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Post by Gary Baldi on Jan 2, 2016 14:15:42 GMT
England are one up against the Proteas so far. Currently 203-4 against a very inexperienced attack. Need someone to get a ton though as we've had lots of starts and no one has gone on.
Nick Compton seems to be a slightly worse version of Jonathan Trott. By heck he makes it hard watching, but doesn't get out to rash shots. Hales has looked ok so far, but got bogged down with Compton.
This SA team look incredibly out of form. For what I've seen, they are not the no 1 team in the world.
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Post by MJB on Jan 2, 2016 14:19:05 GMT
I'm a bit surprised at criticisms of Compton - he must be averaging 50 or so in his three innings so far.
Am sure I'm going to jinx it but Root looks in for a ton here.
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Post by MJB on Jan 2, 2016 14:34:41 GMT
Sorry!
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Post by Gary Baldi on Jan 2, 2016 14:34:58 GMT
You jinxed it! Root just go out to a lazy waft. Still need another 150 at least for the innings to be competitive
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Post by Gary Baldi on Jan 2, 2016 15:50:18 GMT
A nice counter attack from England. Stokes has gone into one day mode
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Post by nige01ox on Jan 2, 2016 15:52:19 GMT
I'm a bit surprised at criticisms of Compton - he must be averaging 50 or so in his three innings so far. Utterly bewildering! He's given us exactly what we've needed for the last year or so - someone that is prepared to bat time. It's about how many you get not how quickly you get them! That can now be left to Root, Stokes, Bairstow etc as I can see Compton helping to anchor many an innings. Scores of 85, 49 & 45 after being dumped from the test squad for 2 and a half years is a bloomin good return imo!
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Post by Gary Baldi on Jan 2, 2016 17:22:00 GMT
Compton is the sort of player the team needs. Calm, steady and accumulates runs that means others can play around him. Trott was a similar player and he really helped England suceed
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Post by saddletramp on Jan 3, 2016 8:46:59 GMT
Crazy start to the day,Stokes 100,scoring at over 12 an over.353-5
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Post by saddletramp on Jan 3, 2016 8:49:34 GMT
45 runs in the first 17 minutes !!! Since they took the new ball,Morris has bowled 6 overs for 61 runs,thats T20 scoring.
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Post by MJB on Jan 3, 2016 9:17:04 GMT
Very, very enjoyable since the new ball was taken yesterday.
Come on Bairstow, a half century off 89 balls is painfully slow!
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Post by East Challow Yellow on Jan 3, 2016 9:29:55 GMT
Not wishing to take anything away from Stokes or Bairstow but this SA bowling attack have been awful! Please god make sure Anderson & Broad pitch the ball on a good length and give it a chance to do something.
It would be lovely to bat all day today - if we were to di so, we would be looking at 650+. Perhaps then, we would only have to bat once!
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Post by MJB on Jan 3, 2016 12:26:01 GMT
Need someone to get a ton though as we've had lots of starts and no one has gone on. Happy now?!
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Post by Gary Baldi on Jan 3, 2016 13:31:44 GMT
Need someone to get a ton though as we've had lots of starts and no one has gone on. Happy now?! No. Stokes should have got to at least 300. Sort it out Bayliss!!!!! The batting from England was phenomenal. Yes the SA attack was rubbish, but most sides would not have done that to them at the pace they did it.
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Post by MJB on Jan 6, 2016 16:52:18 GMT
Amla steps down as captain.
Very wise decision and will only see his batting continue to return to world class form one imagines.
His replacement is probably better suited temperament wise too.
The balance has shifted towards SA now despite the draw - hope we don't lose it 2-1! Much will depend on whether Steyn returns and how Anderson performs after his recent injuries too.
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Post by Marked Ox on Jan 6, 2016 17:06:15 GMT
Thankfully, they didn't screw it up. It depends on how the England team view the final day on whether momentum has changed. If they mentally just write it off as a freak day and focus on the rest of the series so far then no problem, if not then SA will have the upper hand. The England squad did this last summer tbf so they and the management have experience of it.
No doubt that Amla and others have got some confidence back in their batting though, but then they should of with that track!
