Saffers - England, 1st test, Durban - match thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Jimmy Anderson officially out, Woakes and Finn expected to be named with Jordan, footitt and ballance missing out.

Joe Root missing training today due to an upset stomach, but should be ok for day one

[guildfordbat]

Agree about the carelessness today, Alfie, and especially by Stokes [where's Raf? Rarely a fan! ] However, as you say, it hasn't done us much harm.

Currently leading by 364 at lunch. Maybe I'm too full of Christmas spirit but I don't see SA getting too near that.

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Lead 364 at lunch, 3 wickets left. Cant imagine this lasting long.

[CaledonianCraig]

For me it is already game over if you look at this historically. No team in Test cricket has chased down a higher total than England have set at present at Kingsmead. Okay records are there to be broken but they don'T get beaten by a batting side low on confidence and out of form.

[Mad for Chelsea]

decent morning for SA in picking up four wickets, but England will be happy they've kept the scoreboard ticking over quickly, in large part that's thanks to Bairstow. Worth saying that for all the criticism of Bairstow's keeping he's made batting look probably easier than anyone else on here. Played very nicely in the first innings, and same again here, albeit with the odd moment of fortune against Piedt.

Suspect England will bat on for up to an hour after lunch, leave SA a day and a half to survive or get 420+ (the latter seems unlikely).

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Good morning for England, game has moved along quickly

Bairstow has a chance to really cement his place here

[alfie]

Still no new ball but England shouldn't mind with the lead pushing past 380.
Woakes appreciating the opportunity to get some batting done. Runs flowing nicely since lunch.
Think Bairstow might really launch shortly...

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20 runs in the 20 minutes since lunch. Getting the sense that a declaration is imminent.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

That on drive from Woakes was the business...hmm what a stroke

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Amla playing for the declaration now, fill your boots if you're batting, free runs to be had

[Duty281]

Still loads of overs left. No reason why England shouldn't bat for another 10-15 overs and really grind the opposition down.

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Rather have a spell before lunch to be honest. South Africa are already ground down and this is approaching pointless territory. They aren't chasing 400 on this pitch so only empty stats on offer.

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Bairstow brings up 400 with a 6

[alfie]

Agree about the carelessness today, Alfie, and especially by Stokes [where's Raf? Rarely a fan! ] However, as you say, it hasn't done us much harm.

Currently leading by 364 at lunch. Maybe I'm too full of Christmas spirit but I don't see SA getting too near that.

Probably could finger others besides Stokes , guildford ...Root , and Taylor ...whose own reaction said it all. But I suppose you can argue that this shows they trust their later teammates so don't mind taking risks for the cause...Maybe they can work on the fine judgement as the team continues to develop.

Reckon they have plenty now. But if they can't bowl SA out in 4+ sessions they probably don't want to be still bowling , if you see what I mean ? So I think they'll let Bairstow and Woakes have fun for a little longer...

[Duty281]

Let Bairstow have the opportunity to get his maiden ton, at least.

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Woakes gone, really any point having Broad and Finn have a bat?

[alfie]

...very little , in Woakes case , as he falls to a fine catch.

Won't be long now...

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Broad gone now.

Just wasting time really.

[alfie]

Let Bairstow have the opportunity to get his maiden ton, at least.

Nice thought : but unless he can go 6 6 6 etc it ain't going to happen...and a duck for Broad so the declaration is unlikely to be needed.

I'm not bothered for a few minutes either way.

[guildfordbat]

That on drive from Woakes was the business...hmm what a stroke

Yeah, thought you would have been purring at that.

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This is getting a bit silly now. South Africa aren't going to chase these runs.

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And Bairstow goes. South Africa will chase a nominal 416 to win.

[alfie]

Bairstow finally holes out ...fine piece of target setting batting : I doubt Buttler could have done much better - though he may well have done the same.
Lead about what I thought they'd want . Plenty of overs to bowl : SA will need a lot of fortitude to block this out.

[Duty281]

140 overs or so for England to take 9 wickets (presuming Steyn can't bat).

Should be a doddle, and should be a 1-0 lead in a series that England should be expected to win.

[Mad for Chelsea]

be very surprised if Steyn doesn't bat. Stiff shoulder stopping him from bowling is one thing, but unless SA have a complete collapse he'll surely come out and try to block a few?

England's innings ending with about the equation they'd have wanted. Suspect SA won't be tempted by the target unless they get a very good start...

Lovely knock from Bairstow BTW.

[guildfordbat]

decent morning for SA in picking up four wickets, but England will be happy they've kept the scoreboard ticking over quickly, in large part that's thanks to Bairstow. Worth saying that for all the criticism of Bairstow's keeping he's made batting look probably easier than anyone else on here. Played very nicely in the first innings, and same again here, albeit with the odd moment of fortune against Piedt.

Suspect England will bat on for up to an hour after lunch, leave SA a day and a half to survive or get 420+ (the latter seems unlikely).

MfC - yes, Bairstow has batted well in this Test. He's certainly done what was required and a bit more too. However, worth noting that in both innings he came in with the score almost touching 200/5 and the pressure largely off, definitely in his second dig when we already had a substantial lead. I know there's an apples and oranges comparison here but I still give the most praise (England batting wise) to Compton who put in the hard yards first time out; definitely rather have him out in the middle than Bairstow with the scoreboard reading 12/2.

