England [499/9d] defeat South Africa [209,237] by an inns & 53 runs to win 3rd Test, lead series 2-1

[Nikhil_cric]

SA will need to play extremely well to avoid defeat here.

 

[Robert]

Oh well done young Ollie Pope, the beginning of an England great?

 

[Amirforpresident]

Could someone tell me where I can watch the match with Afrikaans commentary. Would like to see whether I understand it and how much it sounds like Dutch

 

[Robert]

Two bunnies left. Pope will start to swing after tea.

 

[Manunited18]

Yeah, I think they are keeping him in case Root hangs up the armband. But surely Foakes must come back, given a decent start with the Brown Hats this year.

How can buttler be captain when he doesn't justify his place, hope it doesn't effect his white ball game, but surely foakes has to come in

 

[Robert]

Go Woody go!

 

[HitWicket]

Two bunnies left. Pope will start to swing after tea.

Mark Wood may have something to say about that .

 

[Robert]

Mark Wood may have something to say about that .

Jaw-dropping.

Poor Maharaj, he's heading for his second trip round the clock....

 

[Hasan123]

This England's game to win now.

 

[Robert]

Nice red ink for Pope too.

 

[MenInG]

ENG 499/9 decl (152.0) CRR: 3.28
Day 2: Innings Break

 

[James]

Another brilliant partnership. That mini-session is the most fun I’ve had watching England bat in quite a while.

Now let’s bowl these guys out!

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Lol faf should be forcibly retired. But then again CSA bozos will simply give that spot to a nobody like temba bavuma. No Rabada for next test either. Congrats to England in advance on a series win. Expecting SA to get smashed in Pakistan as well.

 

[Titan24]

Unless something extreme happens Eng has pretty much batted SA out of the game. SA should try to maybe sneak in a draw and then try to do something in the 4th test.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Stuart broad being demoted to number 11 these days in test cricket, his batting is non existent now, this from a guy who has a highest test score of 169.

England game to win from here.

 

[Manunited18]

Jaw-dropping.

Poor Maharaj, he's heading for his second trip round the clock....

Some monster hits by wood, just a pitty hes injury prone otherwise he offers so much

 

[Manunited18]

Nice red ink for Pope too.

Fantastic talent

 

[Robert]

Wood winding up to 93mph.....

 

[sindhiboy]

These new england players have really transformed the team.

 

[Mamoon]

It is quite clear that England are the third best Test side. In fact, it not quite obvious if Australia are actually better.

England will get pasted Down Under, but they can beat Australia in every other country.

 

[Ab Fan]

England will get smashed by Australia everywhere and they will need a Stokes masterclass to save a home test series vs Australia.

 

[Abdullah719]

SA 60/2 at stumps.

 

[tyron_woodley]

It is quite clear that England are the third best Test side. In fact, it not quite obvious if Australia are actually better.

England will get pasted Down Under, but they can beat Australia in every other country.

Ohhh. Don’t know about that hey. I agree Australia is pretty mediocre outside Australia, n.z and South Africa.

they did perform well in England however. If Paine had chose to bat in the 4th test Aussie May have won the series. Stokes saved them the series.

 

[sindhiboy]

It is quite clear that England are the third best Test side. In fact, it not quite obvious if Australia are actually better.

England will get pasted Down Under, but they can beat Australia in every other country.

One more bright batsman like pope and a fit wood and archer, then who knows, maybe eng have a chance in aus as well

 

[MenInG]

OLLIE POPE stepped out of the inevitable shadow of Ben Stokes to score his maiden Test century and share a double-century partnership with England’s champion that gave them a commanding first innings total on the second day of the third Test match against the Standard Bank Proteas at St. George’s Park, Port Elizabeth, on Friday.

The pair enabled England to declare one run short of 500 – the fourth highest innings total at this venue – leaving the Proteas with a tricky 26 overs to face before the close on a day that was extended after overnight rain delayed the start of play by 45 minutes.

Only 18 overs were possible before rain and bad light brought about stumps but it was time enough for Dom Bess to dismiss both Pieter Malan and Zubayr Hamza and leave the Proteas on 60/2, still trailing by 439 runs.

