England cricketers in South Africa

Post by **BobHelm** » December 16, 2015, 7:40 am

The England winter tour is South Africa this year.
They are the current number 1 Test nation but have just returned themselves from a rather embarrassing tour of India, The first match was a draw but then they were beaten by 124 runs in game 2 & blown out of sight by India in the 3rd.

England, rather wisely in my view, elected not to take Bell on the tour & reverted to playing an established opener to partner captain Cook rather than a makeshift one.

Yesterday was Day 1 of a 3 day warm up game against an Invitation XI.
It started in a depressingly familiar manner for English fans.
Cook managed only 2 & his new partner, Alex Hales, only 8. Then Joe Root had one of his rare failures & England were reduced to 56-3.
Recalled in the number 3 spot, Nick Compton dug in though & saw the side through to 155 with a nicely compiled 58. Then the fun really started for any watching English fans as Taylor &, especially, Stokes, had a field day. Captain Cook eventually retired the pair in order to give the lower order batsmen a look at the pitch, By then though Taylor had got to a stylish 114 while Stokes had compiled a savage 158 from just 131 balls.
England ended the day on a massive 470 for 5 off 88 overs.
Can only hope that this sort of form continues, although I imagine that the South Africa attack proper will be tougher than any of the 9 bowler tried by the Invitation 11...

Post by **marjamlew** » December 16, 2015, 2:45 pm

Bob I watched a fair bit of the SA - India tests and the wickets, after the first test, were about as doctored as you would ever see (outside of England of course

). The poor SACA batsmen had no idea on the dust bowls.
Hopefully the wickets in SA give a helping hand to the bowlers early on as it will be interesting to watch Anderson and Broad and Steyn and Morkel go at it. Hopefully I'll watch a bit of the cricket whilst on holidays in Thailand from Saturday for 5 weeks. Better off watching the Poms and Saca than The Aussies and Windies as the Windies would struggle against Sunshine United Thirds at the minute. Might even see you at the regular watering hole and talk a bit of cricket if your out and about mate.

Post by **BobHelm** » December 16, 2015, 2:54 pm

marjamlew wrote:Might even see you at the regular watering hole and talk a bit of cricket if your out and about mate.

Certainly hope so Lew..
I should be back from a Vietnam trip before you get here, so then nothing planned until April & I am not even sure what that plan is..

I am expecting the SA side to give England batsmen a real examination, but it would be nice if Nick Compton & Alex Hales had a decent series & so were given a bit of a run in the side... I think that Stokes & Root can take care of themselves & so it could be an interesting series to watch..

Post by **BobHelm** » December 17, 2015, 6:57 am

Second day continued in England's favour.
Not surprisingly they declared on their overnight score. The invitation 11 never really got into any sort of batting form & lost wickets at all too regular intervals. Indeed it was only a last wicket stand of 51 runs that got them to the score of 188.
Broad was the undoubted pick of the England bowlers with 3 for 18. However uncapped left arm quickie Footitt did himself a power of good by taking a couple himself.
England were pretty uninspiring at the crease when they resumed though. Alex Hales gave another insipid display & was again out for 8 off 59 balls. Compton couldn't steady the ship this time around either & went for 15. The captain put on a better showing however with a 37 as Root & Balance closed out the day with England on 99 for 3.
You have to feel that this is maybe it for the England batsmen in this game, with the Invitation 11 currently needing 381 runs to win it. I do hope that Cook attempts to win the match, rather than taking his normally caution approach of not losing it..

Post by **BobHelm** » December 18, 2015, 9:11 am

Unfortunately England/Cook took the 'safe' option & decided to allow their batsmen to have a knock.
However that had anything but the desired effect of bedding any of them into the South African conditions. Rather the opposite as the entire team managed only 2 more than the meagre 188 the Invitation 11 managed in their first innings.
Possibly even worse, the bowlers were then denied the prospect of them being allowed to adjust to the conditions by bad weather.

