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England v South Africa | 1st Test | The Oval | Jul 19-23, 2012 | Days 2&3

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This is good cricket. Very enjoyable. Breakthroughs followed by a mini-counter, scrapping towards a respectable score.
 
Oh drag-ons. That's a tough way to get out, especially off a mediocre bowler like Tahir!
 
Ruri said:
Oh drag-ons. That's a tough way to get out, especially off a mediocre bowler like Tahir!
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Tahir is anything but mediocre. He's a very good bowler, England just good at playing spinners like him
 
Anyone else think that instead of relying on the umpire, the benefit of any doubt should go to the batsman?
 
Good thing I'm not an umpire then. I would have given Broad out!


And Tahir has 17 wickets, while playing average teams like Aus at home, and NZ away. And 38 average. A good spinner would be someone like Rehman. Or perhaps even Monty. He's a good ODI spinner, doesn't make him a good Test bowler.
 
Ruri said:
Good thing I'm not an umpire then. I would have given Broad out!


And Tahir has 17 wickets, while playing average teams like Aus at home, and NZ away. And 38 average. A good spinner would be someone like Rehman. Or perhaps even Monty. He's a good ODI spinner, doesn't make him a good Test bowler.
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He's been playing on bouncy tracks and greentops. His performance in the world cup last year shows that he's not mediocre. Not great, but certainly not mediocre.
 
Jo_Don said:
He's been playing on bouncy tracks and greentops. His performance in the world cup last year shows that he's not mediocre. Not great, but certainly not mediocre.
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Why is an ODI performance on SC pitches a good barometer for deciding whether a bowler is a good Test spinner? By that same token, Afridi, Robin Peterson, Yuvraj Singh have all proved themselves to be Test quality spinners by their wonderful ODI WC performance.
 
These pommy commentators are starting to become a little annoying. They aren't like the aussies who are just biased towards their own team, they actually have a go at the other team.

So far their list of unfounded criticism is:
Steyn must be injured
AB is a crap keeper
SA haven't had enough cricket time to be competitive
The pitch doesn't suit SA
Smith isn't going to bat well
Kallis is too old and must be very stiff
Philander doesn't deserve the new ball
Morkel has little control
SA pacemen aren't as quick as they used to be
Tahir is mediocre
 
Ruri said:
Why is an ODI performance on SC pitches a good barometer for deciding whether a bowler is a good Test spinner? By that same token, Afridi, Robin Peterson, Yuvraj Singh have all proved themselves to be Test quality spinners by their wonderful ODI WC performance.
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Not saying that it is a good yardstick, but that he isn't mediocre. If conditions suit him, he can be trickyl.
 
Oh and now they're saying that SA are constantly wasting time with their reviews and they're pushing their luck. Just STFU and focus on the cricket already! No doubt that there won't be any such concerns when Strauss consults his bowlers after every appeal.
 
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Lunch on Day 2, England 326/7.

SA gave away 59 runs in 25 overs, for 4 wickets.

We must not forget that this is still a placid wicket. All credit to SA bowlers.
 
Jo_Don said:
Oh and now they're saying that SA are constantly wasting time with their reviews and they're pushing their luck. Just STFU and focus on the cricket already! No doubt that there won't be any such concerns when Strauss consults his bowlers after every appeal.
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You haven't watched enough English cricket. It usually goes like this, Broad appeals sometime within his opening spell, consults with Strauss quickly before Strauss shuts him down, pouts/throws a tantrum, Strauss reluctantly signals, and both our appeals are gone before the innings are half over.
 
Ruri said:
You haven't watched enough English cricket. It usually goes like this, Broad appeals sometime within his opening spell, consults with Strauss quickly before Strauss shuts him down, pouts/throws a tantrum, Strauss reluctantly signals, and both our appeals are gone before the innings are half over.
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Gosh no offence hey, but with these stooges in the commentary box I don't think I would be able to stomach very much of it. Apart from taking stabs at the opposition, there's also a whole lot of "omg we're awesome" going on. And every time a non-pom commentator says anything positive about the opposition, they follow it up with a "Yeah, but...".
 
I think 350 would be a good total for england on this surface. I think if they can sneak up to 400 then it could give them a real foothold in this game.
 
Steyn would come out all cylinders firing. Will be tough for Stuart little and Prior to see him off.

However if they do, then game goes to England.
 
Jo_Don said:
Oh and now they're saying that SA are constantly wasting time with their reviews and they're pushing their luck. Just STFU and focus on the cricket already! No doubt that there won't be any such concerns when Strauss consults his bowlers after every appeal.
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What usually happens is that Strausser looks across to Prior and asks him what he thinks, and if Prior says 'not out' then Strauss tells his bowler to get on with it.

