Cricket fred

[Digby]

Feels a missed chance with 4 players getting in and then not getting a serious score.

[Digby]

Agnew on the radio says it's very hot and humid, so here's hoping we're not bowling until after tea. Though I expect to be bowling after lunch

[Stom]

Agnew on the radio says it's very hot and humid, so here's hoping we're not bowling until after tea. Though I expect to be bowling after lunch

Good start, mind

[fivepointer]

Hundreds for Stokes and Pope and a score in excess of 400. Not bad, not at all bad.

[Galfon]

Would have liked to have seen xs of 500, but should be not a match-losing position.Some encouraging stuff at last -nice to see new names in the headlines, and Wood firing nicely.

[Digby]

A really good day, exactly the sort of day I'd like to see 5-6 more of each year

[Digby]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/51104016

Interesting list actually. Between Jamaica 1990 and Karachi 2000 for me, probably Karachi taking it

[Digby]

Shocking drop from Root just a short while back. Would have been yet another for Bess.

When I noted on day one the pitch didn't look up to much but spin could prove a factor I had no idea if it could, and even if so I wouldn't have guessed this much. Even if we can enforce the follow on I don't know why you wouldn't want to bowl last on this

[Lizard]

So in the U19 World Championship, tonight NZ is playing against (checks notes) erm, Japan.

How did that happen?

[Galfon]

..Japan.
How did that happen?

East Asia Pacific regional qualifiers..
PNG usually strongest from them parts, but what's this?
'Japan were scheduled to play Papua New Guinea in their final qualification fixture, but Papua New Guinea forfeited the match. The Papua New Guinea Cricket Board later suspended ten of the players for a year, after bringing the game into disrepute following a shoplifting incident'
Sounds like it was a team effort

Not sure where Singapore or HK fit in these days.

Jap get same points as NZ from the opening fixture.
That will disappoint.

[Galfon]

..unlike the start to D4 by Eng.
3 taken in the first 3 overs for nowt - the follow-on will be visiting soon.

u/d: how soon is now ? 3 for Broad, wrapped up in 5 overs, just 1 to the total. Decent porridge, clearly.

[Digby]

Rain probably forced the hand on the follow on, but probably the right call when things wrapped up so quickly, and then especially with the rain, fingers crossed not for rain (for once)

[Galfon]

SA appear adamant thst 4-day tests are the way forward.. good to have real nift in the bowling armoury.

[Digby]

That was a weird catch by Wood. No idea what SA think they're doing, bar not thinking

[fivepointer]

Piece of cake this test cricket, isnt it?

England have played well but SA have been pretty wretched since the start of day 2 when Stokes and Pope took the game away from them.

[Digby]

Piece of cake this test cricket, isnt it?

England have played well but SA have been pretty wretched since the start of day 2 when Stokes and Pope took the game away from them.

SA today look like a team not used to test cricket, day 3 of match 3 and it's all just piling up. Also like us their batting is..., inconsistent

[Banquo]

Piece of cake this test cricket, isnt it?

England have played well but SA have been pretty wretched since the start of day 2 when Stokes and Pope took the game away from them.

SA today look like a team not used to test cricket, day 3 of match 3 and it's all just piling up. Also like us their batting is..., inconsistent

SA are a poor side.

[Stom]

Root bowling himself over after ineffective over chasing his 5fer...not the sign of a good captain.

[Digby]

Piece of cake this test cricket, isnt it?

England have played well but SA have been pretty wretched since the start of day 2 when Stokes and Pope took the game away from them.

SA today look like a team not used to test cricket, day 3 of match 3 and it's all just piling up. Also like us their batting is..., inconsistent

SA are a poor side.

It's taken a while to really show, perhaps being masked by the first innings performance in the first test. They've had moments since then, but aren't putting in back to back sessions where they're better than competitive, and that whilst losing a good few sessions

[Banquo]

Dom Bess rewarded for a five for by being dropped for Woakes. I get it’s likely a seamers pitch, but surely that’s an excellent test as to whether he can hold down an end- vital if we end up with Archer and Wood and Stokes in the same attack.

[Digby]

Good for Bess to have to learn to deal with such a pitch, and Root needs the practice using spinners

[Banquo]

Good for Bess to have to learn to deal with such a pitch, and Root needs the practice using spinners

Indeed. Now we’ve reverted to collapsing type, even Stokes has failed

[Digby]

Good for Bess to have to learn to deal with such a pitch, and Root needs the practice using spinners

Indeed. Now we’ve reverted to collapsing type, even Stokes has failed

I find I barely care. I know Denly and Root give some options, but if they want to play without a spinner they don't deserve to do well

[Banquo]

Good for Bess to have to learn to deal with such a pitch, and Root needs the practice using spinners

Indeed. Now we’ve reverted to collapsing type, even Stokes has failed

I find I barely care. I know Denly and Root give some options, but if they want to play without a spinner they don't deserve to do well

SA have done the same but I get your point.

[Galfon]

After the usual mid-order fart, steady progress by Buttler mbe & Woakes, who presumably is in to stiffen the tail/bowl tightly and help secure the series win, if not this match.
Less than 350 would be below par first up here.