England vs South Africa - test series thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

In the fast paced nature of international cricket, we are just over a week away from the first of four test matches between SA and England - should be a good one.

South Africa have named their squad...missing some big names in Steyn, ABDV - also no Dane Piedt, Stephen Cook either.

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Duanne Olivier, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Still a very strong team - especially in the seam bowling ranks. Although with Faf missing the first test, the batting is reliant on Amla and De Kock I feel

England have a few injury concerns - particularly Stuart Broad - any thoughts on the SA squad, and potential England one?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

All over, SA will need 380 to level the series. Would incidentally be their highest score of the series if they were to pull it off. Morkel ends with four wickets, and has deserved those.

They also need the highest score of this match - which rarely if ever happens in the 4th innings. Will take a miracle for them to pull this off...

[dummy_half]

Anyone know the weather forecast for the rest of the day at Old Trafford?

If we get all the play today I think the match will be over before the close - be surprised if SA get much beyond 200.

[eirebilly]

Well that's one down already, 9 to go.

[Gooseberry]

Its Elgar too whos one if the few SA players standing up this year.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Broad bowling well here. Beat Amla three times in the previous over. England have lost a review for caught behind against Kuhn. Interesting to hear Root ask the bowler Anderson if the bat was away from the pad: it was, but the noise was the bat just scraping the toe of the boot coming through, Kuhn's feet moving slowly.

[VTR]

South Africa have actually done well to make it to ten overs with only one down!

[Mad for Chelsea]

Kuhn gone. I'm reminded of an Ashes Test a while back when England were contemplating whether to review a caught behind appeal against Phil Hughes and a heckler rather uncharitably shouted "save it for someone who matters!". The same might be said to apply to Kuhn, who's never looked comfortable in this series, and I suspect won't be in the side when SA next line-up for a Test. Pretty awful poke at a ball in the channel that didn't do all that much, and a regulation nick to Cook at first slip gives Anderson his first wicket.

[VTR]

Ha, very next ball there's a wicket as the South African version of Keaton Jennings (ignoring the fact Jennings is already that) is out

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Kuhn gone. I'm reminded of an Ashes Test a while back when England were contemplating whether to review a caught behind appeal against Phil Hughes and a heckler rather uncharitably shouted "save it for someone who matters!". The same might be said to apply to Kuhn, who's never looked comfortable in this series, and I suspect won't be in the side when SA next line-up for a Test. Pretty awful poke at a ball in the channel that didn't do all that much, and a regulation nick to Cook at first slip gives Anderson his first wicket.

I was just about to post that I think England might have been better off saving that review as Kuhn was likely to get out soon anyways!

[LionsV2]

That moment you realise it isn't all that bad when the England 6, 7 and 8 are all better than the South African number four.

[GSC]

Broad looks in the mood

[Mad for Chelsea]

England strike with the last ball before lunch. A tiny edge from Bavuma, and this time Root and England are right to review. Roland-Jones needs to work on his appealing

[dummy_half]

Well, I think we can call that England's morning. Only added about 20 more, but took no time in doing it, and then 3 wickets including Elgar and Bavuma who are two of the guys that could have stuck around. Get Amla and I think it's pretty well all over.

[eirebilly]

All looking very ominous for SA to not last the day now.

[VTR]

I'd say South Africa have got 5 decent batsmen, and 2 of them are out already

For the avoidance of doubt, the decent ones are:
Elgar
Amla
Bavuma
Du Plessis
De Kock

The not decent ones:
Kuhn-ton Jennings
De Bruyn
Maharaj
Rabada
Morkel
Olivier

[GSC]

Hales with a 100 batting at 5 over in Derbys

[GSC]

Meanwhile Hameeb is 3 not out from 28 for Lancs

[alfie]

England doing rather well today - good progress despite the rain break.

If Amla falls soon this might not last past tea : but he is a stubborn defender who won't want to give his wicket away easily on perhaps his last innings in England...
Can anyone else stay with him ? Probably only Du Plessis - which makes this very much the decisive partnership.

England mustn't relax : keep the pressure on. I never trust Manchester weather...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Meanwhile Hameeb is 3 not out from 28 for Lancs

When the 50 partnership was raised he was on 3 - impressive

Now onto 10 from 40 balls #Hameedwatch

[alfie]

Meanwhile Hameeb is 3 not out from 28 for Lancs

When the 50 partnership was raised he was on 3 - impressive

Now onto 10 from 40 balls #Hameedwatch

Would love to see him back in runs...still think he's probably the long-term answer. After his struggles this season though I think he'd need sustained success before they'd bring him back.
Reckon Stoneman must be worth a try first . Really cannot contemplate Jennings in Australia...Humane Society would take action

[dummy_half]

Meanwhile Hameeb is 3 not out from 28 for Lancs

When the 50 partnership was raised he was on 3 - impressive

Now onto 10 from 40 balls #Hameedwatch

Didn't even break Tuffer's record (for anyone not listening to TMS on Saturday) - 10th wicket partnership for England of 65 batting with Trescothick. The Cat's contribution: 2, from one scoring shot off a full toss...

[VTR]

Useful partnership with runs flowing here. Time for a bit of Broad and Anderson I would say, or at least one of them. Stokes also worth a go with TRJ struggling

[GSC]

Vaughan reckons there are some technique issues against quicks that need addressing before he's a realistic target. Still only young.

