England v South Africa, Lords, 3rd Test Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

The equation is simple. If England win, they remain number 1. If South Africa avoid defeat, they move up to number 1 and will officially be the best Test team in the World.

England: 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ian Bell, 5 James Taylor, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn

South Africa: 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

Are you ready?

[skyeman]

One team on this belter of a pitch, is going to score big. Hopefully not the Saffers.

So credit to both sets of bowlers thus far.

[mystiroakey]

If you dont utilse the new ball as a bowling side the other teamn will score big, its kinda simple!!

the new ball has taken almost everything- but its not so new any more. Its getting tough again

[skyeman]

If you dont utilse the new ball as a bowling side the other teamn will score big, its kinda simple!!

the new ball has taken almost everything- but its not so new any more. Its getting tough again

Agreed, if SA are 70/0 i think England have had it.

[mystiroakey]

yep agree, well for the win anyway

[trebellbobaggins]

can't help thinking the best batsmen out here of Amla and Smith are going to pulverise us second time up. "You didn't take advantage last time, we bury you".

[skyeman]

300 up

[Duty281]

4 vital runs there.

[alfie]

Shot of the day

Steyn round the wicket , bang ! Finn pulls him for four

Love it ...300 up

[skyeman]

I know it is only a few runs, but to get a lead, if only 1 it is a psycological thing most definitely.

[liverbnz]

Building up some momentum here England. Real shame for Bairstow as he could have opened up after getting to 100. He can score pretty quickly too.

[skyeman]

We need clouds please rain gods (well not the rain part), i can but hope.

[FerN]

scores leveled

[mystiroakey]

The lead

[skyeman]

And we are winning

[alfie]

Well , level now...handy tail end runs...

The two innings have been similar in many ways...and now England have the lead

Good work from these two...even induced a couple of fielding fumbles from SA , who are getting a bit frustrated...

[skyeman]

Oh the doubters, KP's dad where are youuuuuuuu

[Mike Selig]

England lead! Well done to Swann and Finn, it matters psychologically at least. Smith looked a bit disgusted.

The pitch does look better and better the more comfortable these two have looked though. England are going to have to bowl very well.

On the other hand there is a bit of pressure on South Africa now, bat well and you win a first (serious) away series since 2008/09 in Australia? We know the saffers aren't the greatest under pressure...

[mystiroakey]

come on that 350!!

[skyeman]

Yep, not good for Smith and Petersen.

[mystiroakey]

Drop- another physcolgical blow

[skyeman]

That easy drop won't help Smith. OMG.

[skyeman]

All going wrong for the Saffers. Trebbleeeeeee

[mystiroakey]

was someone saying swan shouldnt play!!!

[skyeman]

About time Swanny, well done.

[alfie]

Smith drops a sitter !

But Morkel ensures it doesn't cost too many...six run lead for England

Well played Swann and Finn.

Still pretty even

[skyeman]

Now biff um boys.

[mystiroakey]

well we have to utilise this new ball..

Anderson needs to start

[skyeman]

Still more than half the game to go. Early wkts a must.

[trebellbobaggins]

Only a six run lead? reading here i thought england were bashing them.

still, it's a lot better than it might have been. To have any hope then Englands bowling has to be perfect against the best in the world.

If sa get over 200 they're sure to bowl out eng and win this series with ease.

[skyeman]

Only a six run lead? reading here i thought england were bashing them.

still, it's a lot better than it might have been. To have any hope then Englands bowling has to be perfect against the best in the world.

If sa get over 200 they're sure to bowl out eng and win this series with ease.

Keep it coming.

[Mike Selig]

Just over an hour to go until tea, a couple of wickets a must for England.

Having said that, I'm going to repeat I don't think this pitch is going to wear very fast, 300 odd in the final innings is gettable.

[alfie]

I see Mike is invoking the c word Very subtle though...

In fact the pitch looks very good , so I guess SA are maybe a whisker in front by virtue of (a) achieving parity while having the worse of conditions ; and (b) having the chance to bat now and set England a really tough task.
On the other hand , this pitch probably won't get significantly worse to bat on later , so a few early wickets could indeed get their nerves jangling...

Think it is important for England that Broad stands up now. I think he has been a bit down on form with the new ball lately. SA showed how well three good seamers can work together , England must do the same.

[mystiroakey]

Come on Jimmy!!

3 wickets first over lad

[skyeman]

This is why i LOVE Test cricket above all.