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Post by ZeroTheHero on Jan 6, 2016 18:17:31 GMT
It looked like the weather changed enough on the last day to allow swing both ways and that is what caused many of the problems. I think England can put today to the back of their minds really, we are still one up.
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Post by Gary Baldi on Jan 6, 2016 21:14:01 GMT
I hear ABD is getting a broom to sweep the floor. It's the only thing he hasn't done for SA yet.
Amla was really exposed as a captain in the past few months. It's a shame as his batting will probably improve a lot now the pressure is off.
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Post by Gary Baldi on Jan 16, 2016 14:02:09 GMT
70 odd to win after a cracking spell by Broad and some good catching from Taylor. All credit to England so far. Just need to get over the line now
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Post by MJB on Jan 16, 2016 14:09:27 GMT
70 odd to win after a cracking spell by Broad and some good catching from Taylor. All credit to England so far. Just need to get over the line now Broad is phenomenal in this sort of mood. Hopefully we avoid the rain today so it can be wrapped up to leave a clear day for tomorrow's football.
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Post by Belgian Yellow on Jan 16, 2016 14:31:41 GMT
Been a crazy test series. To think that SA were the number one ranked team.
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Post by SteMerritt on Jan 16, 2016 14:32:03 GMT
Cook looking calm enough at the moment, but Hales is looking like he is going to get out every time he faces a ball.
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Post by MJB on Jan 16, 2016 14:34:48 GMT
Cook looking calm enough at the moment, but Hales is looking like he is going to get out every time he faces a ball. Very good piece on The Verdict last night on why Hales is currently struggling due to the lack of movement with his feet. Needs to start moving like a Test player.
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Post by Junior on Jan 16, 2016 15:15:49 GMT
Hales goes for 18 to a part time spinner...
Got to be doubts about him at this level..
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Post by SteMerritt on Jan 16, 2016 15:16:58 GMT
Shame, he had settled and was beginning to look a lot better after a really nervy start to his innings.
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Post by The Fence End on Jan 16, 2016 16:09:58 GMT
Fantastic win! Absolutely love it when Broad has one of his spells! ☝
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Post by Junior on Jan 16, 2016 19:41:22 GMT
Anyone concerned about Jimmy?? For me, Finn and Broad are the go to bowlers now for England.
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Post by Gary Baldi on Jan 16, 2016 21:47:01 GMT
England and SA are 2 teams going in different directions. SA just look a mess. They don't have a test quality spinner, the batting line up is a mess, the bowlers are largely in experienced and they are in that mode of constant change. No blaming the pitches like they did in India. England just look a well drilled outfit.
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Post by tonyw on Jan 16, 2016 23:17:24 GMT
South Africa were the best team in the world when they had Steyn, Morkel and Philander bowling at full steam in tandem.
With two of them out, and the other looking a shadow of himself, they look an inexperienced and unthreatening XI.
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Post by Junior on Jan 17, 2016 2:33:15 GMT
But...
It's the batting that's let them down..
Take out the Cape Town game and they have been woefully short of runs.
Like England, they need an or opener. Also in need of 2 new middle order bats to go alongside AB and Amla.
The keeper position also needs to be strengthened and If Martin is the best all rounder they got they are in trouble.
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Post by tonyw on Jan 18, 2016 16:10:17 GMT
But... It's the batting that's let them down.. Take out the Cape Town game and they have been woefully short of runs. Like England, they need an or opener. Also in need of 2 new middle order bats to go alongside AB and Amla. The keeper position also needs to be strengthened and If Martin is the best all rounder they got they are in trouble. True. It got me wondering why exactly they'd been No. 1 in the world for so long, and why we all thought they were going to be good this series. The answer is that they won 7/8 test series between late 2011 and late 2013 - with the other being a creditable draw against Pakistan in the UAE - including series wins in Australia and, of course, England. And part of what made them great was the trio of paceman that I mentioned. And the other was 4 truly world class batsmen. But since Kallis & Graeme Smith retired leaving them with only two, and Steyn & Morkel started coming down to earth, they've seemingly been entirely unable to replace them. Suspect they're in for a barren run for a few years.
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