England v South Africa, Lords, 3rd Test Thread

[eirebilly]

First topic message reminder :

Yeah, the fielding certainly has left alot to be desired. Still the chances are being created and things must surely stick soon.

[Mike Selig]

Cook goes, LBW to a beauty from Philander.

[Mad for Chelsea]

oh dear, Cook plumb LBW to Philander (again). He's got some issues to work on, disastrous start for England...

[eirebilly]

Yeah, that was plumb

[Mike Selig]

2 men back on the hook to Trott from Philander is some strange field setting though. SA are a bit worried about the runs you feel.

[andyi]

Current Odds are:

England 9/1
Sth Africa 4/6
Draw 11/5

Seems about right to me.

[mystiroakey]

just backed england at 9..

its all about getting this ball old .. then it will be easier.. losing 1 or even 2 wickets in 30 overs is fine..

[ChequeredJersey]

Get the idea we are going to need at least 2 heroic performances to prevail.

[mystiroakey]

What people are forgetting is that we have the ginger ninga- he looks like steal!

[andyi]

just backed england at 9..

its all about getting this ball old .. then it will be easier.. losing 1 or even 2 wickets in 30 overs is fine..

Good luck, you'll need it. They are long shot.

[eirebilly]

Strauss and Trott need to see these overs out as well as making some scores tomorrow in order for England to have a chance.

[ChequeredJersey]

Oakey are you implying that gingers are thieves?

[mystiroakey]

Just a tenner to make things slightly more intereting!

[Mad for Chelsea]

well this is a disaster

what was he thinking?

[mystiroakey]

errrrrr

[mystiroakey]

a fool and his money

[eirebilly]

What a brain fart!!!!!

[Mike Selig]

Oh dear. Game over now.

[Shelsey93]

Oops. That will sadly be fodder for the Strauss-bashers. A desperately poor dismissal.

Just about seeing the day out now... another wicket would be a total disaster.

[ChequeredJersey]

6-2. Either this is a wonderful Defensive Feint Trap, or we are f***ed! Ah well, can't be the best in the World at Cycling, Rowing AND Cricket

[liverbnz]

200 partnership please.

[ChequeredJersey]

200 partnership please.

May as well ask for a 350 partnership!

[mystiroakey]

the smurf and the ninger are gonna come good- have faith lads

[DouglasJardinesbox]

Oops. That will sadly be fodder for the Strauss-bashers. A desperately poor dismissal.

Just about seeing the day out now... another wicket would be a total disaster.

Yes is will be, fodder all day long. Nice 'principles' don't get runs. I'm tempted to say he and his team deserve to be thrashed. He should quit and go play County Cricket with KP.....

[Guest]

philander has been exceptional this game with bat and ball..

miserly in the first innings, scored runs in both innings and now has struck twice with the new ball!

[andyi]

the smurf and the ninger are gonna come good- have faith lads

Following your "a couple down at stumps will be okay" logic you should of held off backing em until they were 2 down.

You can get 19/1 now

[Mad for Chelsea]

am I the only one who finds Smith's fields surprisingly defensive given the situation? Two men out on the hook? really?

[trebellbobaggins]

Ok I think Strauss has answered my question.

If you are going to keep letting the side down and putting massive pressure on everyone else, and as you play no other forms, it's time to go Strauss.

I can't see what he's bringing anymore? This has just assures SA have it, though they probably had it anyway.

If the Captains sets the tone, the tone is a thrashing, Smith has proven who the better captain is sadly.

[msp83]

England's chances of winning had long gone before their 2nd innings started. They were never going to chase down 300 + without a KP like player and that most of it in a single day, on the last day pitch. 350 was way beyond them, and with the kind of opening they got, they can now fight to see if they could save this one somehow. Despite them getting the distraction cast aside their fielding said to be the indicator of the team spirit was horrible and their catching particularly was third rate.

[mystiroakey]

andyi i actually put another 5 er on 17/1

[trebellbobaggins]

Yes they were awful. Sadly we've turned into India in the field.

[Guest]

no point scratching around!

even if we draw the game we lose the series, may as well go down blazing!!!!!!!!!

[Mad for Chelsea]

msp, why have you gone all anti-England all of a sudden? you used to be balanced, now you're sounding like one of those WUMs...

[mystiroakey]

however we cant score a single at the moment.

we need to somehow get the rr for these 13 up to atleast 2.5!! which is ermm 33 at close!!

come on lads

[Mad for Chelsea]

I think England just need to see out the day, and try somehow to score these runs tomorrow. Won't be easy, but neither is it impossible...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I'm just gonna say, never say never...

