England vs South Africa: 1st Test; July 6-10, 2017 at Lords

[Boycs]

Now Root has gone!

A little late for SA to get back into this match, but England's weakness batting in the morning sessions continues

[Boycs]

And now Stokes!

Not watching live so I don't know if it's good bowling or not. But this is all too familiar as England lose their grip on the oppositions neck at precisely the wrong time

Will it fall to Moeen again? Raja will be beside himself and id be inclined to agree with him if Moeen racks up another fifty and then a couple of fourth innings wickets.

[Boycs]

Moeen gone for other too.

England are still in a strong position but their win won't be called a "polished performance" now given this shambolic third innings collapse.

They've done well otherwise, but this is a poor morning and has taken the sheen off their game

[Boycs]

61/5 in 21 overs. Slow scoring, no seizing control of the game and just losing all their wickets.

But who knows the pitch may now be doing plenty and England might rip South Africa to pieces

[Mick180461]

Dawson gone for a pair of 2nd ball ducks. Whats that called? Silver pair?

[Katto]

Queen pair or pair of queens

[Boycs]

182/7 this is pathetic by England.

Pitch is contributing and South Africa are bowling sharply but this is poor application.

If South Africa get back into parity in this game it will be great for them but a poor easing off the throttle by England

[Boycs]

7/43.

Unless England can reduce South Africa in similar fashion then I declare this day four batting performance by England to be nothing but gutless shite!

[Boycs]

Broad is gone too first ball.

Terrible performance today.

Only if England put South Africa to the sword will I accept that the pitch is suddenly doing things. Otherwise it's just typically English inability to press an advantage

Proper grumpy now

[Misty]

Those Ruff spots Anderson mention about yesterday, wide opened up :at one stage England lost Cook, Root, Stokes and Gary within 10 runs and 5.4 overs.

[Misty]

182/7 this is pathetic by England.

Pitch is contributing and South Africa are bowling sharply but this is poor application.

If South Africa get back into parity in this game it will be great for them but a poor easing off the throttle by England

Yesterday raja expect England lead to 400 up on declaration,LIVE games not showing on TV in USA, such shame,not majority Americans Asian interested in Women cricket including our own GOING SOUTH but willow keep showing those cricket live and no international matches of men's cricket

8.15 am in USA I expect WI vs Ind.game live in USA on TV at 11.30 am.

What you say 7 down?

[Misty]

182 for 8 I wonder who will snares Kuhn before close today?
Ben Stokes or Broad?

Johnny is too good a player under critical situation, he is VISH-VA -NATH of England.

[Misty]

7/43.

Unless England can reduce South Africa in similar fashion then I declare this day four batting performance by England to be nothing but gutless shite!

ENG 101 for 5 on day 2
82 for 4 on day 1
43 for 7 on day 4

So in sessions they smashed 394 for 2 !!
If wicket change once again, which will be MOST UN-LIKELY,PROTEAS has chance here with plenty of overs and great weather.KaTTO predicted series win for home team but I know more of ENG. If their first 4 Fails again at Nottingham, SA might Square the series.well time will tell, what is what?

[Paddles]

England may win this game, helped no end due to Philanders drop of Bairstow at 269/8, but England is soft in the middle despite Bairstow's class and Ali's consistent fighting.

Miss Woakes and his batsmanship low down no end.

Oh and a 5th batsman would help?!!!!

6 bowling options? England selectors losing the plot imo.

[Misty]

182 for 8 I wonder who will snares Kuhn before close today?
Ben Stokes or Broad?

Johnny is too good a player under critical situation, he is VISH-VA -NATH of England.

No its Anderson who removed debutant Kuhn
SA one down chasing 331
CRICINFO SHOWING LIVE IN USA
Great one handed catch by johnny

[Misty]

I think 45 runs stand between Wood/Johnny gave confidence to English bowler to defends.Already 12 wickets gone for 129 runs or so.test cricket trends say '' you must need 3 wickets on day 4 to win test on day 5''

[Misty]

Aus's innings Wobble vs EnG women chasing 258, Ozzie 2 down for 72

[raja]

12/2.
Moeen Ali picks up Elgar.

[Misty]

Wicket number 5 by Mo
SA 12 for 2
SA captain GONE

[Misty]

Beauty Perry and Lanning batted Brilliantly vs English women's bowling, England's man not far behind, Tall and hot Ladies inspire them at Lords

[Misty]

3 down Duminy gone before tea

[raja]

25/3.
Duminy plays a rubbish shot when his team needs him to stay there and build a partnership.

46 Tests, one of the senior-most players in this inexperienced line-up, batting at No.4 here - disgraceful!

[Boycs]

Better recovery from England and success with the ball but I'm still disappointed with their softness with the bat

[raja]

Still 301 to get - and top 4 batsmen gone.

[Katto]

England seem to be masters at producing home pitches that are tailor made to disadvantage a particular opposition

[Misty]

51 for 0 in 4.4 overs by India new record in t20 vs WI

[Misty]

England seem to be masters at producing home pitches that are tailor made to disadvantage a particular opposition

Good toss to win but Bad Fielding Ruins chances of advantage SA
72 for 6. Mo =7 wits

OMG virat out
64 for 1 in 5.3, stupid pant ran out Dhawan 24 (12 ball)

[Misty]

1998 Headingley test SA top 4 out for 25

[Katto]

Its going to be a huge margin though
no fluke

[Misty]

Its going to be a huge margin though
no fluke

May be rains tomorrow or SA win because eng.scored 394 for 2 at one stage in the match.

