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!

[Cowshot]

Ouch.

[Duty281]

England 0/1 after a DRS review, shocking start for England.

[Fists of Fury]

Typical. What a surprise, Strauss out to Morkel AGAIN. Morkel serving up his usual dross and then gets a straight one to pin him.

[Fists of Fury]

My prediction of 30-4 is looking likely already!

Right, it is potential hat eating time again.

If England make 250 in this innings I will eat my hat.

[Cowshot]

It's got very dark here again - could be more weather heading for the Oval.

[Fists of Fury]

We need it as well after this start!

[Cowshot]

Anything in the pitch or air? Seems from what I'm hearing to be absolutely true and fast and if someone gets in there are runs galore.

[Cowshot]

Fists: If the wind is more SW, I'm an accurate guide as to what will hit the Oval in the near future. Seems the wind is more Westerly than that, so with showery weather like this it's anyone's guess .

[skyeman]

Behind the stumps, AB has fumbled a couple already.

[Duty281]

Is Dale Steyn 100% fit? Is he hiding an injury? I thought he would have been on with the new ball.

[skyeman]

Shame about Strauss, but Eng look to be quite comfortable against Morkel and Philander, Eng 19/1.

[Cowshot]

Philander seems to be moving it. Is he swinging or seaming?

[LivinginItaly]

not an expert, but seems to be moving the ball off the pitch more than through the air, particularly the close lbw appeal.

[Fists of Fury]

They've gone with Morkel due to his record of dismissing Strauss and Cook six times each (seven for Strauss now, of course).

Steyn as first change, that is frightening.

[trebellbobaggins]

Strauss is making a habit of failing in big games.

Time for someone else?

Rather sets the scene that horrible start, like the way we rattled the Aussies at the start of the Ashes. The bowling is a class up and we don't look ready at the moment.

Have to say on paper they look better than us. More dangerous bowling unit (morkel , and steyn probably outdoes Anderson and Finn - who i put ahead of Broad now). On batting they are way ahead, we are too fragile. Should be their series by a couple.

[Cowshot]

LiI: Seaming. Thanks.

Generally, as long as the concentration stays good, batting has sounded comfortable. But the talk of Philander has been that he's got this amazing stike rate which seems to imply unplayable balls every now and again.

An interesting battle already!

[skyeman]

Steyn warming up

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

They've gone with Morkel due to his record of dismissing Strauss and Cook six times each (seven for Strauss now, of course).

Steyn as first change, that is frightening.

Also Steyns record against left handers is poor

[Cowshot]

Morning Trebs. Glad to see you doing your best for us.

[msp83]

Think its time for Steyn.

[Fists of Fury]

Keep it going Trebs. We need every ounce of your pessimistic brilliance.

[gboycottnut]

What I find frightening is South Africa having SEVEN specialist batsmen in their current XI for this first test match. England's bowlers are sure going to have to bowl extremely well if they are to bowl South Africa out consistently for under 400 runs an innings throughout this summer's test series.

[Cowshot]

Is Morkel's radar always this erratic?

[Fists of Fury]

Absolutely, gboycott. Ok, Petersen, Rudolph and Duminy are perhaps questionable, though they're all well capable of scoring big runs on their day.

As the Surrey boys here said, Rudolph was appalling for them this season, which invariably means he will have an absolute stormer in this series.

[Fists of Fury]

Is Morkel's radar always this erratic?

Usually. He is a loose cannon, but it can work as he then gets one right and it surprises the batsman! See the Strauss dismissal for that!

[trebellbobaggins]

I've joined the radio listener crowd now i've cancelled the telly. Could never bare to watch Engs struggles and cannot abide Nick Knight, This is instantly more enjoyable and more relaxing. This is how to enjoy my cricket.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

What I find frightening is South Africa having SEVEN specialist batsmen in their current XI for this first test match. England's bowlers are sure going to have to bowl extremely well if they are to bowl South Africa out consistently for under 400 runs an innings throughout this summer's test series.

It is till you see England number 7 and 8 both average noticeably higher than SA's 6 and 7, and that they have a 9 with a test century under his belt and even the 10 averages over 20.

Ifd argue Englands batting is deeper as they are only carrying one questionable batsman (Bopara) , SA 3 ...and England are much stronger from 8 down.

[LivinginItaly]

Given the choice I will always prefer to watch the game on tv. However, TMS is very special. I have many memories of holidays spent lying on the beach (or in a tent avoiding the rain) listening to another english batting colapse on a pitch that the opposition had just rattled up a huge score.

[trebellbobaggins]

yeah i'm just never able to relax and enjoy watching it sadly.

I shall enjoy the highlights. Sky's sky high prices sure weren't worth the tiny amount i watched.

