South Africa v England | 1st test | Centurion | 16-20 Dec 09

[Khalil]

The first test between South Africa and England starts today at Centurion, Pretoria.

There is usually a bit of grass on day one at Centurion and the first session on day 1 assists the bowlers. The wicket at Centurion starts getting flatter and more batsmen friendly as the game progresses.

The captain who wins the toss will more than likely field first .

Anderson does not look fully fit and still recovering from a knee injury.

 

[hasanb]

I would absolutely love england to do well BUT on the other hand if South Africa cream england in this series I believe they will get that test number one spot away from those indians right?

If that is the case then come on south africa!

 

[SpiritOf1903]

would like England take the series with Amla faring well. op; SA v Eng | centurion | etc

 

[Khalil]

I would absolutely love england to do well BUT on the other hand if South Africa cream england in this series I believe they will get that test number one spot away from those indians right?

If that is the case then come on south africa!

There is plenty of rain in Pretoria at this time of the year and many hours are likely to be lost because of the weather and so a draw is very likely.

 

[hasanb]

There is plenty of rain in Pretoria at this time of the year and many hours are likely to be lost because of the weather and so a draw is very likely.

Thats quite a shame...the whole series including T20s and ODIs has been blighted by rain so far, is there rain all over SA or could the scheduling of venues have been a better?

 

[saffer]

Thats quite a shame...the whole series including T20s and ODIs has been blighted by rain so far, is there rain all over SA or could the scheduling of venues have been a better?

True , yet my part of the country is going through a drought.

 

[Khalil]

True , yet my part of the country is going through a drought.

England win toss and elect to field as expected.

Dale Steyn out and de Wet comes in. De Wet got some real raw pace, probably quicker than Steyn and I am looking foward to see him bowl.

 

[mindless slogging]

Can't wait to see Smith and AB bat. Saffers have an excellent batting line-up.

How are the conditions? If there is any movement Jimmy Anderson will be a real handful.

 

[Khalil]

Can't wait to see Smith and AB bat. Saffers have an excellent batting line-up.

How are the conditions? If there is any movement Jimmy Anderson will be a real handful.

The first session will favour Anderson with the wicket have a tinge of grass

 

[Khalil]

Good news. No rain predicted on the 1st day

 

[AZ]

should be one helluva series...2 fairly evenly matched teams

 

[Khalil]

England have only chosen 3 pace bowlers for this test

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Good news. No rain predicted on the 1st day

Khalil, have you guys had much rain in Pretoria over the last couple of days?

 

[Afridi_Fan]

Smith Gone.

 

[Khalil]

Smith gone! Done the legside but the bounce has done him

 

[Afridi_Fan]

1/1.

 

[Afridi_Fan]

Amla walks in.

 

[Khalil]

Khalil, have you guys had much rain in Pretoria over the last couple of days?

It's been raining in Pretoria almost every day and there is prediction for more rain on days 2 to 5

 

[Afridi_Fan]

Amla gets off the mark.

 

[Afridi_Fan]

That is one nasty ball from Broad.

8-1

 

[Khalil]

Broad getting good bounce and looking dangerous

 

[abdul2009]

I want RSA to win the test series 2-0 ... so that india will be thrown away from 1st position.

 

[Khalil]

Hashim Amla is averaging 103 at Centurion

 

[abdul2009]

Smith, you moron!

 

[Afridi_Fan]

for Prince. 500 runs for him in Centurion.

 

[Khalil]

Prince averaging 83 at Centurion

 

[Afridi_Fan]

Smith, you moron!

 

[Afridi_Fan]

15/1

 

[Afridi_Fan]

24/1

 

[Khalil]

Great over by Onions.

Onions made Amla look like a potato

 

[saffer]

Morning folks. Why all thisd anti S.A sentiment? Are we the new Australia ?? Quite flattering.

BTW. Flawed system. How do India get to be number 1 when we beat them at home and drew against them away ?

 

[Luton Bad Boy]

Morning folks. Why all thisd anti S.A sentiment? Are we the new Australia ?? Quite flattering.

BTW. Flawed system. How do India get to be number 1 when we beat them at home and drew against them away ?

It is the BCCI rankings systems sorry ICC ranking system that is flawed

 

[saffer]

It is the BCCI rankings systems sorry ICC ranking system that is flawed

Yeah. India aren't even a good team.

 

[Luton Bad Boy]

Yeah. India aren't even a good team.

Considering they have played 95% of their tests at home, you would expect them to rise to No.1.

What with test wins in Eng and NZ in the recent past only help to prop up their ratings.

 

[Big Harvey]

Morning folks. Why all thisd anti S.A sentiment? Are we the new Australia ??

No, India are the new Australia.

Not only because they're number 1, but as much as anything because of what the BCCI is doing to the game they're now the team everyone now wants to see beaten. I think nowadays if India play SA, only India fans would be cheering for India.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pretty even start to the test match, Not much assistance for quick bowlers so far.

A huge blow for S.A with steyn not playing though.

 

[abdul2009]

Morning folks. Why all thisd anti S.A sentiment? Are we the new Australia ?? Quite flattering.

BTW. Flawed system. How do India get to be number 1 when we beat them at home and drew against them away ?

I usually would be supporting england coz I like england more than RSA but this time, am supporting RSA coz they can derail india from No 1 )

 

[jusarrived]

Morning folks. Why all thisd anti S.A sentiment? Are we the new Australia ?? Quite flattering.

BTW. Flawed system. How do India get to be number 1 when we beat them at home and drew against them away ?

you lost your home series to Aus ?

 

[AZ]

Amla probably has the weirdest backlift in intl. cricket

 

[Khalil]

Amla gone!

