The Cricket Thread

[Saddlerrad]

What was a good session for England 15 minutes ago has turned into a disaster.

Brilliant spell from Rabada, credit where it's due.

Indeed. They look like they are producing the next one off the rank as Steyn/Morkel enter their thirties. Been impressed all series by him.

 

[Bobbin']

I've been away from the tele for an hour or so just checked on the ECB app. Why do we have to wait 2 hours for play to resume?

Assuming the rain has stopped? And tea isn't for over an hour yet?

Edit: ignore that, just seen they are back out playing, must have been an error on the app.

 

[slaphead]

Stokes gone, another great ball from Rabada. The boy's on fire.

 

[silvergull]

Desperately need to make it to the follow on target. Wouldn't want to be put back in - very much a bowling day. Rain, overcast conditions and pitch misbehaving

 

[slaphead]

Follow on saved in style. Thank fuck for that.

 

[Matt_]

South Africa would have been very unlikely to enforce the follow on. They would want to bat again to allow the pitch to deteriorate further and ensure England had to bat last.

England lower order showing well, hopefully Mo can go on to a big score as De Kock did.

 

[Matt_]

Poor from Taylor that.

Taylor still looks very unconvincing against pace. As with Hales I hope he gets an extended chance this summer, but at this stage I'm not sure either will prove to be good enough at this level.

 

[JJH]

This wicket is a batsmans nightmare, there's no consistency to it all. One keeps low, one carries etc - terrible uneven bounce.

SA already have enough, we won't hit anything on this in the 4th innings.

 

[Bobbin']

Taylor still looks very unconvincing against pace. As with Hales I hope he gets an extended chance this summer, but at this stage I'm not sure either will prove to be good enough at this level.

Agree.

Though with Taylor, he has shown some good signs and posted several good scores, has also shown his value at short leg. Certainly worth persevering with.

 

[JJH]

Commentators curse on TMS. Vaughan was talking up this new opener of theirs, speaking about his technique and how superbly he's played - next ball he's caught behind.

 

[JJH]

De Villiers follows! On a pair, three successive 0s.

 

[Bobbin']

Oh De Villiers, maybe you should have kept your mouth shut before this game.

 

[RavenBish]

Rotten luck for Hales with that delivery staying low, just when he needed a big innings.

 

[kieran_vale]

Feel bad for him this time, not a lot you can do. That said I think he gets a go against Sri Lanka in the summer, should be a good opportunity for him to make a couple of scores against a weak attack like that.

Give it a few years Rabada will be right up there as one of the best in the world, seems a very special talent.

Edit - Cook gone caught and bowled, don't think this innings will last long.

 

[RavenBish]

Yeah, Hales is a lock at the mo for ODIs and T20s so he can afford to forget about Test cricket till the Sri Lanka series and the selectors can too. If he performs in limited overs stuff they'll stick with him - it's silly to think he would adapt his style to Test cricket in one series...and this is coming from someone who repeatedly has said on here he isn't good enough for Test cricket.

 

[Bobbin']

Jesus, Compton reviewed that.

 

[Super_horns]

Looks like we will be giving South Africa a consolation win - but again a problem with the top order failing?

 

[kieran_vale]

Aye, think only weather can save England now otherwise this will be over by tea tomorrow. Even so been a wonderful performance from England on this tour and bodes well for a very exciting period to come for this team in all forms of the game in fact. If can find that opening partner for Cook and like I say would give Hales the Sri Lanka series then look at it, otherwise this team are looking very good.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Yep, it's hard to maintain the same standards as soon as you know a series has already been won.

Still problems with the top 3. I knew there would be. Compton has already somehow managed to bat himself out of form, despite starting the series well. My thoughts are that he isn't, wasn't and never will be good enough for test cricket. However, he has the grace of an easier period of games coming on home turf this year, perhaps he can evolve himself as a number 3 and gain some confidence against lesser bowling attacks. Hales just needs to say 'balls to it' and bat like he does in the ODI format, he needs to be given that freedom. Taylor may struggle against good pace attacks, but he will be fine at home to Sri Lanka and he is one of the first names on the team sheet for the Autumn/Winter tours to Bangladesh and India.

All in all, I wouldn't make any changes to the current XI, bar Finn back in for Woakes when he is fit. They all get the home series against Sri Lanka to make a statement.

 

[lordofthepies]

Oh dear.

 

[Reginald Fodstain]

Didn't even last till I'd got out of bed

 

[RavenBish]

Hales just needs to say 'balls to it' and bat like he does in the ODI format, he needs to be given that freedom.

One of his main issues in ODIs/T20s is attacking balls he shouldn't be so I'd rather he didn't do that to be honest.

 

[Super_horns]

Cook had a real go about the batting of the top order which says something as I don't think he is the type to criticise in public...

 

[hodge]

Somerset's big announcement is that Gayle is returning for 6 games this time.....

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Got to feel sorry for James Taylor who scores a hundred in the warm up and then gets dropped - Broad rested and Bairstow can't make the side either.

 

[Super_horns]

Morgan wins the toss and decides to bat first:

Teams are:

1. Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Rilee Rossouw, 7 Farhaan Behardien, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Morne Morkel 10, Marchant de Lange, 11 Imran Tahir

1 Moeen Ali, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 David Willey, 11 Reece Topley

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Morgan wins the toss and decides to bat first:

Teams are:

1. Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Rilee Rossouw, 7 Farhaan Behardien, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Morne Morkel 10, Marchant de Lange, 11 Imran Tahir

1 Moeen Ali, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 David Willey, 11 Reece Topley

Moeen is gonna be a key player today I feel

 

[Super_horns]

Hales and Root continuing the good start by Roy.

Dominating the SA bowlers.

 

[hodge]

Got to feel sorry for James Taylor who scores a hundred in the warm up and then gets dropped - Broad rested and Bairstow can't make the side either.

I expect England to do what they did last time an rotate.

50 for Jos.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

I expect England to do what they did last time an rotate.

50 for Jos.

Yep good chance to rest Root every now and again with Taylor the perfect replacement in the ODI side.