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?

[Duty281]

Lead up to 189, we need the last 6 wickets for 100 runs. It's doable but very tough.

[KP_fan]

Swann's best spell came against left hander smith when he was able to use the rough( outside smith's off stump) created by Right arm over the wicket bowlers.....

That rough is ruled out with right handers batting and swann being an off spinner...

what lefties does SA have in their side

[msp83]

Amla is batting on 86, and the last 50 runs or so has been the most insecure he looked out in the middle in the entire series. But the superb player that he is, he is really fighting through the tough period to put his side in a strong position.

[trebellbobaggins]

Dropping people now and amla sailing.

This one is well past England. Get past 200 and an england collapse was sadly assured.

Well done biltong, I just wish England hadnt forgotten how to bat in the last 2 years

[msp83]

England has just managed the nightwatchman Steyn's wicket in the 1 and a half hours of play today. South Africa have gone pass 200, another not entirely controled shot from AB, but it goes for 4.

[Duty281]

I think the game's getting away from us now, it will take an extraordinary spell of bowling and a sensational collapse to bring England back into this Test.

[Mike Selig]

De Villiers now getting some luck.

Luck always changes at some point in a cricket match, but it may be too late by the time that happens now.

On the other hand, England's chance was that Anderson catch. I think should (as is now seeming likely) SA do go on to win the match and series, that will be deemed as the ultimate turning point.

[KP_fan]

SA not making the mistake that Eng did yesterday........and are scoring off the old ball.

New ball will produce movement and skid off the pitch....and some that might jump off a length....and will bring wickets.

10 more overs with the old ball......30 to 40 runs will be their target

[trebellbobaggins]

England has just managed the nightwatchman Steyn's wicket in the 1 and a half hours of play today. South Africa have gone pass 200, another not entirely controled shot from AB, but it goes for 4.

England are a joke. You must finally be having fun following them.

[Duty281]

Don't worry lads, England have some minnow-bashing to enjoy in the winter. India and New Zealand. We'll be back to No.1 before ya know it.

[KP_fan]

England has just managed the nightwatchman Steyn's wicket in the 1 and a half hours of play today. South Africa have gone pass 200, another not entirely controled shot from AB, but it goes for 4.

did Eng manage the nightwatchman's wicket ?
Or was he under instructions to see-off half an hour...whihc he did..and let a stroke player come and do the run getting.

Steyn did his duty...got hit around, bored...and decided to come back to let ABDV do his part.....
and man didn't de villiers come out like a train engine as Polock put it ?

[Biltong]

Amla is batting on 86, and the last 50 runs or so has been the most insecure he looked out in the middle in the entire series. But the superb player that he is, he is really fighting through the tough period to put his side in a strong position.

The biggest strength Amla has is to focus on the next ball, he doesn't get mentally frayed by the previous delivery.

A good lesson for all batsmen.

[Mike Selig]

SA not making the mistake that Eng did yesterday........and are scoring off the old ball.

Yep. Super aggression there off Trott, 1 run off the over.

Numpty.

[Biltong]

Dropping people now and amla sailing.

This one is well past England. Get past 200 and an england collapse was sadly assured.

Well done biltong, I just wish England hadnt forgotten how to bat in the last 2 years

The series is not won yet mate, 150 + overs still left.

[alfie]

Trott on.

Always looks like desperation ...or actually resignation. Even He Who Must Not Be Named inspires more hope of a breakthrough.

Slipping away...

[Duty281]

Hopefully we'll cause havoc with the new ball, it is pretty much the last hope we have.

[KP_fan]

SA not making the mistake that Eng did yesterday........and are scoring off the old ball.

Yep. Super aggression there off Trott, 1 run off the over.

Numpty.

that SA did 30 runs in last 10 overs should not be looked at....
cricket MUST be analyzed lokking at the one over....and only that over that proves your point to draw your concluions...

yes then off course you are right

[GSC]

SA not making the mistake that Eng did yesterday........and are scoring off the old ball.

Yep. Super aggression there off Trott, 1 run off the over.

Numpty.

I believe hes talking about the 4 overs or so we had yesterday morning

[Biltong]

He Who Must Not Be Named, is prbably tweeting away somewhere.

[KP_fan]

Hopefully we'll cause havoc with the new ball, it is pretty much the last hope we have.

new ball is going to get wickets......about 4..in 20 odd overs...especially on an up and down pitch....

the whole test macth is about whihc team bowls better when the shine is gone....and which team bats throuhg the new ball with minimal damage

[alfie]

Has Amla hit one in the middle yet today ? Done a terrific job for SA , with a generous share of luck , but hasn't looked himself at all.