Hamza was unlucky to the extent that his dismissal came only 3 balls before play was called for the day.

Both England batsmen scored centuries with Stokes making his ninth at this level and his third against South Africa on his way to 120 (214 balls, 12 fours, 2 sixes) and Pope finishing unbeaten on 135 (226 balls, 18 fours and a six) and the significant factor was that the youngster contributed equally to the partnership of 203 for the fifth wicket that came in 59 overs and was a ground record stand.

England have clearly found themselves a new star who has locked down the vacant place in the middle-order alongside Stokes and Joe Root.

For the Proteas to get back into the game they needed to strike early and regularly on the second morning but it was not to be as the two batsmen scored 70 runs in the first hour at the rate of 6 to the over.

After his subdued batting in the team interest on the first day Stokes wasted no time in trying to get after Keshav Maharaj while Pope impressed with the quality of his off-side game that saw him find gaps in the field either in front of or behind square. In many ways he looked like a young Peter Kirsten which is fair testimony to his talent.

For the second day in a row the morning session did not bring a single wicket but again the Proteas had their best spell after lunch when they took 4/91 that included Stokes (Dane Paterson’s maiden Test wicket) and Sam Curran although not before the latter had contributed the bulk of the 59-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

At 426/8 the Proteas must have been reasonably pleased to have put a brake on the England batting line-up but there was still pain to come as Mark Wood came out to join Pope after tea and contributed 42 off 23 balls (2 fours and 5 sixes) to a ninth wicket stand of 73 off 53 balls before Wood’s dismissal brought about the declaration.

It gave Maharaj a more than well deserved five-wicket haul (5/180 in a marathon 58 overs) – his 6th in his Test match career.

The centuries by Stokes and Pope followed that by Dom Sibley at Newlands which puts England 3-0 up in terms of three-figure contributions in the series to date and there is some catching up for the Proteas batsmen to do for their team to remain in contention in the series.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Wood
Archer
Broad


Pretty solid for SENA tours. Wood’s action terrifies me. He slips and falls often too. Jesus.


Backups are Olly stone, Joshua tongue, toad

 

[jnaveen1980]

India has to borrow a keeper from England lol They have way too many good keeper batsmen. Pope, Butler, Bairstow, Foakes.

 

[James]

2 wickets for Bess! Both top order players.

England in a dream position.

 

[Robert]

It is quite clear that England are the third best Test side. In fact, it not quite obvious if Australia are actually better.

England will get pasted Down Under, but they can beat Australia in every other country.

England can only beat Australia in one other country.

 

[Robert]

2 wickets for Bess! Both top order players.

England in a dream position.

Yeah, they should look to get SA out for <299 and enforce the follow-on. Woody had a big hand in that second wicket, shaking Hamza up.

 

[Robert]

England will get smashed by Australia everywhere and they will need a Stokes masterclass to save a home test series vs Australia.

Didn't get smashed by Australia last Northern summer. Indeed I would argue that they would have regained the Ashes had Anderson not broken down after just four overs. Rain robbed them of victory in the second test too.

 

[andy0204]

Didn't get smashed by Australia last Northern summer. Indeed I would argue that they would have regained the Ashes had Anderson not broken down after just four overs. Rain robbed them of victory in the second test too.

Stokes was plumb lbw at Headlingley but umpire didn't gave lbw and also Australia didn't have a review,So Australia was also robbed in third test,it's better to accept both the teams played well.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

It is quite clear that England are the third best Test side. In fact, it not quite obvious if Australia are actually better.

England will get pasted Down Under, but they can beat Australia in every other country.

They couldn't even beat Australia in England!

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Didn't get smashed by Australia last Northern summer. Indeed I would argue that they would have regained the Ashes had Anderson not broken down after just four overs. Rain robbed them of victory in the second test too.

Pointless argument. Cricketers not being for for selection is not the opposition's problem.

 

[sindhiboy]

This tour has has proven to be so vital for England. They have unearthed special talents and are a completely different team now.

Really difficult to choose between Dom bess and Leach once he is fit.

