England v South Africa 2012

booth70

Boucher injured.....surprised he didn't have adequate protection on given that most keepers wear helmets standing up to the spinners nowadays

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2171007/Mark-Boucher-eye-injury-South-Africa-wicketkeeper-emergency-surgery.html#comments

Wishing him a speedy recovery

f1dan

Sounds like a freak injury. I don't think most keepers wear helmets against slow bowlers though, a lot of them don't even wear helmets against medium pacers.

Anyway here's hoping for a full and speedy recovery.

booth70

Boucher quits after surgery on his eye......

One of the most likeable guys in world cricket:)

HonalD

This is devastating news. Boucher is a gentleman and a great player. Hope his eye heals.

riffmongous

Really sad news about Boucher getting hurt and retiring, I really hope his eye gets better.

dfx-

AB will take the gloves I'd say. Not ideal preparation for a test series, but I'm sure it'll give them extra inspiration.

Weakens the batting middle order methinks. Rudolph straight into Steyn and then Morkel..

booth70

India (last year in tests) and Australia (this year in ODI's) arrived in England ranked the best team in tests and ODI's respectively....both teams have been an insult to the no: 1 ranking.....Both thrashed 4-0 and sent packing

Hopefully this much awaited Eng v SA series is more competitive

Boucher's absence is a huge blow for SA particularly in the lower middle order

England for me to win it....just......weather permitting of course:(

Cardinal Richelieu

booth70 wrote: »

India (last year in tests) and Australia (this year in ODI's) arrived in England ranked the best team in tests and ODI's respectively....both teams have been an insult to the no: 1 ranking.....Both thrashed 4-0 and sent packing

Hopefully this much awaited Eng v SA series is more competitive

Boucher's absence is a huge blow for SA particularly in the lower middle order

England for me to win it....just......weather permitting of course:(

Deffo more competitive than India and Australia, indepth seasoned batmens all capable of making big scores even in tricky conditions, a team that prides itself on good fielding and a good bowling attack. If DeVilliers has a decent first test with the gloves and does the business with the bat their lower middle order might actually be stronger.

Rjd2

dfx- wrote: »

AB will take the gloves I'd say.

Weakens the batting middle order methinks. Rudolph straight into Steyn and then Morkel..

It doesn't, Duminy will take his spot and he is a better batsman than Boucher.

Also Philander will bat before Steyn and Morkel.

dfx-

Duminy will be a walking wicket as much as I am a fan of his..as I suspect Rudolph will be. It will sorely lack Boucher's experience to hold it together unless Smith or Kallis are at the other end.

Steyn is an ok batsman...as bowlers go..

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

Deffo more competitive than India and Australia, indepth seasoned batmens all capable of making big scores even in tricky conditions, a team that prides itself on good fielding and a good bowling attack...

You also can't spell collapse without the letters SA. Some of the recent games in Durban (England and Australia and India) have been ridiculous - 6/3 territory. As well as the winning Third Test in 2008 in England...with Kallis not being able to see the ball being delivered by Flintoff outside the sightscreen.

HonalD

dfx- wrote: »

...with Kallis not being able to see the ball being delivered by Flintoff outside the sightscreen.

I was at that game and it was bizarre! We hadn't a clue what was happening but Kallis looked like a frightened rabbit.

dfx-

Swore at the umpire too. It had that inevitable feeling to the game, but I think AB finally held out while Smith finished it off :cool:

Rjd2

dfx- wrote: »

Duminy will be a walking wicket as much as I am a fan of his..as I suspect Rudolph will be. It will sorely lack Boucher's experience to hold it together unless Smith or Kallis are at the other end.

Steyn is an ok batsman...as bowlers go..
.

Boucher has failed quite a bit recently with the bat so I wouldn't have been to reliant on him for runs, Duminy is a classy player if admittingly a little dodgy when pressure is on. Not much difference between them at all.

MrKingsley

Im just looking forward to a good competitive test and series.

Not sure who im up for yet. Some of skys commentators have really put me off recently so depending on whose in the box i may be flip flopping quite a bit.

May be a rotten cliche but i just hope that the better team win over the course of the series. No moaning about decisions and conditions. Just hard, fair cricket please

Rascasse

Not a great start for England. Strauss out for a duck in the first over.

vutshuvo

south africa has rocking position

boksmashoffice

A kack day for us. Smith feckecd up with Steyn not openng bowling.
If England build a big total. I would fancy Swan to take a few wickets.

Tahir is not an international spinner. He cannot block up an end, That was what was needed so 3 bowlers could have been rotated at other end.

They need wickets early tomorrow.

Rascasse

boksmashoffice wrote: »

A kack day for us. Smith feckecd up with Steyn not openng bowling.
If England build a big total. I would fancy Swan to take a few wickets.

Tahir is not an international spinner. He cannot block up an end, That was what was needed so 3 bowlers could have been rotated at other end.

They need wickets early tomorrow.

