England vs South Africa: 2nd Test Match Thread

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

Here is the match thread for the 2nd test at headlingley

Likely teams

England: Strauss,Cook,Trott,KP,Bell,Taylor,Prior,Bresnan,Swann,Broad,Anderson

S.Africa: Smith,Peterson,Amla,Kallis,AB,Rudolph,Duminy,Philander,Steyn,Morkel,Tahir

Although massive rumours going around that, england will play 4 quicks and leave out swann!

DISCUSS MATCH HERE

[Biltong]

I hate watching us bat for the first hour, it is nerve wracking

[Pal Joey]

Guys... can you please choke each other elsewhere.

I'll go for 272-4

[Biltong]

lucky escape for Smith there, but the ump called dead ball immediately.

[GSC]

Oh wow. Cook drops a dolly and Smith gets the luckiest of reprieves.

Might as well go back to the olympics, ain't our day

[VTR]

Dropped catch. As bad as predicted, back to the Olympics for me, might check the score again in four days time....

[msp83]

12 overs producing no wickets for England, there is already enough to ask questions about the 2 important calls that Andrew Strauss has made.

[GSC]

Knowing our luck these 2 will now make chanceless hundreds

[FerN]

Hmm, What game are you guys watching. England has had chances and I am sure they will still get many more. Feels like England is going to win this one.

[Duty281]

We've had Smith out twice now, once dropped and once given a life by the umpire.

[LivinginItaly]

dropped catch was petersen not smith

[Fists of Fury]

Appalling umpiring, it has to be said. A horrendous absence of consistency. Why wait until there is a wicket to call a dead ball, when Finn had already knocked the stumps over a couple of times previously?

I'm sickened.

[hodge]

Agree was about to say it, even if Smith or whoever had talked to the umpire why was that the first to be called, unless purely the umpire only calls it when the batsman is out due to being distracted? Bet the batsman wouldn't be too distracted by it if he were to hit it for 6... dead ball then?

[alfie]

Leaving out Swann has already cost a wicket - reckon he'd have swallowed that one at third slip .
Jimmy didn't look amused.

Hard work ahead today

[Fists of Fury]

Smith clearly wasn't distracted. It was a normal shot, a regulation edge and that's all there is to stay about it.

A complete joke. I'd have walked off the field with my team if I were Strauss.

[msp83]

The important thing to be known hre is whether Finn was given any previous warning about this by the umpire. This is not the first time Finn's done it in his career, but this surely the first time I have seen it called a dead ball. Unless there was a warning, I have to say poor umpiring.
Does the law book say something about this clearly?

[Stella]

Didn't he call it before the catch was taken? If so, what's the problem?

[FerN]

Smith clearly wasn't distracted. It was a normal shot, a regulation edge and that's all there is to stay about it.

A complete joke. I'd have walked off the field with my team if I were Strauss.

The umpire probably decided before that the next one would be a dead ball. It was the third one off the match already. If it seemed distracted or not, we don't know if he was. I think it was the correct call by the umpire, the fielders didn't even really react to the catch, so it looks like they were also okay with the decision.

[Biltong]

MSP, they read the law in the commentary box.

It goes something like this.

The umpire may call dead ball for anything noise that distracts the batsman.

They showed that smith spoke to the Ump earlier prior to that ball when it happened, he obviously complained to the ump that it is destracting, I assume that is why the ump called the next one dead ball.

[FerN]

The important thing to be known hre is whether Finn was given any previous warning about this by the umpire. This is not the first time Finn's done it in his career, but this surely the first time I have seen it called a dead ball. Unless there was a warning, I have to say poor umpiring.
Does the law book say something about this clearly?

Don't know about warning, but I think they did say something to him (Or maybe he just said "over").

[Pal Joey]

(SA Gold in the Fours... FerN, BB and protea)

[Biltong]

Thanks LB, unbeleiveable.

[alfie]

It was a terrific race ...SA by a nose from GB ...

Wonder if that is an omen

[Stella]

It was a terrific race ...SA by a nose from GB ...

Wonder if that is an omen

We won't get that close.

[FerN]

(SA Gold in the Fours... FerN, BB and protea)

We have a rowing team? I didn't really know we do anything else except the Dozie, but really well done. Thanks LB, this Olympics is turning out really well for us. They already exceeded my expectations.

[Fists of Fury]

Well, let's hope the forecast for rain is correct, because this is pitiful from England.

[LivinginItaly]

Start the rain dance already guys

[msp83]

Bresnan looking the best of the seamers, creating troubles for both Smith and Petersen. But they both are hanging in there, and each ball they get through, there will be that much additional pressure on England.

[msp83]

Interestingly enough Umpire Davis called dead ball of Finn again of a ball that Smith hit for 4.

[mystiroakey]

Oh no.. good start by SA..