Also harsh on wood as he will most likely be replaced by Archer in England

 

[jnaveen1980]

All banters aside England has proved they have quiet a depth. They don't need ATG players, don't need to have iCC top ranked player. Just good team effort is all needed. In the long run England will get better and better. I have not seen Bess. If he is any good they will definitely improve their ranking. Make no mistake Australia is also becoming a solid unit with a weakness though. They rely on a couple of guys at this point.

 

[Manunited18]

This tour has has proven to be so vital for England. They have unearthed special talents and are a completely different team now.

Really difficult to choose between Dom bess and Leach once he is fit.

Also harsh on wood as he will most likely be replaced by Archer in England

Let's not get to carried away, both these teams have alot to improve to be considered good sides

 

[jnaveen1980]

Let's not get to carried away, both these teams have alot to improve to be considered good sides

They are getting better. But i agree overall. At this point beating SA is not exactly an indication of being a good side lol They have such a weak line up.

 

[sindhiboy]

Let's not get to carried away, both these teams have alot to improve to be considered good sides

They have the spin department covered, fast bowling covered, openers covered and middle order covered.

What else is to be considered a good side

They just need root to perform and maybe one more batsman

 

[Manunited18]

They have the spin department covered, fast bowling covered, openers covered and middle order covered.

What else is to be considered a good side

They just need root to perform and maybe one more batsman

Lol, I watch alot of England home tests in attendance and I'm a proud England fan, but there are issues, Bess is being played because leach is ill and moin is /Was unavailable, no desrespect but non off these spinners are match winners and against good sides will struggle, as for the seamers Anderson is on his last legs, broad twilight of his career, archer is hit and miss and has
His moments, woods is to injury prone , woakes not reliable outside England, the batting is still vulnerable, bar stokes no one else is performing consistently and against a quality attack will be exposed

 

[tyron_woodley]

Lol, I watch alot of England home tests in attendance and I'm a proud England fan, but there are issues, Bess is being played because leach is ill and moin is /Was unavailable, no desrespect but non off these spinners are match winners and against good sides will struggle, as for the seamers Anderson is on his last legs, broad twilight of his career, archer is hit and miss and has
His moments, woods is to injury prone , woakes not reliable outside England, the batting is still vulnerable, bar stokes no one else is performing consistently and against a quality attack will be exposed

for SENA;
broad for now
wood should be fine
archer
bess over leach imo.
curran

backups
olly stone, toad


for sub continent
foakes
bess
archer
woakes
curran


england don't have great names but they have a balanced team. good solid unit. They play well as a team.

 

[Manunited18]

for SENA;
broad for now
wood should be fine
archer
bess over leach imo.
curran

backups
olly stone, toad


for sub continent
foakes
bess
archer
woakes
curran


england don't have great names but they have a balanced team. good solid unit. They play well as a team.

You mean they SHOULD be playing better , been way to inconsistent in last year or2, apart from hammering India 4-1 They been ordinary

 

[sindhiboy]

for SENA;
broad for now
wood should be fine
archer
bess over leach imo.
curran

backups
olly stone, toad


for sub continent
foakes
bess
archer
woakes
curran


england don't have great names but they have a balanced team. good solid unit. They play well as a team.

i think you mean coad, lol

 

[Ab Fan]

Australia is a better team than England in SENA IMO.

Their pacers are better than the ones England have and Lyon is better than Leach who is better than Bess, neither of the two are match winners for England. Lyon himself is not great but he is clearly a much bigger name than what England are offering as soon option.

In batting, Smith is miles ahead of Root, Labuschagne is again a solid player who will also add value with his spin bowling ability.

Overall, Australia are better than England in all departments in Asia.

 

[Ab Fan]

Australia is a better team than England in <B>SENA</B> IMO.

Their pacers are better than the ones England have and Lyon is better than Leach who is better than Bess, neither of the two are match winners for England. Lyon himself is not great but he is clearly a much bigger name than what England are offering as soon option.

In batting, Smith is miles ahead of Root, Labuschagne is again a solid player who will also add value with his spin bowling ability.

Overall, Australia are better than England in all departments in Asia.

I mean in Asia.

