England's Summer test matches, 2012

[spikeyhead]

johnfm said:

I can confirm, as much as would like to, it isn't me!

We knew that already John, it's entertaining.

[spikeyhead]

What a mess, poor management coupled with terrible judgement from a talented player.

No matter what, if KP has been texting SA players then he needs to be dropped for a long long time

[spikeyhead]

Gargamel said:

I am staggered that KP’s batting record is being called into question – a man with 7000 test runs in 88 matches

With an Average of 50

His behaviour yes, character certainly, but not his Batting.

The only problem with KPs batting is his attitude. There are times when all that is needed is a little application rather than wham bam.

[spikeyhead]

chimster said:

spikeyhead said:

The only problem with KPs batting is his attitude. There are times when all that is needed is a little application rather than wham bam.

Nature of the beast. At least you know what you get. No surprises there and no complaints from over here. He can be exhilarating and special to watch, when he is in the mood.

I agree, happy enough with the cricketing skills that he brings to the team, but if someone is fking up the dressing room, especially in cricket where it's possible for nine out of the eleven sitting in there all day, then this needs to be taken into consideration.

Having said all that, what's going to happen in the game? Am tempted to head down to Lords for teh Saturday.

[spikeyhead]

Podie said:

Fishtigua said:

Is anyone going this week? I haven't been to Lord's for donkeys years.

There on sunday.

I'm tempted to head down for one day, possibly Monday if it's looking exciting.

[spikeyhead]

two

[spikeyhead]

Carfolio said:

That's not cricket!

If we fking choke here I will be more than a little peeved...

Three

[spikeyhead]

Four

[spikeyhead]

Arse, go for a shower and we get another wicket so I missed it.

[spikeyhead]

Six

Lords is usually best to be batting on day two and three. If we can keep this up we'll do both.

[spikeyhead]

Seven

We needed that, hopefully the new ball can wrap the rest up

[spikeyhead]

hornetrider said:

Not good enough. We needed to have them all by now.

If you'd have offered any of the England team that at the start of the day they'd have bitten off your hand

[spikeyhead]

Bugger, Strauss gone just before lunch. Careless shot

[spikeyhead]

Well,

England now at 54 for 4

Which the Saffas were yesterday. Are we up for it?

[spikeyhead]

We've avoided the follow on.

It does seem that it's the new ball that's taking the wickets and once it's 30 or so overs old it's much easier, however that could also be as much due to the humidity burning off by mid afternoon or both sides batting poorly at the start of the innings.

Fingers crossed we keep batting for a goodly while.

[spikeyhead]

hornetrider said:

You watching Sky Deej? They showed Trott's avg for the last four years... something like 55, 68, 48, 38.

Not on my pc so cba to dig into stats guru, wonder how Strauss's compares.

42, 64, 32, 33, 36

I suspect we'd need to look at the combined effect of Strauss, Trott and Cook. Between them they've put on a lot of runs, followed by some destruction by KP, a steadying of the ship from Bell and the tail reliably adding a lot of runs.

My gut feel is that it's the tail that the stats would show have deteriorated most.

[spikeyhead]

We're in the lead

[spikeyhead]

hornetrider said:

spikeyhead said:

We're in the lead

Can't believe it

And now we need some more wickets

[spikeyhead]

Some good bowling from Finn, unlucky not to pick up a wicket.

[spikeyhead]

Steyn gone.

Hopefully that'll start a roll.