South Africa Tests in the UK

Post by **BobHelm** » July 7, 2017, 6:52 am

The first,of five, England v South Africa Test started yesterday at Lords.
It is a bit of a new start for England with Joe Root taking over as captain from Alastair Cook, although Cook is still opening the batting.

The match started all too familiarly though. Root was batting himself in no time at all as England slumped to 17 for 2 & then to 76 for 4.
Stokes then helped Root to steady the ship until he was out for 56 when England had reached 190 for 5.
Moeen (61) & Root (184) then batted out the remainder of the day to leave England in the unbelievably healthy position of 357 for 5.

Philander was the pick of the SA's bowlers, claiming 3 for 46 with spells of steady medium-fast variation.

SA dropped some chances (significantly Root on 16) but also had some luck early on (Keaton Jennings was never LBW) & it looks like it should be a close series.

Post by **marjamlew** » July 7, 2017, 5:24 pm

Great days cricket with 375 on the board. Enjoyed watching the Rooter as long as he is making runs against someone other than us.

Post by **goodison** » July 8, 2017, 7:23 am

Not to worry Mark, he's just getting his eye in prior to the Ashes Series later in the year. That is providing your boys aren't on Strike (sic)

Post by **BobHelm** » July 8, 2017, 7:30 am

Root was out for 190 & Moeen for 87 fairly swiftly. Broad was not out on 57 as England posted 458.
A tidy total when compared to where they were before lunch the day before!!

South Africa's innings appears to be mirroring England's as they lost early wickets for few runs.
They were 104 for 4. Then a good stand between de Bruyn & Bavuma steadied the ship.
England claimed de Bruyn's wicket just before the end.
South Africa will start today on 214 for 5, 244 behind.

The third day has the potential to decide the outcome of the first Test.
South Africa need to hang on to wickets & creep into a first innings lead.
England need wickets as cheaply as possible.
So far a good game between 2 pretty evenly matched sides..

Post by **marjamlew** » July 8, 2017, 6:53 pm

goodison wrote: ↑
July 8, 2017, 7:23 am
Not to worry Mark, he's just getting his eye in prior to the Ashes Series later in the year. That is providing your boys aren't on Strike (sic)

David, I'm opening the batting in Brisbane so Jimmy Anderson will be shaking in his boots. Will discuss the rest of the team when I catch up with you for a few coldies in September.

Post by **BobHelm** » July 8, 2017, 7:09 pm

Lunch..
SA 323-8 Trail by 135

I would imagine that both sides are reasonably happy with the mornings' play.
South Africa have reduced the deficit & can reduce it some more this afternoon.
England have taken 3 wickets & are bowling at the tail..

Post by **BobHelm** » July 8, 2017, 8:58 pm

South Africa 361 all out. 97 behind.
England now back out & have scored 8 off 5 overs !!
Really racing along..

Post by **BobHelm** » July 9, 2017, 7:07 am

England batted day 3 out in the same vein.
Just over 2 an over, but, importantly, they lost only 1 wicket.
So they will start day 4 with 9 wickets in hand & already 216 runs ahead.

It will be interesting to see, if England can score runs & not lose wickets, when captain Root declares.
One of the faults often laid at ex-captain's Cook door was that he was always too cautious in those circumstances. Preferring to ensure that his side couldn't lose, rather than gambling to win...

Post by **BobHelm** » July 9, 2017, 7:19 pm

Well lunch on the 4th. day & it has been an extraordinary morning session.

It started off slowly enough with the England pair slowly accumulating runs to a slow South African over rate - cricket to sleep by..
Then Cook finally went for 69 runs from 192 balls & the roof caved in on the following batsmen.
7 wickets down for just 43 runs!!
Not much worry for captain Root on when to declare!

Lunch & England are 182-for 8, a lead of 279 runs.
Bairstow is there on 28, but he is desperate for a partner..
The only slight cause for South African worry is that Lords is a terrible ground to score runs on in the last innings. Only 1 score of over 300 in the last 22 fourth innings there.
Infact only 3 sides have ever scored more than 200 in the fourth to win a Test at Lords..

Records are there to be broken though, & England look a shambles at the moment....

Post by **marjamlew** » July 9, 2017, 8:19 pm

Interesting session Bob. Was flicking between the test, the tennis, the pushbikes and the Aussie sheilas v the Pommy sheilas in the world cup game at Bristol. English girls got 259 batting first so should be an entertaining afternoon.

Post by **BobHelm** » July 9, 2017, 8:41 pm

Well the final 3 managed to put some respectability on it - although Anderson actually ended up with 0 not out..

Wood had a thrash & put on 44 off 50 balls with Bairstow (who just managed to get his 50).

