One of the Sky commentators too.The commentators on TalkSport 2 keep mentioning some player called "Nokia"
England cricket, 2019-20 winter tours
- Thread starter Santino
- Start date
Casual Observer
enough
Nasser came up with his customary 'taking the pitch out of the equation' a couple of overs back, for those playing buzzword bingo.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
What a start for the early Sunday risers! Two in the first two overs, both not out overnight batsmen gone. Get in. Or rather, get up.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Clever from SA. Get out so fast that Root's conservative captaincy comes back into play in not enforcing the follow on.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
1-4 this morning!
Bonkers.
Bonkers.
Mumbles274
running from law and the press and the parents
What's the most wickets taken by a bowler in one day? Broad has 3 already and can see him getting more
redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
Terrible stuff from SA, weather might still save them but they've handed it to England.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Thought you'd be safe from Keith Flett watching the cricket in SA, but no, there he is, very prominent behind one end.
Casual Observer
enough
Thanks to the SA brass band. Enjoyed their parping on all five days.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Another solid team effort from England. Basically everyone bar Buttler did something. Buttler needs a performance just about now, if he's to continue. Archer for Curran for the last test, I would suggest.
SA are in disarray, aren't they? Bavuma comes back last test, presumably for Hamza. du Plessis on the brink. Rabada banned, ridiculously.
Whatever you think of the transformation targets, the aim of at least two black Africans in the side isn't exactly an enormous one, given how many black Africans there are in SA. The point of the targets is that they're supposed to push down and create pathways into the game from places other than mostly white private schools. Losing Rabada cos he roared in very slightly the wrong place, on his home ground, in a place where there are normally a fair few black African supporters in the crowd, when they're struggling to hit that modest transformation target, when he's the best bowler on either side, when test cricket has been struggling in SA (and cricket in general has been struggling - for the recent t20 comp, the crowds were really disappointing everywhere except one place, that place being a place that black Africans can get to easily - all the other grounds are in the white bits of town!) wtaf are the ICC thinking?
SA are in disarray, aren't they? Bavuma comes back last test, presumably for Hamza. du Plessis on the brink. Rabada banned, ridiculously.
Whatever you think of the transformation targets, the aim of at least two black Africans in the side isn't exactly an enormous one, given how many black Africans there are in SA. The point of the targets is that they're supposed to push down and create pathways into the game from places other than mostly white private schools. Losing Rabada cos he roared in very slightly the wrong place, on his home ground, in a place where there are normally a fair few black African supporters in the crowd, when they're struggling to hit that modest transformation target, when he's the best bowler on either side, when test cricket has been struggling in SA (and cricket in general has been struggling - for the recent t20 comp, the crowds were really disappointing everywhere except one place, that place being a place that black Africans can get to easily - all the other grounds are in the white bits of town!) wtaf are the ICC thinking?
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Joe Root says world No 1 Test ranking is back in England’s sights
Joe Root has said England are targeting becoming the No 1 team in the world following a crushing innings-and-53 run win in the third Test against South Africa
Ah, c'mon. No.
I mean, it's great to have ambition an' all but really. You've just gone 2-1 up (after going 1-0 down) against a really weak S.Africa. This smacks of a lack of realism rather than strength in belief.
Well done boys (though that last wicket stand
) but really. One game at a time. Coz you'll look really stupid if you mess up the 4th Test.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
It's right to target it, though. 
England are only, I dunno, six world class players short of India at the moment.
England are only, I dunno, six world class players short of India at the moment.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Got to feel for SA. Out of a kolpak 11 and this 11, who would win? Kolpak 11 might be a better team. Hard for them not to be weak, given that. English county cricket's narrow self-interestedness has a lot to answer for. 
So a good win for England the other day in a game we totally dominated. Really good to see the young players they've drafted in contributing and doing well. Its a long way off but there does appear to be genesis of a new test team taking shape. But... It all has to be tempered by the fact we've had plenty of false dawns over the last few years (especially with the top 3) and the opposition were really quite poor. Bess may go on to to be a top spinner but he's very young by spinners standards and still learning the craft. For him and Root to effectively bowl out the SA top order in this match is pretty mad. Very good toss to win as well with England getting the much better of the conditions on the first day.
This being said away wins in tests are a pretty rare thing and away series wins are even rarer so England really need to go on and take this chance now. I really hope Crawley makes a big score because we need to some decent competition in that area. There does seem to be a more circumspect approach to building an innings developing with England. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.
