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South Africa [335 & 343/9d] beat England [205 & 133] by 340 runs to level the series 1-1

That's enough already. England do not have the temperament to bat long.
 
Surprised Moeen hasn't been given a bowl.
 
This is why Test cricket will survive in UK for long, long time - full house at Trentbridge, on the day (time), when Hamilton won his race at Silverstone & Wimbeldon Men's final is on.
 
This is why Test cricket will survive in UK for long, long time - full house at Trentbridge, on the day (time), when Hamilton won his race at Silverstone & Wimbeldon Men's final is on.

If pitches are sporting , no format can beat Test cricket. Its really gripping to watch .
 
I'm at Edgbaston watching Birmingham v Leicestershire and there's no sign of [MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION] anywhere :mv
 
This is going to be a total squash. Only Cook and Root can bat long in this team, and they can't get a ton every time.
 
If England lose this one, it will be the 7th loss in 9 tests, and 8th in 12.

That's a reality check in anyone's book.
 
Lead has swelled to 340 runs , 45 overs left in the day.

SA would look to add another 150 at least.
 
Dawson gets Amla, well done.

Amla has treated him with disdain so far in the inns, but a good comeback.
 
SAF have enough runs on the board, now their batsmen are just playing themselves into form and confidence.

Weather is clear for next two days according to Met Office.

They can bat for another session, declare overnight and give themselves six sessions to bowl England out.
 
SA are missing a trick here by not declaring, they could easily nip out a couple of England players tonight in order to drive further nails into the coffin.
 
473 is easy pickings if im honest, sun will come out tomorrow. england by 7
 
Today and tomorrow are the best batting conditions of the match, however England's batsmen are too mentally weak to withstand the scoreboard pressure. SA will win easily.
 
May be 30 minutes delayed declaration, but they have 186 over still. Yesterday, I thought SAF will declare with a lead of 450+ and an hour to bowl at Pom openers. Don't expect this match to go on Day 5.
 
Bavuma is a quota player.

Scored two fifties on his first tour of Australia last year. Played an important hand in rescuing SAF from 94-6 to 359 in the Wellington Test vs NZ which SAF won, enabling them to win the series. A gun fielder too.

Has a problem in converting his starts into hundreds though.
 
What makes Moeen Ali 'Moeen Ali'?

- Snub, Contempt, thrashing, belittling, prejudice, derision - Nothing fazes him.
 
Horrible decision. How can an Umpire give LBW on 1st ball for a 6'8" fast bowler hitting 6'2" batsman above knee roll!!!!!
 
Mo now has the best innings figures for a spinner at Trent Bridge since Laker in the 1950's ! [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]
 
Mo now has the best innings figures for a spinner at Trent Bridge since Laker in the 1950's ! [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]

Might not last for more than a day!!!!
 
Trevor Bavumba just enjoying the quota ride. There's more talented players than him here who deserve to play ahead of him.
 
4 humiliating overs. Yes Morkel and particularly Philander are handy new ball bowlers, but our left-handed Laurel & Hardy could not even get a bat on anything. Gonna be a messy day tomorrow - a loss by minimum 250 runs.
 
Mo now has the best innings figures for a spinner at Trent Bridge since Laker in the 1950's ! [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]

Not sure they'll be wickets he'll be fond to remember...
 
Eng end 1/0 to close the day, with 474 to win.

SA's game to lose as it has been since England were 194/6.
 
Time for Cook to stand up. When was the last time he scored a BIG 100 to win or even draw a test match?

In one of his most recent home Tests. Against Pakistan less than a year ago. And about 15-20 other times.

So not somebody who has a jury out on his pedigree to be fair.

But yes tomorrow would be an extremely handy day for him to put his hand up.
 
S.A will grind england down slowly and win this. really dont understand the current selection make up of england side at moment. Trying to almost play aggresive ODI style cricket in Tests with the bat and its clearly not working. Also selection of a mediocre spinner who can "bat" in dawson makes no sense when england have plenty of batting already.
 
Jennings unsurprisingly gone straight away. Bowled by a ripper from Philander.

Dawson, Wood and Jennings will all be dropped after this match - they've been hopeless.
 
Jennings unsurprisingly gone straight away. Bowled by a ripper from Philander.

Dawson, Wood and Jennings will all be dropped after this match - they've been hopeless.

What ever happened to Woakes and Finn? I was quite impressed with Finn, he looked legit.
 
What ever happened to Woakes and Finn? I was quite impressed with Finn, he looked legit.

Woakes is injured and should be back soonish and Finn went off the rails a bit.

Mark Wood confuses me in tests, looks like he's bowling well quite often but just doesn't get wickets which is a slight problem. He's apparently an injury doubt for the next test anyway though.
 
Jennings to Philander: Where is it, where is it ..? there it is :(
As either sunny or sidhu would put it, 'dhundo dhundo re sajna'
 
Jennings unsurprisingly gone straight away. Bowled by a ripper from Philander.

Dawson, Wood and Jennings will all be dropped after this match - they've been hopeless.

