ICC Trophy and England's Summer Tests

[Buzzo]

Thrashed.

All out for 133, lose by 340.

Bit of a reality check. Thats a brutal scorecard for England today.

[Yozza]

South Africa's first innings lasted 96.2 overs. England have just been bowled out twice in 96.1 overs.....

[Zapater]

Much better balance to this SA team. Philander is showing that he is an allrounder. If he can chip in with 30+ scores regularly it's worth its weight in gold. For a top bowler to make consistent contributions priceless. I'm glad that Morris played well too, between the two of them they may be able to fill half of the void that Kallis left.

Rabada back for Olivier next week makes a strong team even stronger. I would also get rid of Bavuma for de Bruyn or Markham because Bavuma has been well below standard - scored less runs than both Duminy and Cook who were dropped. Obviously he won't be dropped though, in SA it's the colour of your skin rather than your talent unfortunately. Khun's tough 30 in the first innings may be just enough to keep his place, but honestly I don't think he's upto scratch either and at 33, the younger Markham might be a better option.

England's 2nd innings was equivalent to ours in the 1st test. Obviously there was no way to win the game and we bowled well, particularly at the top, but the bottom 6 threw their wickets away. You'd expect them to at least get into the final session. Especially when you consider how deep England bat. Bayliss has given England that Australian mentality, which is to try to dominate no matter the circumstances, I don't agree with that. Sometimes you need to play the situation. Look at Amla and Elgar yesterday, they scored well by playing within themselves when England were bowling well and the conditions were seamer friendly. Sessions like that win test matches. Same with bowling good lines/lengths for the pitch instead of searching for wickets. Philander might be the best I've seen at that. Working out a pitch and sticking to the right spot regardless of what is happening.

[captainfog]

Much better balance to this SA team. Philander is showing that he is an allrounder. If he can chip in with 30+ scores regularly it's worth its weight in gold. For a top bowler to make consistent contributions priceless. I'm glad that Morris played well too, between the two of them they may be able to fill half of the void that Kallis left.

Rabada back for Olivier next week makes a strong team even stronger. I would also get rid of Bavuma for de Bruyn or Markham because Bavuma has been well below standard - scored less runs than both Duminy and Cook who were dropped. Obviously he won't be dropped though, in SA it's the colour of your skin rather than your talent unfortunately. Khun's tough 30 in the first innings may be just enough to keep his place, but honestly I don't think he's upto scratch either and at 33, the younger Markham might be a better option.

England's 2nd innings was equivalent to ours in the 1st test. Obviously there was no way to win the game and we bowled well, particularly at the top, but the bottom 6 threw their wickets away. You'd expect them to at least get into the final session. Especially when you consider how deep England bat. Bayliss has given England that Australian mentality, which is to try to dominate no matter the circumstances, I don't agree with that. Sometimes you need to play the situation. Look at Amla and Elgar yesterday, they scored well by playing within themselves when England were bowling well and the conditions were seamer friendly. Sessions like that win test matches. Same with bowling good lines/lengths for the pitch instead of searching for wickets. Philander might be the best I've seen at that. Working out a pitch and sticking to the right spot regardless of what is happening.

Another game decided by the toss. Of the 5 previous first class matches this year at Trent Bridge the side batting first has won 3 times (twice by an innings) and the other two were draws.

[Zapater]

Another game decided by the toss. Of the 5 previous first class matches this year at Trent Bridge the side batting first has one 3 times (twice by an innings) and the other two were draws.

Perhaps, but if SA got skittled for 200 in the first day in seamer friendly conditions we'd be looking at a very different outcome. Amla and Kuhn digging deep in the 1st innings gave a great platform.

[Zapater]

Also, I'd add that SA's catching in the first game and England's batting in the 2nd made much more impact than the toss in either.

[Pedenj]

Jenning's gone for a duck.

Pressure is building on him now.

[Buzzo]

3 ducks in 9 innings already.

[Zapater]

Looks like a fish out of water. Today was sink or swim for him. Can they drop him for the next test if he doesn't perform in the 2nd innings? Or is that too many changes? I'm sure Jennings is having nightmares of Philander.

Also, this ridiculously long batting line up England have, sends the message that they don't have confidence in their batsmen to get the runs. Maybe I'm wrong but you always wonder when teams do this. Also, Bairstow is wasted a bit at 7, he's one of England's better batsmen, I think 5 suited him really well. Not sure if he's ideal to batting with the tail. Malan is a decent player and will feel he has a lot to prove against the country he grew up in.

SA wise, I'm happy with the selection. If Bavuma doesn't get runs in this test his days surely must be numbered.

[Pedenj]

I think they have to.

No footwork at all for that, and it was such a nothing shot. You can't have an opener doing that as it instantly puts pressure on the rest of the team.

[Zapater]

Malan will be pissed off to get a corker like that on debut. Especially as Rabada has been quite wayward today. Great ball/catch from Philander/de Kock to remove Root too earlier.

[Shaggy]

England look all over the place. Jennings is ****ing garbage, and there's three debutants today who look out of their depth too. This close to the Ashes and England don't have a clue what they're doing.

[Pedenj]

Yeah - the Malan wicket was a beauty.

Cook showing how you actually construct an innings in Test Cricket. Wasn't pretty at times but did the job he needed to.

This batting line up needs fixing soon. Really don't like not having Root in at 3 anymore personally.

[Pedenj]

Cook has gone - reviewed LBW but goes with Umpires Call.

Tight one, probably right to review given how close it was. Pressure will be on now.

[Yozza]

Stokes & Bairstow bring up 50 partnership in 49 balls... moving along nicely now

258 - for 5

New ball