[Biltong]

Interestingly enough Umpire Davis called dead ball of Finn again of a ball that Smith hit for 4.

I think it is only fair, if you can't get out with a destraction, you can't score runs off a destraction

[mystiroakey]

SA just beat in britain in the lightweight fours to gold as well- bad omen!

[Fists of Fury]

Hardly fair. A wicket is much bigger than 4 runs. It should never have been an issue, Smith was clearly not distracted and it is simply disgraceful for it to be called on a wicket ball after letting two go by (and countless other umpires letting it go by over the past few years).

Finn should work on removing that from his game, though, it is a ridiculous thing to be constantly doing - annoying as much as anything!

[Biltong]

Yes, i agree a wicket is worth more than 4 runs, but my point is what works as a diestraction for the wicket must also work for the boundary

[Guest]

80-0 rate nearly 3.5 an over...

a hugely frustrating morning for england!

[VTR]

I know its only the first session but this is as bad as feared. I honestly think we'll lose by an innings from here.

As with the last Test I'm not really going to bother following this one. I'm trying to wean myslelf off Test cricket anyway - I decided after the Windies series I find it more frustrating than enjoyable to follow!

[JDizzle]

Swann has been carrying an injury though, and this rumour does seem to have some substance behind it. I expect to see 3 seamers and 1 spinner tomorrow, but I won't be surprised if there is no Swann!

Without any slower option - a Patel or Bopara - we would leave ourselves very open should SA get away from us again. Headingley isn't quite as much of a seamers ground as is often made out. Its pretty good for batting and could well take spin as the game goes on.

If you are getting your info from Roger the Rum Man he is usually wrong!

I have my own sources!

Great to see Jimmy finally get his Test bow! Long overdue! And by the looks of things he will have plenty of chance to get a big score when it is our turn with the bat.

[FerN]

I know its only the first session but this is as bad as feared. I honestly think we'll lose by an innings from here.

As with the last Test I'm not really going to bother following this one.

Why not. The best games is always against the grain. I remember a certain game where Australia hit 434 of us and someone wanted to turn of the telly. I said don't cause I jokingly said I think we are going to win this one (That's not what I thought at all), and we all know how that turned out.

[ShankyCricket]

Hardly fair. A wicket is much bigger than 4 runs. It should never have been an issue, Smith was clearly not distracted and it is simply disgraceful for it to be called on a wicket ball after letting two go by (and countless other umpires letting it go by over the past few years).

Finn should work on removing that from his game, though, it is a ridiculous thing to be constantly doing - annoying as much as anything!

Apparently, Finn was warned for it earlier.

[VTR]

True Fern. Just added to my comment though, I'm trying (really trying!) not to follow Test cricket so obsessively. Due to having other things on the First Test passed me by and I have to say I was far happier for it.

Test cricket: you've been doing my head in for 20 years, no more please!

[Fists of Fury]

Well that concludes a pathetically inept session, both from England and the fat umpire.

[Guest]

Well that concludes a pathetically inept session, both from England and the fat umpire.

no need for personal attacks on the umpire, not very mature....


HOWEVER: A very dissapointing start for england in this game, we are once again playing catch up!

[Duty281]

England have been mugged by a dodgy umpire. Having said that, Petersen is doing very well.

[Fists of Fury]

CF, please do not tell me about maturity with your track record...

But yes, a desperate morning session for England.

[Guest]

fists i dont resort to calling umpires fat because of a decision..

anyhow poor from england.

[ShankyCricket]

CF, please do not tell me about maturity with your track record...

But yes, a desperate morning session for England.

[msp83]

A listless first sesion for England. After putting SA in, they would have hoped for at least 2 wwickets. The runs came easy for Petersen, and Smith having stayed in there, can cause serious damage as he has done ever so often in his career against England. The decision to leave Swann out didn't make sense at the start, now its becoming absolutely terrible by the minute.

[mystiroakey]

ermmmmmmmm. This is becoming tragic for england- come on lads remember your the best in the world!!! lol to that

[alfie]

The trouble with a heavy loss like the last one is they start thinking they have to "change" things to compete ...so forgetting about the last three years it is out with the spinner , in with flavor of the month Finn ( and i'm not denying he is a good bowler , just maybe not the wild card many people seem to think) and send 'em in on a pretty benign track...
Will probably end in tears.

Truth is the wheels started to come off when they decided to "rest" their best bowlers from the third West Indies Test : sure it made no difference to the non- result , but it just took away from the serious mindset they have had , play everything to win etc... Never mess with winning ways.

[msp83]

The track is not like the one for the first test, there is some life in it, although not to the extend of winning the toss and bowling or leaving out one of your best bowlers. So England still can regroup and comeback, but they really have to put in a massive effort to turn things around from here.

[Duty281]

After lunch we need one magic spell. Like Broad against the Aussies in 2009, Come on England!

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