[raja]

Moeen gets Maharaj too.
5-fer for him.

At least now GS will acknowledge him, I think. :-)

[Katto]

nope, these South African batsmen cant play spin to save their lives
...and I've never seen a Lords pitch play like this

Why dont we get these?

[Paddles]

Moeen gets Maharaj too.
5-fer for him.

At least now GS will acknowledge him, I think. :-)

Some of your finest work this match on Moeen raja. Congrats.

[Misty]

Ali Ali Baba Ali Ali
Must be record wickets in his last five overs.

[Misty]

Kaash
He scores those 13 runs
Congratulations for 10 wickets and rare 87

[raja]

Moeen gets Maharaj too.
5-fer for him.

At least now GS will acknowledge him, I think. :-)

Some of your finest work this match on Moeen raja. Congrats.

Thanks.

Nice to see a "lesser" player be in the limelight for a change.

It's like Saha was Man of the Match in a Test a while ago - felt good.

[raja]

Elgar, Kuhn, Amla (in THIS form), Duminy, De Bruyn...

is this the best SA have?

Except for de Kock and Bavuma, I don't see anyone standing upto this England attack.

ABDV was smart to stay out of this series. It's one thing to bully opposition on limited-overs games, another to play out a tough Test series in England.

[Katto]

so, 3 more dusty turners for this series?

[raja]

Easy win, in the end.

This could really be 5-0 if the weather doesn't spoil it.

SA batting quality is possibly the worst I've seen since their readmission into Test cricket.

[Misty]

Easy win, in the end.

This could really be 5-0 if the weather doesn't spoil it.

SA batting quality is possibly the worst I've seen since their readmission into Test cricket.

Not to forget England were 138 for 1 at one stage

ENG 95 for 9
SA 119 for 10.

[Misty]

Is it 3 test series or 4 test?

[raja]

It's a very good day for England cricket.

Their women also won a thrilling game against Australia. Their first World Cup win over Australia since 1993!

[Katto]

Easy win, in the end.

This could really be 5-0 if the weather doesn't spoil it.

SA batting quality is possibly the worst I've seen since their readmission into Test cricket.

isnt it a 4 test series?

[raja]

Just checked - you're right, it's only a 4-Test series.

So 4-0 it'll be.

Can Graeme Smith come out of retirement please?

He's still only 36 - and he can't do worse than this Kuhn guy.

And if we are recalling batsmen, I'd like to see Kallis back too.

He's 41 but I reckon he could hang around at the crease longer than Duminy.

[raja]

If Colin Cowdrey could be persuaded to come out of retirement and flown all the way to Australia to face the fearsome Thommo & Lillee, that too facing them without helmets, I reckon Smith & Kallis can come out of retirement too.

Heck, even Bobby Simpson came out of retirement to lead Australia in 1977-78. He'd been retired for 8 years.

[Katto]

maybe ABDV could come out of retirement while we're at it

[Boycs]

I must say I'm leaning towards agreeing with raja about Moeen after today

[Misty]

If Colin Cowdrey could be persuaded to come out of retirement and flown all the way to Australia to face the fearsome Thommo & Lillee, that too facing them without helmets, I reckon Smith & Kallis can come out of retirement too.

Heck, even Bobby Simpson came out of retirement to lead Australia in 1977-78. He'd been retired for 8 years.

Nicky Boje and Paul Adams wants to play longer but SA not let them to play, I wonder why Rossouw not selects when ABD near his test retirements.Neil McKenzie of SA forced to retire when he was in good nick so was Rudolf jack,DBL in his debut test.Dippenaar too, kick out too soon.

[Mick180461]

I must say I'm leaning towards agreeing with raja about Moeen after today

Alan Border once took 11/96 in a test, Michael Clarke 6/9, Simon Katich 6/55, Sanath Jayasuriya 9/74 (2 innings) are you going to call them test class spinners? Jason Gillrspie 201* in a test match are you going to call him a Test class batsman?
Consistancy is what makes a test class player, the ability to back up match after match on different Wickets against different opposition on cold days, hot days, fast wkts, slow wkts, spinning wkts, seamimg wkts, flat wkts. Moeen Ali has not proven he can do it on a consistant basis and until he does i will continue to call him a average test Spinner.

[baggygreenmania]

Just woke and took a look at the scoreboard. Are my eyes deceiving me..the Saffers rolled for 119.. handing the Poms the first Test. Ali a 6 for. Wow.

The beared man seems to come to the party with runs and wickets when his country needs them most. I do agree with Mick tho in that he needs to be more consistent to be considered a Test class spinner.

The Saffers are looking down the barrel of a clean sweep series loss. Specially as they will not have their quickest bowler in Kagiso Rabarda for the second Test clash.. Would be interesting to know whether Smith or Kallis has been approached to make a comeback....... Well done England!