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

Even in a must win match South Africa persist with safety first, batting out time and refusing to up the run-rate. Interesting. With a more aggressive leader they would have been 2-1 up by now. Don't think it'll cost them this time unless there are a lot of time lost from the game.

The storms may even aid South Africa, shielding the weakness of of their change seamers and the aging Kallis and allowing Steyn and Morkel to bowl the majority of the overs and the chance to make use of the mositure and then rest up in the changing room and have another go.

Gary 111 wrote:Even in a must win match South Africa persist with safety first, batting out time and refusing to up the run-rate. Interesting. With a more aggressive leader they would have been 2-1 up by now. Don't think it'll cost them this time unless there are a lot of time lost from the game.

The storms may even aid South Africa, shielding the weakness of of their change seamers and the aging Kallis and allowing Steyn and Morkel to bowl the majority of the overs and the chance to make use of the mositure and then rest up in the changing room and have another go.

You could argue that, but like with Strauss in Durban, the more runs you score the fewer runs you need to chase if you're put in again to chase a victory target. Steyn was probably sent in to go for a tonk but Broad bowled well to him and it looked like if anything he was putting his body at risk. But while the runs were flowing there was no reason to declare on the basis of what might happen with the weather given that two days are left.

Good knock from Boucher who's had his critics in recent times.

Good start boys.

Will it go down to the last wicket, Collingwood or Bell saving the match again!

Strauss is seeing the ball really well whatever be Steyn's pace.

Red wrote:

Gary 111 wrote:Even in a must win match South Africa persist with safety first, batting out time and refusing to up the run-rate. Interesting. With a more aggressive leader they would have been 2-1 up by now. Don't think it'll cost them this time unless there are a lot of time lost from the game.

The storms may even aid South Africa, shielding the weakness of of their change seamers and the aging Kallis and allowing Steyn and Morkel to bowl the majority of the overs and the chance to make use of the mositure and then rest up in the changing room and have another go.

You could argue that, but like with Strauss in Durban, the more runs you score the fewer runs you need to chase if you're put in again to chase a victory target. Steyn was probably sent in to go for a tonk but Broad bowled well to him and it looked like if anything he was putting his body at risk. But while the runs were flowing there was no reason to declare on the basis of what might happen with the weather given that two days are left.

Good knock from Boucher who's had his critics in recent times.

The thing is they came out for the extra batting - however the last 6 overs they scored only 18 runs. With a bit of intent they could have got twice as many - they may have lost wickets but this is where you have to show intent and put the team above personal glory.

The overs were:

Sidebottom - 2 runs
Anderson - 6
Sidebottom - 4
Anderson - 2
Swann - 3
Broad - 1

They're still going to win here, but these margins can be costly - as in earlier Tests in the series.

Could you see a South African player like Kallis for instance playing the kind of selfless innings Flintoff did here for the cause of the team:

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64042.html

75 runs off the last 52 balls of his innings - didn't give a damn if he got out in the 90s because all he wanted was to do the best for his team. Would a South African play like that? Until South Africa get rid of this defensive mentality they will never be the undisputed number 1 team. This despite having several support players and 2 of the best batsmen and 2 of the best fast bowlers in the world.

filosofee wrote:Will it go down to the last wicket, Collingwood or Bell saving the match again!

If England bat really well they might just take it to a 5th day.

Gary 111 wrote:

filosofee wrote:Will it go down to the last wicket, Collingwood or Bell saving the match again!

If England bat really well they might just take it to a 5th day.

If it rains. A lot.

Drat! Pietersen walks on to unnecessary boos. He needs to score big.

England might not even take this to a 4th day now... could be virtually game over in 2 days' playing time?

The number 3 question is still very much open, even though that final Ashes Test made people think it was solved. Remember even Bopara got centuries there at first... I suspect they will go back to Bell at some stage but I'm starting to think the way forward is to get another opener established and let Strauss take on that responsibility.

beamer wrote:England might not even take this to a 4th day now... could be virtually game over in 2 days' playing time?

The number 3 question is still very much open, even though that final Ashes Test made people think it was solved. Remember even Bopara got centuries there at first... I suspect they will go back to Bell at some stage but I'm starting to think the way forward is to get another opener established and let Strauss take on that responsibility.

Cook did okay at 3 in his first year. He's a bit one paced but with our middle order of Pietersen, Collingwood and Bell being allergic to the new ball it might be worth it.

Doooooooooooomed.

Basil wrote:Doooooooooooomed.

Ton for Strauss, 150 plus for KP - what are you worrying about?

Really doooooooooooomed now - 44/3

Can we be more doomed?

Drat! It'll be down to that stalwart, Collingwood - needed Onions in the squad!

Collingwood can't do it every time.

Is Strauss sliding back into 2007 form or just having a run where things aren't going for him like they were?

I think there's a fair chance his 22 could be top score here though, either that or a late Swann slog in a lost cause.

Shoeshine wrote:Collingwood can't do it every time.

Vaughan on TMS earlier today did say he felt a drawn series was actually fairer, since SA had a better rub in two previous Tests. But no doubt this series has been a fantastic battle and great commercial for Test cricket.

Just saw the scores.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Thank you.

filosofee wrote:

Shoeshine wrote:Collingwood can't do it every time.

Vaughan on TMS earlier today did say he felt a drawn series was actually fairer, since SA had a better rub in two previous Tests. But no doubt this series has been a fantastic battle and great commercial for Test cricket.

Well, given England are getting a hiding in this Test, I doubt anyone could disagree that South Africa deserve (at least) a draw.

If England somehow smack them round the park tomorrow for a KP/Collingwood 250 run partnership, that might change, but it's spectacularly unlikely as things stand.

Without wishing to put a curse on KP, he looked very good this afternoon. I predict a futile century tomorrow as England are bowled out just after tea. South Africa to knock the handful of runs off that night if the storms stay away.

I would have been amazed if someone had told me England would remain undefeated for the T20, ODI & Test series here - but after all the hard work put in the crapitulation here makes it feel like a series loss.

The Smith & de Villiers decisions have really irked me but I think its unlikely they would have changed the game such has been the gulf between the two sides.

Spare a thought for Ryan Sidebottom in what is probably his last Test Match - after 3 months of barely playing a game in his only innings of the series he's got Smith out (twice) and Kallis. He seems to enjoy bowling to Kallis for some reason - probably the only England bowler I can remember who has!

Crapitulation - I like that. Tend to use "craptaculation" myself but a similar concept and one England like to throw in on occasions!

Not sure about it being Sidebottom's last Test, he seems to be a player they are desperate to keep on the scene despite his lack of form and fitness recently. We could even field an all-Notts attack, although that would probably involve recalling Pattinson... perhaps not!

beamer wrote:Crapitulation - I like that. Tend to use "craptaculation" myself but a similar concept and one England like to throw in on occasions!

Not sure about it being Sidebottom's last Test, he seems to be a player they are desperate to keep on the scene despite his lack of form and fitness recently. We could even field an all-Notts attack, although that would probably involve recalling Pattinson... perhaps not!

I'd rather see Mark Ealham wobbling up to the crease than a recall for Pattinson.

England will need the likes of Sidebottom to pad the bowling attack out when they're resting players against Bangladesh. Hard to see much of a future for him in the real stuff.

You'd have to say it's a bit of steal drawing this series now.