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.

[msp83]

The crowd is enjoying big time out there, Tahir is providing some really funny moments!.

[Duty281]

Broad gets lucky with an edge, 167 to go. England still fighting.

[msp83]

Tahir very nearly gets a wicket there, the ball smashed into the shortleg fielder, and just out of the reach of the wicket keeper.
Now Morkel replaces Steyn.

[alfie]

Bit of luck for Broad ...Amla glad of the helmet !

Too late to be targeting Amla though ...we needed him off nursing a headache yesterday

[Mike Selig]

Crowd getting stuck into Tahir... Quite funny, given who will undoubtedly have the last laugh, but seems in good spirit, so no complaints really.

[Mad for Chelsea]

OUCH! bet Amla's thanking whoever invented helmets right now

[Mike Selig]

Tahir very nearly gets a wicket there, the ball smashed into the shortleg fielder, and just out of the reach of the wicket keeper.
Now Morkel replaces Steyn.

Ball hit helmet, so technically wouldn't have been out.

[Duty281]

Another boundary for the best Test Wicketkeeper in the World.

[Biltong]

Yeah, I had ADSL before but then the cables got stolen during the FiFa world cup and I was without for a month.

They say 4G is on its way, but hell, you never know when.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Tahir very nearly gets a wicket there, the ball smashed into the shortleg fielder, and just out of the reach of the wicket keeper.
Now Morkel replaces Steyn.

wouldn't have been out anyway as it hit (well glanced) his helmet.

[JDizzle]

Replay show's hit the helmet so wouldn't have been out even if ABDV had got there.

Reminds of a story about Brian Close when the ball hit him on the forehead at short leg and bounced up and was caught at slip, and someone asked him "But Brian, what if it had hit you on the temple two inches to the left?" and he replied "Then it would have been caught at gully."

4 more to Prior!

[mystiroakey]

Yeah, I had ADSL before but then the cables got stolen during the FiFa world cup and I was without for a month.

They say 4G is on its way, but hell, you never know when.

4g is gonna be great!! parts of USA have it dont they- lucky !!

[msp83]

Henry B did me in on TMS, its Steyn and not Morkel. Back to the TV!.

[KP_fan]

looks like Broad is reading 606v2....and is stung by criticism...trying to prove a point

[mystiroakey]

Stanger things have happened KPfan

[Mad for Chelsea]

yeah Broad scoring 170-odd against Pakistan when coming in at 100-odd for 7 for starters

[Duty281]

43 overs to go, 159 to get. One over at a time lads.

[guildfordbat]

Just joining play. Seems like we've lost two wickets too many - and that's been the case since last night.

[mystiroakey]

It is kinda great that we are getting a trott/bairstow repeater with broad and prior!!

We have one more decent bat. so this is touch and go- but if we get another 70 with these two!! this is on!

[Liam]

Our chances went with Bell if you ask me, closely followed by Bairstow haha

[Liam]

SA will have another new ball unfortunately. If we haven't lost 1/2 wickets by then, we will have done by 6 overs with it if you ask me.

[mystiroakey]

20 more overs with the old ball!!

need to aim for 80 of them

[Duty281]

Broad lifts one in the air and it just goes over the fielder for a single.

[mystiroakey]

Our chances went with Bell if you ask me, closely followed by Bairstow haha

gonna be honest- losing bell gave us more chance, losing bairstow hurt us big time

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Lest we forget the Edgbaston test of 2005 against Australia, where the Aussies got oh so close to chasing down a target that seemed improbably after wickets lost. We can still do this!

[Mad for Chelsea]

well placed Broady

[Mike Selig]

Another 70 is A LOT of runs though guys, let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's a bit of fun, which could turn into something more serious, but right now guilford is right, England have lost 2 too many wickets to seriously contemplate winning.

[GSC]

Yeah likelihood is still heavily biased to SA

[alfie]

Just joining play. Seems like we've lost two wickets too many - and that's been the case since last night.

Actually been the case throughout the Test Match , guildford...always been just about 2 wickets behind SA...which has made this a great match , though sadly always just out of England's reach...

