South Africa's tour of England (2017)

[Abdul]

Opportunity to hone skills against England - Amla

Monday, 22 May 2017

Standard Bank Proteas batsman, Hashim Amla, says the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against England starting on Wednesday is the perfect platform to ‘hone their skills’ ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy starting on June 1.

The number-one ranked Proteas have won 14 of the last 16 ODI’s, and will be searching for some pre-tournament consistency and confidence against a quality and ‘well-balanced’ home team who thrive in their backyard. The series will also give the coaching staff an opportunity to try out potential combinations and strategies as preparation intensifies ahead of the eight-team tournament.

“This ODI series comes at a good time, it’s before the Champions Trophy and it will be great preparation for both teams,” Amla said in Leeds on Monday. “England are a good team, very well balanced, so it will be a good challenge to hone down our skills so we can start the tournament on a good note.

“We have a very good balance in the team,” he explained. “There are a few of us who have been around for a few years. A few exciting youngsters like Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada and Wayne Parnell, who has been around but still has age on his side. We have a very good mix, hopefully we can all put it together in this series and the Champions Trophy.”

The Proteas came from behind to win three matches in a row and the series 3-2 the last time the sides met in South Africa in 2016, but on this occasion, there will be little room for error against an in-form team.

“We played them not so long ago in South Africa and we know they have a long batting line-up with quite a few different bowling options,” Amla explained. “They are a well-balanced team, we understand that. We have had good series against them and because of their competitive nature, the way they have been playing and the way that we have been playing, I think it’s going to be a good series.”

Amla has an impressive record against England in the UK, averaging 69.83 with the highest South African score of 150 at the Rose Bowl in 2012. He has continued with the form that accounted for two centuries in the recently concluded IPL with 59 in the 13-run win against Northamptonshire on Sunday and is looking to carry the confidence into the upcoming series.

“The warm-up matches went really well,” he said. “When you come to a new place you want to try and get as much information from the conditions as possible. The two warm-up matches provided that; a lot of the batsmen got runs and the bowlers got a good workout. In the last game guys were tested at different times which was a good experience.”

 

[Hasan123]

Looking forward to this series. Good warm up for both sides.

Have a feeling that it will be shoot out between the 2 batting line ups. If ABD fires, I'll back South Africa to win.

 

[MenInG]

AB de Villiers returns to captain the Standard Bank Proteas in the first One-Day International (ODI) against England at Headingley in Leeds on Wednesday. De Villiers missed the two warm-up matches due to a respiratory tract infection, but has made a satisfactory recovery for the series-opener.

The 33-year-old says the three-match series signals the start of the journey towards the ICC Champions Trophy final, and is the perfect opportunity to set the tone for the next four weeks.

“It’s an ICC event with the top eight teams in the world competing for a trophy, it will be a great achievement to win it,” he said to the media in Leeds on Tuesday. “We know we have to go through a big process to get to the final and it starts tomorrow here in Leeds. We are excited to get things going.

“It doesn’t get any better than playing in England before a big tournament against the hosts in a competitive ODI series,” he explained. “The trick is to make sure that you still perform well. There is no use going down and feeling low on confidence going into the tournament. The secret for us is to compete as well as we can and try to get out on top in this series to go to the Champions Trophy feeling like we can beat anyone.”

Both teams are known to play a positive and expressive brand of cricket, which could set up an entertaining contest between bat and ball.

“It depends where you play,” De Villiers said of the potential high scores. “It differs from each ground but at Headingley the scores seem to be high in the last few years. Wherever you go it’s important to adapt, to see what kind of score will be good to defend or to set. It’s all about adapting to the different situations you will be confronted with in England.”

The Proteas have extended their condolences and sympathy to the victims and families of those affected by the bombing incident in Manchester.

“It was a big shock and what happened is sad and unfortunate,” De Villiers said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected but it is also important for us to focus on what our job at hand is. We are representing a proud sporting nation back home and it is important to make sure that we give our best performances throughout the series no matter what. We have trust in the authorities and the people in control to make sure we are safe, that is the focus. It is important for myself, the coach and team manager to convey that type of message to the players and to keep them focused on the task.”

