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

[SOSami]

This pitch is very very flat. Not a bad decision to bat first at all.

 

[style_guru]

With the ball swinging as it is, I would rather have Steyn bowling, rather then chase the balls in the outfield.

 

[sada90]

this match is gonna be thriller

 

[AdeelSabih]

Ah, the joy of test match cricket, but why Steyn is not bowling new ball?

 

[SOSami]

Commentators going on about Morkel's pre-ball routine. :trott

 

[CalculatedRisk]

This is one of the most bizarre pieces of commentary...Holding discussing about the robot-like antics of Morkel

 

[James]

On a break but got no way of watching this...can't see us lasting the day, but our bowling is pretty good so we can come back into it if need be

 

[style_guru]

By the look of the pitch, i wont be surprised here if Tahir starts getting turn from day 1 onwards.

 

[Ruri]

England need to survive this new ball without another wicket. Tahir may get spin, but they can atleast play a spinner in home conditions.

 

[Ruri]

Morkel's a bit all over the shop. He hasn't landed two deliveries in the same line yet it seems.

 

[style_guru]

Anymore overs by Morkel will be wasting the opportunity by SA. Steyn needs to get in with Philander.

 

[asifp]

surprised they started with Morkel a bit of a shocker!

Steyn not getting the new ball is a crime.

And Vernon Philander's seam and swing seems to be missing

 

[Bullet Drive]

Where is Steyn..

 

[Markhor]

Rather slow outfield. Fair dos to Graeme Smith for calling for a review in the very first over of the match.

Should be a great series between two of the best Test nations in the world. South Africa have a very strong batting lineup - Smith, Amla, Kallis, De Villiers are all world-class batsmen and their bowling is also strong with Steyn and Morkel, but also the underrated Philander. Surprised Steyn hasn't bowled with the new ball here.

 

[Ruri]

surprised they started with Morkel a bit of a shocker!

Steyn not getting the new ball is a crime.

And Vernon Philander's seam and swing seems to be missing

He's bowling a good line that has me worried for Trott.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Looks very testing.. Where is Steyn!

 

[Bullet Drive]

Steyn probably hasn't bowled with the new ball as he isn't so comfortable with left handers. Also Morkel has one over on Strauss.

 

[Bullet Drive]

24-1.

 

[Bilal7]

Morkel looks really nervous. Always huffing and puffing in his walk back to his bowling mark.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Philander reminds me of Asif. Consistent line.

 

[style_guru]

A wicket seems around to me...

 

[Bullet Drive]

Just said Philander reminds me of Asif and now Philander bowls a no ball...

 

[style_guru]

May be the last over for Morkel...

 

[style_guru]

SA need to pick up Trott quickly.

 

[Amjid Javed]

If S.A are to win this series then morkel needs to bowl well, hes been poor all tour so far despite getting strauss early!

Also steve davis is one poor umpire!

Trott is looking in good nick from the start!

 

[Jo_Don]

Steyn will probably take the next over.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Just said Philander reminds me of Asif and now Philander bowls a no ball...

Lets hope it was just a No ball )

 

[Markhor]

Here comes Dale Steyn into the attack.

 

[Ruri]

Time to unleash Steyn. 32 though against LHB? Would explain why Strauss/Cook weren't treated to Steyn first up.

 

[style_guru]

Steyn on....

 

[Amjid Javed]

Lets see if steyn can do some damage here?

 

[SOSami]

Three horrible deliveries for a left hander bowled by Steyn.

Top quality and that's just his first three balls.

 

[Markhor]

Nicely put away by Cook.

 

[Ruri]

Gorgeous shot to end the over.

 

[style_guru]

Bad ball by Steyn. England looking set here

 

[Pakprideuk]

Gorgeous shot to end the over.

Wasnt controlled.. Could easilyhave flown to gully.. Heart in mouth for cook

 

[Markhor]

Pace is not right up there yet in Steyn's first over. 85mph the quickest ball.

 

[SOSami]

Cook seems tense when facing Steyn. That boundary off the last ball looks like he snatched at it.

 

[style_guru]

Peach of a delivery to end the over...

 

[Markhor]

Steyn didn't open the bowling in South Africas's last match either vs New Zealand. Interesting - Morkel has got Strauss seven times in nine matches.

 

[style_guru]

Kallis on...

 

[style_guru]

Poor ball by Kallis, tonked away for 4 by Cook...

 

[Markhor]

Short and wide from Kallis.

 

[Justcrazy]

England looking solid as usual.

 

[Justcrazy]

I have a feeling Philanders dream run would be halted here.

 

[Justcrazy]

Styen is steaming in here.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Bit of rain in the air.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

SA attack yet to bowl a maiden.

 

[Justcrazy]

46 / 1

 

[Bullet Drive]

Round the wicket from Steyn.

 

[style_guru]

Footmarks already visible on the pitch...

 

[Bullet Drive]

Bit of Swing for Steyn.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Good solid start here by england they will be looking for atleast 400 here maybe batting 1st.

 

[Justcrazy]

No maiden yet.

 

[Bullet Drive]

This is the best bowling attack to play in England since Pakistan 2010.

 

[Justcrazy]

If England get 400 ...........SA will be under huge pressure.

 

[Bilal7]

Nothing really special from the bowlers till now. Hopefully we see a bouncer barrage from Steyn soon.

 

[style_guru]

Kallis bowling rubbish here

 

[Bullet Drive]

Nice line from Kallis.

 

[Justcrazy]

Cook will end up with 15 K test runs , already has 6400 .....

 

[Markhor]

50 up for England

 

[Bullet Drive]

Poor this time

 

[Bilal7]

Probably time for Tahir or Duminy to test out those rough patches.

 

[Justcrazy]

Cook is the key here, if he settles down he will get a Daddy Hundred.

 

[Ruri]

Hmm, I wonder what would happen if a pigeon gets hit by the ball and the ball stops, preventing it from reaching the boundary. Would be terribly sad for the batsman to miss a boundary that way, and sad for the pigeon because that would kill...

 

[Bilal7]

Nice line from Kallis.

Kallis bowling rubbish here

You guys watching the same match?

 

[Markhor]

Morkel has created a bit off rough outside the right-hander's off stump. Swann and Tahir will look to exploit that later in the match. This pitch will deteriorate by the 3rd day.

Steyn averages 32 against left-handers; 19 against right handers. That would perhaps explain why he was held back from the opening pair.

 

[Justcrazy]

50 up

 

[Ruri]

Once this new ball wears off, there will be far less pressure except when Steyn is on.

 

[Justcrazy]

Partnership also worth 50 :14;

 

[Ruri]

You guys watching the same match?

They are, Kallis is alternating it.

 

[Justcrazy]

SA under pressure from start.

 

[Bullet Drive]

50-1.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Kallis does do that a lot as Mike has said. He bowls a few in the same spot and then throws one wide.

 

[Justcrazy]

Maiden finally

 

[style_guru]

You guys watching the same match?

Kallis is bowling poorly with a few peach deliveries in between

 

[Bullet Drive]

Warne & Holding on.

 

[Ruri]

Maiden! First one.

 

[Bilal7]

Another boundry conceded, Trott looking good.

 

[Bilal7]

Trott really is in his own world while batting. The bowlers, especially someone like Steyn would hate bowling to him.

Good swing there.