[Cricket] England v South Africa- Fourth Test- Johannesburg, Jan 24-28 2020

[Eeyore]

I've been to The Wanderers but not seen a game there. I'm sure it would be a splendid place to spend the next few days. An exciting match is in prospect- If the weather allows.

Johannesburg is a good pitch for seamers in recent times. Archer appears to be fit and Mark Wood will be ready to add to his last performance. I suspect that Dom Bess may miss out with England opting for an all pace attack. After all, Root must be quite confident in his role as back up spinner. Buttler will keep the gloves, obviously, but hasn't been tidy with them or the bat. Can't help thinking Foakes is waiting for his chance in Sri Lanka.

For the Saffers, it's Philander's last match. They are in transition. If England can keep the psychological advantage they can win here.

Match starts tomorrow morning.

I'm going for an England win.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I've been to The Wanderers but not seen a game there. I'm sure it would be a splendid place to spend the next few days. An exciting match is in prospect- If the weather allows.

Johannesburg is a good pitch for seamers in recent times. Archer appears to be fit and Mark Wood will be ready to add to his last performance. I suspect that Dom Bess may miss out with England opting for an all pace attack. After all, Root must be quite confident in his role as back up spinner. Buttler will keep the gloves, obviously, but hasn't been tidy with them or the bat. Can't help thinking Foakes is waiting for his chance in Sri Lanka.

For the Saffers, it's Philander's last match. They are in transition. If England can keep the psychological advantage they can win here.

Match starts tomorrow morning.

I'm going for an England win.

Plus SA are without Rabada... a big loss

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Tough on Bess if he misses out, but if they want to play Archer and Wood, then it will be him or Curran.

England are very well stocked with back up bowlers. Stokes is obviously more than that, but among the specialist batsmen, you have Root's decent off breaks, Denly's respectable leg spin, and Dom Sibley also bowls off breaks.

 

[Mackenzie]

I'm looking forward to seeing Wood and Archer in tandem.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

On this pitch, I would swap Archer for Curran. I like Curran, but not sure it's a pitch that will suit him

 

[BensGrandad]

Will the team selection be influenced by the fact that we only have to avoid defeat to win the series.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Will the team selection be influenced by the fact that we only have to avoid defeat to win the series.

No


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[Eeyore]

Will the team selection be influenced by the fact that we only have to avoid defeat to win the series.

Over five days it's hard not to prepare for anything other than a result. Especially on a track that seamers enjoy. A defensive team can't be selected. It doesn't happen in cricket.

England will select the side best suited for the conditions and opposition. There's a win here if they get it right.

 

[Eeyore]

On this pitch, I would swap Archer for Curran. I like Curran, but not sure it's a pitch that will suit him

I'd sooner lose the full time spin option. I think it's good to have the left arm option. That said, if they do go with Bess, I suspect Curran will miss out. The only problem being that we don't want to go too light on the batting.

I will be surprised if Bess plays, mind (Depends on how Archer is assessed).

 

[Gwylan]

Disappointing to see that England's kids lost today. And even more disappointing that it was to Australia.

That's two defeats in a row now (Sussex's Tom Clark scored just 2)

 

[Biscuit Barrel]

The weather does not look good for the first couple of days

 

[Pevenseagull]

The weather does not look good for the first couple of days

bugger, I'm 'working' from home tomorrow

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Is Stoke's still fit enough to be a first change bowler, or is he now a fourth seamer 10 to 15 overs an innings?

He can take wickets and crank it up for a bit, but is he still able to bowl 25 to 30 overs in a day if required?

 

[Eeyore]

Is Stoke's still fit enough to be a first change bowler, or is he now a fourth seamer 10 to 15 overs an innings?

He can take wickets and crank it up for a bit, but is he still able to bowl 25 to 30 overs in a day if required?

Very much the fourth seamer. Perfect roll really.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Yep, weather looks unsettled tomorrow and for the next few days (Sat, rain am, dry PM, Sun & Mon - rain pm)

 

[zuidgull]

I can see the floodlights of Wanderers from here and it is currently grey and raining.

 

[Titanic]

I can see the floodlights of Wanderers from here and it is currently grey and raining.

That's disappointing

What would you view be on t the chances of play over the next few days?

 

[Titanic]

Cricinfo not optimistic for any play today...

9.19am Joe: "I am on the other side of Joburg, and it is raining slightly. Not hard, but enough to let us know there will be no cricket today. "

JD: "Rain, Rain, Rain. Work down the road and it has been raining for several hours and does not look like abating. What a pain."

8.48am England's players don't anticipate any action for the foreseeable. "We have delayed our journey to the ground," says a team spokesman. "No time has been set. Still raining at the ground."

8.27am Good morning all, welcome to the Wanderers for ESPNcricinfo's live ball-by-ball coverage of the fourth Test between England and South Africa. Where unfortunately Firdose Moonda has some rather unwelcome early news:

"Morning. It's pouring," she says. "And was for a lot of the night. Forecast not great for today."

 

[zuidgull]

Highveld summer weather is very localised.
Can be raining and yet sunny 1km away - so difficult to predict.
Forecast to stop raining in about 30 mins but then start again at 3pm, with over 80% chance of rain through to midday Saturday when drops to 20%.

 

[zuidgull]

Just driven away from area, but hard to describe it as raining (did not turn on wipers).
Overcast, 17 degrees, bit of a breeze with maybe some moisture in the air, sounds like a beautiful Yorkshire summers day.