Frustration on a lot of English faces.

[Duty281]

Amla really is a jammy sod. Another edge, short of first slip. I've changed my mind, England are gonna win this. We'll hammer 'em with the new ball, then Strauss will lead the way in his 100th Test and show us the path to victory.

[liverbnz]

Give Finn the ball Straussy. Amla looked uncomfortable against him earlier.

[Mike Selig]

OK here is some stuff in context, De Villiers started off quickly and has settled down since. Very much like Prior in England's innings.

The last 3 overs have yielded 1, 2 then 3 (2 of those from an edge). They have included De Villiers blocking a near half-volley from Anderson to mid-on. Looks to me like SA are (sensibly I must add) playing for lunch.

I was however very amused by the suggestion that Steyn got out deliberately.

[guildfordbat]

He Who Must Not Be Named, is prbably tweeting away somewhere.

Biltong - I told you earlier where he should be!

[KP_fan]

Strauss not given a second spell to Broad ?
Trott bowling with sweepers on both sides...resembles the middle overs of an ODI.

Strauss body language suggests he is awaiting declaration around tea-time already

[Duty281]

OK here is some stuff in context, De Villiers started off quickly and has settled down since. Very much like Prior in England's innings.

The last 3 overs have yielded 1, 2 then 3 (2 of those from an edge). They have included De Villiers blocking a near half-volley from Anderson to mid-on. Looks to me like SA are (sensibly I must add) playing for lunch.

I was however very amused by the suggestion that Steyn got out deliberately.

And that's why we must rattle through some quick overs before lunch because they're not aiming to score. We need the new ball and we need Anderson/Finn/Broad to be on fire.

[Biltong]

He Who Must Not Be Named, is prbably tweeting away somewhere.

Biltong - I told you earlier where he should be!

Yeah, sorry, I mean't inbetween overs.

[mystiroakey]

SA only need a draw.. thats the problem

[guildfordbat]

Now, just to warn all posters on this thread - I suspect you may have to make do without the knowledge and insight of KP_Fan on here much of the day. A certain Mr Pietersen is playing for Surrey in this afternoon's CB 40 match against Hants, one of his (several) former clubs. I would therefore imagine that KP_Fan will be listening avidly to the CB 40 commentary provided by local radio and posting mainly on the County Cricket section.

There you go!

Anyway, as thunder rolls just start I'm off to a BBQ!

KP_Fan - look forward to your CB 40 review later.

[Biltong]

Well, you guys did want the number 1 spot up for grabs when we played England and not Sri Lanka.

[alfie]

Finn back in the artificial light ...wicket and off before the rain comes would be nice...

[liverbnz]

Looks like a day/night match!

[Biltong]

I hope it doesn't rain, I have been making a nice pot of Chicken Curry, and it is now simmering and maturing nicely, if it rains I got no sport to watch and will have to eat my curry without entertainment.

[GSC]

Kinda disappointed this isn't a 5 test series beyond England probably losing.

Ignoring the first test, we've had 2 high quality games that both teams have gone into the last 2 days with a shot at winning.

[alfie]

So lunch and still only four down...with my England hat on I can be thankful that they didn't score very quickly , so it isn't out of reach yet. We could take 6/60 with the new ball , assuming the weather settles down...

But my dispassionate observer says this one is gone.

[msp83]

Well, Lunch on the 4th day, South Africa well placed at 216-4. England bowled well in the morning, but Amla and De Villiers fought through. Even Steyn did a very good job before he got out. And to add to England's concerns there is some rain as well. Hopefully it won't last long, and if there is some cloud cover they could hope for some quick wickets after lunch. And the 2nd new ball should be available soon.

[Biltong]

The conditions could just turn England's luck here, new ball, clouds.

You never know

[DouglasJardinesbox]

2 x dropped catches will probably = #2 in the world. I was sure a 'happy' dressing room' was the key to success? 10-90 now in SA's favour. The world class fielding that took us to #1 has now gone to pot recently.

Broad does look particulary average I must say. Definitely not the same bowler or batter.

As someone said, need 6 - 80 at worst after lunch / rain.....

[eirebilly]

England are no where near out of this match yet. Hopefully there will be some more cloud cover after the resumtion to help them. Just a wicket or two could see them presuure the SA team.

Just getting those wickets is the bugger of it all though

[DouglasJardinesbox]

England are no where near out of this match yet. Hopefully there will be some more cloud cover after the resumtion to help them. Just a wicket or two could see them presuure the SA team.

Just getting those wickets is the bugger of it all though

Especially when you drop dollies......

-------

https://www.606v2.com/viewtopic.forum?t=33870

[Sponsored content]