England v South Africa, 3rd Test, The Oval, 27-31 July, 2017

PeterCS wrote:Does Faf need reminding that lump of wood is not just for propping himself up with at the non-striker's end?

The maker's name is the wrong way up.

Aye. Pretty poor effort from Faf in this Test.

(In case it wasn't clear: twice in a match LBW without playing a shot.)

Yeah, one run, two shotless dismissals! Not quite matching the batting standards of his predecessor from the past three tours here...

Reserves his best for playing against Australia. Good skipper but an unexceptional cricketer. ....might end up being a pretty decent coach if he wants that career path.

Last rites in the pre lunch session?

Surprised that Nigel has been so quiet over the past few days.

But then he usually disappears when SA fails or when the non quota players fail.

Another excellent day for England.

Should be over well before Tea.

beamer wrote:Yeah, one run, two shotless dismissals! Not quite matching the batting standards of his predecessor from the past three tours here...

Isn't the South Africa v England series traditionally the coup-de grace for the English captain?

Double strike by Roland Rollerdoor to hasten the end of this Test match. SAf 6-160.

It's some debut. Dominic Cork the last Englishman to start so well?

skully wrote:Double strike by Roland Rollerdoor to hasten the end of this Test match. SAf 6-160.

It's Toblerone(s)!

Basil wrote:Thoughts so far:

[...]

Humble pie time: I would not have let Roland-Jones be Liam Dawson's bag-carrier, never mind give him a test. Admittedly, he had favourable conditions to bowl in, but he's shown himself to be a highly skilled bowler but sterner tests lie ahead in more unforgiving conditions.

I'm not going to eat humble pie exactly, as I didn't shoot the stag in the first place. But I didn't mention him among the possibilities to be drafted in for Wood, for not dissimilar reasons - he might be a "good county pro".

Indeed and of course, too early to say (how many players have been assessed prematurely - with five stars or none - after one appearance?), it might be simply opponents haven't got used to him, coaches haven't scrutinised the videos, checked for weaknesses, etc, and all of that: but congratulations to the mountainous bar what ever happens next. He's started like a house on fire.


Congratulations also to the Allan-Borderish grittiness of Dean Elgar. Of course, if Jennings were not living a bit of a hell, he should have gone early again. But resilience and character do not depend on chances missed by the opposition. It's about gutsing it out, putting near-misses out of your mind, and in situations like the current one, getting your nose to the grindstone (mostly over the ball) and finding ways through for as long as possible.

With Morris falling on the stroke of lunch, after TRJ's two strikes, S Africa are very unlikely to have a lot of hope but rain and/or bad light in this match. But credit to Elgar for showing his intestinal fortitude, determination and batting skill.

Pretty average effort by SA overall, but gritty knock from the wounded Elgar.

When you get on a hattrick three times in one innings, there is something seriously wrong.

All happened very quickly at the end there.

Ali with the spoils at the end. Terrible test from SA, but it could be the toss is the key to this series.

Stokes a great match and he will be a danger-man in the Ashes, but TRJ could be exposed as a trundler despite his performance here.

Will still back us for the Ashes as SA is a bit depleted and England in England is a different prospect to away.

Too early to make a call on Westley, but Malan and Jennings surely have to do more to convince. The latter looks shaky.

Three pretty one-sided tests. Let's hope the finale up north finally provides a decent test match.

'TRJ could be exposed as a trundler' ... even after your earlier rashly ventured opinions on Steyn and Philander, you've not learned to keep your counsel?

Red may yet be JGK-in-reverse. ...

lardbucket wrote:'TRJ could be exposed as a trundler' ... even after your earlier rashly ventured opinions on Steyn and Philander, you've not learned to keep your counsel?

Well, she did think it's a good idea for QdK to move up the order......

Red wrote:Ali with the spoils at the end. Terrible test from SA, but it could be the toss is the key to this series.

Stokes a great match and he will be a danger-man in the Ashes, but TRJ could be exposed as a trundler despite his performance here.

Will still back us for the Ashes as SA is a bit depleted and England in England is a different prospect to away.

Too early to make a call on Westley, but Malan and Jennings surely have to do more to convince. The latter looks shaky.

Three pretty one-sided tests. Let's hope the finale up north finally provides a decent test match.

T R-J was getting the ball down at 85 /86 mph - not expressly quick, but sharp enough if the ball is doing something.

Yeah, it's not always as simple as looking at the speed gun. You need more in your armoury than just swing, though, if you're going to succeed or even do a vaguely decent job outside England. He might have a Sidearse-like late career flourish at this level, or he might be the new James Kirtley (who also took eight wickets on debut against SA in the third match of a home series...) but he's earned the chance to prove one way or the other.

We'd love to have a 90mph bowler knocking stumps over with toe-crushing yorkers, but as the last Ashes tour proved, just picking height and pace for the sake of it doesn't necessarily work.

Anyway, now for the task of putting two decent Test performances together, otherwise this will end up Desmond just like the aforementioned Kirtley series...

Desmond ....
we need Richie back for that one.

Anyway, Dolly's staying here whatever happens. First time England have retained that trophy in the era since SA's readmission I think.

We've actually done better over there in terms of series wins, in fact we have only beaten them at home in the smash and grab of 1998 (and claimed similarly rather fortunate draws in 1994 and 2003, before the Yarps made their class count on the last two visits). It's the one series that always seems to go down to the decider with something to play for though.

beamer wrote:Anyway, Dolly's staying here whatever happens. First time England have retained that trophy in the era since SA's readmission I think.

We've actually done better over there in terms of series wins, in fact we have only beaten them at home in the smash and grab of 1998 (and claimed similarly rather fortunate draws in 1994 and 2003, before the Yarps made their class count on the last two visits). It's the one series that always seems to go down to the decider with something to play for though.

If South Arica's catching had been up to snuff in the first test, we would be 2 - 1 down, needing to win the last test to draw the series.