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.

[Mad for Chelsea]

a run! hallelujah!

[VTR]

We're just keeping it tight here. No need to worry, 150 runs will be scored between lunch and tea for the loss of no wickets.

[Mike Selig]

But do you really think the Strauss failure is down to his eyes going ? Wasn't much wrong with them a couple of months ago...I reckon it is more likely the pressure of captaincy against a very strong opponent which has amplified a natural tendency to lapses of concentration...some off field stuff may not have helped either.

It wasn't only his dismissal, a ball he tried to play earlier on he really didn't seem to pick up at all. And there have been a few this series.

I don't know whether it's eyes - it could be that last night for whatever reason picking the ball up was difficult. It could be as you say lapses in concentration with everything else going on. England will probably know.

But the 2 months thing is a red herring - your eyes really go from one day to the next. Gilchrist made the point when he retired.

[alfie]

Another point on the Strauss dismissal- I didn't see it , but have read the dramatic descriptions

Not the first time Strauss has been guilty of questionable early "leaves" , though he has got away with it on other occasions ...I recall the first ball of the second innings in Brisbane in 2010 , where he left a delivery which struck him on the pads to my own horror at least - the Aussies were convinced they had the perfect start but the umpires and Hawkeye showed it just too high , after which , 110 , 517/1 and details are forgotten...
Have seen other example too , though I can't quote time and date.

Maybe he just misjudged the length ?

[eirebilly]

The ball should be old enough now for the batsmen to feel a little more confident. Smith has set up a very containing field and is instructing his bowlers to bowl negatively. Cant argue with him on that though.

[Biltong]

But do you really think the Strauss failure is down to his eyes going ? Wasn't much wrong with them a couple of months ago...I reckon it is more likely the pressure of captaincy against a very strong opponent which has amplified a natural tendency to lapses of concentration...some off field stuff may not have helped either.

It wasn't only his dismissal, a ball he tried to play earlier on he really didn't seem to pick up at all. And there have been a few this series.

I don't know whether it's eyes - it could be that last night for whatever reason picking the ball up was difficult. It could be as you say lapses in concentration with everything else going on. England will probably know.

But the 2 months thing is a red herring - your eyes really go from one day to the next. Gilchrist made the point when he retired.

I can attest to that, I went for some serious operations a year and a bit ago, never before did I wear reading glasses, now I can't read %^^& without them.

[alfie]

Oh dear what a daft run out ...

[Mad for Chelsea]

and a run out, great stuff Trott

[Gerry SA]

Terrible cricket by Trott. Very selfish.

[Mike Selig]

Oh for heaven's sake!

[Mad for Chelsea]

feel very sorry for Taylor there, Trott has no right to refuse his call, it's a relatively easy run if he's paying attention, very very poor and exactly what England didn't need

[Duty281]

And a run out. I think that's that now. All over. We'll back to NO.1 very shortly though, India, New Zealand x 2 and Australia x2 are our next 5 Test series.

[Biltong]

Who's out. Trott or Taylor?

[Mad for Chelsea]

Who's out. Trott or Taylor?

Taylor

[eirebilly]

That was just plain daft

[Gerry SA]

And a run out. I think that's that now. All over. We'll back to NO.1 very shortly though, India, New Zealand x 2 and Australia x2 are our next 5 Test series.

Are you some sort of wind up?

This is Our time and you're making these odd claims?

[Shelsey93]

That was rubbish... Clearly a run was available... Can see us being bowled out an hour before tea at this rate...

[alfie]

Blimey you chaps and your eye problems ...actually varies a lot for different people. Some indeed lose it dramatically , though I suspect it is a more gradual process for most , unless some trauma is involved.

Mine went years ago ...actually decades ...but thanks to contact lens and some adaptation I still manage reasonably enough when batting.

Don't have to face Steyn or Philander though

[Biltong]

And a run out. I think that's that now. All over. We'll back to NO.1 very shortly though, India, New Zealand x 2 and Australia x2 are our next 5 Test series.

We have OZ away X3, then NZ at home X2, then Pakistan at home X3.

[Duty281]

And a run out. I think that's that now. All over. We'll back to NO.1 very shortly though, India, New Zealand x 2 and Australia x2 are our next 5 Test series.

Are you some sort of wind up?

This is Our time and you're making these odd claims?

Well, I think Australia will beat you in your next series 2-1 due to their home advantage and their resurgence. If that happens, Australia will be No.1. Nope, not on a wind up.

[Mad for Chelsea]

and Trott plays out another maiden, he's annoying me now, started with good intent but now seems to be playing for himself

[Mike Selig]

Not the first time Trott has refused a run when it wasn't his call and resulted in a run out either. I don't think it was a particularly good call, a bit too tight in these circumstances, and Taylor should have seen earlier that Trott wasn't coming and turned back.

[Shelsey93]

And a run out. I think that's that now. All over. We'll back to NO.1 very shortly though, India, New Zealand x 2 and Australia x2 are our next 5 Test series.

Are you some sort of wind up?

This is Our time and you're making these odd claims?

As it happens SA's lead will be very marginal. Hence its not inconceivable that we should make a swift return. Having said that SA's next series are against Australia (away), New Zealand and Pakistan (at home). Would expect them to win those.

[Shelsey93]

and Trott plays out another maiden, he's annoying me now, started with good intent but now seems to be playing for himself

Scoring rate isn't really the problem here, its wickets.

[Gerry SA]

And a run out. I think that's that now. All over. We'll back to NO.1 very shortly though, India, New Zealand x 2 and Australia x2 are our next 5 Test series.

Are you some sort of wind up?

This is Our time and you're making these odd claims?

Well, I think Australia will beat you in your next series 2-1 due to their home advantage and their resurgence. If that happens, Australia will be No.1. Nope, not on a wind up.