 

[sindhiboy]

Australia is a better team than England in SENA IMO.

Their pacers are better than the ones England have and Lyon is better than Leach who is better than Bess, neither of the two are match winners for England. Lyon himself is not great but he is clearly a much bigger name than what England are offering as soon option.

In batting, Smith is miles ahead of Root, Labuschagne is again a solid player who will also add value with his spin bowling ability.

Overall, Australia are better than England in all departments in Asia.

in the batting yes, but not the bowling. bowling is about partnerships not just one man . lyon alone is not enough to dismantle teams in the subcontinent, aus cannot find a spinner to partner lyon.

eng spin collectively is way better , eng have much more depth in their spinners, proven spinners in leach bess and moeen, and potentially the debutant leggie in parkinson.

eng batting is weaker no doubt, but good enough to just survive in asian conditions, root is not smith but still a class act against spin bowling. ollie pope looks really good and there is always stokes .

regarding pacers, cummins is the only one to have bowled well on rank turners and dry pitches, starc had one good series in sri lanka but has been hammered in almost every test he has played in asia. hazlewood has also been pretty ineffective in asia. not saying eng pacers are better, but if jofra has a good day it could really boost engs bowling. point is aus pacers are not that much better in asia

 

[wrongun]

It is quite clear that England are the third best Test side. In fact, it not quite obvious if Australia are actually better.

England will get pasted Down Under, but they can beat Australia in every other country.

Mate we literally just held that series a few months ago & England categorically COULD NOT beat Australia in England over a series. 5 tests is a good, long test of that & Oz were just as good in the same conditions. We have the Ashes to prove it.

 

[Ab Fan]

in the batting yes, but not the bowling. <B>bowling is about partnerships not just one man</B> . lyon alone is not enough to dismantle teams in the subcontinent, aus cannot find a spinner to partner lyon.

eng spin collectively is way better , eng have much more depth in their spinners, proven spinners in leach bess and moeen, and potentially the debutant leggie in parkinson.

eng batting is weaker no doubt, but good enough to just survive in asian conditions, root is not smith but still a class act against spin bowling. ollie pope looks really good and there is always stokes .

regarding pacers, cummins is the only one to have bowled well on rank turners and dry pitches, starc had one good series in sri lanka but has been hammered in almost every test he has played in asia. hazlewood has also been pretty ineffective in asia. not saying eng pacers are better, but if jofra has a good day it could really boost engs bowling. point is aus pacers are not that much better in asia

And hence why Australia have a better attack than England. Cummins and Starc are both excellent bowlers and then there is James Pattinson. Hazelwood has a fifer in India, and with Cummins or Starc bowling from other end,there is no reason why Hazelwood won't be effective. Pacers hunt in pairs. Anyways, Australia will go with either three pacers or maybe even two on turners.

England spinners, Leach and Bess are completely ineffective and nowhere close to Swann or Panesar. I am not sure if Moeen will play or not. They will be completely ineffective in Asia against Asian batters because although they have a number of spinners, but none of them are even as good as Lyon, who himself is not as good as Swann or Kumble.

 

[wrongun]

They have the spin department covered, fast bowling covered, openers covered and middle order covered.

What else is to be considered a good side

They just need root to perform and maybe one more batsman

I don't think England have spin covered quite yet. Bess is brand new & done nothing at Test level- if he spins England to victory here perhaps he's worth considering.

But England have had exactly ONE good spinner in the last few decades that I can remember. One. Swann. The rest were wheelie bins (full of rubbish).

 

[Mamoon]

Mate we literally just held that series a few months ago & England categorically COULD NOT beat Australia in England over a series. 5 tests is a good, long test of that & Oz were just as good in the same conditions. We have the Ashes to prove it.

This isn’t the exact same team though. England have made a few changes that have clearly improved the batting lineup. Also, we should consider the impact Anderson’s injury had on the first Test. Australia went from 120/8 to 280 all out.

Smith is brilliant but you would expect someone of Anderson’s experience and mastery of English conditions to not let Siddle for 25 overs.

