England v South Africa, First Test at Lord's

[Titanic]

Close of play, Day Two

South Africa 214-5 (68 overs)

Bavuma 48* Rabada 9*

England leading by 244 with the match moving on at a good pace, and the wicket looking 'interesting'.

 

[Badger]

Jimmy's got im... de Bruyn nicks one to Bairstow.

203-5

Nightwatchman is in to protect de Kock.

Isn't that what a box is for?

 

[Pavilionaire]

Isn't that what a box is for?

Oh well played!

 

[Beach Hut]

Wicket 244/6 new ball due in an over

 

[Beach Hut]

Ali on fire 248/7

 

[Beach Hut]

314/8

 

[Questions]

That made me take notice hearing Michael Holding Shouting "End of the cock"

 

[vegster]

Interesting moment on TMS earlier when Aggers and Vic Marks were discussing Henry Blofield.... A woman texted the programme saying that Henry had a part in forming her relationship with her now husband when she was using an Internet dating agency.... As Aggers says " in the hobbies and interests section she put that she enjoyed listening to TMS, and in particular, enjoyed Blowers... " What's not to like about a girl like that?

 

[jakarta]

As Aggers says " in the hobbies and interests section she put that she enjoyed listening to TMS, and in particular, enjoyed Blowers... " What's not to like about a girl like that?

Boom tish... More entertaining than the cricket at the present. Cliché of grinding out a result comes to mind.

 

[Titanic]

Close, Day 3

England 119-1, leading by 216

Cook 59* Ballance 22*

Pile on the runs tomorrow... plenty of time left in the game to force a result.

 

[Mackenzie]

Close, Day 3

England 119-1, leading by 216

Cook 59* Ballance 22*

Pile on the runs tomorrow... plenty of time left in the game to force a result.

Give them four sessions to take the wickets, we should be 420 ahead by then.

 

[big nuts]

Give them four sessions to take the wickets, we should be 420 ahead by then.

I'd aim to pull out after 45/50 overs tomorrow. Try and score at 4 per over to get the lead to 400 or just above.

 

[BensGrandad]

Could they not adept their batting as if it was a 50 over game and perhaps score another 200 - 250 as quick as possible then have the time to bowl them out again. The problem is they have the players to make big scores so Root will have to be a little cautious or they could win.

 

[knocky1]

I'd aim to pull out after 45/50 overs tomorrow. Try and score at 4 per over to get the lead to 400 or just above.

80-100 before lunch then mayhem. Cook is in form but if out early the slayers will do the damage. An ODI innings from Cook after lunch would be my bet.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

There is still TWO whole days to go. This isn't 2020 crap. This is real.

England bat most of tomorrow - bore the South Africans stupid while piling up a lead of way over 450, and then spend the last day and a bit bowling them out on Monday. Alternatively massive English collapse, and SA win by tomorrow tea time.

 

[big nuts]

There is still TWO whole days to go. This isn't 2020 crap. This is real.

England bat most of tomorrow - bore the South Africans stupid while piling up a lead of way over 450, and then spend the last day and a bit bowling them out on Monday. Alternatively massive English collapse, and SA win by tomorrow tea time.

Surely the aim is to win the game and the best way to do this, is to give yourself as many overs as possible at them.

120 overs rather than 110 could be crucial as the Duke ball tends to reverse after 30+ overs so let's get the use of two new balls plus a bit of reverse x2.

Play sensibly until lunch but overs 30-50 should be true one day style if are still in a strong position.

 

[Mackenzie]

As an aside, there has just been a sickening injury to Nottinghamshire's Luke Fletcher in tonight's 20/20. He was hit in the face by the ball on his follow through whilst bowling. His team mates are in tears, lots of blood but thankfully he was able to walk off.

Hope it's not too bad.

 

[jakarta]

Would actually be happy to see both Cook and Ballance out early tomorrow to allow our middle order stroke players to get a move on and then get the Saffers in.

Surely we don't need more than a 330 or so lead on this pitch?

We'll see how Captain Root calls it tomorrow!

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

As an aside, there has just been a sickening injury to Nottinghamshire's Luke Fletcher in tonight's 20/20. He was hit in the face by the ball on his follow through whilst bowling. His team mates are in tears, lots of blood but thankfully he was able to walk off.

Hope it's not too bad.

I've never winced so much at a live occurrence on TV. Horrible, horrible scenes.

Think it was actually directly on the top of his head rather than his face. Players due back out at 9.10 but still no news on Fletcher.

 

[studio150]

There is still TWO whole days to go. This isn't 2020 crap. This is real.

England bat most of tomorrow - bore the South Africans stupid while piling up a lead of way over 450, and then spend the last day and a bit bowling them out on Monday. Alternatively massive English collapse, and SA win by tomorrow tea time.

In full agreement, England will just bat in test match mode until tea, which should give them a lead of approaching 450. At tea they will assess how the pitch is performing and whether South Africa could get 450 in 4 sessions. Maybe a ODI mode post tea for 30 minutes or so, so that the South African openers only have a short break between innings, then look to get 2 out before close of play.