[alfie]

Back to Woakes with the new ball today...let's see if he can get it moving a bit early on.
I suspect spin might be the main threat in this innings but England will want the quicks to get a break or two first...don't want to load too much pressure on Moeen.

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I wouldn't wait too long for Finn I think. Certainly want a burst from hjm pre lunch

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Really unconvinced Woakes is a test bowler.

[alfie]

SA openers starting quite soundly this time.

If England can't grab an early wicket their task will get a deal harder - it was really only Broad and Moeen who threatened in the first innings ; and they will need a bit more help second time around.

Think they might be glad they stretched that lead over 400 as the pitch isn't offering anything to the bowlers at this stage.

[guildfordbat]

SA openers starting quite soundly this time.

If England can't grab an early wicket their task will get a deal harder  - it was really only Broad and Moeen who threatened in the first innings ; and they will need a bit more help second time around.

Think they might be glad they stretched that lead over 400 as the pitch isn't offering anything to the bowlers at this stage.

From what I saw yesterday and certainly from what some of the Sky pundits were saying, I thought the ball would be misbehaving a bit now and staying low but that doesn't seem to be happening.

[alfie]

Ball still a bit new though , guildford. Expect batting might get trickier later.
Don't think England have bowled very well to be honest - bit too impatient ?
Moeen immediately looks a threat.

[alfie]

...but it's Stokes with the break...

Through the gap : well bowled

[alfie]

Tea ...good session for SA really ; runs flowing very freely : but they've lost one precious wicket.

Think England will be a bit more measured after tea - expect Broad to have another dash now at Amla.

[guildfordbat]

Glad Stokes has got a wicket. Goes a little way to saving my blushes. Went for him on the other thread to be England's top wicket taker in the series. Always long odds but thought he might pick up 1 or 2 wickets early on and then have success with SA's weak (on paper anyway) tail. Would also think him very likely to play all 4 Tests.

[alfie]

Stokes for leading wicket taker might be a bit of a stretch I think

Wouldn't surprise me if he gets a few in this innings . Didn't like the hobbling around in his first spell though ! Seems OK now fortunately.

Rather than a blockathon , SA seem to fancy this chase ...if they go on at the pre-tea rate they'll have it won with a session to spare !

Finn strikes Big wicket...

[alfie]

That was an important one : Amla looked a lot more confident than in the first innings , and England didn't want him getting well set.
Moeen might be glad he's gone too - though AB probably isn't his ideal next opponent either...

Don't like the look of those clouds !

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Just keep chipping away

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Elgar gone, big wicket.

England will fancy another couple tonight.

[alfie]

Joe Root is a damn good catcher at slip ! Takes a very sharp one there and Finn has two...

Chipping away indeed.

[guildfordbat]

Stokes for leading wicket taker might be a bit of a stretch I think

Wouldn't surprise me if he gets a few in this innings . Didn't like the hobbling around in his first spell though ! Seems OK now fortunately.

Rather than a blockathon , SA seem to fancy this chase ...if they go on at the pre-tea rate they'll have it won with a session to spare !

Finn strikes   Big wicket...

Yeah, I was always relying on Duty to get me the very best odds for Stokes!

And, yeah again, big wicket for Finn.

[guildfordbat]

A second for Finn and England well in charge.

[alfie]

A lot on AB's shoulders now. Not for the first time.

Faf du Plessis not really looking happy against Moeen...but he's survived a couple of overs at least. This partnership really is the big one now for SA - not sure those still to come are inspiring much confidence.

[alfie]

This pair resisting very well - AB playing some nice shots , Faf rather more hanging in.
England would really like to break them up before the close but there isn't a lot happening at the moment. Broad not getting any reverse and the de Villiers bat looking rather ...well , broad...

Might be time for a over or two from Joe Root ?

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Bairstow misses another stumping, AB gets a 2nd life.

[alfie]

Ouch ...missed stumping ! Bairstow has had a great match with the bat ; but that is a second important miss in this game. Bit like the one he missed in Sharjah ; and these errors are likely to prey on his mind.

On the plus side : it shows Moeen is a continuing danger

England haven't had a stumping for about three years , I understand. You'd think someone would manage one just on the law of averages ?

[guildfordbat]

Ouch ...missed stumping !  Bairstow has had a great match with the bat ; but that is a second important miss in this game. Bit like the one he missed in Sharjah ; and these errors are likely to prey on his mind.

On the plus side  : it shows Moeen is a continuing danger

England haven't had a stumping for about three years , I understand. You'd think someone would manage one just on the law of averages ?

Alfie - apologies for the subtlety of a sledgehammer but, in support of King Carlos' suggestion, it would help if we picked a keeper first and foremost.

A very creditable 120 runs in this Test for Bairstow but he's failed in his main role.

[alfie]

Thought you'd be in quickly there , guildford

You're right of course : the main function of the keeper is to keep . But England went to Prior (originally an ordinary gloveman ) when they really needed his runs. Once he lost it they wanted a like for like replacement ...unfortunately neither of those tried has managed to nail both halves of the job. Yet.

I'm sure the keeping debate will rage in the northern summer. In fact the thread on here may well run to the length of a Pietersen topic

[alfie]

If England needed a late lift , Finn has just supplied it ...

Faf pouched neatly by the skipper from one that bounced sharply.

Night watchman time ...Steyn , injury and all .

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Steyn is a brave shout

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Big big wicket before the close, England need 6 tomorrow

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