Well I believe Australia's batting is weak and our bowling should be too strong for them. I'd go as far as saying our batting is vastly superior to theirs!

[Mike Selig]

Blimey you chaps and your eye problems ...actually varies a lot for different people. Some indeed lose it dramatically , though I suspect it is a more gradual process for most , unless some trauma is involved.

But once they start going (not dramatic, just a fraction) you can't play international cricket anymore. Without laser treatment or whatever.

[Gerry SA]

And a run out. I think that's that now. All over. We'll back to NO.1 very shortly though, India, New Zealand x 2 and Australia x2 are our next 5 Test series.

Are you some sort of wind up?

This is Our time and you're making these odd claims?

As it happens SA's lead will be very marginal. Hence its not inconceivable that we should make a swift return. Having said that SA's next series are against Australia (away), New Zealand and Pakistan (at home). Would expect them to win those.

If England where playing New Zealand next I'd tend to agree. But I find that India is one of the toughest places to win at.

[Mad for Chelsea]

wow Trott plays an attacking shot, pinch me someone...

[Mike Selig]

Having seen the replay the 4th run was clearly on had they gone for it. Did Taylor call loudly enough?

[Biltong]

wow Trott plays an attacking shot, pinch me someone...

The biggest question is did it come off?

[Duty281]

And a run out. I think that's that now. All over. We'll back to NO.1 very shortly though, India, New Zealand x 2 and Australia x2 are our next 5 Test series.

Are you some sort of wind up?

This is Our time and you're making these odd claims?

As it happens SA's lead will be very marginal. Hence its not inconceivable that we should make a swift return. Having said that SA's next series are against Australia (away), New Zealand and Pakistan (at home). Would expect them to win those.

If England where playing New Zealand next I'd tend to agree. But I find that India is one of the toughest places to win at.

India are on a sharp decline now though, so I'd say England 2-1 in that series.

[msp83]

Taylor Runout, Its all coming apart for England, will be something if they manage to stay alive till tea.

[Mad for Chelsea]

wow Trott plays an attacking shot, pinch me someone...

The biggest question is did it come off?

yeah, upper cut four over backward point.

[Mad for Chelsea]

having said that, lovely cover drive from Trott there, 57-4

[Biltong]

wow Trott plays an attacking shot, pinch me someone...

The biggest question is did it come off?

yeah, upper cut four over backward point.

Absolutely Wonderful.

[alfie]

Was horrible running indeed. Feel a bit sorry for Taylor who has missed a chance to play an innings and demonstrate his ability at this level , but he was culpable too ...really didn't run that like a man intent on running four from the start , was rather a late decision to try for the fourth somewhat sprung on an unsuspecting Trott...certainly Trott mainly to blame , but it wasn't great from either of them.

[Mike Selig]

Getting easier for batting now, which makes the ridiculous run-out all the more disappointing.

Target is to get to 220/4 off 80. Fat chance.

[Duty281]

Trott gets another 4, the counter-attack is on!

[Mad for Chelsea]

Trott dropped by a diving Rudolph at third slip off Kallis. Runs away for four 61-4

[Mike Selig]

Tough chance, but should have got a hand on it at least.

[Biltong]

We need one more, one more.

C'mon guys!!

[eirebilly]

A dropped catch (ok hard chance) could that be the break and the luck England needed?

Not over yet people. We all know how Trott can hang in there and that Bairstow got 95 first inngings, not over yet

[Duty281]

Trott's been dropped, the tide is turning.

[Gerry SA]

And a run out. I think that's that now. All over. We'll back to NO.1 very shortly though, India, New Zealand x 2 and Australia x2 are our next 5 Test series.

Are you some sort of wind up?

This is Our time and you're making these odd claims?

As it happens SA's lead will be very marginal. Hence its not inconceivable that we should make a swift return. Having said that SA's next series are against Australia (away), New Zealand and Pakistan (at home). Would expect them to win those.

If England where playing New Zealand next I'd tend to agree. But I find that India is one of the toughest places to win at.

India are on a sharp decline now though, so I'd say England 2-1 in that series.

That may well be the case, but they seem to have finally ditched some of the deadwood.

So some of their younger players will want to show they can play Test cricket

Most importantly they haven't lost at home in along time. Where maybe they should've, twice we came close but they claimed the drawn series.

[Mad for Chelsea]

and now a pretty ordinary bit of fielding by Morkel at mid-off, though it was a well-struck drive by Bairstow.

Wheels coming off for SA?

[ShankyCricket]

And a run out. I think that's that now. All over. We'll back to NO.1 very shortly though, India, New Zealand x 2 and Australia x2 are our next 5 Test series.

Are you some sort of wind up?

This is Our time and you're making these odd claims?

As it happens SA's lead will be very marginal. Hence its not inconceivable that we should make a swift return. Having said that SA's next series are against Australia (away), New Zealand and Pakistan (at home). Would expect them to win those.

If England where playing New Zealand next I'd tend to agree. But I find that India is one of the toughest places to win at.

India are on a sharp decline now though, so I'd say England 2-1 in that series.

Your optimism is admirable but I am afraid that is unfounded.

[Biltong]

and now a pretty ordinary bit of fielding by Morkel at mid-off, though it was a well-struck drive by Bairstow.

Wheels coming off for SA?

Wishful thinking MAD.

[Mad for Chelsea]

that's the one that worries me to Bairstow, the full and straight one. Deals with it well there though, clipping through mid-wicket for four more. 69-4

[FerN]

England turning up the pace now.

[Duty281]

Misfield there. See No.1 is a curse, all your ability gets diminished because of it. South Africa have only got hand on the mace, and the wheels are coming off.

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