Fourth Test, SA v England. Centurion, Jan 22-26

[Durhamfootman]

Ando seems to find wickets hard to come by. Any reason for that?

[Making_Splinters]

Do England persist with Hales? He seems caught between instinct and brain at the moment. I'd give him the summer but I am not sure England will.

[dan08]

I'm not convinced but i think i'd give him the first series next summer.

[Aidan11]

The second opener's position has been difficult to fill for a while now.

I'd like to see us stick with Hales and give him a decent run. Constant changing in't doing anybody any favours.

[budgetmeansbudget]

If there isn't a better alternative then stick with him, although he has had a whole series to make his mark, in a winning side, and has not cut the mustard.

[Making_Splinters]

I think it is important to remember that up until now he hasn't done worse than Cook. The obvious choice would to be move Compton up to open and bring in Bell or someone else at 3 or 5.

[Aidan11]

Compo goes.

Cook needs to hold his nerve.

[m@tt]

Hales has one more chance in this series, so a century second time out and the debate goes away for a bit. Not that a century for him looks likely.

England have a few options. They could recall Lyth if he scores some early season runs. Or promote Compton. In the case of the latter, then they could then recall Bell or Ballance at 3, or promote Taylor with Ballance at 5 (I don't see Taylor as a 3 personally, 5 seems perfect for him), or go to Vince as a new option.

Long-term, Lees or Bell-Drummond are possibilities but both have been inconsistent at county level.

[Aidan11]

No further scares to the close.

Hard work for our two best batsmen at the start of tomorrow.

[The Professor]

Poorest day of cricket from Anderson I've seen in a good while. Woakes and Hales also poor.

[Slipstream]

Poorest day of cricket from Anderson I've seen in a good while. Woakes and Hales also poor.

After his 13 for 15.61 in the UAE he has had no bowling for 2 months and has not found his rhythm while also trying to keep from running on the wicket. Even taken off by the umpire. The only good point is he is the most economical of all the bowlers at 2.53. He has also had 3/4 drops off his bowling.

This does give Stokes a chance of show how much he has improved, 11 wickets at 28.54 and is doing better than Rabada 11 at 35.72 and Morkel 10 at 36.60.

[Aidan11]

Where is everybody this morning?

[Aidan11]

Decent morning so far.

Shame Cook couldn't get his century.

[Aidan11]

Root gone now though.

Is it too much to ask for more from Ben?

[KipperJohn]

Good cricket so far. Cook and now Root gone to good delivereis. Some variable bounce and a bit of turn.

Good examination now for Taylor.