South Africa [284 & 272] defeat England [181 & 268] by 107 runs to win the 1st Test

[Robert]

Bowledstow was out bowled. Well bless my soul.

Curran to the rescue?

 

[James]

All of a sudden this looks like damage limitation. The conditions are quickly taking the draw out of the equation.

Best route through to a win for England now is to get as close to the 284 as possible and then formulate a plan to skittle the Saffers.

But if the Saffers can set England more than 250 to win in the final innings then it’s curtains.

 

[Robert]

ben foakes is eng's best keeper batsman in tests, eng selectors should realize that.

after ollie pope replaces bairstow nd foakes comes for butler this will be a solid batting line up

Foakes couldn’t get a run all year.

I agree about Bairstow who looked promising seven years ago but ha rarely shown the temperament for tests even though he is plainly good enough, and the Buttler experiment must end. I would pick...

Burns (capt.)
Sibley for the time being
Denly
Root
Pope
Stokes
Foakes (w)
Curran
Archer
Leach
Broad

 

[Robert]

1, I think roots tecnique been worked out by the top notch bowlers going around,
2, I'm going off on current form stokes is a better bat than root, he's played fantastic innings under pressure and you got to remember he's a allrounder
3, root is a very poor captain, the only player in my opinion gets it is Rory burns

Players of his stature don’t get worked out. He’s stepping outside off too far, reaching for it - he never did this when he was scoring centuries for fun.

Last two years, Root has averaged 38 with four centuries, a poor return by his standards, while Stokes has also averaged 38 with two centuries. And he doesn’t bowl much these days.

I agree about Burns. Joe will be very quickly back in the runs when reduced to the ranks.

 

[ElRaja]

70 tests averaging 35, one hundred in 20 odd tests, bairstow is england's asad shafiq when he aint keeping

 

[andy0204]

70 tests averaging 35, one hundred in 20 odd tests, bairstow is england's asad shafiq when he aint keeping

But Shafiq has an average 39.

 

[Titan24]

Eng went from 142/3 to 150/6

 

[ElRaja]

But Shafiq has an average 39.

shafiq has played in easier batting conditions, averaging below 40 after 70 odd tests is not acceptable for a specialist batsmen imo, also its not like either has had any great peaks and slumps, other than a season or two, both their test careers are signified by years of mediocrity and an inability to score match winning test knocks.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Curran looks very determined. I hope he sticks around in the English team.

 

[Manunited18]

Players of his stature don’t get worked out. He’s stepping outside off too far, reaching for it - he never did this when he was scoring centuries for fun.

Last two years, Root has averaged 38 with four centuries, a poor return by his standards, while Stokes has also averaged 38 with two centuries. And he doesn’t bowl much these days.

I agree about Burns. Joe will be very quickly back in the runs when reduced to the ranks.

Root issue is the quicker bowlers peg him back then he shuffles across off stump rather than going forward to the fuller ball, unless he rectifies that then he will struggle against top notch 90 mph quick bowling, yes burns is the obvious choice, that will give root ample time to work on his game

 

[Manunited18]

What i would say is this is a average to poor test wicket, where only in to second day and it's already got alot of variable bounce

 

[Ozymandiasza]

What i would say is this is a average to poor test wicket, where only in to second day and it's already got alot of variable bounce

Getting them in early

 

[andy0204]

Bottler gone

 

[James]

This is becoming a legit thrashing now. England staring down the barrel.

 

[Ab Fan]

Qdk's inning has made a difference as SA are set to win a test match against captain Root's greatest England fast bowling quartet in last 50 years.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Qdk's inning has made a difference as SA are set to win a test match against captain Root's greatest England fast bowling quartet in last 50 years.

... on a green pitch.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Who said even West Indies can beat SA? lol

 

[jnaveen1980]

Qdk's inning has made a difference as SA are set to win a test match against captain Root's greatest England fast bowling quartet in last 50 years.

If he learns to be selfish as well he can be up there in the rankings. But oftentimes he has to resort to counter-attacking

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Philander 4/16

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

Bit of a shock but then maybe England given a dose of reality.

 

[Mamoon]

England have been quiet unlucky. Too many soft dismissals.

 

[andy0204]

Who said even West Indies can beat SA? lol

I said WestIndies at home can defeat this team,considering the last overseas cycle of South Africa.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Talent crisis, financial crisis, Kolpak deals, Transformation target issues and yet SA are dominating England. Oh dear.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

I said WestIndies at home can defeat this team,considering the last overseas cycle of South Africa.

You made an accurate prediction. We lost to SL at home. 2 - 0.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Seeing the SA bowlers perform on such a "lively" pitch makes me wonder if Anderson should call it quits. His next innings should convince eitherway.

 

[tyron_woodley]

what a scintillating performance so far by saffers. Love my south african boys.

let's go.
finish the job.
vamos boks.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Seeing the SA bowlers perform on such a "lively" pitch makes me wonder if Anderson should call it quits. His next innings should convince eitherway.

you at underrating how good rabada and vernon are on such pitches. Especially in SENA

 

[tyron_woodley]

I said WestIndies at home can defeat this team,considering the last overseas cycle of South Africa.

who said talent crisis? saffers never lack talent. Best schooling system by far for sport. Not just cricket. Rugby too.

