England v South Africa, 3rd Test, Lords, 16-20 Aug, 2012

Excellent overcast bowling conditions - Poms may be lucky to last till lunch.

Tragic that we didn't get the five Tests - England could have bloodied a few more blokes like Root, Woakes, Stokes, Kerrigan and Oliver Newby and squared the series.

Tidy knock by Belly. 4 off 37 balls, swishing wildly for the last few balls.

horace wrote:... is this the match where Belf stakes his claim to captain Pomgolia? ...

A worthy follower of Strauss in technique and judgment!

Shitty stupid.

taipan wrote:

holcs wrote:And another goes down. Strauss seems to be stood very close at slip to Swann.

England contriving to not allow the Saffas to choke here.

Turning into a good test match but thought you would have left the choke comments to the likes of red.

My point was, it seems to me that it's us that have lost our minds and are buckling under the pressure, with schoolboy errors, and a distinct lack of executing the basics.

As proven by Strauss's dismissal again last night and the awful run-out saga a few minutes ago.

Dear me. Komik Kuts.

England's only reliable established batsman imitating Boyks.

Or was it a case of Tiny's legs scurrying too fast?

taipan wrote:

Henry wrote:

Basil wrote:

skully wrote:A 340 chase on the last day was always gonna be hard, but a couple of cheap plumb lbws pricked that bubble very quickly.

It's hard but not impossible - the key player for us I think is Matt Prior: if those before him can get us to within (say) 220 with 40 or so overs to go - I think we have a chance.

I reckon Bairstow could be key as well if he gets going.

We wont win though. Well played South Africa. You've deserved this number 1 ranking.

We bowled too short to Bairstow in the first innings. I think we have him worked out now.

To be fair, I think it was tight, intelligent bowling that did for Bairstow, anchored him on 95 and pressured him into stepping too far to the off to get the runs going again.

In other words, it remains to be seen whether he is so one-track a batsman to be now "worked out" - or whether he is a bit better batsman than your confident verdict.

Not sure there is any debate to be had looking back over the last few pages on who the number one team in the world is surely? In fact the number 2 team would be GAP, then 2, then GAP, then 3-6 IMO.

Englands opening partnership once a strength is poor now with Strauss gone surely now, this put Trott under more pressure than previously hence his slight decline, throw in now a lack of a quality number 4 (Bell too high up from the comfort of 5 - the testes shrink the further up the order he goes) and your in to the field.

As for the bowling, Broad is powderpuff bar the odd spell, Jimmy has bowled okay with no luck, and Finn; our only bowler with a bit of pace hasn't been selected because of team man Bressie.

Whereas the Saffa's have only 2 weaknesses, AB as a keeper, and Tahir is an upgrade on the previous spinners but isn't going to bowl a side out. Other than that, 7 quality batters, and 4 quality bowlers - of which I'd say they have 5 top 20 batters and 4 top 15 bowlers. They should beat all in comfortably.

Oz are in renaissance though - will back themselves to knock over the Maceholders when they get a chance..

A fair if scathing assessment of England's present shortcomings, Charlie.

A bit harsh on Bell though. No need to get quite so testicular. Old habits die hard. (I think he lacks wit rather than gonads these days, when he's under pressure. Same result though.)

PeterCS wrote:

taipan wrote:

Henry wrote:

Basil wrote:

skully wrote:A 340 chase on the last day was always gonna be hard, but a couple of cheap plumb lbws pricked that bubble very quickly.

It's hard but not impossible - the key player for us I think is Matt Prior: if those before him can get us to within (say) 220 with 40 or so overs to go - I think we have a chance.

I reckon Bairstow could be key as well if he gets going.

We wont win though. Well played South Africa. You've deserved this number 1 ranking.

We bowled too short to Bairstow in the first innings. I think we have him worked out now.

To be fair, I think it was tight, intelligent bowling that did for Bairstow, anchored him on 95 and pressured him into stepping too far to the off to get the runs going again.

In other words, it remains to be seen whether he is so one-track a batsman to be now "worked out" - or whether he is a bit better batsman than your confident verdict.

Yep, as I say we worked him out with tight, intelligent bowling rather than persisting with the short stuff.

