South Africa v England, 2nd Test, Cape Town, 3-7 January, 2020

Will England leave Suzie the waitress behind in Centurion?

who?

The waitress who apparently poisoned the All Blacks in 1995.

Wonder if either side will make many changes. Surely England could drop one of its seamers - Jimmy?

Well, with Leach unlikely to be fit to play they would be gambling with a largely untried specialist spinner.

Pope is likely to replace Bairstow. An argument for rotating the seamers but the illness in the camp could make the selectors’ decision for them.

Stokes' inability to fulfil the fourth seamer's role, makes it a huge risk to drop one of the other quicks, especially as that spinner is likely to be Dom Bess.

Mo is looking better and better with every match he misses.

I think he’s probably had his day as a Test player, we need to move on. Not fully committed to it and gives us a false sense of security with both bat and ball, when in reality he’s far from a reliable presence.

Cricinfo are talking up the possibility of Batty being asked to play as he is out there working for Talkbollocks.

A big vote of confidence in the young spinners!

So, Rory Burns was one of the few players not to catch the Johannesburg Two Step. "Result" I hear you say. That would be okay but he spannered his ankle in the obligatory game of football that our players indulge in and is a doubt for tomorrow. As is Archer who has an issue with his elbow.

Just when we thought things could not get worse.

Burns ruled out for the whole series. Presumably football games to be banned for good... Crawley to come in so I expect Bairstow will keep his place ahead of Pope as they won’t want three raw youngsters in the top six. Batting order anyone’s guess...

Crikey!! That's a big loss for England.

Crawly Denly Sibley and Bairstow in the top 6 ... might Vince get a call-up?

beamer wrote:Burns ruled out for the whole series. Presumably football games to be banned for good... Crawley to come in so I expect Bairstow will keep his place ahead of Pope as they won’t want three raw youngsters in the top six. Batting order anyone’s guess...

Denley
Sibley
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Pope
Buttler
Curran
Bess
Broad
Anderson

Would be my guess.

I think they’ve already said Crawley is going to play. Probably won’t move Root from number 4, even in such a desperate scenario. Bairstow to bat in top 3 as a wildcard perhaps?

may as well open with him and get him to take some shine off the new ball with his middle stump

If this goes badly, maybe an SOS call to Cook for the third Test might not be out of the question...

Is Atherton available ...?

beamer wrote:If this goes badly, maybe an SOS call to Cook for the third Test might not be out of the question...

I.Ron Belfard anyone?

beamer wrote:Burns ruled out for the whole series. Presumably football games to be banned for good... Crawley to come in so I expect Bairstow will keep his place ahead of Pope as they won’t want three raw youngsters in the top six. Batting order anyone’s guess...

They just never learned from McGrath stepping on that ball.

What's a Bess?

Porgy perhaps?

skully wrote:What's a Bess?

Porgy perhaps?

Cue Paul Robson.

Red wrote:

beamer wrote:Burns ruled out for the whole series. Presumably football games to be banned for good... Crawley to come in so I expect Bairstow will keep his place ahead of Pope as they won’t want three raw youngsters in the top six. Batting order anyone’s guess...

They just never learned from McGrath stepping on that ball.

At least that was a cricket ball...

Coming next to Test cricket warm-ups: NFL, WWE and UFC.

Four down, not looking good for England.

Starts for Denly, Root, and Sibley - but no scores.

Does Root still merit mention with Kohli, Smith, and Williamson?

England has lost a few wickets but is steadily building a decent score.