England v South Africa, The Oval, 1st Test Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

Here we go then, England v South Africa at The Oval where the battle for Number 1 will commence. A win or draw in the series for England will see them retain that coveted spot whereas South Africa need a series win to take the crown. This will be a true battle of the World's two best Test teams. Here are the lineups:

1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Ravi Bopara, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson

England bat down to 10 with the formidable Cook opening (made 294 less than 12 months ago), KP (who walks into any team at the moment) and the best WK batsmen in the game, Matt Prior (averages over 40 and he bats at 7). Add the fact that their probable No.8 bats with an average over 40! England have probably the best all-round bowling attack in the game - 2 World-class quicks, a World-'class spinner and a very good all-rounder in Tim Bresnan who averages over 40 with the bat and under 30 with the ball. One weak link though, Ravi Bopara.

1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Alviro Petersen, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers (wk), 6 Jacques Rudolph, 7 JP Duminy, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran Tahir

7 specalist batsmen which includes the best no.3 in the World and the best all-rounder seen in this era. There's also Graeme Smith and De Villiers who both average a shade under 50. Then the best fast bowling attack in the World, Steyn (best bowler in the World), Morkel and Philander (average of 14.15 in 7 Tests). Weak links? Petersen isn't the best opener, Boucher the usual WK is injured and Tahir is far from the best spinner in the World.

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My series prediction: 2-0 England.

Enjoy the game!

[trebellbobaggins]

Calamity. TMS SA guy is so excited. He senses they have this.

[trebellbobaggins]

we really need to learn to capitalise on winning the toss and bat sensibly.

[ChequeredJersey]

I reckon Swann and Anderson can get us to 400

[LivinginItaly]

Would we have been happy with between 370 - 400 before the start of play? Don't think we will really know how good our total is until the end of the SA innings.

[Fists of Fury]

Yes, we would have been.

I imagine they'll make a better fist of it than us - they seem less liable to a collapse. But yes, we won't know until both first innings are complete.

[skyeman]

I think SA after they're 1st innings will be following-on and with our TEN batsman (and Bopara), we will win by plenty.

[LivinginItaly]

Baring in mind the fact that SA must bat last (assuming they don't follow on) on what will be hopefully by then a difficult track, if after SA first inning the scores are similar I think it will be advantage England. I think SA will want to have at least a lead of 100 after first innings which given our attack is not such an easy task.

[trebellbobaggins]

well if Vaugh was right and "you have to be gettung 400 at least" if you bat here first then I guess this isn't too far off avoiding failure in his eyes. Could have been better perhaps but he based that judgement on conditions yesterday. This has been a different pitch.

Batting last will not be fun i suspect so england need to do all they can to restrict sa in their first innings.

[ChequeredJersey]

Trebs, looks like you were right about the Saffas getting all the sun

[alfie]

With both Trebs and Fists now reverse cursing full time England have too many weapons for SA ...

[skyeman]

Eng tail showing they're worth once again,

7th wkt - 29
8th wkt - 45
9th wkt - 25*

[LivinginItaly]

Rudolph bowling now???? Seven bowlers used by Smith. Is that a bit excessive? Mind watch him now get a wicket.

[trebellbobaggins]

ok so it will be a failure in MV's eyes They have falen short of his bare minimum. Bit annoying.

But then, in the winter we had all outs for pathetic totals so it's not as bad.

[LivinginItaly]

ignore the comment above it was a mistakes on cricinfo

[Fists of Fury]

Oh great.

Top innings, but what an anti-climax to what should have been a very good score for England.

They choked under the expectation after a solid first day.

We are soon to find out just how many runs we should have scored when the Saffers are 200-1 in their first dig.

[alfie]

Morkel with the breakthrough ...well played Prior

Nearly got us to 400 ...

Wonder if Jimmy is up for a bit of tail wagging today ?

