Cricket fred

[fivepointer]

Our day. A little disappointing not to see a batsman make a century but a good collective effort to make 400.
Bowlers have backed it up. SA look shot.

[Galfon]

Good pace by Wood.Back-to-back follow-ons by Eng are rare indeed, (though JR will probs. elect to bat again...)
Not quite ridiculous to sublime, as SA have been poor, but options look much better this year.

[Puja]

I actually endorse the decision to bat again - the pitch isn't going to get better over time and we are more than capable of screwing up a small run chase. Better to bat while SA are demoralised, get more test batting minutes and confidence into the likes of Sibley, Crawley, and Denley (possibly Pope, depending on the situation).

Besides, it's only Day 3 and the forecast is for dry weather. We could bat until lunch tomorrow, present SA with a run chase of 500 to even draw the series, and let our bowlers go at them on a deteriorating pitch.

Puja

[Digby]

Especially with no spinner to allow the quicks more rest

[fivepointer]

Right call to bat again. Plenty of time left in the game for us to get a big lead and have 5 sessions to bowl out SA a second time.
A fair bit going right for England so far, but Denly and Buttler's form is a concern.

[Digby]

Unless we're declaring today that's a weird innings from Stokes

[Puja]

Unless we're declaring today that's a weird innings from Stokes

Either that, or we did want to give Pope a bit more experience of a situation that he's likely to come across as an England #6 - coming in before we've hit 150.

Puja

[Digby]

Looking at Curran then Stokes was doing as told
I was assuming he's bat until 40-50 minutes before lunch tomorrow

[Digby]

Possibly this ensures Buttler's survival, harsh to send players out to score quickly and then drop them for getting out cheaply

[Galfon]

a meh..showing; more getting out after getting in, and not batting as long as hoped.
However it will be 3-1 and a good series for JR.
Team now has options for quicks, mediums who bat a bit and top-order when Burns fit.
Spinner & keeper berths still a bit whiffy.

[Puja]

a meh..showing; more getting out after getting in, and not batting as long as hoped.
However it will be 3-1 and a good series for JR.
Team now has options for quicks, mediums who bat a bit and top-order when Burns fit.
Spinner & keeper berths still a bit whiffy.

It's something of a novelty to have three options at opener who are all making cases to be put in, as opposed to having to find the least worst option to fill one or two of the berths, as we've been used to.

Puja

[Banquo]

we've taught the saffers the art of collapsing.

Please can we keep Wood fit- diamond of a player.

[Digby]

Brilliant comeback game from Wood. No idea what our bowling lineup is now supposing everyone is fit. Stokes seemingly needs to bowl less, which we can live with, but we can assume we're picking Stokes, a spinner, Archer, and then what? 3 from Broad, Curran, Anderson, Wood, Woakes...?

[fivepointer]

3-1 is a good result after a poor 1st test. We've had 3 very strong performances on the trot, which is something to be very pleased about.
The new players have shown encouraging signs. Wood back n the side is a major boost.
Denly at 3 concerns me and Butler needs to show something very soon if he is to keep his place.

[Banquo]

Brilliant comeback game from Wood. No idea what our bowling lineup is now supposing everyone is fit. Stokes seemingly needs to bowl less, which we can live with, but we can assume we're picking Stokes, a spinner, Archer, and then what? 3 from Broad, Curran, Anderson, Wood, Woakes...?

he was very good in second innings of the third test too.......

[Banquo]

3-1 is a good result after a poor 1st test. We've had 3 very strong performances on the trot, which is something to be very pleased about.
The new players have shown encouraging signs. Wood back n the side is a major boost.
Denly at 3 concerns me and Butler needs to show something very soon if he is to keep his place.

I really like Buttler, but frankly his overall 1st class average is about the same as his test average.......c 32. That used to be fine for a wicket keeper batsman, but it seems no longer the case. Tricky one- he's seemingly stuck between playing his natural game and trying to keep his place.

As for Denly, again like him, but you'd think going with some combo of Burns, Sibley and Crawley would make sense; I did think Sibley and Crawley looked out of their depth initially, because their techniques were iffy- but the coaches have done a good job of improving their technique.

[Stom]

Brilliant comeback game from Wood. No idea what our bowling lineup is now supposing everyone is fit. Stokes seemingly needs to bowl less, which we can live with, but we can assume we're picking Stokes, a spinner, Archer, and then what? 3 from Broad, Curran, Anderson, Wood, Woakes...?

Surely Archer needs to just compete with Broad, Wood, Curran, Woakes and Anderson.

I'd love to see an England attack with both Wood and Archer.

Actually, we're starting to get a little depth. I'd still pick Foakes at w/k personally.

Top 3 - Burns, Sibley, Crawley, Denly
Root
Stokes
6&7 - Pope, Buttler, Foakes, Bairstow
Spinner - Bess, Moeen, Leach
Pacemen - Wood, Archer, Broad, Anderson, Woakes, Curran

[Puja]

Brilliant comeback game from Wood. No idea what our bowling lineup is now supposing everyone is fit. Stokes seemingly needs to bowl less, which we can live with, but we can assume we're picking Stokes, a spinner, Archer, and then what? 3 from Broad, Curran, Anderson, Wood, Woakes...?

Surely Archer needs to just compete with Broad, Wood, Curran, Woakes and Anderson.

I'd love to see an England attack with both Wood and Archer.

Actually, we're starting to get a little depth. I'd still pick Foakes at w/k personally.

Top 3 - Burns, Sibley, Crawley, Denly
Root
Stokes
6&7 - Pope, Buttler, Foakes, Bairstow
Spinner - Bess, Moeen, Leach
Pacemen - Wood, Archer, Broad, Anderson, Woakes, Curran

Hells, I think we're actually in a position where we shouldn't be looking at our pace bowlers competing for a fixed place in the lineup, but actively rotating to try and extend out the durability of Anderson and Broad, while letting them pass on their knowledge to Curran, Wood, and Archer.

Puja

[Banquo]

Curate's egg from England, but Bairstow looks like he might be getting his mojo back. Good effort from spinners and Curran/Mahmood.

Meanwhile....new pace bowler on the block at 16- wow

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/cricket/51436954

[Digby]

He might even be 16. But I remember playing a side which I think was a touring Pakistani under age side many years back, and there was a difference no just in the beards but height and build of so many of their players. And it turns out people get played as 19-20 year olds in local under 16 comps and the like to try and bolster the cache of their local administrators

[Banquo]

He might even be 16. But I remember playing a side which I think was a touring Pakistani under age side many years back, and there was a difference no just in the beards but height and build of so many of their players. And it turns out people get played as 19-20 year olds in local under 16 comps and the like to try and bolster the cache of their local administrators

fair point

[Galfon]

Over 1200 runs in the 3 match series, and 3 tight finishes - some going that, but Morgan has the Midas touch recently and puts Eng firmly in contention for the smash-bang-wallop worldies later in the year.Moeen seems to be getting back on track which is another bonus.

[Digby]

What a horrible way for the women to go out of the WC, even Kyle Sinckler got more time on the pitch as his WC ended

[Banquo]

What a horrible way for the women to go out of the WC, even Kyle Sinckler got more time on the pitch as his WC ended

that is rubbish

[Digby]

What a horrible way for the women to go out of the WC, even Kyle Sinckler got more time on the pitch as his WC ended

that is rubbish

Yep, other than it does feel a little harsh to be cross they're getting some rain