India would definitely beat England in most places, but I don’t think it is quite clear as far as Australia is concerned. In spite of England being all over the place, they still could not hold on to win the series. Yes they retained the Ashes but the series itself was 2-2. I am sure Australia would have loved to retain the Ashes by winning the series instead of leveling it.

 

[tyron_woodley]

This isn’t the exact same team though. England have made a few changes that have clearly improved the batting lineup. Also, we should consider the impact Anderson’s injury had on the first Test. Australia went from 120/8 to 280 all out.

Smith is brilliant but you would expect someone of Anderson’s experience and mastery of English conditions to not let Siddle for 25 overs.

India would definitely beat England in most places, but I don’t think it is quite clear as far as Australia is concerned. In spite of England being all over the place, they still could not hold on to win the series. Yes they retained the Ashes but the series itself was 2-2. I am sure Australia would have loved to retain the Ashes by winning the series instead of leveling it.

Yes Curran only played the last 2 or 3 games iirc.

Did pope even play?
Sibley dint play either
Crawley?

Still think Australia would beat England in SENA countries. But England will beat Australia in subcontinent.

 

[Robert]

I don't think England have spin covered quite yet. Bess is brand new & done nothing at Test level- if he spins England to victory here perhaps he's worth considering.

But England have had exactly ONE good spinner in the last few decades that I can remember. One. Swann. The rest were wheelie bins (full of rubbish).

Tufnell has his moments. Took a few fivefers and a tenfer.

I remember watching Monty turn Inzi inside out. Later he was a big factor in England’s win in India.

 

[MenInG]

ENG 499/9 decl
RSA 60/2 (19.1) CRR: 3.13
Day 3: 1st Session - South Africa trail by 439 runs

 

[Robert]

Mate we literally just held that series a few months ago & England categorically COULD NOT beat Australia in England over a series. 5 tests is a good, long test of that & Oz were just as good in the same conditions. We have the Ashes to prove it.

Under that ODI specialist coach. He picked the wrong test side repeatedly. Anderson was out for basically the whole series, so England played the first test a bowler down which knackered Stokes up, and were robbed by rain in the second.

Now we are getting somewhere again, picking guys suited to test cricket. The ridiculous sequence of collapses has stopped.

 

[Robert]

And hence why Australia have a better attack than England. Cummins and Starc are both excellent bowlers and then there is James Pattinson. Hazelwood has a fifer in India, and with Cummins or Starc bowling from other end,there is no reason why Hazelwood won't be effective. Pacers hunt in pairs. Anyways, Australia will go with either three pacers or maybe even two on turners.

England spinners, Leach and Bess are completely ineffective and nowhere close to Swann or Panesar. I am not sure if Moeen will play or not. They will be completely ineffective in Asia against Asian batters because although they have a number of spinners, but none of them are even as good as Lyon, who himself is not as good as Swann or Kumble.

Leach averages less than thirty in tests, about the same as Swann and better than Panesar.

Bess is a roller at present but is very young. English spinners don’t mature until their late twenties.

 

[MenInG]

Elgar gone!

ENG 499/9 decl
RSA 63/3 (22.0) CRR: 2.86
Day 3: 1st Session - South Africa trail by 436 runs

 

[Manunited18]

According to Kevin Pietersen this is a poor test wicket

 

[Robert]

Pointless argument. Cricketers not being for for selection is not the opposition's problem.

No, it’s the opposition’s gain. I refer you to Australia losing McGrath for two tests (which England won) in the 2005 Ashes. SA have no Rabada for the fourth test which can only help England. I bet if England win the series someone will bring that up, and I hope you tell them their argument is pointless.

 

[Ab Fan]

Leach averages less than thirty in tests, about the same as Swann and better than Panesar.

Bess is a roller at present but is very young. English spinners don’t mature until their late twenties.

Averaging under 30 in 10 tests isn't same as doing that after 75 tests. I don't think Leach would be effective in India and Pakistan wickets. I am also not convinced by Archer completely. Right now he is on and off and England don't produce any sub 25 averaging fast bowlers like Australia who have Pat Cummins and Starc, Pattinson and Hazelwood aren't far off from that.

