creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[Bruce Rioja]

Typical stuck on the crease LBW for ballance. Our test team looks really poor at the moment bar Root/Bairstow/Stokes at 4,5,6. The most worrying thing is the lack of standout players to come in which is why bloody Dawson is playing.

Bairstow gone now. Absolutely plumb LB for 10.

There are times in our lives in which England are pretty much shit at everything.

[Worthy4England]

Typical stuck on the crease LBW for ballance. Our test team looks really poor at the moment bar Root/Bairstow/Stokes at 4,5,6. The most worrying thing is the lack of standout players to come in which is why bloody Dawson is playing.

Yeah - I think Ballance has a big problem with the "step-up" when pressure is on - and sometimes when it isn't. Mind with 4 in the shed, he's still second top scorer.

We have a big problem with Ashes Series around the corner with the batting line-up, unless they find some test form...

[Worthy4England]

Better afternoon session.

[Bruce Rioja]

The spinner's coming back on. Give him some tap, lads.

[Worthy4England]

The spinner's coming back on. Give him some tap, lads.

Long handle, over cow!

[Worthy4England]

Or not.

[Bruce Rioja]

Or not.

Did Stokes think he was playing baseball? An awful shot!

[Worthy4England]

Not seen it yet - only got the bbc ticker running at the moment,

[Bruce Rioja]

Not seen it yet - only got the bbc ticker running at the moment,

Pitched short, bounced up around chest / shoulder height, Stokes tried to nice person it over mid-wicket. Fished-in perfectly by Rabada.

Still, Stokes was only doing what I suggested he should

[Worthy4England]

That's where we're told to bowl 'em. Shoulder height over middle, middle n off, trying to get shoulder-height bounce of just short of a length....just wrong one to go after. I fairness, to your good self, it was the spinner you told him to go after.

Just seen it on Sky, now...

[Bruce Rioja]

That's where we're told to bowl 'em. Shoulder height over middle, middle n off, trying to get shoulder-height bounce of just short of a length....just wrong one to go after. I fairness, to your good self, it was the spinner you told him to go after.

Just seen it on Sky, now...

Indeed. If you get a chance to see the map of his over it was nothing short of superb in its variance. Stokes couldn't have a had a clue as to what was coming next.

A couple of weeks ago one of our bowlers bowled one of their batters with a full toss. I asked the lad fielding next to me "How come people batting think that they're entitled to take a baseball swing at a full toss?" To which he replied "Well that's what you 4ucking do".

[Worthy4England]

That's where we're told to bowl 'em. Shoulder height over middle, middle n off, trying to get shoulder-height bounce of just short of a length....just wrong one to go after. I fairness, to your good self, it was the spinner you told him to go after.

Just seen it on Sky, now...

Indeed. If you get a chance to see the map of his over it was nothing short of superb in its variance. Stokes couldn't have a had a clue as to what was coming next.

A couple of weeks ago one of our bowlers bowled one of their batters with a full toss. I asked the lad fielding next to me "How come people batting think that they're entitled to take a baseball swing at a full toss?" To which he replied "Well that's what you 4ucking do".

I hope he was one of your bowlers...

[TANGODANCER]

Looking decidedly healthier right now. A statue at Lords for Joe Root?

[Worthy4England]

^^ Buggeroff, he's from Yorkshire. He can have one at Headingly though.

[TANGODANCER]

^^ Buggeroff, he's from Yorkshire. He can have one at Headingly though.

Oh aye. all reet, Headingly'll do then.

[Nicko58]

Rooooooooooooooot!

Fair play to us for getting to the end of the day in such a strong position after a shaky start. It's frustrating that our top order is so out of sorts as our middle and lower order is on a par with any of the other leading Test nations with the exception of India in my opinion. Having as technically sound a batsman as Moeen Ali at number seven is a huge plus.

On a separate note, this current South African team might be the poorest that they've produced since they were returned to international sport.

[jimbo]

Top 3 are a huge issue. Jennings and ballance will get blown away by Australia's attack this winter and we really need to find the answer there. Agreed on 4,5,6 and 7, but would say they're head and shoulders the best middle order in the world. Bairstow and ali's records in 2016 were phenomenal for their position.

Root is such a talent and we should treasure him. I've criticised him in the past for the frustrating number of 70s and 80s he makes and hopefully now he converts more often. I can't think of anyone who makes scoring runs look so easy and efficient. He can cruise along at a run a ball without seemingly playing a shot in anger.

I also worry about our attack. We've got broad, wood and Anderson playing here but they all carry big fitness concerns. I'm not sure where their backup is going to come from especially with woakes out for the foreseeable future.

[Bruce Rioja]

Well, this time yesterday I'd never have guessed we'd finish on 458 AO.

[Worthy4England]

Got a "bowl at" total with 458. Gotta say though looks like a decent batting track so bowlers will need to keep it tight.

[Bruce Rioja]

The cynic in me thinks that SA are already trying to pad this one out.

Something that just made me grin was Stokes being described as 'medium pace'. He'd deffo have me running away