South Africa in England

[evertonfan]

Quite a bit of doom mongering about England's chances going on here. Lighten up, 300's definitely achievable and that's a great score after being put in first on this pitch. Fred or Ambrose will do the business today. I'm confident of that.

I am rather bemused by this Pattinson selection to be honest. I could understand it if he was a young bowler who'd set the county scene alight this season, but his record doesn't say much to be me. I feel desperately sorry for Chris Tremlett. Why do we keep picking him as 12th man and then discarding him at the last minute? It's also a bit unfair on the likes of Hoggard and Jones who've been working hard all season to force their way back into this side.

Oh well, let's just hope this Pattinson fella does alright.

And stop all this bitching about "oh but he's an aussie, Pietersen's a saffa and Monty's an Indian!". I don't care about their backgrounds; if they wear the three lions then their English enough for me.

 

[venom2011]

I'm sure the irony of that is lost on you.

Surprised they are still playing, quite consistent rain for a long time. KP and Strauss both look solid. KP had a close lbw from Steyn, hawkeye said it was hitting leg stump. If so, makes up for Cook being given out off his pad.

Yeah. That shout looked pretty close. Im sure England would rather see Pietersen given a life than Cook.

 

[evertonfan]

Been known to bowl over 90mph but operates mainly at 85mph.

'Been known' is the only thing i've seen written about him. It seems no one has actually seen him play!

 

[angryangy]

Do you really need 5 bowlers on this sort've pitch?

62-3 on the first day of the day & session of a Test Match suggests you'd want 7 of your strongest batsman playing.

Should've played Collingwood, dropped Broad and batted Flintoff at 8.

Broad's batting form will come in handy, Collingwood's form probably won't. If Broad scores another 77 (or 36 not out), he'll be even out-averaging Collingwood.

 

[evertonfan]

I'd just like to mention about the umpiring as well. The quality in the NZ series earlier in the summer was really high quality and I can't think of any major mistakes. Really excellent quality throughout that series. However we're only a Test and a session into this series and the standard of umpiring has been awful. Still, i'm never one to bemoan decisions. It always balances out in the end. Cook was unlucky, but he won't complain tomorrow if we get one of the South Africans out off the thigh pad.

 

[Skater]

He was on TV as recently as Tuesday!

 

[evertonfan]

Yeah well so was Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

 

[angryangy]

'Been known' is the only thing i've seen written about him. It seems no one has actually seen him play!

Those of us who have seen him weren't exactly thinking "ooh, better watch Pattinson, he might get picked for England next year."

 

[WestIndian]

All things said, when you put a team in to bat, at lunch, that is the kind of position you want to have them in, so far, SA must be pleased with their morning's play.

 

[Leicester Fox]

Oh dear Kp's out. 300 will be a good score on this pitch with our 5 bowlers, plus we have an Aussie so well be alright

 

[vaibhav mehta]

Wrong time to got out,KP.Job has not done yet and now England certainly going to miss Collingwood despite of his poor form.

 

[Insomniac]

Oh dear Kp's out. 300 will be a good score on this pitch with our 5 bowlers, plus we have an Aussie so well be alright

300 with only Flintoff to come, who isn't in the best form of his life?

Mighty difficult...

I'd say 210 is a sufficient score on this pitch (assuming it remains overcast for the next 5 days)

 

[Leicester Fox]

Oh, and Tom, yes I am racist, thank you very much for noticing.

Join the club Anyway I'm probably going to curse him but Ambrose will get runs and lots of them. Bell likes this ground so lets hope can save us. Only people to blame here are the top order though, they might be tugh conditions but that's why the top order are sent out.

300 with only Flintoff to come, who isn't in the best form of his life?

Mighty difficult...

I'd say 210 is a sufficient score on this pitch (assuming it remains overcast for the next 5 days)

yeh, just meant that what we should have been looking for was 300 in the first innings really, as a target, anything less always feels a little under par when batting first.

 

[The_gas]

Argh, not looking good at present. However, this could be all setup for a Flintoff batting master class, if there still is such a thing from the big man.

 

[Skater]

Who plays just 4 batsmen in a team anyway?

1 Cook
1 Strauss
1 Pietersen
1 Bell
= 4 batsmen

1 Flintoff
1 Broad
1 Panesar
1 Pattinson
1 Anderson
= 5 bowlers

1 Ambrose
1 Vaughan
= 2 fielders