 

[Markhor]

Should be a closely contested Test and ODI series.

It'll be a concern for England that James Anderson has picked up another injury leaving him in doubt for the Test series starting in July. Feels like its the beginning of the end for him and Dale Steyn - the other great fast bowler of the late 2000s/early 2010s. Hope we see both of them fit for the summer.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Should be a closely contested Test and ODI series.

It'll be a concern for England that James Anderson has picked up another injury leaving him in doubt for the Test series starting in July. Feels like its the beginning of the end for him and Dale Steyn - the other great fast bowler of the late 2000s/early 2010s. Hope we see both of them fit for the summer.

Steyn is not playing the series and Jimmy too is on his last legs IMO.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Should be a closely contested Test and ODI series.

It'll be a concern for England that James Anderson has picked up another injury leaving him in doubt for the Test series starting in July. Feels like its the beginning of the end for him and Dale Steyn - the other great fast bowler of the late 2000s/early 2010s. Hope we see both of them fit for the summer.

Steyn is not playing the series and Jimmy too is on his last legs IMO. Thanks

 

[Raf Pragmatic]

Are Amla & ABD going to play today?

Do they?

 

[Ozymandiasza]

As far as I know AB is playing.

The squad according to cricinfo:

AB de Villiers*, F Behardien, RR Hendricks, Imran Tahir, DA Miller, M Morkel, CH Morris, M Mosehle, WD Parnell, D Paterson, AL Phehlukwayo, D Pretorius, T Shamsi, JT Smuts

 

[troodon]

SA will be back to being a king now that ICC tournament is over.

 

[shabir kham]

SA will be back to being a king now that ICC tournament is over.

'They will win wc 2019, mark my words

 

[letme alone]

'They will win wc 2019, mark my words

" wut usa keday vasan.."

 

[Abdullah719]

Proteas will pick 'best team available'

Cape Town - Everybody in the 15-man squad is ready for Test cricket, and the Proteas management will select the best possible starting XI - regardless of colour - for the second Test against England starting on Friday at Trent Bridge.

That is the strong message from Convenor of Selectors Linda Zondi, who said it was "difficult to watch" the Proteas demolished by 211 runs in the first Test at Lord's.

Current transformation targets dictate that the Proteas must field at least 54% players of colour in their starting XI over the course of a season, across all formats.

It means that a decision on whether or not the Proteas have met their targets will only be taken at the end of the 2017/18 season once numbers are crunched on every game they played this season.

With Kagiso Rabada suspended for the second Test and JP Duminy seriously out of form, the Proteas could very well bring in two white players - Faf du Plessis and Duanne Olivier - for two players of colour.

Vernon Philander was also struggling with a hand injury after the second Test, and if he had not been declared fit then his place could have gone to all-rounder Chris Morris.

The Proteas have met transformation targets naturally over the past year, and Zondi said that now was not the time to start picking players based on colour.

"We have always picked the players that we feel are good enough to represent us, regardless of colour," Zondi told Sport24 on Tuesday.

"The transformation agenda will only be assessed from an annual point of view. It's not match-by-match. We've got leeway, so we're not going to be restricted.

"We will pick the best team that will have to represent our country."

Zondi said that the selectors were not under pressure because they were still at the beginning of the season.

"We've still got the whole year to make sure we meet whatever the criteria are," he said.

"We're not going to pick a player because we are trying to fit into numbers. At the moment, we are not under any pressure.

"Every player that is there in the 15 is good enough to be there, so we will pick the team that we think will best represent us."

Zondi added that the Proteas selectors would be prepared to drop Duminy.

"We have never been shy to drop any big names. Even Faf himself was left out," he said, referring to when Du Plessis was left out of the Cape Town Test against England in 2016.

"Any player, in terms of form, if we have decided that it's time for him to be let go he will be let go. We do have back-up players in that squad of 15."

http://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Proteas/proteas-will-pick-best-team-available-for-2nd-test-20170711

 

[Amjid Javed]

S.A maybe should started using the high quota requirements all in T20 games as out of the 3 formats thats the most meaningless. That way they can actually start picking test and ODI sides more on actual merit.

