England Cricket - Tour of South Africa 2016

[Smollet]

For one glorious moment after yesterday I thought we'd forgotten how to collapse. I should've known better

[spikeyhead]

The average opening test score on the ground is 301, so we're ahead of that, on a pitch where we were put in. I'd take that, it's not a brilliant score, but it's not bad.

[anonymous-user]

Great start.

[anonymous-user]

14/2

England going great here.

[Busa mav]

AB gone to Broad just when he was looking very dangerous

[Busa mav]

Du Plessis gone for 2 , bowled Ali !

[hornetrider]

Have to say my initial instinct was that was out, looked very adjacent and well worth a review.

[spikeyhead]

I've only had the occasional glances at the score, but we're in a decent enough position.

[Gargamel]

Too busy being festive, to keep up.


I just caught the highlights on catch up. Decent performance. Competitive at least.

[dav123a]

Decent morning so far , hopefully get a handy lead.

[Black can man]

England have cleaned them up with a handy lead of 89, Just got to bat all day .

[hornetrider]

A very tidy morning. Need to reinforce it now.

[spikeyhead]

172 / 3 at close, so we're 261 ahead.

With two full days remaining, then unless we collapse horribly in the morning, or a plague of biblical proportions hits, then we've won this.

I fully expect to be able to put in a lunchtime report tomorrow of "Nothing can go wrong from here"

[Busa mav]

So if you were the captain , how many would you,want before declaring ?

Personally, I would want to get out there in the morning and swing the bat for a lead of 350.

[spikeyhead]

Busa mav said:

So if you were the captain , how many would you,want before declaring ?

Personally, I would want to get out there in the morning and swing the bat for a lead of 350.

I'd be quite happy batting steadily until half an hour before tea, by which time we'll be all out with a lead of 400 plus. I don't see a need to rush things, there's plenty of time left, the pitch is starting to take spin with some uneven bounce too. I don't think it's a bad idea to give our tail a decent chance of having as easy a batting session as they will ever get in a test match.

I'd not be surprised if we were all out soon after lunch and bowl them out before the end of the day. Unfortunately I've got to spend the day being pleasant to relatives so won't get much chance to follow it.

[Gargamel]

Can Steyn still bowl?

Good performance this.

[spikeyhead]

Gargamel said:

Can Steyn still bowl?

Good performance this.

I hope so, without him they are very reliant on Morkel.

[hornetrider]

Anyone clock the saffer bowler who looks the spit of Gus?

[SydneyBridge]

275/7 - 364 ahead
I would think that should be enough of a lead, but don't think he will declare.

[hornetrider]

I don't think so either. Half hour of pyjama sloggage for a 400+ lead I think.