I told all of you saffers at home are formidable. Always will be. Job not done yet though. On the right track though.

 

[tyron_woodley]

englsnd made a mistake to not select a spinner.

 

[sindhiboy]

markram is really talented, but continues to disappoint. maybe he is a number 3, 4 and not an opener

 

[andy0204]

who said talent crisis? saffers never lack talent. Best schooling system by far for sport. Not just cricket. Rugby too.

I told all of you saffers at home are formidable. Always will be. Job not done yet though. On the right track though.

Did I ever say talent crisis,I said South Africa's record away from home in last 2 years was poor and South Africa will tour WestIndies next year and WestIndies at home are decent team, Westindies chances are high due to poor performances by South Africa away from home.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

markram is really talented, but continues to disappoint. maybe he is a number 3, 4 and not an opener

Mental issues. His ODI avg is embarrassing for someone with such talent.

 

[Boi]

Joe Root seems to be from the Azhar Ali school of captaincy. Only two slips for the new ball

 

[Manunited18]

Foakes couldn’t get a run all year.

I agree about Bairstow who looked promising seven years ago but ha rarely shown the temperament for tests even though he is plainly good enough, and the Buttler experiment must end. I would pick...

Burns (capt.)
Sibley for the time being
Denly
Root
Pope
Stokes
Foakes (w)
Curran
Archer
Leach
Broad

I agree with your line up bar leach whose nothing more than county standard, moin all is by far the best spinner in England

 

[tyron_woodley]

Did I ever say talent crisis,I said South Africa's record away from home in last 2 years was poor and South Africa will tour WestIndies next year and WestIndies at home are decent team, Westindies chances are high due to poor performances by South Africa away from home.

sorry bro. wrong quote. Was supposed to quote nikhi.

 

[Manunited18]

Joe Root seems to be from the Azhar Ali school of captaincy. Only two slips for the new ball

Hes the worse England captain I've seen since botham

 

[Boi]

How many balls would Shan Masood last against Broad coming around the wicket in England? I think he’ll make Warner look like Bradman this summer.

 

[Robert]

I agree with your line up bar leach whose nothing more than county standard, moin all is by far the best spinner in England

Leach has the better test average. He give it more of a rip than Moeen. I would pick Moeen for Subcontinent tours as second spinner.

 

[Markhor]

England have matched Pakistan's 1st innings score of 181 in the Centurion Test last year.

 

[Manunited18]

How many balls would Shan Masood last against Broad coming around the wicket in England? I think he’ll make Warner look like Bradman this summer.

Depends where the tests are being played and when in the summer

 

[Manunited18]

Leach has the better test average. He give it more of a rip than Moeen. I would pick Moeen for Subcontinent tours as second spinner.

Lol, leach has played a handful of tests compared to moin and I certainly don't agree leach is the bigger spinner, I reckon root certainly doesn't rate leach hence he's going in with a one dimensional attack , also hes keen to have moin back

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Well done SA. Eng need to sort their batting a bit. Inconsistent batting by most including Root

 

[1ManArmy]

Why is Philander retiring?
He still has it in him to play for a few more years.

 

[jnaveen1980]

6 wickets caught behind. Par for the course in SA. Elgar has to make up for his daft first ball dismissal in the first innings.

 

[Ab Fan]

Does even Philander knows where the balls will move after it releases from his hand?

 

[James]

Saffers 3 down. One each for Jimmy, Broad and Archer. 134 lead with 7 wickets remaining.

An old school Test match on a classically unforgiving South African pitch.

This is incredibly tight now. I don't think England would be able to chase more than 200 here.

 

[sindhiboy]

Saffers 3 down. One each for Jimmy, Broad and Archer. 134 lead with 7 wickets remaining.

An old school Test match on a classically unforgiving South African pitch.

This is incredibly tight now. I don't think England would be able to chase more than 200 here.

i think south africa have already won, anything above 150, is unchaseable for england on this pitch

 

[jnaveen1980]

11 caught behind out of a total of 23 dismissals

 

[jnaveen1980]

Can stokes pull off another miracle with bat. This is his year as well.

 

[Ab Fan]

Archer has been taken to cleaners.

 

[sindhiboy]

unlucky dismissal, jofra was being pounded

 

[Robert]

Ooh, effectively 160-4. Come on England!

 

[MenInG]

ENG 181
RSA 284, 62/4 (15.4) CRR: 3.96
Day 2: 3rd Session - South Africa lead by 165 runs

 

[King_Kohli]

wow.. this match is going to be very interesting!!
come-on SA

 

[King_Kohli]

anything above 250+ target is very difficult to chase

 

[Manunited18]

Fantastic test match from these flaud teams

 

[Usman Chadda]

Brilliant test match.