 

[Markhor]

Green pitch at Trent Bridge - going to be a trial by swing and seam for South Africa whose batting lineup has looked shaky.

 

[Markhor]

[MENTION=142755]A.A.Z[/MENTION] - can you move your match thread to the main forum ? Thanks.

 

[A.A.Z]

[MENTION=142755]A.A.Z[/MENTION] - can you move your match thread to the main forum ? Thanks.

Yeah sure.

 

[Abdullah719]

Returning Rabada ‘raring to go’

Monday, 24 July 2017

The return of a fired-up Kagiso Rabada is a timely boost for the Standard Bank Proteas ahead of the third Test match against England starting at The Oval in London on Thursday. The 22-year-old missed the second match in Nottingham due to a one-match suspension following an ICC Code of Conduct breach, but returns to add the extra edge to an attack brimming with confidence.

“KG is one of our best bowlers,” Proteas bowling coach, Charl Langeveldt said at the squad’s practice in London on Monday. “He is the type of guy who steps up when the heat is on. Having KG back is a big bonus for us. He is a youngster with a lot of energy, he will come with a lot of energy. I have no doubt he will step up.”

Rabada has been hard at work during his suspension, while most of the players returned physically and mentally refreshed at the squad’s practice on Monday after a week-long break. He will be looking to grow his tally of 77 wickets in 18 Tests since his debut late in 2015, which includes becoming the youngest South African to take 10 wickets in a Test match with his match haul of 13/144 against England last year.

“He did a lot of work before play during the second Test in Nottingham,” Langeveldt said. “He bowled his overs and got his workload up, he will be raring to go. “He has been positive,” he said of Rabada’s morale. “He was obviously disappointed about what happened but he has learned from that. The important thing about an incident like this is to learn from it so that it doesn’t happen again. KG is a strong character and he was positive the whole week, he said come Thursday he wants to be ready for the Test.”

Past scores at The Oval suggest more batting-friendly conditions compared to the seam and pace at Trent Bridge, which makes the return of Rabada’s raw pace a timely one. Langeveldt says the bowlers will have to take an ‘aggressive’ approach to succeed in the more placid conditions.

‘It all depends on the overhead conditions,” he said. “We could come here on Thursday and it could be nice for bowling, it looks like there is a bit of grass. If you look at the stats it has always been good for batting. We will have to be a bit more aggressive in the second innings, and in the first innings try to contain and do the basics as well and as long as possible.”

Coach, Russell Domingo has re-joined the squad following a family bereavement, while JP Duminy has been released and will return home to South Africa.

Standard Bank Proteas Test squad: Faf du Plessis (Multiply Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (WSB Cape Cobras), Temba Bavuma (WSB Cape Cobras), Theunis de Bruyn (VKB Knights), Quinton de Kock (Multiply Titans), Dean Elgar (Multiply Titans), Heino Kuhn (Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Multiply Titans), Morne Morkel (Multiply Titans), Chris Morris (Multiply Titans), Duanne Olivier (VKB Knights), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Vernon Philander (WSB Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (bizhub Highveld Lions).

 

[mak36]

Returning Rabada ‘raring to go’

Monday, 24 July 2017

The return of a fired-up Kagiso Rabada is a timely boost for the Standard Bank Proteas ahead of the third Test match against England starting at The Oval in London on Thursday. The 22-year-old missed the second match in Nottingham due to a one-match suspension following an ICC Code of Conduct breach, but returns to add the extra edge to an attack brimming with confidence.

“KG is one of our best bowlers,” Proteas bowling coach, Charl Langeveldt said at the squad’s practice in London on Monday. “He is the type of guy who steps up when the heat is on. Having KG back is a big bonus for us. He is a youngster with a lot of energy, he will come with a lot of energy. I have no doubt he will step up.”

Rabada has been hard at work during his suspension, while most of the players returned physically and mentally refreshed at the squad’s practice on Monday after a week-long break. He will be looking to grow his tally of 77 wickets in 18 Tests since his debut late in 2015, which includes becoming the youngest South African to take 10 wickets in a Test match with his match haul of 13/144 against England last year.