(Then Broad sulks.)
 
Jo_Don said:
Gosh no offence hey, but with these stooges in the commentary box I don't think I would be able to stomach very much of it. Apart from taking stabs at the opposition, there's also a whole lot of "omg we're awesome" going on. And every time a non-pom commentator says anything positive about the opposition, they follow it up with a "Yeah, but...".
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Jo_Don said:
Oh and now they're saying that SA are constantly wasting time with their reviews and they're pushing their luck. Just STFU and focus on the cricket already! No doubt that there won't be any such concerns when Strauss consults his bowlers after every appeal.
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If the rules state that you are allowed to have 15 seconds to decide on a review and a team takes 26 seconds to take it then I believe te commentator is just doing his job. If you insist on watching in a place where the commentary is English then I think you need to be a bit more easy going about it. We had to endure the first ODI from last winter with an Indian commentary team lead by Ravi Shastri, now that was painful!
 
AdidasBeard said:
If the rules state that you are allowed to have 15 seconds to decide on a review and a team takes 26 seconds to take it then I believe te commentator is just doing his job. If you insist on watching in a place where the commentary is English then I think you need to be a bit more easy going about it. We had to endure the first ODI from last winter with an Indian commentary team lead by Ravi Shastri, now that was painful!
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Well then it's up to the umpire to call it time, the umpire should be watching the clock.

What about the other points I raised in their long list of attacks on the opponents? Followed up by comments about how great their own team is? And this is just the 2nd day.

I'm all for a bit of bias, that's part of what makes it interesting to watch matches played in other countries. Heck even NZ does it. But constantly talking down the opponent with little basis in fact, is not on.
 
Steyn hasn't bowled much, hasn't bowled as fast as he an and has bowled 1 great spell. It the rest have been below his standard. He ha had trouble with injury is it not natural to wonder whether he is injured, it certainly isn't being biased.
 
South Africa haven had that much cricket in the warmup because of rain. That's not a criticism that is an excuse for their average bowling yesterday
 
Kallis doesn't bowl as much as he used to. He probably is stuff, he's pretty old for a guy bowling at his speed
 
No one said AB was a crap keeper. Warne said that Boucher would have done better with the prior/broad runout chance
 
Excellent counter-attacking innings as usual when needed by Prior and the tail. Exactly what we needed, and what a way to do it.
 
AdidasBeard said:
Ian supersport doing its own commentary for sensitive souls like yourself?!
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It wouldn't be a test match without a supporter of the opposition moaning about the Sky commentary. I don't see what the big deal is myself, there's always the mute button.
 
AdidasBeard said:
Ian supersport doing its own commentary for sensitive souls like yourself?!
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Nope, we get the feed with English commentary, much like other countries get the Supersport feed when they play here. And it's not about being sensitive, there are people from around the world watching and it gets a bit much sometimes. And yes, I get irritated when our own commies do it too, but at least they don't turn it into an obsession.
 
Its fantastic Ruri. Strong batting all the way to 10 without any sacrifice of bowling strength.

Very strong lineup on paper.
 
Steyn looking hostile and hitting Swanny on the helmet

He looks like a psychopath when bowling.

As all fast bowlers should of course.
 
malakian said:
It wouldn't be a test match without a supporter of the opposition moaning about the Sky commentary. I don't see what the big deal is myself, there's always the mute button.
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I like the ambient sound, and being able to here knicks, solid shots off the bat and such. So I don't want to mute it.
 
What a knock by Prior against a quality side.Rudolph won't have a good night surely after that drop catch:D
 
Prior out.

Surprised, England were doing so well. Now probably under 400. Which is traditionally around a par score on this pitch. But this pitch is doing a lot more than yesterday. Still feel England will be disappointed not to have got more.

Though might be good to get out around now and have a proper bowl at the saffers in these conditions. Think England will do a bit of damage to the top order and put themselves ahead.
 
A little unhappy with the final, but good enough progress in the end. Good score, would have taken it if offered at the toss. And SA has to bat last on this pitch!

Also glad to see that Philander only took 1 wicket, long may it continue that England drags up his average to truly reflect his skill.
 
England all out.

Pretty good score, think England made a good decision to bat first. Faced out the tricking opening session on the first day, pitch got a bit easier to bat on later on and England cached in. Didn't do that today so much, bit disappointing the last seven wickets fell for just 130 runs, especially given England's tail strength.
 
Oh Jimmy, outswingers all around, and the scary inswinger. Such a good swing bowler.
 
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