This being said away wins in tests are a pretty rare thing and away series wins are even rarer so England really need to go on and take this chance now. I really hope Crawley makes a big score because we need to some decent competition in that area. There does seem to be a more circumspect approach to building an innings developing with England. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.
I find it a bit odd that SA have dropped Du Plessis from the ODI squad but he continues as Test and T20 captain. It looks a bit like he's being managed out slowly. I like De Kock but he does seem prone to doing stupid shit. There was that fall out with Warner which was pretty nasty and it seems things were said which should never be brought into sport, may have been a bigger deal had it not been overshadowed by crygate.
The other thing about De Kock is that the saffers I know all say the same thing about him. You can absolutely guarantee that at one point in the innings he's doing something utterly stupid, not a bit stupid but utterly reckless and its just a case of whether he gets away with it. Not sure much of this sounds like captain material to me, we'll see. Poisoned chalice anyway, I reckon.
The other thing about De Kock is that the saffers I know all say the same thing about him. You can absolutely guarantee that at one point in the innings he's doing something utterly stupid, not a bit stupid but utterly reckless and its just a case of whether he gets away with it. Not sure much of this sounds like captain material to me, we'll see. Poisoned chalice anyway, I reckon.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
His brain farts with the bat are less of an issue in odis, though.
In tests, he's one who stormed the stage initially, and has since rather declined. That's part of SA's problem atm - in the last four to five years, they've suffered retirements of all-time greats, kolpak defections of current test players and form-slump by three established batsmen at the same time (du Plessis, Bavuma and de Koch - you could add Amla to that list as his last couple of years in tests were shocking).
Great though this turnaround by England has been, there is a little bit of an asterisk against this win. It's a bit like beating Aus in Aus during the Packer years.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Don't worry. Sam Curran will be there in case any of them break down...
Totally agree re spinner, although the numbers for spinners at Joburg are grim. But five seamers seems like overkill. Even WI in their pomp made do with four.
Vic Marks was interesting about this. He hoped Root would continue to bowl himself, but as an attacking option only. he thinks it would be a mistake for Root to take on the spinner's holding overs. And that world record 28 off one over suggests that he's right. It's in those boring overs that the likes of Bess really earn their corn.
tbh Broad is good at bowling dry. It might be his best role in this test to bowl into any wind and hold an end. Dunno if the team hierarchy allows for that, but with Wood and Archer in the team, it's his best role.
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SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Maybe the presence of Wood will stop Root overusing Archer as well.
Pissed off with the rain this morning. Sounds like its a pretty pessimistic forecast for the next few days as well. It would be a real shame if this series withers away but that's cricket I guess.
On Wood the more I think about it the less likely it seems to me that he will play this test. Wood is crazy fragile at the best of times but back to back tests? Not only that but when England spent the last 2.5 days of the previous test in the field? There's talk on this thread of Archer being overused and breaking down, personally I suspect they are wrapping him in cotton wool and he probably could have played the last test but they are being careful. If they double up on Wood and he does properly break down (as is always a distinct possibility with him) than that will be the fault of Root and Silverwood.
Then again if it rains for two days that might give him some extra rest but then again, again why would you risk him in a likely bore all draw?
This is what rain does to a test match fan. Endless and largely worthless speculation.
On Wood the more I think about it the less likely it seems to me that he will play this test. Wood is crazy fragile at the best of times but back to back tests? Not only that but when England spent the last 2.5 days of the previous test in the field? There's talk on this thread of Archer being overused and breaking down, personally I suspect they are wrapping him in cotton wool and he probably could have played the last test but they are being careful. If they double up on Wood and he does properly break down (as is always a distinct possibility with him) than that will be the fault of Root and Silverwood.
Then again if it rains for two days that might give him some extra rest but then again, again why would you risk him in a likely bore all draw?
This is what rain does to a test match fan. Endless and largely worthless speculation.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Play at 11-20. I may get to see some cricket on my day off after all.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Looks like Woakes in for Bess and no Archer.
Pretty sure it's never been a good idea not to pick a proper spinner. I guess Root fancies himself after that last match.
Pretty sure it's never been a good idea not to pick a proper spinner. I guess Root fancies himself after that last match.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Put ourselves in.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Terrible decision. Conned by de kok.