“He did a lot of work before play during the second Test in Nottingham,” Langeveldt said. “He bowled his overs and got his workload up, he will be raring to go. “He has been positive,” he said of Rabada’s morale. “He was obviously disappointed about what happened but he has learned from that. The important thing about an incident like this is to learn from it so that it doesn’t happen again. KG is a strong character and he was positive the whole week, he said come Thursday he wants to be ready for the Test.”

Past scores at The Oval suggest more batting-friendly conditions compared to the seam and pace at Trent Bridge, which makes the return of Rabada’s raw pace a timely one. Langeveldt says the bowlers will have to take an ‘aggressive’ approach to succeed in the more placid conditions.

‘It all depends on the overhead conditions,” he said. “We could come here on Thursday and it could be nice for bowling, it looks like there is a bit of grass. If you look at the stats it has always been good for batting. We will have to be a bit more aggressive in the second innings, and in the first innings try to contain and do the basics as well and as long as possible.”

Coach, Russell Domingo has re-joined the squad following a family bereavement, while JP Duminy has been released and will return home to South Africa.

Standard Bank Proteas Test squad: Faf du Plessis (Multiply Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (WSB Cape Cobras), Temba Bavuma (WSB Cape Cobras), Theunis de Bruyn (VKB Knights), Quinton de Kock (Multiply Titans), Dean Elgar (Multiply Titans), Heino Kuhn (Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Multiply Titans), Morne Morkel (Multiply Titans), Chris Morris (Multiply Titans), Duanne Olivier (VKB Knights), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Vernon Philander (WSB Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (bizhub Highveld Lions).

The fact Duminy has been sent back home would suggest the end of his test career. Long overdue.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Like a green carpet with two days to go. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheOval?src=hash">#TheOval</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvsSA?src=hash">#ENGvsSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/shyijOF3sY">pic.twitter.com/shyijOF3sY</a></p>— Mike Haysman (@MikeHaysman) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeHaysman/status/889775928179556352">July 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Come on, let's leave it like this! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/readytogo?src=hash">#readytogo</a> <a href="https://t.co/9k9Bm8wEBv">https://t.co/9k9Bm8wEBv</a></p>— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaleSteyn62/status/889816781833080832">July 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Standard Bank Proteas batsman, Hashim Amla, hopes for a repeat of history in the third Test match against England starting at The Oval on Thursday. It is almost five years to the day of Amla’s record-breaking innings of 311, a marathon 13-hour masterclass that steered the Proteas to an innings and 12-run win in 2012.

The 34-year-old’s innings has been hailed as one of the most memorable at the venue, which will become the fourth ground after Lord’s, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to host 100 Test matches. True to his nature, the star batsman reflects on the memorable team win, rather than the achievement of holding the record for the highest Test score by a South African batsman.

“I remember trying to bat as long as I can,” he said of his innings. “The lasting memory was us bowling in the first day and England were in a good position. The way we came back the next day to bowl them out for 380, that was the turning point in the game more than anything. It got us back into the game to end up winning that match. The fight we showed, that is my lasting memory of this venue.

“It is probably in the top three or four venues in the world,” he said of The Oval. “I really enjoy it here, especially when the sun is out and I don’t have to have hand-warmers in my pocket. It is one of the best venues in the world.

“Five years ago, it was a happy memory, it would be great for us to win again. I have been back here a few times over the years playing for Surrey. It’s a lovely venue, every venue in England has a different flavour to it and playing at The Oval has a nice accommodating feel for everybody. The crowd comes in and it’s a great atmosphere.”

Although the squad is full of confidence and some winning momentum, Amla says both teams enter the match on equal terms after two contrasting performances in the first two Tests. It is the first time this series that the squad presents a settled image following on and off-field disruptions, stability that will give the squad a sense of assurance going into the last stretch of the tour.