Who would you bring in for these 3 players? The batting line up never seems to feel settled or look solid.
 
Simon Fry has had a shocking game almost on the levels of the legend Ashoka. This is the 4th decision of his in the game that I've seen overturned and I didn't even watch SA's innings so it's probably more.
 
Who would you bring in for these 3 players? The batting line up never seems to feel settled or look solid.

Ballance now out. I think his time is up.

I'd give Jennings a bit longer, the rest of this series and perhaps the first two West Indies test, he is facing a quality new-ball bowling attack.
 
No idea who replaces them. I am ignorant of the county game nowadays. I work too much.

Ballance could now be Casualty No.4 in my estimation. Not good enough for Test cricket.

Perhaps a ridiculously heavy loss (300+ runs) is what we need here. A real shock to the system in order to force the hands of the chief selectors and inner strategists.
 
Who would you bring in for these 3 players? The batting line up never seems to feel settled or look solid.

I'd actually keep Jennings for the next test and finish Ballances international career here, bring in Stoneman at 3 for him.

Wood is apparently likely to be out due to injury anyway. Haven't heard anything about Woakes so I assume he's still a while off recover, Roland-Jones would therefore be next in.

Dawsons the tougher option to pick a replacement for if dropped, and having 3 debutants in all at once would be quite a few.
 
That must be the ball of century by Chris Morris to get out Joe Root
 
With Root gone, best chance of England joy now is a Cook hundred in a losing cause.

Lots to think about for the selectors and management ahead of the Oval.
 
I'd actually keep Jennings for the next test and finish Ballances international career here, bring in Stoneman at 3 for him.

Wood is apparently likely to be out due to injury anyway. Haven't heard anything about Woakes so I assume he's still a while off recover, Roland-Jones would therefore be next in.

Dawsons the tougher option to pick a replacement for if dropped, and having 3 debutants in all at once would be quite a few.

Should be replaced with a proper batsmen- five bowling options is plenty. Batting order also needs looking at. Root should bat at 3, Bairstow at 4, Moeen at 5.
 
Snobs on the brink, fans of racism and bigotry on the ropes :broad
 
No idea who replaces them. I am ignorant of the county game nowadays. I work too much.

Ballance could now be Casualty No.4 in my estimation. Not good enough for Test cricket.

Perhaps a ridiculously heavy loss (300+ runs) is what we need here. A real shock to the system in order to force the hands of the chief selectors and inner strategists.

I didnt really understand why ballance was recalled in 1st place, awful player who you could already tell wasnt good enough for test cricket, but as is usual just weight of runs domestically is a signal for recall.
 
The next test is at the oval which is usually drive and abbrasive surface so will help reverse swing, england need to pick a decent front line spinner for next test (Yes moeen took loads wickets last time but hes still just an average spinner) also the pace attack needs to be looked at as its lacked variety in this match and been found wanting in the 2nd inns.
 
Would have been 2 zip if SA did mess up their chances in the first Test.
 
I know Ballance is Root's best mate, but I don't know how him and Keaton Jennings keep Haseeb Hamid out of the side. Looked a real prospect on the India tour.

Dawson was never ever good enough. Can't offer much with the ball, and not really anything special with the bat. When you have Moeen and Stokes, whats the point of having another so-called all rounder? Or are the spin stocks that dire? Yes Root may not be a fan of Rashid, but there must be other players who are worth a go

Wood's place will come under the microscope too. Pity that Woakes is injured. But Anderson and Broad are coming towards the end of their careers.....some bowlers need to step up.
 
The next test is at the oval which is usually drive and abbrasive surface so will help reverse swing, england need to pick a decent front line spinner for next test (Yes moeen took loads wickets last time but hes still just an average spinner) also the pace attack needs to be looked at as its lacked variety in this match and been found wanting in the 2nd inns.

The pitches in the county championship there this season have been pretty flat. Only been 1 game this season where a team has gone in with 2 frontline spinners (and both the teams did in that game), and that was in mid April which is a bit odd.
 
I know Ballance is Root's best mate, but I don't know how him and Keaton Jennings keep Haseeb Hamid out of the side. Looked a real prospect on the India tour.

Dawson was never ever good enough. Can't offer much with the ball, and not really anything special with the bat. When you have Moeen and Stokes, whats the point of having another so-called all rounder? Or are the spin stocks that dire? Yes Root may not be a fan of Rashid, but there must be other players who are worth a go

Wood's place will come under the microscope too. Pity that Woakes is injured. But Anderson and Broad are coming towards the end of their careers.....some bowlers need to step up.

Not really much else around in the spin department. Pretty clear that they're trying to groom Mason Crane into the role, but is it too early to give him a shot? Handled the pressure of international cricket well in the South Africa t20s but it's debatable and pretty un-England-like to fast track someone.

Hameeds had a shocking start to the season.
 
Englands 1st inns last 50 odd overs and 2nd dig wont last much longer.. shockingly bad effort with bat here!
 
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