ICC Trophy and England's Summer Tests

[Shaggy]

They haven't but I don't think they look very good.

[Pedenj]

I quite like the look of Westley - leaves the good balls and sticks the bad ones away for 4.

Also agree that Bell I think was dispatched from the side too soon, and unlike others was never seemingly considered again.

[Pedenj]

Like I was saying.....

[Yozza]

Great catch by de Kock to dismiss Westley TBF

[Pedenj]

It was a superb take - and it wasn't a bad ball.

But he'll be upset that he went for it.

[Yozza]

Another one gone.... Malan

146 - for 4

[Shaggy]

Malan is another who looks hopelessly out of his depth. Bin.

[Oberon]

I think Westley might make it. Malan could but that first dismissal in Test cricket wouldn't have helped his confidence.

Jimmy's on a tear. from the Anderson End!

[ChesterDave]

Hales hit a 29 ball 95 for Notts today.

Notts 126/0 in 7 overs chasing 184.

Tied the scores with 6 overs spare. Incredible hitting

[Zapater]

Jennings despite getting a chance to bat twice (dropped earlier) still scores nothing. I await the hatred being sent his way.

Pretty pathetic batting effort by SA yesterday. Could easily have done a lot better. Almost everyone got a start, yet no one even got a 50 when you should be looking at 80+ in that position from top order batsmen. Disappointed in Bavuma and du Plessis particularly. I know Bavuma has made a lot of friends this series, but simply hard fought scores between 30-50 don't get you anywhere. I know he's outscored some other players with better reputations but we know that Amla, de Kock, du Plessis etc have runs in them - if this is Bavuma in good form what are his scores like when he's not.

[captainfog]

Absolutely nothing coming through. For the Ashes we should bring back Bell & KP.

Cook
Hameed
Root
Pietersen
Bell
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali

Much better batting line up eh?

Hameed has barely scored a run since playing in India. Gone past 30 once or something silly like that. You can't pick him.

Root has to bat at 4. Kohli, Williamson, Smith, they all bat at 4. Got to give time to reset your brain after captaining in the field.

I actually think Westley has looked alright. A grafter. The SA bowling attack is very good and they've had some helpful conditions too and he's grafted and helped see off the new ball. Got to give him a go against the Windies and see if he can rack up a couple of big scores.

No chance Bell comes back. He was dropped because he wasn't scoring any runs and since then he's hardly dominated country cricket. His only way back is through weight of runs and he just hasn't done that. If he'd kicked off this season with a couple of massive scores then he might be in a position to have been considered. He's gone.

KP would be great, but he's always injured these days.

Bring Stoneman and Hales in.

Cook
Stoneman
Westley
Root
Hales
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Woaks
Broad
Anderson

Don't know how Stoneman would go, but it would seem he is the next one lined up to try and open. His recent record suggests he probably deserves a go. Eventually someone has got to make a go of it. Law of averages!

I really think Hales would make a good middle order batsman for England. He just isn't a Test opener.

[Yozza]

360 runs ahead...

Fully expect England to wrap this up - weather is supposed to be dry today & chuck it down tomorrow....

[Buzzo]

SA set 380.

A few key wickets required (Amla capable of getting a heroic score) but with the best part of 2 days left you'd have to think this is England's to lose.

[labourRed]

One down already. Surely if England improve their top order a but they'll be pretty formidable. SA on the other hand, I can't remember a worse side from them.

[Yozza]

40 - for 3 wickets (19.0 overs)

Lunch