“We would have wanted to be 2-0 up had we won the first Test,” Amla said. “You can’t look too much into the win. They could come out playing a good game of Test cricket. What’s important for us is that we don’t worry about them (England), it’s about what we do. If we get runs on the board and bowl really well, hopefully things will fall in our favour.

“Any team that has won the last game will carry some sort of positivity and momentum with them. We won the last game and we carry that with us. Having Russell (Domingo) and KG (Rabada) back makes us a settled team because everyone is here and available to play. That is good for us.”

 

[MenInG]

Toby Roland-Jones will make his England Test debut against South Africa on Thursday in place of the injured Mark Wood.

http://www.skysports.com/cricket/ne...-make-england-test-debut-against-south-africa

 

[aloo paratha]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Like a green carpet with two days to go. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheOval?src=hash">#TheOval</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvsSA?src=hash">#ENGvsSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/shyijOF3sY">pic.twitter.com/shyijOF3sY</a></p>— Mike Haysman (@MikeHaysman) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeHaysman/status/889775928179556352">July 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Come on, let's leave it like this! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/readytogo?src=hash">#readytogo</a> <a href="https://t.co/9k9Bm8wEBv">https://t.co/9k9Bm8wEBv</a></p>— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaleSteyn62/status/889816781833080832">July 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I hope they do leave it like this. Will be really fun to watch Broad, Anderson, Philander, Morkel and Rabada bowl on it. Although I'm not sure how smart this is for England because SA can also use this pitch very well.

 

[MenInG]

Standard Bank Proteas captain, Faf du Plessis, has cautioned against complacency heading into the third Test match against England starting at The Oval on Thursday. The Proteas enter the match as favourites following their 340-run win in the second match in Nottingham, but will be wary of a fightback from the hosts, who have been under close scrutiny and criticism throughout the week.

An overriding characteristic of Du Plessis’ captaincy has been his simple and candid approach to the role, which has been clear in his message to the players in preparation for the series-defining match.

“It has been the normal focus of making sure players don’t go into comfort zones,” he said at The Oval on Wednesday. “You can’t rock up and expect a Test match victory. It has been about challenging the players about that this week. We have had two practices, we have done our work, and we have to make sure that tomorrow we don’t fall into the trap of comfort zones.”

Du Plessis says he isn’t concerned about the lack of hundreds this series – the highest scores are 87 from Hashim Amla and 80 from Dean Elgar– citing conditions and the low-scoring matches as contributing factors. The Oval conditions present an opportunity for the batsmen to correct this statistic, however, expected cloudy conditions could make it another testing surface for them.

“I’m not concerned,” he admitted. “For me, it is a case of trusting and backing yourself. If you keep talking too much about it, it can derail you from keeping things simple. We know as a batting unit that we need to do it, so if someone gets an opportunity so score runs they need to be hungry, that is all I ask for. If you are hungry to make big plays for the team then the hundreds will come.”

The captain says the character of the team he has been leading over the last 18 months has shown through the all-round contributions from all the players taking the field, a quality that sets the squad apart from South African teams of the past.

“I see that as our team strength,” he explained. “Our focus is on every guy in the team playing a small role to get us over the line. We have never wanted to rely on big names. You get players who are consistent and put in big performances but if you look at our last year-and-a-half of Test cricket, there have been unsung heroes who have stepped up and made plays for the team and contributed.”

The match is scheduled to start at 11h00 local time.

 

[Markhor]

Will be very surprised if that's the wicket tomorrow given England's batting frailties and strength of SAF pace attack.

 

[Robert]

England do the sensible thing and pick five batters this time, then Bairstow, Stokes and Beard, then Roland-Jones. Have at 'em.

 

[Im Suds]

Momentums with SA~ and they appear to have the better bowling attack [Rabada s to return].
England still have more depth to their batting but a lot seems to revolve around Root.

Be a great effort for SA to win the series without 2 of the best players [AB and Steyn] but I think its on the cards

 

[Im Suds]

shocking that Dawsons been selected in front of Rashid
Anyone see Rashid tonight?
England are their own enemies

 

[MenInG]

Steven Finn has been retained in a 13-man England squad for this week’s fourth Test against South Africa after the injured Mark Wood was ruled out of the Old Trafford match.