[Mad for Chelsea]

umpires being very lenient on wides, Bell would have needed a step ladder to reach that one...

[Guest]

remeber mfc its a test match

[Mad for Chelsea]

yeah but still, there's no way he could have reached that, should have been a wide.

[msp83]

msp, why have you gone all anti-England all of a sudden? you used to be balanced, now you're sounding like one of those WUMs...

MFC, England used to be my top favorite side along with India, but I think the England team management, the ECB, and even some of the players acted disgracefully in the Pietersengate, and while I accept Pietersen did act stupid throughout the saga the other side is not held accountable. KP said sorry, but the powers that be are intent upon humiliating him and finishing him off. Some of the arguments given for dumping him were downright idiotic, and for this test I am therefore supporting South Africa.
Just to make it clear, my point is that differential standards exist for Pietersen and others, and despite his mistakes that is unfair to a player who did so much for England cricket over the years. And I didn't become a supporter of England cricket in 2005, but had followed them from the end of the 1990s onwards.

[msp83]

Last over of the day coming up. Trott and Bell have done well to survive up to now.

[Guest]

we aint gonna chase these down tomorrow!

[Mad for Chelsea]

we aint gonna chase these down tomorrow!

a more positive attitude at this point might assist

[DouglasJardinesbox]

msp, why have you gone all anti-England all of a sudden? you used to be balanced, now you're sounding like one of those WUMs...

MFC, England used to be my top favorite side along with India, but I think the England team management, the ECB, and even some of the players acted disgracefully in the Pietersengate, and while I accept Pietersen did act stupid throughout the saga the other side is not held accountable. KP said sorry, but the powers that be are intent upon humiliating him and finishing him off. Some of the arguments given for dumping him were downright idiotic, and for this test I am therefore supporting South Africa.
Just to make it clear, my point is that differential standards exist for Pietersen and others, and despite his mistakes that is unfair to a player who did so much for England cricket over the years. And I didn't become a supporter of England cricket in 2005, but had followed them from the end of the 1990s onwards.

Well said MSP. I've never been a huge KP fan, but the witch-hunt (which started well before the texts) has been disgusting. Strauss and his lackies realy deserved this pasting......

[Mad for Chelsea]

SA have actually not bowled well since the first two wickets, been way too many balls England have been able to leave alone comfortably. Bell and Trott duly see out the day, but they have a mountain to climb tomorrow.

msp, fair enough mate, didn't actually follow the KP saga (due to watching the Olympics), but for me they were faults on both sides. I really hope they can sort out their differences, there's no doubt England are a better side (a far better one) with KP in it IMO.

[msp83]

330 runs on a last day pitch against Steyn, Morkel, and Philander, and Tahir too, with a few balls jumping and turning. Good luck England.

[Guest]

we aint gonna chase these down tomorrow!

a more positive attitude at this point might assist

we needed a brilliant start today to have a chance and instead we're scratching around

[Shelsey93]

Will be very tough tomorrow, but at this stage it is not impossible - 8 to 1 in SA's favour I would say. Trott and Bell are good players, Taylor and Bairstow positive ones and the lower order can hold a bat. May be relying on a good old SA choke though.

[msp83]

And that RRR for tomorrow is closer to 4 rather than 3!.

[andyi]

andyi i actually put another 5 er on 17/1

They are 27/1 at close of play.

There are stuck between a rock and a hard place really, as they have no real chance of scoring the runs tomorrow and if they chase, they will probably get skittled out for 150-200 at best. However, If England bat to save the game, people will criticize them for it.

South Africa have shown that you cant really score quickly on this pitch and showed great patience to make the game safe and England have scored just 16 runs in their 13 overs this evening.

Very very long shot now!

[trebellbobaggins]

msp, why have you gone all anti-England all of a sudden? you used to be balanced, now you're sounding like one of those WUMs...

MFC, England used to be my top favorite side along with India, but I think the England team management, the ECB, and even some of the players acted disgracefully in the Pietersengate, and while I accept Pietersen did act stupid throughout the saga the other side is not held accountable. KP said sorry, but the powers that be are intent upon humiliating him and finishing him off. Some of the arguments given for dumping him were downright idiotic, and for this test I am therefore supporting South Africa.
Just to make it clear, my point is that differential standards exist for Pietersen and others, and despite his mistakes that is unfair to a player who did so much for England cricket over the years. And I didn't become a supporter of England cricket in 2005, but had followed them from the end of the 1990s onwards.

be nice if he wasn't slagging off his team mates to the other side though.

I can't see how we can defend that really? Seems like poison having that in your side.

I may not be fully understanding what has occured here but it looks horrible.

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