England v South Africa 1st Test Lords 6-10 July

[mustardcharlie]

Originally Posted by Ali TT

South Africa could be fielding a weak attack in the next test, England need to drive home the advantage here.

With gusto. Philander in hospital. England should have no mercy here. No ruth.

[Corbo 61]

Just about recovered from that rugby game. All rather slow after that but confident of an England win from here.

[square leg umpire]

Originally Posted by mustardcharlie

With gusto. Philander in hospital. England should have no mercy here. No ruth.

Strange how the technology of batting gloves hasn't advanced at all. with modern materials being hit on the hand shouldn't lead to this.

[stevieh]

A decent effort by Cook and Jennings second time through, at least so far anyhow. As Charlie states, we should be looking to really drive home the advantage in this final session.

[mustardcharlie]

With gusto. Never mind the next test. Get a 450+ lead here. Is Philander back from hospital. Finger not broken. Jimmy your accuracy these days. Appalling. 10 years ago that was out for the rest of the season.

[AJ101]

Originally Posted by mustardcharlie

With gusto. Never mind the next test. Get a 450+ lead here. Is Philander back from hospital. Finger not broken. Jimmy your accuracy these days. Appalling. 10 years ago that was out for the rest of the season.

Let em roast, although I doubt our weather would have much affect on anyone but Kiwis!

[stevieh]

I am not enjoying our scoring rate since tea

We have taken our foot off the pedal here in the interests of cautious accumulation rather than piling pressure back on a vulnerable opposition.

[sharky]

Originally Posted by Ali TT

South Africa could be fielding a weak attack in the next test, England need to drive home the advantage here.

Philander back on the field so I guess he will be ok. I suspect Phelukwayo will have to play for Rabada so at the moment a downgrade but I doubt the whole XI will be as dopey if Du Plessis is back as skipper.

[sharky]

Originally Posted by stevieh

I am not enjoying our scoring rate since tea

We have taken our foot off the pedal here in the interests of cautious accumulation rather than piling pressure back on a vulnerable opposition.

The run rate will increase substantially when the middle order bats. I think they're doing the right thing so far, just nullify any threat from SA then demoralise them later. It's the good thing about scoring at over 4 an over in the first innings, it leaves so much time to win later in the match.

[cg3]

Originally Posted by sharky

Philander back on the field so I guess he will be ok. I suspect Phelukwayo will have to play for Rabada so at the moment a downgrade but I doubt the whole XI will be as dopey if Du Plessis is back as skipper.

Yep, despite his struggles in this game so far, Rabada is a top, top bowler so a huge loss for next game and big advantage to England.

Agreed they're likely to be more switched on under Faf though.

[stevieh]

Originally Posted by sharky

The run rate will increase substantially when the middle order bats. I think they're doing the right thing so far, just nullify any threat from SA then demoralise them later. It's the good thing about scoring at over 4 an over in the first innings, it leaves so much time to win later in the match.

Given our zombie top order and reliance on the keeper to score heavily, what you say makes sense. However this conservative approach is going to hold us back from really making strides ahead of the Ashes. No way an Aussie team of the past 25 years would play like that.

[Bestie]

Ballance has played a few really nice shots so far (cue the inevitable wicket). Scoring at a solid pace too.

Think anything above 250 will be a tough chase the way this pitch looks to be taking more and more spin. Plenty of time to build up to 400 with the situation we're in now and still have 4 and a bit sessions to bowl at them.

[luckyluke]

Woke up to see England with a lead of 200 and 9 wickets and two days left and people moaning about the scoring rate, Jesus

[mustardcharlie]

Rare to see sides chase 350 on a 4th and 5th day. Balance, Cook and to a certain extent Jennings are doing exactly the right thing. Six sessions to go. Get 'em in shortly before tea tomorrow. 1-0.

[cg3]

Originally Posted by stevieh

No way an Aussie team of the past 25 years would play like that.

Its a struggle to just get an Aussie team of any sort playing at all now

[mustardcharlie]

Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Ali etc could be fun tomorrow.

[stevieh]

Originally Posted by luckyluke

Woke up to see England with a lead of 200 and 9 wickets and two days left and people moaning about the scoring rate, Jesus

I hear you, but what about the entertainment value on a Saturday in the height of the summer?

[Rebelstar]

Originally Posted by mustardcharlie

Rare to see sides chase 350 on a 4th and 5th day.

Funny you should say that, I looked at the stats earlier, although I did 360+ not 350

Eight sides have won scoring 360+ in the 4th innings, half of those were 400+

11 sides have scored 360+ in the 4th innings and drawn, 22 sides have scored 360+ in the 4th innings but lost. There were a few odd Tests, that is two were "timeless" and drawn and one was a four day Test (apparently!)

Scored 360-399 : P21 W4 D6 L11
Scored 400+ : P20 W4 D5 L11

Half those sides losing did so by 100+ runs, of the sides who drew six didn't get within 50 runs, but then South Africa got within 8 runs in 2013 against Australia, and one or two others were quite close.

And to gave recency relevance, 14 of the 22 sides losing in scoring 360+ batting 4th did so post 2000, half the sides scoring 360+ to win did so in the same time period and six of the 11 to draw likewise. So you can't even claim it's easier now, in theory yes, but sides simply aren't knocking off 360+ like it's easy because it isn't, never has been and never likely will be.

[Rebelstar]

Originally Posted by stevieh

I hear you, but what about the entertainment value on a Saturday in the height of the summer?

And the longer England bat, the more likely it is the saffers will wriggle off the hook.

I projected that England would push for a 230-250 run lead by close, so they haven't pushed on much but if they accelerate and declare some time early to mid afternoon there'll still be time for 4.5 sessions at them.

I suspect England will want 450+ lead and be as worried about losing it as they will be pressing to win it. Whilst England fear losing they'll never be a dominant force, you need to take opportunities when they are there and 216/1 (effectively) with 2 days to go is a position they might not see next match or for the rest of the series.

One of the draws I mentioned in scoring 360+, West Indies were 370/9 chasing a target of 503 - England lost the series 0-1 having wasted a massive opportunity making the game 'safe'.

[mustardcharlie]

Originally Posted by stevieh

Given our zombie top order and reliance on the keeper to score heavily, what you say makes sense. However this conservative approach is going to hold us back from really making strides ahead of the Ashes. No way an Aussie team of the past 25 years would play like that.

Who cares about the Ashes?

SA have had some rough luck and tough times. No Philander bowling. No Rabada next game, no du Plessis, De Villiers long gone. Has Steyn gone forever?