Onions really made Amla look like a Potato today

 

[Khalil]

Kallis lucky to survive first ball and lucky Prince lucky the following ball

 

[Luton Bad Boy]

India are due to play in South Africa?

Yeah, next year in a tough 2-TEST series, where India can still hold onto their No.1 ranking...

 

[jusarrived]

India are due to play in South Africa?

yup , next December I think

 

[jusarrived]

Yeah, next year in a tough 2-TEST series, where India can still hold onto their No.1 ranking...

hmm thats in India we have already played them 3 tests at home .

 

[Bublu Bhuyan]

We'll know who's better next year. A two Test match series followed by an ODI series of three matches in India, then a three Test match series followed by an ODI series of five matches in S.A. Will give us enough idea on who's better.

 

[Amjid Javed]

England will be happy with situation at moment having put S.A into bat.

 

[Oxy]

Guys - this a SA v Eng match thread - lets keep it that way?

Lunch: SA 70-2 offf 26 overs

 

[Afridi_Fan]

Prince Gone. Swann strikes.

 

[Oxy]

SA: 135-3

 

[Ayyub]

Bell should have been dropped and Monty Panesar should have been recalled ,,,Broad can be use as All-Rounder he has ablitity to be good batsman as well.

 

[Oxy]

Bell should have been dropped and Monty Panesar should have been recalled.

Has Monty's batting improved?

 

[Oxy]

Eng have no idea how to use Reviews!! No snicko..no 'hotspot' - and they want a caught behind overturned?

Theyve lost both their reviews

 

[Oxy]

159-3

 

[Ayyub]

Has Monty's batting improved?

this would have given them two spin option wid left and arm bowling.

 

[saffer]

this would have given them two spin option wid left and arm bowling.

Why play two spinners against South Africa ?We're the best players of spin bowling in the world.

 

[saffer]

lol

says saffer as Ab goes out to a spinner.

 

[Amoeba]

And the wicket did look green and under prepared yesterday, hence the extra batter.

 

[Ayyub]

Why play two spinners against South Africa ?We're the best players of spin bowling in the world.

Variation is always useful in these kind of conditions .

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

Swanny

 

[mindless slogging]

What on earth is AB doing? He ain't gonna end up anywhere near as good as Kallis (that I'd predicted the last time England toured) getting out to nothing shots like today.

Someone needs to give him the hairdryer treatment. The pitch has dried out and there seems nothing for any of the bowlers and he gifts his wicket. Advantage England I'd say. Kallis the key wicket now.

 

[CricnPak]

Just woke up...wow! Great test match cricket so far. Good crowd, high quality action. If the NZ v Pak series ebbed and flowed because of poor batting lineups, but even better bowling; this is going to be more of the same, but due to ability not lack of.

 

[mindless slogging]

Just woke up...wow! Great test match cricket so far. Good crowd, high quality action. If the NZ v Pak series ebbed and flowed because of poor batting lineups, but even better bowling; this is going to be more of the same, but due to ability not lack of.

No I think this may be the complete opposite.

N.Z. vs Pak was the batsmen counteracting superb bowling.

This will be bowlers trying to counteract world class batsmen. The batting sides for both sides boast some superb players. Our series, it was the bowlers who were the highlight.

 

[CricnPak]

No I think this may be the complete opposite.

N.Z. vs Pak was the batsmen counteracting superb bowling.

This will be bowlers trying to counteract world class batsmen. The batting sides for both sides boast some superb players. Our series, it was the bowlers who were the highlight.

That's what I meant to say...got a little excited.

 

[mindless slogging]

That's what I meant to say...got a little excited.

Yeah this is exciting and fun cricket.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

SA struggling. Kallis once again the rock

 

[shahzadddd]

Onions has a calf strain. Not good with a 4 man bowling attack.

 

[12thMan]

Kallis 73 - Duminy 23
SA 205-4 after 71.3 overs

 

[Ayyub]

they should have selected panesar instead of bell to add 5th bowling option in the side .

 

[Oxy]

234-4 off 80 overs

Slow over rate

 

[Amir]

Why play two spinners against South Africa ?We're the best players of spin bowling in the world.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA Please. India and Pakistan are still the best at playing spin. Its funny how South Africa are the best in everything, yet when push comes to shove they choke when it matters.

 

[12thMan]

Kallis on 94 - 9 overs left in the day and 22 minutes till closing time. New ball taken

 

[abdul2009]

Legendary Jaques kallis gets the ton!!

 

[Oxy]

Ton up for Kallis

His 32nd Test century

 

[Afridi_Fan]

Well Done Jacques Kallis.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Never really rated kallis as a test batsmen but hes done a job for S.A again.

 

[abdul2009]

Never really rated kallis as a test batsmen but hes done a job for S.A again.

Should be a joke? really !

 

[abdulkhan786]

That is why Kallis showing he is best in modern era and he is half decent bowler.....by end of his career he may be best batting allrounder in history of cricket.

 

[Ali Raja]

Another placid track, pisses me off issed: But Kallis batted well, though... He batted so well that I fell asleep in the last session.

 

[saffer]

That is why Kallis showing he is best in modern era and he is half decent bowler.....by end of his career he may be best batting allrounder in history of cricket.

May be ?

Already his record as an allrounder has no equal. Richards , Botham etc simply don't come close when you consider both batting and bowling averages and runs/wickets. There can be no reasonable case against Kallis being the greatest ever allrounder.

 

[saffer]

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA Please. India and Pakistan are still the best at playing spin. Its funny how South Africa are the best in everything, yet when push comes to shove they choke when it matters.

It is funny eh ?

But it's true. We are the best at everything.