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?

[mystiroakey]

I dont noramlly buy into sportsmen being unlucky- especially over a series- but Anderson hasnt been the luckiest of bowlers. And lets be honest here Broads figures are only half decent due to that 5 wicket spell towards the end of the 2nd test..

[Mike Selig]

Finn looking sharp, Amla with another couple of slices of luck in that over.

Omens that it's going to be his and not England's day? Or will luck turn around?

[Biltong]

Steyn justvneed to frustrate the bowlers for an hour, even if he scroes 15 runs it will be fine

[eirebilly]

So we should write off the excellent piece of bowling that Broad had in the second test, turning the match on its head and call him average then?

He has been down on pace but he has also down very well, first test apart when no England bowler had sucess against Amla, Kallis and Smith.

[alfie]

Well you can see what Jimmy is up to , but I would like to see a few more full balls in between the "push him onto the back foot" stuff. It isn't swinging , but Steyn just might chance his arm at a straight one...

[Biltong]

There seems to be a lot of bounce in the pitch.

[trebellbobaggins]

This Amla guy really has proven too good for Eng bowling resources hasn't he.



how on earth do you remove a rock like that?

[eirebilly]

Finn is truely bowling well here. A matter of time i think...

[msp83]

Finn looks like he would blast through the batsmen any moment, Hashim Amla has no idea of what is going on, and that takes some real serious skill!.

[Mike Selig]

Finn bowling beautifully. He's probably bowled better in this innings than in the previous one.

[eirebilly]

Whats even better is that they are both rooting the Amla down.

[liverbnz]

Short and wide at Steyn and he'll nick one.

[eirebilly]

I was thinking a few short ones and then a yorker for Steyn myself... Hell anything as long as he gets out

[eirebilly]

Its ever so slowly slipping away for England unless they make a breakthrough soon, very soon.

[Biltong]

Give Steyn abreak, he is there to entertain me.

[alfie]

Finn indeed bowling beautifully . How Amla has managed to avoid nicking one is beyond me...

Trouble is a lot of good bowling for forty minutes has brought no reward , and still AB , Rudolph and Duminy to follow. And Philander.

At least runs are hard to score , but England need a change of luck.

[Biltong]

Steyn gone, shame on you billy.

Now my fun has been spoilt.

[Mad for Chelsea]

England have bowled pretty well this morning (Finn very well indeed, desperately unlucky not to get a wicket) and finally the barrage of short stuff gets rid of Steyn.

[Mike Selig]

Broad gets the breakthrough.

Anyone notice Taylor take the bails off after taking the catch, presumably in case it was a no-ball?

If England can get one of these two out in the next half-hour or so they've given themselves a chance.

[alfie]

And the short pitched attack does the trick eventually ! Steyn did a great job for his team soaking up all that

And poor old Broad does something right , eh , KP fan

[Mad for Chelsea]

Broad gets the breakthrough.

Anyone notice Taylor take the bails off after taking the catch, presumably in case it was a no-ball?

If England can get one of these two out in the next half-hour or so they've given themselves a chance.

yes I did in fact, Steyn was walking off (and out of his crease). Good thinking by the youngster

[msp83]

De Villiers comes in after Steyn frustrated England long and then gloved a short won to the close in fielder on the leg side. Broad the wicket taker. AB away first ball with a 4.

[msp83]

8 of 2 balls for AB.

[alfie]

Yes , big half hour coming up ( how many times have we said that in this match !)

de Villiers has come out smoking...really taking the fight to Swann. One of them will have to go ...

[eirebilly]

Steyn gone, shame on you billy.

Now my fun has been spoilt.

Sorry about that. That Broad is one average bowler isnt he

[Biltong]

I think Steyn will be smirking by the time he comes to bowl. He'll be looking forward the have the last say for the series.

AB looks like he isn't going to dilly dally here, it does provide the English bowlers with a chance, but if it works it will go a long way to establish huge pressure on England

[alfie]

Broad gets the breakthrough.

Anyone notice Taylor take the bails off after taking the catch, presumably in case it was a no-ball?

If England can get one of these two out in the next half-hour or so they've given themselves a chance.

yes I did in fact, Steyn was walking off (and out of his crease). Good thinking by the youngster

Wouldn't count though , would it ? Unless they have changed the laws again you can't be run out when walking off after apparently being given out ...

[Biltong]

Steyn gone, shame on you billy.

Now my fun has been spoilt.

Sorry about that. That Broad is one average bowler isnt he

Yep, if KPfan was about he would have called Broad lucky and would have demanded Broad thanks Finn for softening up Steyn.

(Luckily he is watching his hero play elsewhere

[eirebilly]

Did i just hear correctly, is Broad now the leading test wicket taker in 2012?

[eirebilly]

Biltong you tart

[Mad for Chelsea]

ach

can't afford to drop those, by Anderson's standards a bit of a dolly that

[eirebilly]

Jimmy

[Mike Selig]

Oh dear. That was the test match right there I'm afraid.

[alfie]

Unbelievable. Anderson of all people spilling a sitter...

Maybe England just are not meant to win this

[Biltong]

Biltong you tart

Biltongtart, something savoury instead of those cucumber sarmies.

[Biltong]

Unbelievable. Anderson of all people spilling a sitter...

Maybe England just are not meant to win this

Alfie aren't you Australian?

[eirebilly]

Somebody is looking for a Poesklap

[Mad for Chelsea]

England bowled pretty well in that first hour, and should have had two wickets, but for that poor drop. Desperately need a couple of quick wickets to put the pressure back on SA.

[Biltong]

Somebody is looking for a Poesklap

Gimme, gimme

Promises, promises.

[liverbnz]

England's fielding in this series has been mediorce by their high standards. It's likely gonna cost them dear.

[msp83]

South Africa is getting the score moving, the more they score the more pressure on England. And they can't drop catches like that, I thought they were done with the distractions!.

[Biltong]

I was just realising AB owes us a big score, he hasn't yet really come off this series, hopefully today is that day.

[Duty281]

So Anderson has dropped a sitter, we need wickets fast.

[KP_fan]

@ one moderator...you stole words from my mouth.....your smilies notwithstanding.

@anderson's dropped catch......ahhh....it will be forgotten for he is no Monty and won't get dropped for it next game........

[Biltong]

See, you guys think us Mods don't know you.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Swann bowling well, nice little contest between him and De Villiers here...

[alfie]

England have unfortunately developed the habit this season of dropping the wrong people at the wrong times...
Should have been like Smith just dropping the last man at virtually no cost but embarrassment

Note to Biltong : English born and still supporting , living in Australia ...just to clear that up.

[Shelsey93]

Very disappointing to see catches going down, particularly from Anderson who has spilt a few this series.

Amla is a superb player of spin... I think we're lacking a plan against him.

[alfie]

Amla gets away with another miscue.

He seems to be leading a charmed life here. Maybe one wicket will bring three , but the faith is being tested now.

[Mike Selig]

Has Amla middled one this morning yet? This is getting ridiculous...

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