Hours after England wrapped up a 239-run win in the third Test at The Oval on Monday, a result that left them 2-1 up with one to play, the selectors announced that Finn would travel with the squad to Manchester, where the series finale starts on Friday.

Finn, who was summoned as late cover for Wood on the eve of The Oval clash, did not make it to the XI. Wood, the paceman, was sidelined with a heel injury.

Finn, who has played 36 Tests for England, last featured for the national side in the second-Test defeat in Bangladesh in October.

Monday’s announcement means Dawid Malan is set to be given another chance to prove his worth at Test level after managing scores of just 1 and 10 on debut.

Keaton Jennings is also in line to retain his place after the opener, like Malan brought up in South Africa, made a determined 48 in England’s second innings at The Oval after managing a mere three runs in his three previous knocks.

Liam Dawson, who did not play at The Oval after featuring in the first two Tests of this series, was retained in the squad.

England had won the first Test at Lord’s by a comprehensive margin before South Africa fought back to level the series scoreline with a resounding 340-run victory at Nottingham.

England squad: Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Tom Westley, Joe Root (capt), Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Toby Roland-Jones, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Liam Dawson.

http://m.wisdenindia.com/full-story.php?category=News&id=263254&

 

[MenInG]

Standard Bank Proteas captain, Faf du Plessis, says the batsmen must take inspiration from Dean Elgar’s fighting innings in the 239-run loss to England in the third Test match at The Oval on Monday. Elgar copped several blows to the hand and body during a resilient counter attack, which was the highlight of a disappointing performance in the match.

Elgar’s century is South Africa’s first of the series, and will give a struggling batting unit belief it is possible, despite the challenging conditions and a brilliant England attack.

“ Dean took that 100 monkey off our shoulders,” Du Plessis said after the match. “ Hopefully the batters can respond well because he showed us how you need to bat in Test match cricket. It’s never easy, it’s about applying yourself, absorbing a lot of pressure, even at times when it’s really uncomfortable like Dean showed. If you get through it you will get an opportunity to get runs and put the team under pressure, he did that today. It’s good from a unit point of view that he did it today and we will try to make sure that we can do exactly what he did in the last Test.”

Du Plessis admits his team was behind the eight ball from day one after the loss of Vernon Philander, but singled out some individual positives to carry into the fourth Test starting at Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday.

“There are a few positives that I take from the match,” Du Plessis said. “ The way KG (Rabada) bowled yesterday was the KG that I know. He has become a good bowler for us and his consistency is important for us in the attack. KG’s bowling was a positive for me and Morne (Morkel), who has been consistent throughout the series. From a bowling perspective we know that we can still challenge their batting, there were a few play and misses and on any other day that can could have been edged.

“ With the batting, it was Dean and the way he stood out in this match. He made a big contribution with a big hundred, it was important for him, it will be nice form to take into the next Test match.”

Elgar, who is the Proteas’ leading run-scorer this series with 286 runs including two fifties and a hundred, says the challenge of opening, along with the blows, is extra motivation for him to succeed.

“ It was brilliant, that is why you play the game,” Elgar said of his battle with Ben Stokes late on day four. “As a kid you always witnessed it on TV and heard how the crowd sings along, you don’t get a better occasion like yesterday. You have to try and put it on your side, try to get motivated to be more stubborn and tighter in your game plan. You can use it in your own game but it is a great occasion playing against a big-match player who is coming hard, it’s a great battle.”

 

[Napa]

Both SA's batting and bowling looked rather mediocre. More hope for India for the SA tour later this year. Have to perform well to consolidate the #1 position.

 

[TQ89]

Saffers need to find an opener asap. Their top order needs to be protected. If they want hash and faf to score, they need a guy that can blunt the new ball for 20-25 overs. Otherwise i don't see how they can win this series or any away series.

 

[Markhor]

Been raining in Manchester in recent days.

According to reports, with recent concerts and damp weather, the outfield may not be in great shape.

