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]

Bairstow passes 50, and surely makes himself undroppable in the process now.

[mystiroakey]

Love this busy approach- single after single and the odd 4!!

[mystiroakey]

england 6/1!!!!!!

[Duty281]

Bairstow has been bowled, goodnight England. Unless Prior does the unthinkable.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Bairstow bowled by Tahir

[eirebilly]

Bugger

[Mike Selig]

Brain freeze, exactly what England couldn't afford. Prior needed now.

[alfie]

2nd fifty in the match for Bairstow ...and you couldn't say either were exactly free of pressure !

...and he's gone

Rats . Was enjoying watching that.

Might not be long now...

[Mad for Chelsea]

poor shot really, looked like he misread the length, and with him go any realistic hope England had of winning the match

[eirebilly]

Prior, Broad and Swann are still capable of helping Trott to win this

[Duty281]

Broad and Prior both have Test Centuries to their name. Only 212 to go.

[eirebilly]

Prior is not the type of batsman to sit back either so England still in this

[Mike Selig]

It was a desperately poor shot, which is such a shame because he'd played so well.

[dummy_half]

Can't see the next three batsmen playing for the draw...

[mystiroakey]

Keep believing lads..

[alfie]

Pity that.

Kept a bit low , but his feet didn't move decisively then and he paid the price. He will certainly get a few balls like that in India , but I like what I've seen today.

[eirebilly]

I do believe that Bairstow is the current highest run scorer this test so well done him

[mystiroakey]

btw Baristow you was class!!

[Duty281]

Trott to make another 100 runs, Prior to make 60, Broad and Swann to chip in with 40 and extras to do the rest.

[eirebilly]

If England try to shut up shop from here and play for the draw then they are done for, they may as well play positive and give it a run now. Nothing to lose.

[Duty281]

Still 57 overs to go, 210 needed so the RRR is still under 4. If we want to win, these 2 need to bat through the session.

[Mike Selig]

I agree Billy, stay positive, although nothing untoward required. Just keep ticking over off Tahir, and when it's in your zone go for it.

If these two get through til tea there's still hope.

We do have to assume the 2nd new ball (when it comes) will account for at least one wicket, so the tail is going to have to make a substantial contribution.

[eirebilly]

Was it the Aussie batsman Dean Jones that used to say that when facing fierce bouncers, he used to try and judge it to deflect off his helmet for boundaries thus stopping the Windies bowlers in their tracks?

[eirebilly]

This is not the way forward right now, need to get after the bowlers a little bit. Being stagnent is only building pressure.

[mystiroakey]

ermm they are getting all cagey!

its sliping

[VTR]

Are people still contemplating the win? Have you lot ever seen Broad bat in a second innings? Makes Strauss look like the second innings Don Bradman!

[ChequeredJersey]

Let's be fair, they just lost a wicket, give them a couple of overs to settle down!

[Mike Selig]

Not really... Prior is just playing himself in against a leggie bowling into the rough, whilst Philander is bowling a tight spell. It's only been a few overs since the wicket.

I'd like to see Prior try to attack Tahir once he feels settled.

RR not really a problem right now

[KP_fan]

Tahir shows his value as a situational spinner......spins off the rough and plucks a wicket out in the middle overs with the old ball ona D5 pitch

He needs one more wicket.....and he would have delivered his due for the team,

then it's down to last 4...whihc SA can pluck out even with the new ball.

[Biltong]

Only 4 runs in the last 4 overs.

[Duty281]

I like what they're doing, kill the momentum gained for the wicket and then play your shots. The RRR is still under 4.

[eirebilly]

Are people still contemplating the win? Have you lot ever seen Broad bat in a second innings? Makes Strauss look like the second innings Don Bradman!

I remember Broad batting in the second Innings against SA several years ago (2007/8) when England were stairing down and innings defeat and he scored a very impressive 69? to help England avoid an innings defeat.

[FerN]

RRR creeping up now. Should they still try and go for the win or should they try to bat it out from here?

[Mike Selig]

Broad made a swashbuckling 60odd at Headingley in the 2009 ashes as well...

[VTR]

I mean more recently eirebilly. The current version who plants his foot and is lbw or bowled for a duck.

Fair enough though, as he's back in the pavilion within 2 mins you might have missed these innings!

[ChequeredJersey]

We've seen Broad make 40 odd in the second innings run chases before

[FerN]

Are people still contemplating the win? Have you lot ever seen Broad bat in a second innings? Makes Strauss look like the second innings Don Bradman!

I remember Broad batting in the second Innings against SA several years ago (2007/8) when England were stairing down and innings defeat and he scored a very impressive 69? to help England avoid an innings defeat.

Ja that was very annoying, and who was the other "batsmen" Onions?

[Gerry SA]

Vernon Philander has really made our attack complete.

In the past we had Parnell and Tsotsobe and opposition would target them.

The Pro doesn't allow that to happen.

We can also afford to carry Tahir.

[mystiroakey]

Oh come on lads- if you go for a draw I am gonna go up to lords and lob a couple ofrotten eggs into the ground!!

[Duty281]

4 off of that over, it'll start to pick up now. 205 to go.

[msp83]

Tahir is letting them rip across the batsman, test here for Prior and Trott.

[mystiroakey]

TROTT IS THE ANCHOR PRIOR- you need to score around him!!

[mystiroakey]

They are just cutting of his scoring supply!! swann should have come on next

[eirebilly]

I mean more recently eirebilly. The current version who plants his foot and is lbw or bowled for a duck.

Fair enough though, as he's back in the pavilion within 2 mins you might have missed these innings!

Fair dues

He is going to do it again today

[msp83]

Philander too is bowling some testy ones now.

[alfie]

This is not the way forward right now, need to get after the bowlers a little bit. Being stagnent is only building pressure.

You're right , Billy , and I'm sure Prior will be looking to push it along soon ...it is his nature anyway. A few quiet overs won't kill us , but obviously retreating into a shell will accomplish nothing.

By the way , I wish I could share your admirable optimism. Unfortunately I've seen this movie too many times , and I know how it ends

But in the meantime I am pleased to see England playing with intent instead of folding meekly. Make the beggars work for it I say !

[eirebilly]

Are people still contemplating the win? Have you lot ever seen Broad bat in a second innings? Makes Strauss look like the second innings Don Bradman!

I remember Broad batting in the second Innings against SA several years ago (2007/8) when England were stairing down and innings defeat and he scored a very impressive 69? to help England avoid an innings defeat.

Ja that was very annoying, and who was the other "batsmen" Onions?

I cant remember but i think that Tim Ambrose (the keeper at the time) went very far with him.

[JDizzle]

Philander has been very good. He was never realistically going to keep up his strike rate and average in this series, but he has still been very, very good because even when he hasn't been taking wickets, like you say, he has been keeping it very economical. Impressive. And he's chipped in with vital lower runs which will probably be the difference in SA winning this game. And on Tahir, he does come into his own when the pitch begins to turn but that makes Kallis crucial in the First Innings to keep things tight when Tahir isn't as effective.

I still believe though! Trott 141*, Prior 68, Broad 21 and Swann 35*. There we go.

[msp83]

Prior seems to have trouble playing Tahir here, couldn't pick the googly, and got into a bit of trouble with the leggy as well.

[Duty281]

Bowling change works, Trott is gone. The end? Still 200 to go.

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