Archer generating some good heat, but getting smacked around for now. I feel he has a really good spell in him in this innings though. Looks really up for it.

 

[King_Kohli]

Two beamers in a row.
ARCHER should removed

 

[Usman Chadda]

Brilliant test match.

Archer generating some good heat, but getting smacked around for now. I feel he has a really good spell in him in this innings though. Looks really up for it.

Nevermind.

Should be removed from the attack for those two beamers.

 

[andy0204]

I already said he is crybaby.

 

[King_Kohli]

Duplesis should go to match referee and complain on Archer.
He should be removed.

replays clearly show it was over stump height.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

This Markram guy is another hack like Rahul.

 

[MenInG]

 

[DeadBall]

anything above 250+ target is very difficult to chase

Not that much in the pitch really, just two really good bowling attacks vs two very fragile batting line ups.

 

[andy0204]

Only 75 overs in a day.
Yesterday 82 overs were bowled,
Points are going to get deduct due to over rate.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

These pitches and condition s which result in 3 day test matches is why Saffers are struggling to compete in Asia with their batsmen unable to score big runs and bowlers getting destroyed on flat tracks. England have similar issues.

 

[MenInG]

VERNON PHILANDER exploited conditions very much to his liking on his last tour of international duty as he led the Standard Bank Proteas to a significant 103-run lead on the first innings on the second day of the first Test match against England at SuperSport Park, Centurion, on Friday.

England struck back with four wickets when the Proteas batted again but they had nevertheless extended their lead to 175 by the close of play.

Philander was able to get both nip and bounce off a good length to finish with the magnificent return of 4/16 in 14.2 overs, eight of those runs coming in one over as England suffered a horrendous collapse of 7/39.

The tourists had looked to be in a position to challenge for the lead after Joe Denly, who was dropped before he had scored and went on to top score of the innings (50 off 111 balls, 9 fours), and Joe Root put on 55 for the third wicket and then Denly and Ben Stokes a further 72 for the fourth wicket.

The breakthrough at that stage was made by the back-up attack of Dwaine Pretorius, who took his maiden Test match wicket, and Anrich Nortje, who got key wickets in Stokes and Jonny Bairstow. Between them they took 3/8 in the space of 17 balls.

That opened up the lower order to Philander and Kagiso Rabada (3/68) with the latter bowling rather better than his figures suggested. His new ball spell when he dismissed Dominic Sibley, had Denly dropped in the slips and hit Root both in the ribs and on the helmet was right out of the top KG drawer.

The Proteas generally bowled a much tighter line than England had managed on the first day and this was reflected in England taking most of their wickets caught in the slips while Quinton de Kock continued his outstanding match by taking six catches behind the stumps for the South Africans to back up his 95 runs.

The Proteas will be looking to extend their lead beyond 300 with the key roles to be played by Rassie van der Dussen who is currently at the crease with night watchman Nortje, with De Kock, Pretorius and Philander still to come.

With 9 wickets falling on day one and 15 on day two the match is moving forward very quickly.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pathetic batting effort by england, SA in 2nd inns not much better, a lead of 250 should be enough for SA to win if they get there.

 

[MenInG]

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/atoep/ejyjzi" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

Archer in trouble for beamers.

 

[Robert]

With the cracks opening, England will be bowled out for 180 tomorrow.

 

[Amjid Javed]

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Archer in trouble for beamers.

Should have been barred from bowling rest of the inns.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Bairstow is done as a test cricketer. Fact he cant play straight balls and keeps getting bowled, i understand he wasnt in squad originally and was a late call up, but even so he shouldnt play tests again. Buttler shouldnt be in test side either.

 

[Manunited18]

Bairstow is done as a test cricketer. Fact he cant play straight balls and keeps getting bowled, i understand he wasnt in squad originally and was a late call up, but even so he shouldnt play tests again. Buttler shouldnt be in test side either.

Not a good sign if a top class player gets consistently cleaned bowled, major issues Inn the tecnique, as for buttler I agree, he's not good enough in test cricket, hard hands and continuously knocks off

 

[leatherface58]

Mental issues. His ODI avg is embarrassing for someone with such talent.

Markram on paper looks like a perfect replacement for Smith but he is not there yet. But he should be persisted with.

Just goes to show what an unbelievably good player Smith was.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Not a good sign if a top class player gets consistently cleaned bowled, major issues Inn the tecnique, as for buttler I agree, he's not good enough in test cricket, hard hands and continuously knocks off

He was never technically great however in 1st half of half of his test career he did very well with his limitation. Since hes been included in ODI side and started to open hes got use to been able to smack the white ball around with no real swing or seam to worry about and thats destroyed any technic he had now and so he struggles in red ball game.

 

[Hasan123]

South Africa well ahead here. Don’t see this English line up lasting vs South African attack.

 

[Aman]

At least there's England to share the misery with, we both suck

 

[King_Kohli]

How many of you expecting Stoke's magic in second innings

 

[wrongun]

DIdn't I read in this thread that Sibley & Burns was going to be the best opening combo in the world?