South Africa v England, 4th Test, Jo’burg, Jan 14-18

Deary me, this sounds soooo familiar. What chance a similar final result to Sydney?

Although Sky are right in saying that the last England batsman before Strauss to be out to the first ball of a Test (in fact the first ball of a series) was Stan Worthington, who also holds the record as the only Derbyshire player to make a century for England (128 v. India at The Oval in August 1936 - the previous innings to his duck) who was caught behind by Bertie Oldfield off Ernie McCormick at The 'Gabba on 4 December 1936 (England still went on to win the match by 322 ruuns) he was not the last England opener to be out first ball.

Bumble's former opening partner for Lancashire, Barry Wood, opening the innings with Dennis Amiss, was caught by John Parker off Richard Hadlee at the opening of the 2-Test series against New Zealand at Auckland on 20 february 1975 after arriving 3 days before following a 63-hour flight from the West Indies, having been called up to replace Colin Cowdrey who had been only contracted for the Australian leg of the tour (this was the last occasion when a tour of New Zealand followed a tour of Australia). England still went on to make 593 and won the match by an innings and 83.

Also, Mike Atherton, opening with Mark Butcher, was caught by Boucher off Shaun Pollock first ball in the second innings of the 1st Test v. SA on this ground In England's 2nd innings in November 1999. In England's 1st innings Atherton lasted 2 balls when he was bowled by Allan Donald. In this match England made an even worse start here than this morning. England were 2-4 and then 34-5 before being all out for 122. England went on to be defeated by an innings and 21.

taipan wrote:

Shoeshine wrote:

Merlin wrote:Shoey ... watch what's hapening in real time FFS ....

Wouldn't you rather England were in a similar position bowling first and so having foot-on-throat control from Day 1 with the Jarpies in disaray as England now are?
Wouldn't you want to give yourself that chance, having picked Sidearse?
FFS, worry about the "possibility" of a deteriorating pitch IF such a thing occurs - control of the match from Day 1 is paramount - isn't it ?

I dont give a toss if Sniffer had decided to bat first ... sh!t, I really wish that he'd won the toss ... and these so called "pundits" can go f**k themselves.

You just watch them change their tack once England get flogged by an Innings.

Let's get something straight here, EVERYONE said bat first. EVERYONE said it's a bat first pitch. Yet you think you know better than EVERYONE? And on that basis call it a stupid decision? That's ridiculous. Just because England fark it up doesn't make the decision wrong.

That's what Red said in the Durban test

And she was right. England won that because they played better, not because South Africa made a bad call.

Merlin wrote:

taipan wrote:

Merlin wrote:- high altitude where the swing is enhanced

I think you might find it's the other way round.

Unless Naz and Athers have got it wrong too ...

Take it from me that the air is thicker at the coast which is why you get more swing.

Shoeshine wrote:

taipan wrote:

Shoeshine wrote:

Merlin wrote:Shoey ... watch what's hapening in real time FFS ....

Wouldn't you rather England were in a similar position bowling first and so having foot-on-throat control from Day 1 with the Jarpies in disaray as England now are?
Wouldn't you want to give yourself that chance, having picked Sidearse?
FFS, worry about the "possibility" of a deteriorating pitch IF such a thing occurs - control of the match from Day 1 is paramount - isn't it ?

I dont give a toss if Sniffer had decided to bat first ... sh!t, I really wish that he'd won the toss ... and these so called "pundits" can go f**k themselves.

You just watch them change their tack once England get flogged by an Innings.

Let's get something straight here, EVERYONE said bat first. EVERYONE said it's a bat first pitch. Yet you think you know better than EVERYONE? And on that basis call it a stupid decision? That's ridiculous. Just because England fark it up doesn't make the decision wrong.

That's what Red said in the Durban test

And she was right. England won that because they played better, not because South Africa made a bad call.

Actually she was wrong because SA lost it in the 2nd dig, not the first

taipan wrote:

Shoeshine wrote:

taipan wrote:

Shoeshine wrote:

Merlin wrote:Shoey ... watch what's hapening in real time FFS ....