So the game petered out to a draw, but possibly as many questions left unanswered as answered - despite a comforting first innings partnership by Taylor & Stokes

First Test starts Boxing Day, with another warm up game against a South African A side starting this Sunday...

Post by **Zidane** » December 23, 2015, 9:21 am

England had a comfortable innings victory against South Africa A in their final warm up game before the First Test starts in Durban on Boxing Day.

South Africa A 136 (Cook 53* Finn 4-34) and 187 (de Kock 53 Moeen 6-77)
England 414-6 dec ( Cook 126 Root 117 Stokes 66 Hales 56 Maharaj 4-129)

England won by an innings and 91 runs.

But bad news for England as pace bowler James Anderson is a doubt for the opening Test with a calf injury.

Slightly off topic but certainly worth a mention for cricketing fans....he's been an outstanding player for New Zealand over the years.

Brendon McCullum: New Zealand captain to retire in February

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is to retire from international cricket.
The 34-year-old batsman has confirmed that the two-Test series against Australia in February will be his last.
McCullum is second on the Kiwi's all-time Test run scorers, with 6,273 runs from 99 matches, including 11 hundreds.
"I've loved my opportunity to play for, and captain the Black Caps. But all good things have to come to an end, and I'm just grateful for the wonderful experience," he said.
Kane Williamson will captain New Zealand at the World Twenty20 in India, which starts on 8 March.
McCullum, who made his Test debut in 2004 against South Africa and became captain in all formats in 2013, will become the first man to play 100 successive Tests from debut when he leads the Black Caps in the first Test against Australia in Wellington on 12 February.
The former wicketkeeper has been crucial to the Black Caps' run of seven Tests unbeaten until a recent defeat in Australia, becoming the first New Zealander to score a triple century when he reached 302 against India in February 2014.
He also led the Kiwis to their first Cricket World Cup final earlier this year, where they also lost to Australia.
The right-hander scored 5,909 runs in 254 one-day internationals with five hundreds and 31 fifties, and is the only player with two international hundreds in Twenty20 cricket.

Post by **Barney** » December 26, 2015, 1:07 pm

Will be interesting to be able to see 2 test matches played in parallel with both starting boxing day, doesn't happen often.
The Aussies are off to a great start and the WI seem to be stuck in a non improvement mode. But plenty of time to make amends. 2 aussies into their hundreds, the way Warner started it was lucky he didn't get in...23 runs off 12 balls at a 190 rate.
The England lads will be up against it at home to the SA boys. Have just read Woakes has replaced Anderson with his calf problem and Hales to debut.
One would think on the current form guide there is more chance of the England SA match going the 5 day distance then the WI aussie match.

Post by **Barney** » December 26, 2015, 3:43 pm

Aussies 3/345 first day

England off to a quick fire start 1/3 after nearly 3 overs.
Oh dear capt cook ed for a duck.

Post by **Barney** » December 28, 2015, 7:33 am

England have fought back well through Broad's 3 wickets. Got a couple of the better batsmen.
Even Steven at this stage and may come down to the last day pitch conditions?

Post by **Zidane** » December 28, 2015, 8:21 am

Close of play score on day 2.
England doing well after Broads 3-16,as Barney says.

England 303 (Compton 85,Taylor 70,Steyn 4-70,Morkel 4-76)
South Africa 137-4 (Elgar 67* de Villiers 49,Broad 3-16)

Post by **wazza** » December 28, 2015, 10:45 pm

Windies , finally scored a few , to make Ozzies bat again

Might get into Day 5 !!!

Post by **Barney** » December 29, 2015, 6:24 am

wazza wrote:Windies , finally scored a few , to make Ozzies bat again

Might get into Day 5 !!!

Only if Smith takes up some time and goes for his ton this morning.

It is disappointing the way the Windies have not developed over the last few years.
Must be hard for them to get sponsors for any tour not playing 5 day tests.

