting hasn't been good enough and our bowling has been patchy at best.

Over the past few years we've been good at having a 'winning' session when it's been required, this time around we've fallen short when we've had the opportunity to take a game by the scruff of the neck. I still think England and SA are very closely matched teams however, before it started I thought it would have really been good if this was a 5 match series but now i'm not so sure, I think the team is in a bad place right now but pretty sure we'll bounce back.

Our bowlers were due a patchy erm.. patch. They have been masking over some pretty shit batting performances for a while. Not enough batsmen having good innings at the same time. It always seems to be one batsmen propping up a collapse.

 

[SteveH]

We have no one in the Hashim Amla class. And other than Finn we look a little ponderous in the bowling department

Taylor just committed suicide

South Africa are a much better outfit ATM

KP has not helped.

 

[sexymagicmike]

Fuck sake.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

SA will quite rightly be number 1 at the end of today, they have comprehensively outplayed us in this series. They don't play exciting cricket, but they play Test Cricket better than anyone else at the moment.

 

[nidge]

Current partnership of 75 runs of 14 overs from Trott and Bairstow is just what England need.

 

[sexymagicmike]

Fuck sake - Bairstow out - game over.

 

[nidge]

And Broad is tempted by the short stuff and caught by Amla.