[skyeman]

Smack it Swanny

[chrisss]

ignore the comment above it was a mistakes on cricinfo

Yeah, I don't think Tahir's legspin is quite as bad as Rudolph's...

[mystiroakey]

Well its gonna be interesting anyway, but only 400- i kind of want to see the bowlers go at em soon..

[skyeman]

Oh great.

Top innings, but what an anti-climax to what should have been a very good score for England.

They choked under the expectation after a solid first day.

We are soon to find out just how many runs we should have scored when the Saffers are 200-1 in their first dig.

If SA are 200/1, you can loan me a hat

[LivinginItaly]

But the beauty of having almost 400 on the board is that even if SA are 200 - 1 it only takes a mini collapse to put the pressure back on them. Given the possible deterioration of the pitch they will not be satisfied with matching our score.

[trebellbobaggins]

very annoying the way we have thrown away any advantage we had.



with the sun out and the depth of batting in the SA team, reckon they'll get 500 minimum?

[LivinginItaly]

All out 385

[Fists of Fury]

That's that, then. What a truly pathetic total after last nights score.

[mystiroakey]

not even 400-- well the way that pitch is going we need to try and get em out below 300

[Fists of Fury]

Probably, Trebs. They'll get 500-7d and then England to leave them in with an easy chase for victory after 250 or so in their 2nd dig.

[Duty281]

385 all out. Decent score but after the start we had, we should have had at least 450. Good to see the lower order making valuable runs, Prior making a very useful 60. Now, let's knock the Saffers over for 285 or less. Come on Jimmy and co.!

[trebellbobaggins]

well that sucks. poor poor performance england, sadly signalled from the top by an out of form Strauss. We need to look at him again and see if it's time for him to go.

[alfie]

Guess that was a no , then

Four for Morkel and 385 it is ...

I reckon an OK first innings on a pitch that won't get better - not as many as one might have hoped after yesterday , but plenty to work with.

Assuming England bowl well , of course. But they usually do these days.

[ChequeredJersey]

We're still going to win. We've known for months that our batters can be hit and miss but out bowlers are a different prospect. And I don't know about Kennington (that's where the oval is right?) but in Hammersmith the weather looks like it's going to get swingtacular again. And if it is dry, that's what Swanny is for

[trebellbobaggins]

not even making par and now a classy batting attack getting to come out in the sun. very poor.

[LivinginItaly]

So far Bopara hasn't justified his selection. Hopefully Bresnan will justify his selection now.

[trebellbobaggins]

deflating stuff isn't it.

[mystiroakey]

I have been to happier funerals lol. we are still ahead

[ChequeredJersey]

It isn't going to stay sunny...

[trebellbobaggins]

in batting terms this has been one of the worst years, since the winter shambles, in a long time. we're going backards and need to lose some of the failures.

[mystiroakey]

luckily our bowlers havent had a bad day in 3 years in any format

[ChequeredJersey]

Granted I'd like us to blood the likes of Taylor

[skyeman]

Petersen will not make TEN. ready.

[Fists of Fury]

They'll be 100 without loss.

[Fists of Fury]

GONE¬!!!!!

[Fists of Fury]

Skyeman, maybe your turn to do the lottery numbers?

[alfie]

They'll be 100 without loss.

Wrong

Jimmy strikes in his second over...

[skyeman]

Skyeman, maybe your turn to do the lottery numbers?

Against our bowlers, i would never rate him.

[ChequeredJersey]

Ah ye of little faith. I honestly believe this is the best bowling attack in the world right now

[skyeman]

Great over Jimmy, one more and then panic in the dressing room.

[Fists of Fury]

Broady bowling superbly at Smith. Done him a couple of times.

[LivinginItaly]

Hopefully Amla and Smith won't now have a big partnership like cook and trott.

[mystiroakey]

great start... this pitch is nails.. i cant see em getting past 50

[trebellbobaggins]

Fury really has played a blinder. I think my place in the team is in serious doubt here.

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