[Le_Dieux]

Originally Posted by Highcontrast1

most probably will be a draw (although the protea bowlers are doing an amazing job) ...well played Amla. 300+ while fasting?

Read that Amla & Tahir don't fast on match days....some exemption!

[Rascasse]

So, 90(?) overs tomorrow and 5 half decent batsmen to save the draw. England really not doing themselves any favours tonight. Could be all over by lunch.

[Highcontrast1]

Originally Posted by Le_Dieux

Read that Amla & Tahir don't fast on match days....some exemption!

yes you are right, i can only imagine what it would be like in those conditions!
let's hope they rid of the choker tag!!

[Le_Dieux]

Choker tag loosened today.

Now for Headingley and The Boks can claim their mantle:-)

On the English front, they have problems now! 5 days cricket and only bagged 2 wickets, and that after winning the toss. Ouch!

[Beasty]

Headingley is very different to the Oval - much more bowler-friendly. That will be a very different contest - possibly not going the full distance (hopefully surviving into the 4th day though, as I have tickets)

[Le_Dieux]

Originally Posted by Beasty

Headingley is very different to the Oval - much more bowler-friendly. That will be a very different contest - possibly not going the full distance (hopefully surviving into the 4th day though, as I have tickets)

Lucky Beasty!!!

Agree that Headingley will be different, BUT England really need to pull 'their socks up' if they want to compete against the Bokke, who at the moment are top notch IMHO.

[Rascasse]

Well done to South Africa. It was a funny test and SA really took every opportunity that came their way. I hope at Headingley and Lords England can come back (as they have before) and really give the Proteas a decent go.

The trouble England have is that this is a 3 match series. It really increases the pressure for England to win in Leeds, whereas, if this was a traditional 5 game series it would be far less of a problem. Obviously the people that scheduled this series a coupe of years ago had no idea of its importance - but it proves the point that test series are 5 matches, 4 at a stretch.

My one request is drop Bopara. He can't take the pressure. I have concerns about Bell and big game pressure too, but Bopara is hopeless. Give Bairstow a try or Morgan his 2nd chance.

[Beasty]

Unless the weather intervenes there will almost certainly be a positive result at Headingley, and so the pressure was on Engand to win there anyway. TBH it's just about the most "England-friendly" pitch in Test cricket. I'm not underestimating the task however - SA have now got up a head of steam and will be difficult to haul back

[boksmashoffice]

A great win for the us. I did not see that coming. Bring 2nd test.
Amla what a guy. Kallis and Smith were fantastic. Even with AB having his moments we won easily.
Will he play WK in 2nd test I wonder?

I cannot wait.

[Cardinal Richelieu]

SA conceded 80+ extras in the first Test. They won't be happy with that.

[dfx-]

Great win, trouble is they don't win two in a row..

60 of those extras were probably Tahir bowling no balls and Morkel the rest

[Rjd2]

Originally Posted by boksmashoffice

Will he play WK in 2nd test I wonder?

Looking at the stats of the other wicket keeper I would be tempted to persist with AB, they really aren't impressive at all.

They really should have Kuhn or Vilas instead, both are younger and are good batsmen.

[Rascasse]

England have named their squad for the second test and to my delight have dropped Bopara. While I previously posted that I hoped they dropped him for Bairstow or Morgan the selectors have gone for James Taylor of Notts.

It's an interesting choice as you would think if they were thinking of changing someone in such an important series they would choose someone they'd already blooded. Taylor is a class act though. I've only seen him on TV in the FL20 & CB40 but he he bats with his brain and isn't afraid to bat on quickly when needed. My only criticism is that he wears one of those awful looking new style helmets.

Bopara, officially, is unavailable due to personal reasons. I honestly hope he continues on with the ODI and T20 sides as he has proven himself in those formats.

On the bowling side, Finn and Onions are in the squad. Surely they are unlikely to be used. I wouldn't mind switching Broad or maybe Bresnan for Finn if he wasn't such a mug with the bat. I like how deep England bat (even if the 1st test didn't show it) and its probably best not to jeopardise that against SA.

Roll on Thursday - feels like ages since the last test ended.

England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, James Taylor, Matt Prior, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Graham Onions

[Washout]

i cant believe they have gone with 4 seamers.

I suppose it is headingly and u have to show confidence in the pace attack that has been s good.

But Even Still there is no plan B for England now in this match.

[dfx-]

Just sneaked over 400