[liverbnz]

Got to make them play more Jimmy, come on!

[alfie]

Smith looks a little unsettled here . He is a very dangerous player , but I've a feeling some tight bowling at him early on might get a result. Don't be giving him any freebies ...

[skyeman]

Smith, a fortunate boy there.

[Mike Selig]

Ooooh Smith gets away with one.

I don't mind this field to Smith.

Anderson not quite found his feet yet.

[skyeman]

Smith looks a little unsettled here . He is a very dangerous player , but I've a feeling some tight bowling at him early on might get a result. Don't be giving him any freebies ...

Very much agreed, he looks nervous. That's what high level cricket does, even after a hundred Tests.

[msp83]

Yes England will have to bat again!. Ooh fine ball from Anderson there!. This new ball is key, if South Africa can get away with not much damage, then they should have good batting conditions available for them and their classy lineup won't make similar mistakes every time, and England can't expect too many gloved catches down the leg side either every time. Close LBW shout their from Broad then, but they aren't reviewing it.

[KP_fan]

It's a test match hanging in balance apparently.......but that Eng bats last makes it 60-40 in SA's favor.

I think most likely SA will get a lead of between 30 to 50 today.......and coupled with the fact they will bowl at Eng on D5 makes it tilted in SA favour.

However less lilkely but very much possible with Bairtstow, Prior, Broad and Swann can all throw their weights.....and get Eng Eng a lead of about 50......then the game will be at par...the lead being offsetby "batting last factor".


After the debacle in the first test...Eng have competed hard against a superior team...to their credit......on the back of KP in T2 and rallying throuhg Anderson/Finn/ Bairstow so far.

Verdict: 60-40 in SA favor as of now.

Going as per the script......SA still stands at 60-40 ahead.

Eng failed to get up by 50+ and make it evens......SA failed to nail them about 30 odd short and failed to make to 70-30ish.

Eng did as well as they could against the quality of SA bolwing.......the only missed opportunity was to score 30 to 40 odd extra runs against the old ball this morning.

--Every little bit will count in this test....and in the end as per the script England will lose this test in the last session of D5.

--SA will give Eng between 300 to 350ish to chase

--instead of playing for a draw, Flower will play to feed the statistical monkey of No.1 hanging around his neck...and go for "positive win"...loose quick wickets and the test match.

--SA will use the "No.1 Rope" to hang flower and eng here...when the saner approach of let's draw here to a superior team,....keep more ICC points in hand and catch up later.

[skyeman]

Not worth it.

[Duty281]

Have to bowl them out for under 300 to win, Come on England!

[Mike Selig]

Anderson a fraction short so far.

[eirebilly]

Not worth it.

[ShahenshahG]

It's a test match hanging in balance apparently.......but that Eng bats last makes it 60-40 in SA's favor.

I think most likely SA will get a lead of between 30 to 50 today.......and coupled with the fact they will bowl at Eng on D5 makes it tilted in SA favour.

However less lilkely but very much possible with Bairtstow, Prior, Broad and Swann can all throw their weights.....and get Eng Eng a lead of about 50......then the game will be at par...the lead being offsetby "batting last factor".


After the debacle in the first test...Eng have competed hard against a superior team...to their credit......on the back of KP in T2 and rallying throuhg Anderson/Finn/ Bairstow so far.

Verdict: 60-40 in SA favor as of now.

Going as per the script......SA still stands at 60-40 ahead.

Eng failed to get up by 50+ and make it evens......SA failed to nail them about 30 odd short and failed to make to 70-30ish.

Eng did as well as they could against the quality of SA bolwing.......the only missed opportunity was to score 30 to 40 odd extra runs against the old ball this morning.

--Every little bit will count in this test....and in the end as per the script England will lose this test in the last session of D5.

--SA will give Eng between 300 to 350ish to chase

--instead of playing for a draw, Flower will play to feed the statistical monkey of No.1 hanging around his neck...and go for "positive win"...loose quick wickets and the test match.
--SA will use the "No.1 Rope" to hang flower and eng here...when the saner approach of let's draw here to a superior team,....keep more ICC points in hand and catch up later.

I suppose your decision would to be play for a draw in a series you are losing one -nil

[eirebilly]

I have been enthralled by this test. Worthy or a number one battle

[skyeman]

I have been enthralled by this test. Worthy or a number one battle

[skyeman]

We know it, the crowd know it, and the watching millions know it.

[eirebilly]

Test cricket at its best

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