I actually think Taylor might develop into a decent bat if given a chance of a run.

Root I suppose will be licking his lips.

taipan wrote:

PeterCS wrote:

taipan wrote:

Henry wrote:

Basil wrote:

skully wrote:A 340 chase on the last day was always gonna be hard, but a couple of cheap plumb lbws pricked that bubble very quickly.

It's hard but not impossible - the key player for us I think is Matt Prior: if those before him can get us to within (say) 220 with 40 or so overs to go - I think we have a chance.

I reckon Bairstow could be key as well if he gets going.

We wont win though. Well played South Africa. You've deserved this number 1 ranking.

We bowled too short to Bairstow in the first innings. I think we have him worked out now.

To be fair, I think it was tight, intelligent bowling that did for Bairstow, anchored him on 95 and pressured him into stepping too far to the off to get the runs going again.

In other words, it remains to be seen whether he is so one-track a batsman to be now "worked out" - or whether he is a bit better batsman than your confident verdict.

Yep, as I say we worked him out with tight, intelligent bowling rather than persisting with the short stuff.

But "we worked him out" is a bit different a statement from "we have him worked out".

A classic from Boyks:

"Don't trust Trotty! - 'e'll come 'alf way and 'ave you run out!"

holcs wrote:Not sure there is any debate to be had looking back over the last few pages on who the number one team in the world is surely? In fact the number 2 team would be GAP, then 2, then GAP, then 3-6 IMO.

Englands opening partnership once a strength is poor now with Strauss gone surely now, this put Trott under more pressure than previously hence his slight decline, throw in now a lack of a quality number 4 (Bell too high up from the comfort of 5 - the testes shrink the further up the order he goes) and your in to the field.

As for the bowling, Broad is powderpuff bar the odd spell, Jimmy has bowled okay with no luck, and Finn; our only bowler with a bit of pace hasn't been selected because of team man Bressie.

Whereas the Saffa's have only 2 weaknesses, AB as a keeper, and Tahir is an upgrade on the previous spinners but isn't going to bowl a side out. Other than that, 7 quality batters, and 4 quality bowlers - of which I'd say they have 5 top 20 batters and 4 top 15 bowlers. They should beat all in comfortably.

Agreed. thair has disappointed me, he hasn't come on as was hoped. I think Rudolph is now gone with Duminy having redeemed himself. This will allow de Kock to slip in at 7.

Bairstow on the attack!

Nice tits, Red!

(No, really this time. )

PeterCS wrote:A fair if scathing assessment of England's present shortcomings, Charlie.

A bit harsh on Bell though. No need to get quite so testicular. Old habits die hard. (I think he lacks wit rather than gonads these days, when he's under pressure. Same result though.)

Scathing perhaps, but been a fair assessment for the last 12 months.

As for Bell, always will be the case that I don't think up the order he has the fortitude. Came in at 6 and 5, and looked a million dollars, since he's moved up the order and the top 3 haven't been giving him the platform, he's dropped off again. And more than that, the dismissals have been wishy washy, limp things, much like todays.

holcs wrote:

PeterCS wrote:A fair if scathing assessment of England's present shortcomings, Charlie.

A bit harsh on Bell though. No need to get quite so testicular. Old habits die hard. (I think he lacks wit rather than gonads these days, when he's under pressure. Same result though.)

Scathing perhaps, but been a fair assessment for the last 12 months.

As for Bell, always will be the case that I don't think up the order he has the fortitude. Came in at 6 and 5, and looked a million dollars, since he's moved up the order and the top 3 haven't been giving him the platform, he's dropped off again. And more than that, the dismissals have been wishy washy, limp things, much like todays.

Will you ever stop going on about his gonads?!

Yeah, you may have a point.

Has Trott been drinking Red Bull?

Or busting his balls (< for holcs ..) trying to make sure he gets into the One-Day squad?

Top notch session of Test Cricket. 2-104. Cracking little knock from Bairstow to put the SAffers a little on the back foot. Poor shot from Belf and a shithouse run-out for the Taylor set England back, but the Ranga and Trott have looked assured.

Long way to go but.

He's got something, this Bairstow lad.

Now he's doomed

No, as I said before- He's immune.