But the Poms are doing OK and pushing to an inevitable 5 day game. Will Capt cook be positive and go for a win when the pressure is on.

Post by **Zidane** » December 29, 2015, 9:00 am

An excellent third day for England who lead South Africa by 261 runs with 7 wickets in hand.
Broad,Moeen and Root starred as England took control.

England 303 and 172-3 (Root 60* Compton 49)
South Africa 214 (Elgar 118*,Broad 4-25,Moeen 4-69)

With skipper Cook only scoring 0 and 7 in this Test will all the talk be "can England find a decent opening partner for Alex Hales."

Post by **Barney** » December 29, 2015, 2:43 pm

How long will Capt cook bat for. England will be confident of a score today but early wickets can change that mind set. He has to aim for 400 + and with Steyn not sure of taking the field again that should be achievable.

Predictable end to the Aussie WI match. Ending at the close of day 4. 2/0 now. The WI boys will be into the dark rum and cokes now and thinking of the calypso disco tonight and the girls. $\:D/$

Post by **Barney** » December 29, 2015, 4:06 pm

Did someone say early wickets.
Root gone early and he was the only one capable of challenging the Aussie Capt Smith for the highest run getter in 2015.

Post by **Zidane** » December 30, 2015, 10:06 am

With one day to go England need to take 6 more South African wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series but have to be wary as South Africa's best batsman,de Villiers,is still there on 37 not out.

England 303 and 326 (Bairstow 79,Root 73,Piedt 5-153)
South Africa 214 and 136-4 ( Finn 3-27)

South Africa need another 280 runs to win.

Post by **Zidane** » December 30, 2015, 7:42 pm

An emphatic and amazing win for England over in South Africa.
They took 6 wickets for just 38 runs this morning to bowl out the hosts for just 174 and secure victory by the huge margin of 241 runs.
Moeen removed danger man,de Villiers,for 37 with his third ball and Finn was pick of the bowlers with 4-42.
The 2nd Test starts in Cape Town on Saturday.

Post by **bignote1** » December 30, 2015, 9:38 pm

I think what was important was almost everyone contributed to this victory.
I personally would have given The Man of The Match to Compton........he steadied the ship on the first day.

Post by **Zidane** » January 3, 2016, 9:02 am

Second Test, Cape Town (day one)
England 317-5: Stokes 74*, Hales 60, Root 50; Rabada 3-74
South Africa: Yet to bat

A late flurry from Ben Stokes gave England the upper hand on day one of the second Test against South Africa.
On a true Cape Town batting surface, Alex Hales (60), Joe Root (50) and Nick Compton (45) all failed to kick on and England slipped to 223-5.
But Stokes flayed the second new ball in 74 not out from 93 balls to take the tourists to 317 without further loss.
Kagiso Rabada, the 20-year-old playing his fourth Test, took 3-74, but South Africa tired in the evening session.
Pace bowler Rabada had earlier characterised a South Africa performance improved on the 241-run first-Test defeat, as the Proteas kept England in check with wickets at important times.
But after captain Hashim Amla curiously used part-time bowlers with England five wickets down, Stokes capitalised on some poor bowling with the second new ball to move the tourists towards an imposing score on a pitch that looks likely to deteriorate.

Post by **Zidane** » January 3, 2016, 7:39 pm

Day 2 has most certainly been all England,up to now.
They have racked up an enormous 629-6 dec with Stokes and Bairstow putting on 399 for the 6th wicket which is the highest ever stand for this wicket in Test cricket =D> .....Stokes scored the most 6's in an innings by an England player(11 6's and 30 4's) =D> and the partnership only ended when he was run out for 258....Bairstow scored his maiden Test 150,also. =D>
Today Stokes and Bairstow added 312 in just 39 overs ! =D>
South Africa are currently ranked the no.1 Test playing nation.If England can do this to them just think what they would do to the lesser Test playing nations like Australia and New Zealand !