Remarkable effort today really , to be keeping the RRR just about in sight , despite four of the top six making twelve between them. Unlikely to even get close , but the crowd has had their money's worth.

[Liam]

nah guys I can't see this happening in the slightest. We're getting exited by the prospect by it all, but there's just so many runs to get. If we were 4 down I'd be getting exited. The fact is, one more wicket and that's it unless Swann can produce a similar performance and more from his 1st innings effort.

[trebellbobaggins]

Today shows what difference a good top order would have made and why SA have won it.

Our top guys keep failing and you're behind the curve before you even get started. Think Strauss might need to look at his future.

[Duty281]

The target is below 150, still 39 overs left. The field is spread now, only 2 slips. And that's the 50 partnership.

[EnglishReign]

Boycott is a negative (realistic) shoite.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Will the South Africans do there famous choking, as they are nearly in reach of the number 1 status?

[trebellbobaggins]

Yeah but only 4 wickets. Lose one and deep in trouble.

Such a shame we can't have some stability at the top. Even cook has been dodgy.

[Liam]

Fact is, SA on paper are the best side in the world. That batting line up is incredible quite frankly, even their 'weaknesses' have scored runs in England and in this series (Peterson, Rudolph and Duminy). Then there's the bowling attack, in Steyn, Morkel and Philander, with the added presence of a leg spinner who are never easy to face.

No disgrace in losing this series.

[Duty281]

Swann can hit a fifty, he had a decent score in the first innings of 30-odd. Jimmy Anderson's highest score is 34 in Test Matches. #believe

[trebellbobaggins]

Yup, I don't think the odi series will be any easier, thought the limited overs ought free England to attack more.

They look so bloody strong in batting, there is nobody better. England seemed to Have the depth but much of that depth is now out of form.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Prior's been strangely subdued in this innings, SA have cut off his scoring options pretty well. Good little partnership between these two, just keeping things interesting enough.

[Liam]

Kallis has shown this series also why with the ball, he is outstanding, greatest all rounder OAT for me.

[Duty281]

The ODI series will be a battle for the ODI No.1 spot, England are No.1 in ODIs currently by 1/6 of a point over the Saffers!

[VTR]

What's frustrating here is with some slightly better cricket we could have been chasing 250. The pitch is still good so that would have been a chase we could have made.

[guildfordbat]

Just joining play. Seems like we've lost two wickets too many - and that's been the case since last night.

Actually been the case throughout the Test Match , guildford...always been just about 2 wickets behind SA...which has made this a great match , though sadly always just out of England's reach...

Remarkable effort today really , to be keeping the RRR just about in sight , despite four of the top six making twelve between them. Unlikely to even get close , but the crowd has had their money's worth.

Hi Alfie - yes although we did catch up on the first innings score and take a tiny lead.

Completely agree with you about keeping up with the RRR - that's some achievement anyway and even more so with wickets falling.

Boycott always used to talk a fair bit of rubbish and still does. However, one of his more perceptive comments was that the batting side and their supporters should look at the scoreboard and imagine 2 more wickets to have fallen. That prevents them getting too far ahead of themselves. If we do that, it shows how perilous our situation could quickly become.

Anyway, not without hope and, perhaps more importantly, entertainment. Cracking Test!

[trebellbobaggins]

And he's kept hi storm well into old age. Our lads should take note.

I reckon they need more fasts, worked wonders for Amla. Or silly beards.. Both, anything to help.

[mystiroakey]

No disgrace matry. But no need to give up now!

[Duty281]

We've now crossed 200.

[alfie]

200 up anyway.

Got to hand it to these SA fielders ...still making England earn every run...been a lot of fine saves in the outfield today.

[Liam]

No disgrace matry. But no need to give up now!

I'm not throwing in the towel just yet, although I'm not getting too exited either

[Duty281]

No disgrace matry. But no need to give up now!

I'm not throwing in the towel just yet, although I'm not getting too exited either

Same. 50 more runs between this pair and we may be in business.

[Fists of Fury]

Battling well this pair.

Just waiting for Prior to perish sweeping.

Broad needed these runs.

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