Third Test. SA v England. Jo'burg, Jan 14-18

[sussexpob]

There wasn't any foot movement. He went back and across, and stayed there, even though driving off the front foot. Bad Alex.

I think the problem for Hales in the future will be if he forgets who he is. Its very English to take a player with certain qualities, and try to turn him into an uninspiring and generic technical mould. Had Dave Warner been English, he probably would have been dropped the first time he swiped at a ball. KP, the best player in a few decades of English cricket, was hounded forever for being daring and dashing, and it not paying off every time.

I get the feeling at times that Hales is scared to commit to shots, in ODI and tests, and often plays more negatively then he should. There is just an annoying hesitancy to his game at international level.

If I was Bayliss, I would tell him to go out and have a crack.

[Arthur Crabtree]

That doesn't matter, unless SA always, or nearly always, bat last. As long as both sides roughly equally bat in each of all four innings, the relative strengths of the sides don't skew the innings stats.

Response to Bhaves.

[mikesiva]

Rabada gets his first wicket of the match....

[Arthur Crabtree]

These days, Bumble is a poor commentator. As bad as Botham. If you don't like his schtick (I hate it) he's really not offering a lot.

[Arthur Crabtree]

You get it with Botham, Boycott, Holding... They make their assessment, and they won't shift from it. Lloyd said the ball wasn't doing much yesterday, when it swung and seamed all day.

[Dr Cricket]

These days, Bumble is a poor commentator. As bad as Botham. If you don't like his schtick (I hate it) he's really not offering a lot.

Hate him as well more because of his trolling antics.

[Dr Cricket]

You get it with Botham, Boycott, Holding... They make their assessment, and they won't shift from it. Lloyd said the ball wasn't doing much yesterday, when it swung and seamed all day.

They all do it, nothing new really.
At least he doesn't repeat endlessly like Warne.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Great catch. Cook down the leg side. Happens a lot when his feet aren't right.

[sussexpob]

Viljoen smokes his first ball with the bat down the ground with aplomb, then picks up a wicket first ball..... test cricket aint that bigger deal

[Dr Cricket]

That doesn't matter, unless SA always, or nearly always, bat last. As long as both sides roughly equally bat in each of all four innings, the relative strengths of the sides don't skew the innings stats.

Response to Bhaves.

TBH that stat is really pointless without you showing us those numbers and even then so many variables affect those numbers.
Especially when looking at the ground last 16 years worth of games their being two types of games either high scoring first innings or a low scoring hum dinger, also against the shittier nations loads of sub 150 scores, plus in recent times sides have scored 350+ in the last two innings which were not really happening before.

Really all your stats says is that runs can be scored in all innings, same with wickets.

[Arthur Crabtree]

First ball in Tests for Hardus.

Ridiculous physique!

Got a feeling Brendan Bracewell, uncle of the present NZ bowler, took one with his first ball.

[budgetmeansbudget]

It's almost impossible for this team not to be 40 odd for 3 no matter the conditions or the opposition.

[sussexpob]

First ball in Tests for Hardus.

Ridiculous physique!

Got a feeling Brendan Bracewell, uncle of the present NZ bowler, took one with his first ball.

I believe Nathan Lyon and Eranga both took debut test match wickets on their first ball, in the same test about 5 years ago. Piedt did it for South Africa on his debut a few matches ago too.

[Dr Cricket]

Fidel edward might have taken a hatrick.
I know he has some special record like that.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Really all your stats says is that runs can be scored in all innings, same with wickets.

Not really trying to say anything else. Most (almost all?) grounds will show a tailing off in the last innings. Not so much here. Not to say it well get really flat. Maybe the pace won't last for four days, but there will be movement.

Wasn't it here that SA nearly chased down about 450 against India a couple of years ago?