[Cowshot]

Could never bare to watch Engs struggles

I'm glad to hear it!

You can't analyse the situation as well as you can on the telly, or the techniques of the players. But it definitely works.

Usually. He is a loose cannon, but it can work as he then gets one right and it surprises the batsman! See the Strauss dismissal for that!

I thought the Strauss dismissal had the feel of a coaches' plan - hence the round the wicket stuff...?

[mystiroakey]

okish start i suppose.. cook and trott could get well set

[Biltong]

SA bowling doesn't really look very threatening , does it?

[skyeman]

:clap:Eng's 50 and 50 partnership up, Eng recovering after the early loss of Strauss. Eng 50-1

Kallis being on can only make thlngs that little easier.

[skyeman]

Philander has looked to me to be the most threatening thus far. Always in the right places.

[Cowshot]

SA bowling doesn't really look very threatening , does it?

It certainly hasn't sounded very threatening so far. Philander moved a couple off the seam, but apart from the Morkel dismissal, not much has seemed that dangerous.

Are they pitching it a bit short?

[trebellbobaggins]

Boycs is setting up Tahir for a blinding series, basically saying he's utter poop. The lad is sure to take a five'fer now.

[skyeman]

A top edged SIX from Cook off Steyn, get him in the T20

[chrisss]

Boycs is setting up Tahir for a blinding series, basically saying he's utter poop. The lad is sure to take a five'fer now.

If Tahir is "utter poop", it doesn't say much for the County Championship does it?

[liverbnz]

Is that Cook's first 6 in Test cricket?

[mystiroakey]

no he has had a few at least

[Cowshot]

Suddenly the tempo increases - a six, and then a blinder from Steyn, who seems like the dangerman of the attack to me, at present. But generally Cook and Trott have seemed comfortable.

[skyeman]

Lunch Eng 70-1, and considering Strauss fell to the 4th ball of the day, i think you could call that Eng's session.

[msp83]

So despite the first over loss of their captain, England session of this massive series. A fine job from Cook and Trott, but its just the start, they have to go on long and hard like this.
Steyn was getting the ball to swing late towards the end of the session, and Philander was accurate and nippy. Of the rest, Morkel got Strauss yet again, but didn't produce a lot of testing balls. Tahir got one to turn a bit, on this pitch, he will have to play a big role for South Africa.

[Cowshot]

skyeman: Yup, just about.

I have been a bit disappointed in the SA attack so far. Thought we'd have a bit more fire and pace.

[Duty281]

England's session. Strauss was poor, the ball didn't really do anything and there was no footwork from the skipper - he is still the weak link in the top order. Nonetheless, Cook and Trott did brillantly, defying the 4 SA seamers and England are in a good position at lunch, 70/1 and going at a decent rate.

[bradman99.94]

Sky's sky high prices sure weren't worth the tiny amount i watched.

And you now have the extra benefit of not giving that nice Mr M and his family any money

[trebellbobaggins]

Boycs is setting up Tahir for a blinding series, basically saying he's utter poop. The lad is sure to take a five'fer now.

If Tahir is "utter poop", it doesn't say much for the County Championship does it?

i didn't say it. Boycs did! I am paraphrasing though, it was a longish rant about him that amounts to him being poop.

but he did also say it is a poor championship, hence the guy having so many wickets.

lord knows how eng create this team, maybe due to central contracts meaning they aren't relying on that championship.

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

Quite happy with 70-1!

Got a feeling that in this series its more important to avoid 190 all out than to achieve 490-5! I just feel that one very poor session, could cost either team the series.

[gboycottnut]

What I find frightening is South Africa having SEVEN specialist batsmen in their current XI for this first test match. England's bowlers are sure going to have to bowl extremely well if they are to bowl South Africa out consistently for under 400 runs an innings throughout this summer's test series.

It is till you see England number 7 and 8 both average noticeably higher than SA's 6 and 7, and that they have a 9 with a test century under his belt and even the 10 averages over 20.

Ifd argue Englands batting is deeper as they are only carrying one questionable batsman (Bopara) , SA 3 ...and England are much stronger from 8 down.

England's batting strength and quality from number 8 down to number 11 is vastly overrated. In the recent England V West Indies test series, not 1 of the England batsmen batting in the lower order managed a score over 70. In contrast the West Indies had 2 players who managed to score innings of 70+ runs in an innings. Sammy in the second test, and Tino Best in the third test.

[trebellbobaggins]

rather skewed by how utterly badly their top and middle had done forcing them to be out there for much longer than Engs often are to be fair. These were fairly flat ground where the Windies were batting really badly through most of the order.

Not that Engs batting is all that amazing all the time as we saw in Pakistan.

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