 

[Abdullah719]

Proteas determined to preserve proud record

Thursday, 3 August 2017

Preserving a strong away record will be a motivating factor for the Standard Bank Proteas in the fourth Test match against England starting at Old Trafford on Friday. The Proteas have only lost one away series – against in India in 2015 – since 2006, a phenomenal record they will be looking to extend.

Defeat will also end a brilliant run of four consecutive series wins this season, a clean sheet highlighted by wins against New Zealand (home and away), Australia and Sri Lanka. Although a win was the first prize, Faf du Plessis admits a drawn series will be equally valued given England’s strength in their home conditions.

“ Coming to England and drawing a series is not a negative,” Du Plessis explained to the media in Manchester on Thursday. “ England are a good team at home and to draw a series against them will be important for us. We have a proud record away from home, something I believe is not spoken about enough. Our record away from home over the last eight years is remarkable and as a team we are motivated to keep the away losses to a minimum.”

Old Trafford is a former home ground for Du Plessis, a venue where he spent two years playing for Lancashire County Cricket Club as a Kolpak player. He says his stint at the county gave him the foundation and experience that has moulded him into the international cricketer he is today.

“ Yesterday, driving into the ground, it was nice to come back here,” he said. “ I’m thankful for my time at Lancashire, I feel it has played a big role in my journey to where I am today. It was good to see the people who work here, they still remember me and I still remember them. I’m motivated to make a good play over the next five days at one of my home grounds. It’s also good to see the weather is the same way I left it, but the drainage here is good.”

Vernon Philander is struggling with a stiff lower back, and will undergo a late fitness test to determine his availability for the match. The decision on his participation will be made on Friday morning.

“Vernon will have a fitness test today, he has a tight back, but he should be ok,” Du Plessis said. “ Vernon at 100 percent fit means a lot of things. It means we can look at playing three seamers with the seven batsmen. Vernon at 90 percent doesn’t allow you to play three seamers because you don’t want to be in a position where if a seamer breaks down you only have two seamers, that would be the end of the Test match.”

 

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James Anderson has end named after him at Old Trafford

James Anderson won’t have any problems deciding which end to bowl from when he takes the new ball for England at the Old Trafford Test ... his own!

Lancashire have honoured the seamer by changing the name of what used to be The Pavilion End to The James Anderson End at the world-famous stadium.

A presentation will be made to Anderson, who came through the ranks at Emirates Old Trafford to become England’s leading Test wicket-taker, on Friday morning before play on day one of the fourth Test against South Africa.

“I am completely overwhelmed and honoured that the club has renamed an end after me at Emirates Old Trafford. It is an incredibly proud moment and one that will live long in the memory,” said 35-year-old Anderson.

“I still absolutely love coming through the gates and playing at this great ground for my boyhood club.

“It is a very special place to play cricket and a venue that I have very fond memories of, both on the pitch and in the changing room with my Lancashire and England team-mates.

“I treasure every minute of playing for Lancashire and England and I hope I can put in a performance this week wearing the Three Lions on my chest at my home ground as we look to secure the series against South Africa.”

Anderson - who is yet to get his name on the honours board at the ground having failed to take five wickets in a Test innings there - joins another bowling great in having an end named after him at Old Trafford, joining Red Rose legend Brian Statham.

“James’ contribution to both Lancashire and England cricket over the last 15 years has been immense and we felt it was right to take this unique step of recognising all that he has achieved in the game,” said Lancashire chairman David Hodgkiss.

“Everyone at Lancashire is hugely proud of James’ unique bowling achievements both for the Red Rose county and for England, as the country’s all-time leading wicket taker.

“In recognition of a fantastic career thus far, the club is delighted to honour his success by renaming the Pavilion End, the James Anderson End.

“James will go down as one of the greats of the game and we’re very lucky to have him playing here at Lancashire where he continues to perform and wear the Red Rose and England jerseys with great pride.

“I would like to thank the Lancashire Members for their input in the process as they voted in a club survey last year as to which players should be celebrated at Emirates Old Trafford, and James, alongside Brian Statham, were at the top of the list.”

Source: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/cricket/james-anderson-old-trafford-lancashire-13429314