England tour to South Africa December 2015/February 2016

[bigred]

Wonder how he'll feel about that though given he's openly stated he much prefers the number 3 position and hasn't opened for over a year now.

Not sure he's in a position to be that fussy. Hopefully Hales does well.

 

[MUFC1987]

Did I miss something here?

Compton should be moved from batting at 3, (if he does well there) to opening (because we have so many great options to bat at 3 apparently?) all because he doesn't play the right sort of way? Even though our best Number 3 of recent years has been Jonathan Trott, A batsman who wasn't that aggressive, yet scored mountains of runs? Or otherwise known as the type of player that we'd love to have at Number 3 right now? Which ironically, Compton could become.

And we criticise Andy Flower for making stupid selection decisions.

 

[bigred]

Did I miss something here?

Compton should be moved from batting at 3, (if he does well there) to opening (because we have so many great options to bat at 3 apparently?) all because he doesn't play the right sort of way? Even though our best Number 3 of recent years has been Jonathan Trott, A batsman who wasn't that aggressive, yet scored mountains of runs? Or otherwise known as the type of player that we'd love to have at Number 3 right now? Which ironically, Compton could become.

And we criticise Andy Flower for making stupid selection decisions.

We certainly have more people that can do a job at 3,4 and 5 than opening for sure. Compton has scored 2 test hundreds opening the innings. Don't think it would be that big a deal. As I said, let's hope Hales comes good so change isn't needed. My gut feeling is that he won't though.

 

[PokerAce]

Two in two Morkel, been quite a morning for Morkel. Was terrible yesterday, but has found the second new ball very useful today.

Also I have read up on what is building upto be quite a debate about Compton not batting fast enough at No. 3. My two bits on this is, that for a long period we had Dravid batting at #3 for India, and he was never a fast scorer, and what a batsman he was. Why is no. 3 not batting fast even a problem. Its a test match, whats the hurry?

 

[richowebbo]

Disagree. Number three needs to be able to be defensive when necessary but also counter attack or dominate if the opportunity presents itself. Best number 3's in recent times have been able to do this the likes of amla,ponting,sangakarra,dravid and now williamson.

While compton played well today there was a period where he and taylor where on the top but SA would never have felt the game was slipping away from them because of the scoring rate. Because of compton scoring at a very slow rate it meant SA would have always felt they are just two quick wickets away from being right on top.

I think that in this England team, a slow number 3 who doesn't give his wicket away is what is needed. There are plenty of players in the line-up that can increase the scoring rate. We need someone to hold the innings together and I think that Compton did this very well.

 

[PokerAce]

Eng move past 300 ... SA letting it slip, this should have been wrapped up by now.

 

[C Boomer]

Eng move past 300 ... SA letting it slip, this should have been wrapped up by now.

It is now !

 

[bigred]

Two in two Morkel, been quite a morning for Morkel. Was terrible yesterday, but has found the second new ball very useful today.

Also I have read up on what is building upto be quite a debate about Compton not batting fast enough at No. 3. My two bits on this is, that for a long period we had Dravid batting at #3 for India, and he was never a fast scorer, and what a batsman he was. Why is no. 3 not batting fast even a problem. Its a test match, whats the hurry?

Dravid took his time getting in, but scored quite freely after that. He was a very good accumulator with a variety of shots in the locker.

Compton has a very good defensive technique. One of the best I've seen. However, he doesn't have the range of scoring shots that Dravid had. Compton was perfect for the situation in this test match, but I worry about how many dots he builds against his name when he may need to go through the gears. I wouldn't worry about that so much if he was opening as I like an opener who sees the shine off.

 

[C Boomer]

England up against a stacked deck, defending just 300 with an under strength bowling attack on a plum pudding of a pitch away from home, I fear the worst !

ps And facing a wounded tiger in the form of some very hungry S African batsmen !!!

 

[bigred]

I know the theory is that the man with the gloves always goes for it, but would that not have gone into Cook's lap?

 

[PokerAce]

Van Zyl would have been delighted to see a bowler, who was not Ashwin running in to bowl. Aswhin got him every single time in the 4 tests. He needs to get a better idea of where his off stump is. He was out against India, in the first test leaving a straight delivery too, only he was out LBW there.

Eng have bowled brilliantly to Amla, and were wise I felt in not reviewing the caught behind. Amla is a walker and I have a ton of respect for him for that. During the India tour, it had gotten to a point where for any edge related dismissal, Indian players didn't even appeal to the Umpire, but more to Amla - what do you think did you edge that?

The Baristow drop was a little hard on him for those one hand dive to the left catches are not east. It was perfectly in between him and Cook at 1st slip. Sometimes keeper move across and attempt one going to 1st slip, but Bairstow on that one was fine. He had to go for what was a difficult catch, as Cook was definitely not getting it.

 

[PokerAce]

What a delivery that was from Broad to get Amla, it seems he really does take it up a notch, when Anderson is not playing.

 

[_Sam_]

Amlas luck finally ends.

 

[bigred]

Woakes has actually bowled really well here. He's unlucky.

 

[PokerAce]

Sorry thats out ... the third Umpire has bottled it, went with the safe option. The replays based on what was on display that seemed out.