4th test

[Bluesmanager]

And it's bye-bye Ashwell Prince - 118-5. Get them out for 250 and I thnk we're in the driving seat. Or it could just be that this pitch is a belter.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Morkel doesn't look like the man you want in at 132-6

 

[SUFC_Al]

What a pic of Amla's wicket.

 

[Bluesmanager]

Monty gets in on the act - 158-7.

 

[SUFCLiam]

Good start by England latest SA 168-8

 

[sufcintheprem]

Nine down as Broad takes Nel's wicket. Ambrose seemed not to appeal but without sound on I couldn't be sure if there was obvious noise. If there wasn't it's worrying as we had a few of them in the last test too.

England's odds stubbornly holding out at 1.6. Obviously the bookies don't think much of the batting line-up.

 

[MrB]

Might have to settle in to the highlights when I get home, sounds like a good days play, will be great to see Harmy back on song.

Is there any talk about the pitch? Oval has always been a batting pitch so either we're bowling very well or the something has changed.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Might have to settle in to the highlights when I get home, sounds like a good days play, will be great to see Harmy back on song.

Is there any talk about the pitch? Oval has always been a batting pitch so either we're bowling very well or the something has changed.

Pitch is fairly quick, decent bounce but the difference was when England started pitching it up. In the overcast conditions its been swinging.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Might have to settle in to the highlights when I get home, sounds like a good days play, will be great to see Harmy back on song.

Is there any talk about the pitch? Oval has always been a batting pitch so either we're bowling very well or the something has changed.

Bit quicker and bouncier than in the last 4 or 5 years apparently. More like Oval pitches of 10-15 years ago.

Loved this quote from the BBC text

To be honest through, SA look demob-happy - it's like when your exams are over and you're allowed to bring in games on the last day of school.

 

[SUFCLiam]

latest 190-9 if we can get them out for less than 200 that would be a great start for KP as Captain

 

[SUFCLiam]

194 all out well bowled England

 

[SUFCEssex]

now we just have to score plenty of runs, something we have struggled with in the first innings recently.

 

[Bluesmanager]

300 to start, push from there would be my plan. Hopefully get 50-75 of those today, depending on when play ends.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Strauss' international career is nearly over.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Bad shot from Strauss on a wicket where you really don't want to be making unnecessary enemies.

If Morkel keeps bowling the line he has been at Cook, it's only a matter of time before we're two down too. 200 starting to look quite a long way away now. Pietersen's innings will be intriguing barrign a massive stand between these two. The wicket requires patience but how will he play it?

Crikey. Bell in on a run-out shout by a few cm. As mentioned above, let's not cause ourselves more problems than we need to lads!

 

[Southminster_Shrimper]

Am hoping there will still be a full days play on Saturday at this rate...

 

[SUFCLiam]

ended 49-1 with cook on 20 and bell on 22

 

[TheSouthendUnitedRunner]

Strauss' international career is nearly over.

I can see him dropping off the radar again unless he gets a big score in the 2nd innings.

Out of interest, which bright English talents are there to come in after the "normal" 13/14 players, plus the likes of Shaw, Hoggard, Jones etc?

I've heard a lot about Denley at Kent? Is he England class?

 

[canveyshrimper]

I can see him dropping off the radar again unless he gets a big score in the 2nd innings.

Out of interest, which bright English talents are there to come in after the "normal" 13/14 players, plus the likes of Shaw, Hoggard, Jones etc?

I've heard a lot about Denley at Kent? Is he England class?

From what little I've seen of him Denly looks like a pretty good prospect. I reckon he may get a chance in the ODI side before he get's a shot at Test cricket. IMO Rob Key will get a recall for the winter tours of India & the WIndies.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I can see him dropping off the radar again unless he gets a big score in the 2nd innings.

Out of interest, which bright English talents are there to come in after the "normal" 13/14 players, plus the likes of Shaw, Hoggard, Jones etc?

I've heard a lot about Denley at Kent? Is he England class?

Bopara is the best young batsman about IMHO.

Denly is probably the second best prospect. He's very well regarded at Kent, but I'm not sure he is quite ready yet. Hildreth hasn't quite come on at Somerset as hoped.

Then you've got the older guys like Shah, Key, Joyce and probably even Sales.

Bowling wise you've got Simon Jones and Hoggard from the 2005 class, then the likes of Mahmood (who I'm very big on) and PLunkett who have already been blooded and Tremlett (only 1 test IIRC). The main uncapped bowler would be Onions. not sure where else we'd look, maybe back at Pattinson or Richardson for the swing specialist.

I don't think there is great depth at the moment.