Suspect Stoneman is the only realistic choice to open in Aus. Them Then its Malan or Hales at 5.

[GSC]

Hameeb with a leisurely 15 runs from 91 (off the bat) In this partnership

[dummy_half]

Now a partnership of over 100, with Hameed on to 16 off 56 balls and Davies to 81 off 78...

[alfie]

Vaughan reckons there are some technique issues against quicks that need addressing before he's a realistic target. Still only young.

Suspect Stoneman is the only realistic choice to open in Aus. Them Then its Malan or Hales at 5.

No alternative to Malan or Hales ? Hmm. Think Malan will need to show strongly against West Indies or they might be going back to Ballance ; which would be a worry. Is there really no one else ? (Don't get me wrong I like both Hales and Malan but fear they are white ball players first - and possibly only)

[James100]

Livingstone seems to have lost some favour during his time in the T20 set up, but you'd expect he's also somewhere in the selectors' thoughts.

[alfie]

Meanwhile , back at Old Trafford : Amla a fighting fifty

England not having it all their own way since lunch. Could do with a breakthrough...

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Can sense that Amla might call it quits if he rack up a century at Old Trafford. Bit like Michael Clarke a couple of years ago, the bearded wonder seems to have lost that X factor he once had.

[VTR]

Definitely a wicket would be nice, this partnership is really motoring now. I suppose SA have nothing to lose and may as well play a few shots. One wicket could well bring 2 or 3, so a score like 150-5 is still on

[GSC]

Vaughan reckons there are some technique issues against quicks that need addressing before he's a realistic target. Still only young.

Suspect Stoneman is the only realistic choice to open in Aus. Them Then its Malan or Hales at 5.

No alternative to Malan or Hales ?  Hmm.  Think Malan will need to show strongly against West Indies or they might be going back to Ballance ; which would be a worry.  Is there really no one else ? (Don't get me wrong I like both Hales and Malan but fear they are white ball players first   - and possibly only)

Think I'd rather stick with either of those 2 than go back to Ballance.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I think Stoneman for the short term and winter would be fairer than Hameed - maybe take Hameed as backup for the experience. Throwing him to Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and co off the back of his season would potentially ruin him for good.

[alfie]

After lots of unplayable deliveries earlier on , batting now looking a lot easier - and as I type Du Plessis gets a nasty lifter

But still : these two have been playing with a degree of confidence lately and England are perhaps surprised to have gone so long without further success... Warne wants a bouncer barrage ; but maybe just a sequence of good balls aimed at top of off will be as likely to get a result - one might go low...

Nearly then - Amla edge goes to ground in front of slip ! Think something will give soon.

[VTR]

England just need to stay disciplined rather than go searching for wickets. I suspect they got a bit excited given the conditions and did start to leak runs. As ever, I'd put my house on it being Jimmy to come back and show the others how it's done

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Yeah just need to keep plugging away - and if it gets to such a point, we will have a second new ball to use later, so even just keeping it tight is ok for the moment

[VTR]

Why is Root bowling? - get Jimmy on, this is getting silly

[Mad for Chelsea]

Pitch has certainly flattened out in the sun. Wet outfield earlier on will mean the ball won't reverse much if at all. Agree with Olly England just need to keep things steady, still a very long way to go for SA.

[VTR]

This has been far too easy for these two - some dire bowling to be honest. Lucky we did not declare with a 250 lead like the genius Warne suggested!

[alfie]

England do look in need of some inspiration as it has gone rather flat...partnership 120 and looking settled.

Been the odd moment - just now TRJ had a c&b half chance ...But you couldn't say either batsman has seemed uncomfortable for a while now.

New ball a fair way off ! Would want something before then , I think. May be time for Jimmy again ?

[alfie]

This looks out...don't think he's hit it...

Out !

[VTR]

Thanks goodness for that! Another wicket before tea please!

[alfie]

Great review ...well pretty damn obvious review really

Whatever possessed the onfield umpire to give that not out ? Wants the overtime payment for tomorrow ?

Big moment for England

[GSC]

Moeen removed Amla and that might be it for SA

[Mad for Chelsea]

Yeah looked fairly plumb live, pretty poor decision from Dhamasena TBH, really important wicket for England coming up to tea, will make them feel much happier as Amla was looking very good indeed, just a lapse in concentration.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Moeen will be happy to see a left-hander arriving at the crease too.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Dharmasena is an abysmal abysmal umpire as shown over the winter

[GSC]

Hameeb now motoring along at 28 from 108.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Moeen will be happy to see a left-hander arriving at the crease too.

and there you go. Really poor shot from De Kock IMO, no need to chase those when you've just come in and with tea fast approaching. Moeen strikes again, and the old adage of adding two wickets to the score becomes relevant again.

[alfie]

Moeen will be happy to see a left-hander arriving at the crease too.

And even happier to see him leaving

Good bowling ; good field placing ; top catch...take a bow Moeen , Root and Cook

Changes the session completely...

And another one !

[Mad for Chelsea]

Moeen on a roll! De Bruyn gets one that doesn't really turn, and nicks to slip where Stokes takes a good low catch. England's catching has been generally very good throughout the series it must be said.

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