England all out for 233, a lead of 330... So should be good..

Think your girls have the edge in the other game Lew....unless they have been watching the English men today!!

Post by **stattointhailand** » July 9, 2017, 9:47 pm

Looks like Cookie & GB had the right attitude and all those screeming for them to push the run rate up were sufferring from pajama syndrome again .......

SA 25 for 3 at tea

Post by **stattointhailand** » July 9, 2017, 10:03 pm

BobHelm wrote: ↑
July 9, 2017, 8:41 pm
Well the final 3 managed to put some respectability on it - although Anderson actually ended up with 0 not out.. Wood had a thrash & put on 44 off 50 balls with Bairstow (who just managed to get his 50).

England all out for 233, a lead of 330... So should be good..

Think your girls have the edge in the other game Lew....unless they have been watching the English men today!!

And now has the most "Not Outs" in Test match history $\:D/$ =D> =D> =D>

Post by **BobHelm** » July 10, 2017, 7:06 am

Good stats, Statts!!

The BBC writers always refer to him as the Burnley Lara when he comes out to bat. To think I always thought it was 'tongue in cheek'..

Well the one scenario that I hadn't considered was that Moeen Ali would suddenly become the new Shane Warne & almost singlehandedly spin England to victory with a day to spare.

Unbelievably, as Ali comes from that long line of English spinners who actually don't, that is what happened.

South Africa all out for 119. Ali taking 6 for 53 in the innings & 10 for 112 in the game.

Next up is Nottingham where South Africa will have captain Du Plessis back but bowler Kagiso Rabada suspended. England will be unchanged.
A loss by 211 a day early sounds a beating but the actual margins in the game were small. If South Africa had held onto two fairly simple catches (Root in the first innings & Bairstow in the second) they would have probably won.

My lack of faith in the England ladies being victorious was also misplaced - I am happy to say.

They won by the tiny margin of 3 runs as they managed to restrict Australia 256 for 8 in a nail biting encounter..

Post by **folima** » July 12, 2017, 9:29 pm

Bob.. what a fantastic review, was enjoying to read.. well, I thought South Africa might show some fight and will give some tough time to England bowlers but the way Moeen bowled, with proper planning that was great to watch. I think Saqlain Mushtaq (former Pakistan Spinner and current England team's bowling coach) is doing his job and Moeen is improving day by day

Post by **BobHelm** » July 15, 2017, 5:52 am

The second test is underway in Nottingham.
South Africa batted first & negotiated the new ball carefully after losing Elgar early on.
After lunch, Amla & de Kock put on a nice stand of 113 to put South Africa in the driving seat. Then, just as it looked like being a very good South African day, England struck back with 4 quick wickets to reduce the visitors from 179 for 2 to 235 for 6.
England couldn't press the advantage ant further though as Philander (54 no) & Morris (23 no) dug in to see SA through to the end.
They finished the day with a very healthy 309 for 6 wickets .

The pitch didn't do a great deal after early on but the bowlers had a pretty poor day as well.

Post by **Barney** » July 15, 2017, 9:41 am

A good quick TV interview at the end of play with Chris Broad. In regard to the pitch and conditions he explained the game changes with the weather. Cloud cover brings wickets and clear skies is a batsmans chance to score. He did say they were most likely 1 wicket short at this venue as 7 in a day is considered a good bowling performance.
Slowness of the pitch saved a wicket on the very last ball with the edge dropping just in front of Root.
SA need at least 100+ more.

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Post by **BobHelm** » July 15, 2017, 5:51 pm

Interestingly enough Barney the conditions this morning favoured the quickies, but Mr. Broad Jnr. couldn't exploit them as his line & length were both pretty poor..

Luckily for England, Anderson from the other end. could.
He picked up the last 4 wickets fairly quickly to give himself a 5 for 72
South Africa all out for 335.

Post by **BobHelm** » July 15, 2017, 7:19 pm

The South African bowlers also got the bit between their teeth early on.
England were 2 for 6 so early on it was unbelievable.
However, again that just meant Captain Root was in early.
Him & Ballance punished the bad stuff & defended the good. Unfortunately for SA there was too much bad.
Number 3 & 4 put on 82 in no time. Root getting to 50 off just 40 balls with, realistically, not giving a chance.
Lunch & England are 85 for 2. They might be sad to have to take the break.. Still need another 250 for a lead though & a wicket seems to attract a wicket..

Post by **Barney** » July 15, 2017, 10:59 pm

Very optimistic Bob.
My 20/20 hindsight tells me if Root was not in your team it would result in a short test.
You have given the boks a real good sniff. But the English weather may play a part in a non result

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