Wouldn't you rather England were in a similar position bowling first and so having foot-on-throat control from Day 1 with the Jarpies in disaray as England now are?
Wouldn't you want to give yourself that chance, having picked Sidearse?
FFS, worry about the "possibility" of a deteriorating pitch IF such a thing occurs - control of the match from Day 1 is paramount - isn't it ?

I dont give a toss if Sniffer had decided to bat first ... sh!t, I really wish that he'd won the toss ... and these so called "pundits" can go f**k themselves.

You just watch them change their tack once England get flogged by an Innings.

Let's get something straight here, EVERYONE said bat first. EVERYONE said it's a bat first pitch. Yet you think you know better than EVERYONE? And on that basis call it a stupid decision? That's ridiculous. Just because England fark it up doesn't make the decision wrong.

That's what Red said in the Durban test

And she was right. England won that because they played better, not because South Africa made a bad call.

Actually she was wrong because SA lost it in the 2nd dig, not the first

Sorry, you've lost me. Are you saying she said it WAS a bad call? Because it wasn't.

It's my fault we're doing so crap, due to fact I'm actually watching it live.

She said it was a bad call to bat first. All the pundits agreed it was a bat first wicket

Parnell will be licking his lips. It'll be interesting to see how he bowls in the longer form.


Henry Nolonga and the Kent Defence Force should be along shortly.

WTF - just logged in.

Come on Colly - show them doubters you are da man!

taipan wrote:She said it was a bad call to bat first. All the pundits agreed it was a bat first wicket

Oh I see - I misunderstood you.

Paul Keating wrote:WTF - just logged in.

Come on Colly - show them doubters you are da man!

FFS, I think he's done that already, Paul.

I wish they'd stop making excuses for Harper. Was it bollocks "just behind the line". No part of his foot was behind the line at all, it was a no ball and twatface missed it.

Rubbish Smerk, there are still Collingwood haters on this forum, even after what he has done.

Shoeshine wrote:I wish they'd stop making excuses for Harper. Was it bollocks "just behind the line". No part of his foot was behind the line at all, it was a no ball and twatface missed it.

Harper certainly won't get any sympathy from me.

Paul Keating wrote:Rubbish Smerk, there are still Collingwood haters on this forum, even after what he has done.

He's the backbone of the middle order, and people still hate him?

So was Cook out? Was it a no ball? Was it too high?

Drama.

Just wait for Colly to go two matches without a fifty.

FFS - then they will emerge and blame Collingwood for everything from the plague to 20-20 cricket.

Henry wrote:So was Cook out? Was it a no ball? Was it too high?

Drama.

Ball was plumb. No inside edge. Hitting middle and off.


His foot was just across the line, and unsurprisingly, Harper missed it. AGAIN.

Paul Keating wrote:Just wait for Colly to go two matches without a fifty.

FFS - then they will emerge and blame Collingwood for everything from the plague to 20-20 cricket.

When I saw Colly score a century against South Africa at Edgbaston in 2008, my view of him changed forever. I'm an avid Collower now.

So does the coverage of this match in England feature Kepler Wessels and Pommie Mbangwa?

Pommie just called Belf a "pretty" player after he caressed a cover drive to the boundary (presumably he's referring to Bell's gay hair pic that goes with his onscreen profile) and then said "we" have to go all out to win this Test - isn't he a Zimmer?

I think Pommie forums here.

skully wrote:So does the coverage of this match in England feature Kepler Wessels and Pommie Mbangwa?

Pommie just called Belf a "pretty" player after he caressed a cover drive to the boundary (presumably he's referring to Bell's gay hair pic that goes with his onscreen profile) and then said "we" have to go all out to win this Test - isn't he a Zimmer?

He's a Zimbo. First time he's been on all series

Cheers lads.

And Colly - touch of class there.

skully wrote:So does the coverage of this match in England feature Kepler Wessels and Pommie Mbangwa?

Pommie just called Belf a "pretty" player after he caressed a cover drive to the boundary (presumably he's referring to Bell's gay hair pic that goes with his onscreen profile) and then said "we" have to go all out to win this Test - isn't he a Zimmer?

Nope. We have the Sky lot, which means a succession of Englishman and a token oppo commentator. I don't mind the Sky lot individually, but you don't exactly get a balanced or neutral view, and a lot of it is about how wonderful Sky are.