 

[Manunited18]

No, it’s the opposition’s gain. I refer you to Australia losing McGrath for two tests (which England won) in the 2005 Ashes. SA have no Rabada for the fourth test which can only help England. I bet if England win the series someone will bring that up, and I hope you tell them their argument is pointless.

Yes spot on

 

[Robert]

Averaging under 30 in 10 tests isn't same as doing that after 75 tests. I don't think Leach would be effective in India and Pakistan wickets. I am also not convinced by Archer completely. Right now he is on and off and England don't produce any sub 25 averaging fast bowlers like Australia who have Pat Cummins and Starc, Pattinson and Hazelwood aren't far off from that.

We will see about Leach.

Archer frustrates as I have pointed out above, but part of the blame is on Root for over bowling him. Archer should be used in five over bursts with Curran taking more overs.

 

[Robert]

Good gracious, Bessy has four! Follow-on in sight....

 

[Manunited18]

Bess bowling briliantly

 

[Manunited18]

Averaging under 30 in 10 tests isn't same as doing that after 75 tests. I don't think Leach would be effective in India and Pakistan wickets. I am also not convinced by Archer completely. Right now he is on and off and England don't produce any sub 25 averaging fast bowlers like Australia who have Pat Cummins and Starc, Pattinson and Hazelwood aren't far off from that.

I do agree, Australia Have a gun attack followed by indias

 

[Mamoon]

Well this could be over today. This is turning into an absolute route.

Things getting worse and worse for South African cricket.

 

[Robert]

Better captaincy from Root. Four-over 90 mph bursts from the quicky, rotating at one end while Bess wheels away at the other.

 

[Mamoon]

Bess and Leach are enough to keep Moeen out for good.

 

[Robert]

Well this could be over today. This is turning into an absolute route.

Things getting worse and worse for South African cricket.

Steady on. Can’t see England getting eighteen wickets in the day, they at not Marshall and the boys. One session at a time. Three or four wickets a session is fine.

 

[Manunited18]

Better captaincy from Root. Four-over 90 mph bursts from the quicky, rotating at one end while Bess wheels away at the other.

Has to with woods, he's to injury prone to exceed that amount

 

[Robert]

Bess has got five out of five!

 

[James]

5 wickets out of 5 for Bess!

SA staring down the barrel.

But an early lunch has been taken due to rain.

SA needs a lot more rain if they are going to weasel out of this one with a draw. They’ve been appalling in this match.

 

[sindhiboy]

Who would have thought bess would get 5 Fer.
This is why I said eng has the superior spin bowling stock.
Not even lyon was able to get a 5 Fer in safrica.

 

[Manunited18]

Bess has bowled well on a big Turner, I watched alot of county cricket im not convinced with England's spin and fast bowling stocks once Anderson and broad have gone, the young quicks can't stay fit enough to play consistent hard seasons of county cricket let alone international cricket, as for spin swann was the only world class spinner I saw in 30 years

 

[tyron_woodley]

Damn England have been impressive. Did not expect this.

 

[Amjid Javed]

South africas batting was always going to be exposed as series went on, this is the weakest batting line up they have had since readmission into test cricket.

 

[Manunited18]

Toss is massive now adays, any team that wins the toss and scores biggish have virtually won the game

 

[tyron_woodley]

Toss is massive now adays, any team that wins the toss and scores biggish have virtually won the game

nah credit should be given to England. They outbatted south africa completely. Don't forget when they bat for long periods, players will be tired and fatigued hence the poor performance with the bat by saffers.

War of attrition and England have punished the saffers by wearing them out.

 

[Manunited18]

nah credit should be given to England. They outbatted south africa completely. Don't forget when they bat for long periods, players will be tired and fatigued hence the poor performance with the bat by saffers.

War of attrition and England have punished the saffers by wearing them out.

Lol I meant this to all teams, gone are the days were bats can play well consistently well under pressure

 

[Robert]

Damn England have been impressive. Did not expect this.

Ta. Bess has surprised me.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Toss is massive now adays, any team that wins the toss and scores biggish have virtually won the game

that's why I said india would beat australia away if they win the toss even with smith and warner playing. Other teams would still find it difficult though.