I now know how Australia feel when they play us

England batted first and made nearly 400. We will bat for the last 4 sessions and I am guessing we will be 200 odd for 1 or 2 wickets. These teams are very evenly matched and it's going to be a fascinating series

Didn't Australia recently get bowled out for 47 against these saffers?

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yep i agree its a batting track. The bowlers cant do no more on the pitch and should make for a fascinating finish to the game.

Outstanding display. These things happen and you have to accept it. If we save the game, it will be like a victory.

Remember the Headingley Test the last time the Aussies visited? They beat us in 3 days. We still won that series.

Terrible start to this series but from a glass half full perspective, some were getting a bit too over tye top, thinking we would whitewash everyone.

Hopefully now we will bring in Finn.

yorkie
who would you drop?

If its a batting track, as it has so oftern been alluded to over the last few days, how come the South Africans have been able to bowl England out pretty cheaply and pick up two more quick wickets today?

mmm...

Maybe its not the track and its the difference between the teams. SA applied themselves properly in all facets.. England, bar Cook's century, none.

Batting failities reappeared (suprisingly not highlighted on by the press) and England have bowled with absolutely no imagination whatsover - far to predicable and safe.. SA also much better than everybody thought they would be and we could be looking at a 3-0 whitewash.

It will be all be over by lunch tomorrow. Much to ponder for the England management methinks...

Not convinced about the result Earl. We have some excellent batsmen and one or two have plenty to prove after that first innings.

I think this England team will battle and scape the draw. KP and Straussy will both make a century and by the time they get out, our score will be going past Saffers who will have to bat again, not that they will get that chance.

Can't see it Chest - lots of pressure now on the likes of Bell, Bopara et al who are not renowned for their bottle when the chips are down.

KP won't hang about for too long...just not his type of situation, this.

Shame Cook is out. He has the fortitude to survive - it rests on Strauss to a large degree.

Barring a miracle - it will be over by lunch tomorrow, maybe tea.

England have been far to casual with the bat and cautious with the ball. A big change of attitude and application is needed from now on in this Series.

Fair call Earl but I am praying you are wrong. Our team have been spoiling us for a long time now, and saving this test match would go down as another highlight in my book. KP enjoying himself and scoring in boundaries. We know what these 2 batsmen can do if they get in the mood. We have to be only 2 wickets down by COP for sure. It's thrilling stuff and we can't ask for more than that?

I would have played Finn since a one day series from last year. That pushed him onto another level. He would play instead of Bresnan.

Earls
ive not underrated SA at all and i agree they have played very well so far but there's no getting away from the fact the pitch is suited to batting now.
Just for the record both sides have taken quick wickets early on and there's still a long way to go and wouldn't be surprised England hold out for a draw.

We can't lead too much into this Test. In cricket every tends to over react. Lets see how we get on in the next Test.

On a side nite, how lame do Bresnan and Broad look when bowling? I know it was tough and turing, but neither looked interesting.

Didn't say you did Templar - Im talking in general terms. We struggled at times Vs the West Indies and I don't think people realised how much better the South Africans were. We have been caught cold.

As for this match, I just can't see it I'm afraid. The pitch isn't much different now than it was a few hours ago. AMla and Kallis may it look like a net practice. Its not a good enough excuse IMO.

As for the batting, would you put your faith in KP, Bell and Bopara to see us home? I wouldn't . Strauss needs to stay in - if he goes, its over.

3 down

TBH i was hoping to get through the day without too much damage it's now looking 1:0 South Africa.

Yup KP gone - not his type of cricket, this.

Bell in...agreed, 1-0 SA

Thing is with kp is he can only play one way, sometimes i do wonder why he comes in at 3. bloody shame we lost Trott for nothing Because he could of dug us out this hole.

Yep, poor display this afternoon. Surely 0-1 from here

Strauss gone Start the Car it's over folks