creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[BWFC_Insane]

All looking a bit "top-order predictable"...

Agnew reckons with the exception of Jennings, they all dug in and batted well in difficult conditions. And were all "got out" rather than getting themselves out.

Will we bowl as well and as disciplined as SA have? We'll see.

[jimbo]

Jennings is surely approaching the end of his run. Always more difficult for openers and I think he'll get until the end of the series to turn things around. If not, it'll be someone else for the West Indies series - most likely stoneman. It'll be cook's 126th partner since Strauss retired.

Can't judge malan yet - he got an absolute snorter.

Westley did ok, though I worry his technique will get him found out in test cricket. We'll have to wait and see for that one.

The big issue is the structure of the English season - we're halfway through a test series and calling up 3 debutants who haven't hit a red ball for months, while it's impossible for other players to score runs / take wickets to put themselves in the frame for the next test. It's also impossible to send people back the their counties to find form which would have been handy after the last test.

[Bruce Rioja]

Really need Cook to knock up about 150. As Jim says, we're in a bit of a dark place when we're calling up three debutants to a third test game. We need at least 350, in my book.

[Prufrock]

Oh well. Don't think we'll be hanging about now. Hopefully one of the big swingers can put together a decent knock.

[Bruce Rioja]

Oh well. Don't think we'll be hanging about now. Hopefully one of the big swingers can put together a decent knock.

4uck. Come on, Stokesy

[Worthy4England]

All looking a bit "top-order predictable"...

Agnew reckons with the exception of Jennings, they all dug in and batted well in difficult conditions. And were all "got out" rather than getting themselves out.

Will we bowl as well and as disciplined as SA have? We'll see.

They did get some decent balls to get out to rather than the generic mis-timed pull to mid-wicket...None of which makes it any less predictable. Root you allow him to get out occasionally to a decent ball - because his record is good. Jennings wasn't a particularly bad ball it just had a certain inevitability to it (You wouldn't expect to get out to it "in-form"). No crime to get out to the one Westley got but again the difference between First Class class, Test Class and World Class is often the ability not to get out to those balls. Fine margins...

[BWFC_Insane]

All looking a bit "top-order predictable"...

Agnew reckons with the exception of Jennings, they all dug in and batted well in difficult conditions. And were all "got out" rather than getting themselves out.

Will we bowl as well and as disciplined as SA have? We'll see.

They did get some decent balls to get out to rather than the generic mis-timed pull to mid-wicket...None of which makes it any less predictable. Root you allow him to get out occasionally to a decent ball - because his record is good. Jennings wasn't a particularly bad ball it just had a certain inevitability to it (You wouldn't expect to get out to it "in-form"). No crime to get out to the one Westley got but again the difference between First Class class, Test Class and World Class is often the ability not to get out to those balls. Fine margins...

Lets see how we bowl. Even Boycott is praising the batting this morning saying 300 would be a good total on this pitch. As is Vaughan right now. Describing the 81 overs as "proper test match batting".

I think the key here is can we take wickets like SA have.

[Worthy4England]

All looking a bit "top-order predictable"...

Agnew reckons with the exception of Jennings, they all dug in and batted well in difficult conditions. And were all "got out" rather than getting themselves out.

Will we bowl as well and as disciplined as SA have? We'll see.

They did get some decent balls to get out to rather than the generic mis-timed pull to mid-wicket...None of which makes it any less predictable. Root you allow him to get out occasionally to a decent ball - because his record is good. Jennings wasn't a particularly bad ball it just had a certain inevitability to it (You wouldn't expect to get out to it "in-form"). No crime to get out to the one Westley got but again the difference between First Class class, Test Class and World Class is often the ability not to get out to those balls. Fine margins...

Lets see how we bowl. Even Boycott is praising the batting this morning saying 300 would be a good total on this pitch. As is Vaughan right now. Describing the 81 overs as "proper test match batting".

I think the key here is can we take wickets like SA have.

It's certainly not easy batting. If you bowl right, 300 should be competitive, 350 from where we are would be good. I think a lot depends on getting Amla out early...

[TANGODANCER]

Just come in, shame about Cook but still hopeful. Much, as has been said, will depend on our bowlers. Come on then....

[Prufrock]

Sounds like this Rowland-Jones will fit in well!

[Bruce Rioja]

Sounds like this Rowland-Jones will fit in well!

Not a bad knock at all. Need Stokes on strike now though to see out 350.

[Prufrock]

Hopefully Jimmy can hang on long enough for Stokes to get his ton!

[BWFC_Insane]

Good score in the conditions. Over to the bowlers now. Must strike with the new ball a few times. Can't be wayward.

[Bruce Rioja]

Good score in the conditions. Over to the bowlers now. Must strike with the new ball a few times. Can't be wayward.

353 I'll take that. What's the cloud cover like?

[jimbo]

TRJ running through their top order quite nicely. Get shut of these 2 and we're right among them especially considering Philander's dicky tummy

[Prufrock]

Sounds like this Rowland-Jones will fit in well!

And some!

[jimbo]

We all dream of a team of Roland Jones'.

Needs to sort that economy rate out though. Going at 4 an over!

[jimbo]

4 wickets and he gets de Kock out. Suppose that's one way to celebrate.....

[Worthy4England]

Bowlers paradise.

My gran could get wickets in these conditions...

[Worthy4England]

See Even Anderson's got one now...