Eng v Saffers

[Dayvo]

Bairstow will do for now I think.
Hales needs to do something more but there's the option of opening with your mate Compton.

Nah, Compton's all right, but prefer him at no. 3.

I fear that too many younger county batsmen don't have the longer-game approach for the demands of Test cricket: Hales is an example of that. Some, like Root, can adapt to one-day and 20/20 matches straight after a Test series, whereas others, like Compton (fortunately) have a different mind-set/attitude and can hold down an end. Four an over in Test cricket has become 'trendy' of late, but when the conditions and state of play require patience and solid technique, it's about application and grinding it out.

Oh dear, I sound like bloody Geoff Boycott.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

All over

 

[rich p]

Yep, @rich p can go to work now........

I'm there already boss! Drinking strong coffee

 

[tallliman]

Nah, Compton's all right, but prefer him at no. 3.

I fear that too many younger county batsmen don't have the longer-game approach for the demands of Test cricket: Hales is an example of that. Some, like Root, can adapt to one-day and 20/20 matches straight after a Test series, whereas others, like Compton (fortunately) have a different mind-set/attitude and can hold down an end. Four an over in Test cricket has become 'trendy' of late, but when the conditions and state of play require patience and solid technique, it's about application and grinding it out.

Oh dear, I sound like bloody Geoff Boycott.

I fear that some of it is due to the juicy pitches at county level and when the games are played. Far too much of the middle of the summer is given over to limited overs cricket at the expense of the first class game. It's a shame.

Incidentally, whilst Hales opens in limited overs games, he often bats at 3 for Notts especially in the last season.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Here we go again. England won the toss and are batting. 5 - 0 so far. And I have no idea whether England can keep the initiative.

 

[nickyboy]

Interesting selection decisions from SA. Steyn and Abbott were enforced by injury. de Kock for Duminy was an obvious one. I actually thought that they may have replaced one of the top order guys too. Maybe with three changes (albeit two enforced) they thought that they couldn't make another change

So SA's bowling attack is weakened but it was the batting in Durban that let them down. Taking the gloves off deVilliers will help but I wonder if that's enough?

 

[tallliman]

Quote a weak pace attack for SA on paper buy they have a great record on this ground. England doing ok at the minute.

 

[Dayvo]

Cook and Hales scoring quite freely (cricinfo, not TV) with boundaries coming from the bad balls. SA have two new fast bowlers, Morris, the debutant, and Rabada in his fourth Test.

The batting is, in theory, strong, but lack of form and confidence, plus pressure from the England bowlers, has put SA in the underdog role.

Anderson back for England and it could be 2-0.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

49 for 0. It's looking like a very very good toss to win.

 

[Dayvo]

At the drinks break, and after 14 overs, England are 49 without loss. 36 of those runs have come in boundaries. Lose bowling, I suspect.

 

[Dayvo]

Cook gone. Compton to dead-bat?

 

[Dayvo]

Cook gone. Compton to dead-bat?

Hmm. I like and rate Compton, but he's scored 3 runs from 19 balls. This will affect Hales who likes to play his own uninhibited game, but will now fall into defensive mode (or not) and eventually feel the pressure and try to hit his way out, instead of building an innings, a la Compton.

We shall see.

 

[Beebo]

It has gone a bit 20/20 this morning.
Stokes is scoring at more than a run a ball.

 

[Norry1]

Good viewing

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Stokes is an absolute brute!