England tour of South Africa - 2019-20

[Ed Smith]

Goodness me, a tail-ender can last for 88 balls and remain not out but not two of South Africa's top order batsmen?

On the other hand, maybe Nortje is the answer to South Africa's number four problem!

Tbf, he was pretty much just flat batting everything from what I saw this morning - the right thing to do in the game situation, but making it very dull and almost impossible to force a mistake

 

[Bevab]

Tbf, he was pretty much just flat batting everything from what I saw this morning - the right thing to do in the game situation, but making it very dull and almost impossible to force a mistake

If you must be saying this, then he is indeed doing the right thing!

 

[beechcroft]

When was the last time an England spinner took the first 5, or any 5, wickets in the first innings of a Test? That's got to be a rare feat.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

When was the last time an England spinner took the first 5, or any 5, wickets in the first innings of a Test? That's got to be a rare feat.

Monty Panesar when he toured India back in 2012. Both Panesar and Swann took 9 wickets together in the first innings while all 10 in the second with Panesar taking 6/81. That was quite an achievement considering how good Indian batsman are against spin bowling. Bess got 5/51 today in conditions that weren't favouring spinners that much so again this spell of his was equally good.[DOUBLEPOST=1579368352][/DOUBLEPOST]I think Faf was showing the right intent today of taking on the spinner but just after hitting 2 boundaries he got out. That was just silly mistake from him. The rest of the Proteas are doing the same thing right since the start of the World Cup last year. They just commit silly mistakes.

 

[asprin]

Bess bowled 31 overs Boy, that's something!

England have really turned it around since the 2nd Test. Dominating SA in their own backyard is impressive. Everything seems to be clicking for them while it's the opposite for SA. Can expect England to pocket this series now.

 

[beechcroft]

Bess bowled 31 overs Boy, that's something!

England have really turned it around since the 2nd Test. Dominating SA in their own backyard is impressive. Everything seems to be clicking for them while it's the opposite for SA. Can expect England to pocket this series now.

They should, but England are world-renowned experts at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Dominating SA in their own backyard is impressive.

That too twice !!! But even if they win this one I would rate the 2016 victory ahead of this because back then South Africa had a more formidable line-up who were more confident about what they were doing. The current lot just doesn't know what they have been doing or what they have to do. Only batsman that has impressed me time and again is Rassie Van der Dussen. Little bit dissapointed with Dean Elgar as he seems to get starts but isn't able to convert those into big scores.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Not a bad start to the day.

Although this South Africa side looks quite poor, its refreshing to see England on the up in test cricket.

 

[Bevab]

Not a bad start to the day.

Although this South Africa side looks quite poor, its refreshing to see England on the up in test cricket.

To be fair, this England side was always just a few steps away from becoming a world class side.

All that they need right now is a good captain and a genuinely world class top order batsman. Maybe a step towards that would be to take away the captaincy from the one batsman who was once genuinely world class.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

To be fair, this England side was always just a few steps away from becoming a world class side.

All that they need right now is a good captain and a genuinely world class top order batsman. Maybe a step towards that would be to take away the captaincy from the one batsman who was once genuinely world class.

The top order now eating up time has been a huge benefit to the middle order where the strength is. Burns, Sibley and Crawley looks like a top 3 that could work going down the line. Root, Stokes and Pope coming in after is really strong. I'm sure Buttler will get his end of series 50 in the next match to prove he can play test cricket again.

 

[Ed Smith]

The top order now eating up time has been a huge benefit to the middle order where the strength is. Burns, Sibley and Crawley looks like a top 3 that could work going down the line. Root, Stokes and Pope coming in after is really strong. I'm sure Buttler will get his end of series 50 in the next match to prove he can play test cricket again.

Aye. Not being 5/2 after 8 overs is really beneficial. Who'd have guessed. I think I'd be happy with 2 changes being made moving forward. Buttler out at keeper and it still feels like Root needs the captaincy burden taken away. But I still have no idea who you give that to. Since 80% of the team have about 10 minutes test match experience between them

 

[Bevab]

The top order now eating up time has been a huge benefit to the middle order where the strength is. Burns, Sibley and Crawley looks like a top 3 that could work going down the line. Root, Stokes and Pope coming in after is really strong. I'm sure Buttler will get his end of series 50 in the next match to prove he can play test cricket again.

Wrote a much longer post initially trying to convey this point, but this is way more eloquent and better.

 

[Croadyman]

When you see Wood bowling at 90+mph it is such a shame he missed that ashes series in the summer. Looking forward to when we eventually get to see him & Jofra in tandem during a test match.

 

[Ed Smith]

Roooooooot!

 

[beechcroft]

The top order now eating up time has been a huge benefit to the middle order where the strength is. Burns, Sibley and Crawley looks like a top 3 that could work going down the line. Root, Stokes and Pope coming in after is really strong. I'm sure Buttler will get his end of series 50 in the next match to prove he can play test cricket again.

But....but...does this mean we have to take back the bad things we said about Chris Silverwood?