Off Topic Eng vs SAF Test series

Not looking good for the boys so far. SAF 41 behind our 1st innings score but 9 wickets left
Good toss for SAF to win yesterday...

 

Never mind, at least the ECB are making money from that stupid crisp competition

 

Your right. The ECB are idiots promoting a contrived competition for money and which will not aid the development of test standard cricketeers. Witness yesterday's test batting collapse and the rustiness of our bowlers today. I won't be watching the Mickey Mouse hundred and if enough people do the same the ECB might just get the message.

 

I hate franchise cricket. Its just soulless and dull, yet completely overhyped. Add that to a bizarre bastardised version of the game that no one else plays, and you can say the game we knew and loved and grew up with is dead.

Anyway 5 wickets on the board now which looks slightly better. All ifs and buts but if we can dismiss them for a lead of no more than 120, then bat well on what should be a flatter pitch, there may still be something in ot for us

 

Eng start their 2nd innings 160 behind, tough call that!

 

Even bigger ask now. 2 down at lunch and 123 runs behind on first innings SA score. Crawley is not good enough and Lees is average at best. If Root fails again, this could be all over by tonight.

 

Hope no-one's got tickets for tomorrow.

 

Piss poor performance. A test match at Lords all over in less then two days and the first day lost nearly 50 overs because of rain ? Disgraceful performance by England. Imagine how much this has cost in lost revenue ? Is it worth it to promote The Hundred and other franchised watered down versions of cricket ?

 

Agree, except it was actually 3 days...

 

2nd test is very like the 1st but with swapped roles.

 

anderson and robinson have taken 5 for 7 with the new ball.

i believe anderson has now taken more international wickets (all formats) than anyone else, having recently passed mcgrath (though it could have just been fast bowlers, given wawne and mularitharan*).


* or, more likely, muralitharan,

 

Yes, exciting to follow but plays into the hands of those who say 5-day test cricket is finished.

 

I agree, 2 matches finishing in under 3 days just plays into the hands of the bish, bash bosh brigade. Well done England but we need the deciding test to be a much keener fought affair.

 

Two rather flawed sides in truth, particularly in the batting. Third Test is impossible to predict.

Was offered a ticket for today incidentally but chose City. How times have changed thanks to Acun, because I love my cricket and would have jumped at the chance this time last year!

 

Just have 100 deliveries per side.

 

bairstow will miss the third test and the t20 world cup due to an injury sustained playing golf.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/...w-out-of-third-test-and-t20-world-cup-1332155

while there's a lull in proceedings between england and south africa, there's been a seismic event worth a mention, especially after the last several years of suffering - perhaps deserved? - for zimbabwe.

zimbabwe have beaten australia in an odi. it's the first time they've beaten australia and there were some very interesting stats.

aus 141 (warner 94, burl 5 for 10)
zim 142-7

warner's percentage of the aus total is the 2nd biggest
burl's five wickets took 18 deliveries, the second least

scorecard
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ia-vs-zimbabwe-3rd-odi-1317478/full-scorecard
stats
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/...record-high-and-australias-record-low-1332262

 

e v sa 3rd test. day 1 lost to weather, day 2 lost to day after the queen's passing. thought they could have added an extra day to cover that, but no.

so, good start for englandin what is a 3-day match. they're ahead but short of run makers to make it really count.a first innings lead, but can they make it enough to trouble sa?

there was a possibility of this being a rare test series without a 4th innings.

 

I did wonder if the 2 captains had agreed to play for a result in the 3 days...

 

17 wickets in 70 overs suggests no attempt to debunk your theory!

 

Even though it's not far from being over after nearly 2 days it's still been a great game to watch.