Yeah, not the day the Proteas would have hoped for. As you say, they need quick wickets in the morning to have a realistic chance of a result.

So much for everyone pushing the Steyn v. Anderson 'battle'. Steyn really didn't offer much today. As the track hasn't offered much to the pace bowlers so far SA must be worried that the turn it is showing will be exploited by Swann.

As things stand, you'd have to expect an England win (and SA to extend their run of never winning at the Oval).

dfx-

boksmashoffice wrote: »

A kack day for us. Smith feckecd up with Steyn not openng bowling.
If England build a big total. I would fancy Swan to take a few wickets.

Tahir is not an international spinner. He cannot block up an end, That was what was needed so 3 bowlers could have been rotated at other end.

They need wickets early tomorrow.

Could be similar to 2003 though. A McKenzie/Smith special in that first test after a big opening deficit, albeit at Lords (I think)

boksmashoffice

dfx- wrote: »

Could be similar to 2003 though. A McKenzie/Smith special in that first test after a big opening deficit, albeit at Lords (I think)

They will need something special alright. Hopefully a good nights sleep will help them come in all guns blazing..

Rascasse

Well what a difference today. Humid, overcast and Steyn shows up to the party.

Bopara doing his best to get dropped, again.

England may rue not scoring quicker yesterday with the sun out on a flat pitch.

dfx-

England 120/7 to get 385 all out..

SA 27/1, but at least it's not Smith out.

booth70

Amla simply oozes class....must be the best no: 3 in the business today:)

SA 223/1......Big session coming up for England with the 2nd new ball

Rascasse

Pretty depressing to get Smith out only to have Kallis replace him. Doubly so when SA already have 270 on the board.

England need quick wickets.

dfx-

Amla and Kallis:cool: Hopefully with AB to be let loose midway through tomorrow to get a big lead and four sessions to attack.

Great to see England's bowlers finally come up against batsmen both in form but also very happy to put up with the Strauss/Flower default setting of containment. Kallis will bat all test if Strauss and Smith let him.:pac:

Rascasse

Tough day no doubt for England. Tough day too trying to watch it. I only watched about half after having to switch over every so often to something with a little more life.

Will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow. Right now this has draw written all over it unless the pitch starts to break up or SA start upping the r/r. If they keep going at the same rate they won't even reach 300 by the end of play tomorrow!

Let's just hope Headingley provides a pitch with a bit more life.

Here is probably the most entertaining moment from today:
http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,26691,12602_7925351,00.html

dfx-

In fact, who needs anyone else? 250 lead of 637/2d at tea:)

Rascasse

Been out all day so not seen any play today but I have to say that is a brave declaration. Pressure really on their bowlers now. Obviously getting Cook early was a bonus but they have to expect to bat again (he says in hope).

Highcontrast1

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

Le_Dieux

Highcontrast1 wrote: »

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

Ain't no Mike Atherton out there batting to keep England in this Test.

Only one result as far as I can kyk....& it ain't the home side!

Le_Dieux

Highcontrast1 wrote: »

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

Le_Dieux wrote: »

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

Beasty wrote: »

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:pac:

Rjd2

boksmashoffice wrote: »

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:)

Rascasse

Interesting test even though I must admit it hasn't had my fullest attention due to the Olympics.

SA were right to declare when they did and England were right to bring KP out first to try for the result. Sadly his early wicket set the tone and when Prior went in a moment of madness it was all over.

Perhaps England would have been better to not only bring KP up the order, but also promote other players too. Maybe open with KP and Cook, followed by Prior, Taylor, Bell, Strauss, Trott, Bres etc. If you are going to attack hard for the result it seems a waste just to bring KP out early when there are other very good T20/ODI players in the squad.

Sadly the big story from this test is that it could well be KP's last outing in an England shirt. It really is shocking how both sides have allowed this to happen. While the ECB are certainly not blameless, they really need to sort this out. In cricket KP is a superstar and if rules need to be bent (or easily rewritten) to appease him to some extent then so be it. In particular the IPL is not going away and is an easy way for cricketers to make a few quid. All the ECB can do is not book a series for those dates. If you do book a series and a player that has given good service to the side over many years wants to skip it to play IPL, let them.

SharpshooterTom

145/3 is pretty good going by South Africa, another 150 runs and they'll be favourites.

dfx-

They are sort of 139/4 with Steyn in. He's a decent batsman (for the world's premier pace bowler) who can stick around, but won't last long in the morning and who knows with his injured hand late on yesterday, might not come out.

South Africa can do it, but they can also be out for 175. Let's hope their 54/4 in the first innings was their standard one collapse per series..

mike65

Great match this, could go either way or a draw. The margins are apparently so tight.

Dozen Wicked Words

Shame it's not a five test series. New number one nation after this series I think, which is fair enough, South Africa probably are the best all round team over the last few series.

spiralism

Superb knock from Amla again. Man of the series for sure. If him or AB stay in for much longer England are in serious trouble, very difficult partnership to crack when both are going.